MLP Academics Heidelberg secured a thrilling 74-70 win over NINERS Chemnitz in Game 2 of the BBL playoff quarterfinals on May 20, 2025, at a sold-out SNP Dome, taking a 2-0 series lead in their first home playoff game in 46 years. Heidelberg led 19-15 after the first quarter despite Chemnitz’s zone defense prompting 10 three-point attempts (3 successful), and a buzzer-beater from halfcourt by Michael Weathers gave them a 36-33 halftime edge. A 9-2 run late in the third quarter pushed Heidelberg’s lead to 56-48, but Chemnitz battled back, only for DJ Horne’s game-winning three-pointer with 15 seconds left to seal the victory in crunchtime, reinforcing Heidelberg’s league-best 70% win rate in close games.
Horne earned Player of the Game honors with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, including the decisive three (4/11 from deep), a stark improvement from his scoreless Game 1, as teammates Paul Zipser (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) and Weathers praised his clutch shooting on Dyn. Chemnitz’s Kevin Yebo led with 19 points and 5 rebounds (2/3 from three), while Heidelberg’s Bakary Dibba was quieter than his Game 1 double-double, managing 1 point and 8 rebounds. Heidelberg drew 19 fouls but struggled at the free-throw line (4/7), while Chemnitz shot 12/19 from the stripe. The Germans shone for Heidelberg, with Zipser and Mateo Seric (9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) contributing, though Seric exited after an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
The 4,494 fans, including celebrities like Uwe Gensheimer, David Späth, and Bülent Ceylan, witnessed Heidelberg’s crunchtime mastery, despite missing Erol Ersek and Osun Osunniyi, and a small rotation (only 8 players used). Chemnitz’s zone defense forced Heidelberg into 39 three-point attempts—well above their season average of 24.2 (per prior web results)—but their 13 offensive rebounds led to 18 second-chance points. Game 3 shifts to Chemnitz on Sunday, potentially the NINERS’ last game of the season if Heidelberg, now dubbed the “Crunchtime Kings,” completes the sweep.
