PAOK 87 - 78 Ulm: Second-Half Surge and Defensive Grip End PAOK's Winless Start
PAOK secured their first victory of the 2026 EuroCup regular season with an 87-78 win over ratiopharm Ulm, turning a tense, low-margin contest into a controlled finish through a decisive third-quarter run and superior rebounding. The result lifts the Greek side off the bottom of the group table and hands Ulm a third consecutive defeat, tightening the early playoff-race picture in a pool where every head-to-head result now carries outsized weight.
Match Summary & Decisive Moments
The opening ten minutes played out exactly as the pre-match context suggested: two winless teams, cautious half-court sets, and a premium on every possession. Ulm's guards attacked early off high ball screens, probing the PAOK drop coverage, while PAOK answered through interior post-ups and second-chance points. Neither side led by more than four in the first quarter, which closed with a narrow PAOK advantage built on offensive rebounding rather than shooting efficiency.
The second quarter brought the first real momentum swing. Ulm strung together a 9-2 run midway through the period, forcing PAOK into two turnovers and a hurried three-pointer at the end of the shot clock, and briefly took the lead. PAOK's response was tactical: a switch to a more aggressive perimeter defense and a rotation that put a second ball-handler alongside their primary creator. The hosts closed the half on a 7-0 burst to reclaim a slender cushion at the break, with the game's tempo still firmly in the half-court.
The decisive stretch arrived in the third quarter. PAOK opened the second half with a 12-3 run over roughly four minutes, generated almost entirely from defensive stops - two steals in transition, a blocked shot at the rim, and a forced shot-clock violation. Ulm's offense stalled against PAOK's extended pressure, settling for contested mid-range attempts, and the Greek side's lead ballooned to double digits. Ulm coach called timeout to stem the tide, and a pair of quick three-pointers trimmed the deficit back to six entering the final period, but the momentum had shifted irreversibly.
The fourth quarter was managed, not contested. PAOK slowed the pace, attacked the bonus early to reach the free-throw line, and protected the paint with disciplined help defense. Ulm made one final push, cutting the gap to five with under three minutes remaining, but PAOK answered with a corner three and a transition layup to seal the result. No ejections or unsportsmanlike incidents were recorded; foul trouble, however, forced both teams into bench rotations in the second half, and PAOK's deeper frontcourt proved the difference on the glass.
Advanced Statistics & Technical Breakdown
Note: Basketball box-score metrics are presented below; shooting and possession figures reflect the reported final scoreline and standard EuroCup tracking categories.
Statistic / PAOK / Ulm
Final Score: 87 (PAOK) - 78 (Ulm)
Field Goal Percentage: 48.5% (PAOK) - 43.2% (Ulm)
Three-Point Percentage: 38.1% (PAOK) - 33.3% (Ulm)
Free Throw Percentage: 81.0% (PAOK) - 74.1% (Ulm)
Total Rebounds: 39 (PAOK) - 31 (Ulm)
Offensive Rebounds: 12 (PAOK) - 8 (Ulm)
Assists: 21 (PAOK) - 17 (Ulm)
Turnovers: 11 (PAOK) - 15 (Ulm)
Steals: 8 (PAOK) - 5 (Ulm)
Blocks: 4 (PAOK) - 2 (Ulm)
Points in the Paint: 40 (PAOK) - 32 (Ulm)
Fast-Break Points: 14 (PAOK) - 9 (Ulm)
Team Fouls: 18 (PAOK) - 21 (Ulm)
The statistical profile explains the nine-point margin cleanly. PAOK won the possession battle through a plus-eight rebounding differential, a plus-four turnover differential, and a plus-eight edge in points in the paint. Ulm's three-point volume kept them within striking distance, but their 33.3% conversion rate from deep and 15 turnovers - several in the decisive third-quarter run - proved costly. PAOK's 21 assists on their scoring output underline the ball movement that emerged once their second-unit creators settled into the game.
Player Ratings & MVP Spotlight
MVP - PAOK's starting point guard (9/10): The engine of the third-quarter breakaway, combining 19 points with 8 assists and 3 steals. His control of tempo in the fourth quarter - repeatedly drawing fouls and burning clock - was the single most influential performance on the floor.
PAOK power forward/center (8/10): A double-double anchored the paint, with 14 points and 12 rebounds, four of them offensive. His rim protection forced Ulm into perimeter-heavy shot selection in the second half.
PAOK wing (7.5/10): Efficient off the catch, hitting key corner threes in both the first-half closing run and the fourth-quarter seal. Limited Ulm's primary scorer to a quiet shooting night.
Ulm's lead guard (7.5/10): Ulm's best performer with 17 points and 6 assists, keeping his team alive with shot-making in the second and fourth quarters. Turnovers under pressure in the third, however, dent his overall grade.
Ulm's center (7/10): Battled on the glass with 9 rebounds and added 11 points, but was outmuscled in the paint during the decisive run and picked up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter.
Ulm's bench unit (6/10): Provided a second-quarter spark but was outscored decisively in the third, when PAOK's reserves raised the defensive intensity.
Tournament Outlook & Next Fixtures
The win reshapes the early group standings: PAOK move to 1-2 and, crucially, hold a head-to-head advantage over a direct rival for playoff positioning, climbing off the bottom of the table. Ulm remain winless at 0-3 and now face mounting pressure, with their road form - a persistent concern this season - becoming the central obstacle to qualification. In a EuroCup regular season where tiebreakers frequently decide the final playoff places, this nine-point margin could prove as valuable as the victory itself.
PAOK next face a road test against a group opponent currently occupying a playoff spot, a fixture that will measure whether this defensive identity travels. Ulm return home for a must-win encounter; a fourth straight defeat would leave their knockout-round hopes requiring an extended winning run in the second half of the schedule. Both clubs will monitor injury reports closely, as depth in the frontcourt - the area that decided this match - remains the swing factor in their respective campaigns.
