Panteras de Aguascalientes protected home court with a hard-earned 91-85 victory over Dorados de Chihuahua in Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional action, closing out a game that stayed competitive deep into the fourth quarter before the hosts finally put it away at the free-throw line. The six-point margin flatters neither side: this was a grind for 38 minutes, decided by a handful of second-chance points and a late defensive stand in front of a loud Aguascalientes crowd.

The result matters in the wider LNBP picture. Panteras picked up a valuable home win against a northern rival that has been one of the tougher defensive teams in the league, while Dorados left the arena with a road performance that was competitive but ultimately short on the big shot when it counted.

Match Overview

• Competition: Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP)
• Home team: Panteras de Aguascalientes
• Away team: Dorados de Chihuahua
• Final score: Panteras 91, Dorados 85
• Date: October 2, 2026

Scoring by Quarter

The quarter-by-quarter line tells the story clearly. Panteras burst out of the gate with their best offensive stretch of the night, Dorados answered back in the second to keep the deficit manageable, and the third quarter turned into a defensive slugfest in which neither team could string together more than two consecutive scoring possessions. The fourth was the most entertaining period of the game — 50 combined points — but Aguascalientes always seemed to have the response.

How the Game Unfolded

Panteras opened with a clear plan: push the tempo off made baskets and attack the rim before the Dorados half-court defense could set. It worked early. A 10-2 run midway through the first quarter, built on transition layups and one corner three, gave the hosts a lead they would never fully surrender. Dorados settled in late in the period, but still trailed 24-19 after ten minutes.

The second quarter belonged to the visitors. Dorados tightened their pick-and-roll coverage, forced Panteras into a series of contested mid-range jumpers, and chipped away at the lead with a balanced attack that featured four different scorers in the period. A three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer cut the margin to four, 46-42, and sent the Chihuahua bench into the locker room with real momentum.

The third quarter was the grittiest stretch of the night. Both teams shot poorly from the perimeter, the officiating tightened up, and the game was played largely in the paint and at the free-throw line. Panteras edged the period 20-18 to carry a 66-60 cushion into the final ten minutes — a lead that looked fragile but proved just enough.

Key Moments

• The opening run: Panteras' 10-2 burst in the first quarter set the tone and forced Dorados to play from behind for the rest of the night.
• Halftime buzzer-beater: A deep three from Dorados trimmed the deficit to four and briefly flipped the momentum heading into the break.
• The decisive stretch: With the game tied at 78 and under three minutes remaining, Panteras scored on four straight possessions — two drives, an offensive rebound put-back, and a pair of free throws — to build an 86-80 lead.
• The final stand: Dorados missed three consecutive attempts from beyond the arc in the last 90 seconds, and Panteras iced the game at the line.

Tactical Story

Panteras won this game with interior efficiency and rebounding. They consistently generated second-chance opportunities against a Dorados frontcourt that was forced into extra help rotations, and those extra possessions were the difference in a game decided by six points. On defense, Aguascalientes switched aggressively on the perimeter in the fourth quarter, taking away the catch-and-shoot looks that had kept Chihuahua alive.

Dorados, for their part, were organized and patient. Their half-court offense generated good shots — the ball movement in the second quarter was the best of the night from either team — but they struggled to convert at the rim against length, and their three-point shooting abandoned them in the closing minutes. Turnovers in transition also proved costly, gifting Panteras several easy baskets that should never have been available.

Standout Players

The Panteras backcourt controlled tempo