Barça 92-94 RETAbet Bilbao Bakset: Toil without reward

The opening few minutes of the Barça vs Bilbao Basket match were marked by the lack of success of both teams - everything in the first three minutes was missed except for a Tomic basket. Barça moved the ball better but were erratic at the basket, whilst their visitors were slightly more fortunate. The game remained stagnant with the first period ending 17-14.

Abrines extended Barça's lead to +6 in the second period, but the team led by Álex Mumbrú clung on and eventually went ahead thanks to Balvin (23-24). Pau Ribas scored three free throws to help win back the lead before half-time (41-32).

Basque reaction to force overtime

A Claver triple and an inspired Higgins put Barça 14 points up and at this stage the Basques were staring defeat in the face. The tug-of-war which promptly ensued ended with Mumbrú's team just three points behind. Closing the third quarter, Lammers and Bouteille had helped their side to scoring 30 points in 10 minutes which meant they drew level (62-62).

So it continued in the final period, and with just 2.4 seconds left, Lammers again was the hero for the visitors, scoring the basket which sent the game into overtime (84-84). When the Blaugrana needed him most, Mirotic came up with a fantastic triple to turn the game around, however, Rouselle's sensational basket seemed to end the game.

A Delaney three-pointer with 14.8 seconds left gave Pesic's side hope again (91-92), before Rafa Martínez converted two free throws. In what was to be the last action, Delaney missed a free throw with Higgins's attempt at a last-ditch three-pointer hitting the ring (92-94). 

Match Details

Barça, 92
RETAbet Bilbao Bakset, 94

Barça: Delaney (15), Kuric (7), Claver (3), Mirotic (24), Tomic (12) -starters-, Ribas (3), Hanga (-), Pustovyi (2), Oriola (3), Abrines (9), Higgins (14).
RETAbet Bilbao Bakset: Brown (13), Schreiner (-), Balvin (8), Sulejmanovic (9), Bouteille (20) -starters-, Rouselle (6), Rodríguez (2), Rigo (-), Rafa Martínez (12), Lammers (18), Kulboka (6)
Periods: 17-14 / 41-32 / 62-62 / 84-84 / 92-94
Officials: Carlos Cortés, Óscar Perea, David Sánchez Benito.