A tough win against Alba Berlin (86-88) that featured Nikola Mirotic after his return from injury. A game that Barça controlled for the most part, although they saw their lead cut twice. Mirotic top scored for Barça with 19 points.
Off to a great start but the home side respond
Barça began brightly and with the great news that Nikola Mirotic had returned to the starting five. The first quarter saw 30 points scored and a healthy 11 point lead due to great defence from the Catalan side.
Alba Berlin turned it around in the second quarter, with a partial score of 27-15, before Blatt made it 39-39 (min 19). Alba were more accurate in attack this quarter and although Barça kept up the attack to some extent, the home side went in one point up at the break (46-45).
Show of strength
The second half saw Barça come out fighting, taking the lead again with 2-10 partial score (48-55, min 23). Laprovittola led the attack during a great period for the Catalans, with the defence holding very firm to go into the final quarter with a 14 point lead (57-71).
Alba Berlin clawed back some of the lead at the start of the final quarter (71-76, min 35) and were only 4 points down with 2 minutes to the buzzer. The game went down to the last minute with Barça leading, but with the score 86-88, Alba Berlin lost the ball and the buzzer sounded. The victory makes it eight wins and three defeats in the EuroLeague this season.
Game stats:
Alba Berlin, 86
Barça, 88
Alba Berlin: Smith (15), Olinde (4), Koumadje (8), Sikma (8) i Lammers (2) - starting five -, Lo (9), Procida (2), Delow (2), Wetzell (2), Thiemann (12), Blatt (17) y Zoosman (5).
Barça: Laprovittola (16), Satoransky (11), Kalinic (7), Tobey (11) y Mirotic (19) - starting five -, Da Silva (1), Vesely (6), Higgins (15), Kuric (-), Jokubaitis (2), Nnaji (-) y Paulí (-).
Quarters: 19-30 / 27-15 / 11-26 / 29-17
Referees: Damir Javor, Robert Vyklicky, Uros Obrknezevic.
