Barça 82-73 Panathinaikos: Defeat of the champions
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Barça 82-73 Panathinaikos: Defeat of the champions

Jabari Parker and Darío Brizuela lead a brilliant third period reaction against last season's EuroLeague winners at the Palau Blaugrana

Barça can be proud of tonight's win at the Palau Blaugrana (82-73), and over the same Panathinaikos side that won this tournament last season. Things didn't get off to the best of starts, but a 29-12 win in the third period and brilliance from Jabari Parker (25) and Brizuela (15) did the trick.

The Greeks started the better side and it was perhaps fortunate that the first period didn't end with Barça in deeper trouble than they actually were (18-21). In the second they actually led by four at one point, but a 0-9 streak from the visitors meant they were trailing by eight at the interval (30-38).

What a reaction!

The third period was the turning point. Barça improved enormously in defence, imposed their character and powered their way back into the lead. Panathinaikos were utterly flustered, and a Brizuela three ended the period with the score looking a whole lot healthier (57-49).

The visitors reacted in the final quarter, but Barça did a wonderful job of holding them off, and when Brizuela bagged another three to make it 69-60, that was practically game over. A 3-pointer from Abrines and a couple of Punter free throws finished off the job and Barça could celebrate a morale-boosting victory.

MATCH STATS

BARÇA, 82
PANATHINAIKOS, 73

Barça: Tomas Satoransky (2), Kevin Punter (7), Justin Anderson, Jabari Parker (25), Youssoupha Fall (6), Chimezie Metu (8), Juan Núñez (3), Jan Vesely (4), Álex Abrines (12), Darío Brizuela (15) & Joel Parra.

PAO: Kendrick Nunn (7), Jerian Grant (18), Juancho Hernangómez (12), Cedi Osman (14), Omer Yurtseven (11), Wenyen Gabriel (4), Kostas Mitoglou (2), Kostas Sloukas (5), Lorenzo Brown, Ioannis Papapetrou & Panagiotis Kalaitzakis.

Periods: 18-21, 12-17, 29-12, 23-23

Referees: Emin Mogulkoc, Jakub Zamojski, Saulius Racys.

Força Barça
Força Barça

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