The Barça basketball team picked up a timely win over Baskonia in Vitoria, taking a 97-91 victory in the Euroleague. Xavi Pascual's team came into the game on the back of four consecutive defeats but after a below par opening period, the blaugranes bounced back to take a morale boosting win. 

Demanding start 

Baskonia set a fierce pace in the opening minutes and at one point in the opening quarter they were 13 points up. Barça had Brizuela to thank for keeping them in the contest although they still went into the second period trailing by 10 at 27-17. 

In the second quarter the blaugranes came to life. Laprovittola, Vesely and Shengelia combined to bring Barça closer to the home side on the scoreboard as greater defensive intensity also allowed the blaugranes to bring the game to within three at 51-48. 

Second half dynamic 

The second half saw Barça continue to impose themselves on the game with a greater fluidity in attack. Clyburn came to the fore as the blaugranes surged ahead at 76-68 with just the fourth quarter to come. The fourth quarter was a tense affair as Baskonia rallied in front of the home fans in the Basque Country. Nevertheless, Xavi Pascual's team kept their nerve in the final minutes despite an injury to Kevin Punter. The 97-91 victory ends Barça's recent poor run of results and boosts morale ahead of their next test which comes in the league against Girona on Sunday at the Palau Blaugrana. 

MATCH STATS 

BASKONIA, 91
BARÇA, 97

Barça: Punter (7), Norris (4), Hernangomez (-), Laprovittola (15), Clyburn (14) - starting five - Marcos (3), Cale (-), Vesely (8), Brizula (14); Shengelia (16), Parra (16).

Baskonia: Howard (11), Kurucs (6), Forrest (6), Radzevicius (10), Diop (2) - starting five - Diakite (16), Simmons (10), Nowell (-), Omoruyl (8), Luwawu - Cabarrot (12), Spagnolo (8), Frisch (2).

Quarters: 27-17, 24-31 // 17-28, 23-21

 

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