A valuable victory for the Barça basketball team away to Baskonia (92-95), with both sides fighting it out for fourth spot in the Liga Endesa table. Xavi Pascual's side put on a professional performance at the Buesa Arena, and despite the scores remaining pretty level throughout, they managed the key moments better to claim their 19th league win of the season.

Toko Shengelia proved important, scoring 20 points and earning a Performance Index Rating of 26, coming up trumps precisely when the Basque side were looking dangerous. The win means the fight for fourth place will go down to the wire, with Barça currently ahead in the table, albeit both have the same record (19-9).

Good start

The best possible start in Vitoria saw an enterprising and focused Barça 3-14 up after five minutes. The blaugranes dominated play in the first quarter, with Punter and Juani Marcos scoring seven and six points respectively. Edwards and Luwawu-Cabarrot brought Baskonia back into the game, though, as the first quarter ended 20-26.

The home side then went within three soon into the second (23-26, min 11). There was a spell of baskets being traded, plus leads of four and six for the visitors, but a triple by Matteo Spagnolo brought the home side back to one (36-37, min 16). Barça held their nerve, though, and went in ahead at half time at the Buesa Arena (45-47, min 20).

Close throughout but blaugranes win

More of the same after the break, as both sides traded baskets. All the same, seven without reply and a triple by Rodions Kurucs took Baskonia into to a lead (54-52, min 24), which remained at the end of the quarter when Diakite made it 69-68 after 30 minutes.

With all to play for in a game that could go either way, Barça pulled out the stops, and after an And 1 by a brilliant Shengelia during this spell of the game, they went +10 with three minutes left to play (78-88).

It would turn out to be enough despite a reaction from Baskonia, who went within three with 25 seconds to go after a triple by Diakite (89-92). However, Barça ultimately saw out the game to run out 92-95 winners.

GAME STATS

BASKONIA 92
BARÇA 95

Baskonia: Diakite, Villar, Omoruyi, T. Forrest, G. Radzevicius - starting five - K. Simmons, R. Kurucs, Luwawu-Cabarrot, M. Spagnolo, Edwards.

Barça: Punter, Juani Marcos, Vesely, Shengelia, Kusturica - starting five - Brizuela, Hernangómez, Núñez, Fall, Clyburn, Parra, Norris.

Quarters: 20-26 / 45-47 / 69-68 / 92-95.

Referees: Antonio Conde, Jorge Martínez, Carlos Merino.

Força Barça