FC Barcelona v Herbalife Gran Canària: Great end to tough week (80-61)

Barça have won all three games since returning from the Asian tour, this time 80-61 against Herbalife Gran Canària managed by Aíto García Reneses. Justin Doellman led the charge with 14 points, 6 rebounds and an evaluation of 21.

Infallible Doellman

Barça needed Tomic for the points early on, while the Canary Islanders edged ahead to 6-8. But the home side soon gained control of the court. Tomic and Doellman combined to get it to 15-12 and an 80% 3-point conversion rate in the first period, and 10 points from Doellman alone, meant it ended with Barça well up at 28-17.

Three failed 3-pointers in the second period allowed Gran Canària back in it on 31-26, but a timeout called by Xavi Pascual seemed to do the trick. The Tomic-Hezonja connection and consecutive triples from Oleson meant the half ended with FCB once again in a double-figure lead (40-28).

Control and sentence

Barça stretched their lead in the third. DeShaun Thomas claimed consecutive threes to make it +16 (48-32) but a fine showing from Báez on the perimeter saved the visitors from total annihilation. Nevertheless, it was a pleasantly comfortable situation for Barça, and thus the ideal moment for young Hakanson to get his first run-out in the Palau.

The final thrust from Barça came towards the end. Hezonja and Abrines stood out as the difference reached a game high of 22 when it stood at 80-58 with seconds to go. A late three for the islanders was small consolation for them as the tie ended 80-61, and Barça can celebrate a great start to the season both domestically and continentally.