FCB Regal- Moscow Khimki: Seventh straight win in Europe (71-69)

Barça go marching on and tonight they chalked up their 14th win on the trot and their seventh in Europe to confirm their spot at the top of Group F in the Top 16 with a 71-69 win over Moscow Khimki.

Despite an error strewn beginning, Barça Regal made a good start with Navarro scoring 8 points, including two three-pointers which helped Barça to a 21-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Jasikevicius scored the points to confirm a nine point lead (28-19), as CJ Wallace excelled himself stopping the Kurtinaitis star Paul Davis, who was only able to score 4 points in the first half. Barça took advantage and eased into a 10 point leave at half time thanks to a Huertas score (44-34).

Third quarter dominance

Barça looked to increase that lead in the third quarter as they tried to overturn the basket average in favour of the Russians after the 78-65 win for Khimki -a team who could easily end up as one of the teams Barça might meet in the four spots between them and the Euroleague play offs. It wasn’t to be though, although Juan Carlos Navarro, with two consecutive three pointers and Tomic – who improved as the game went on – gave Pascual’s team a 14 point lead at 58-44 and a 12 point difference as the teams went into the final quarter (60-48). The visitors hit back scoring 11 points to Barça’s two at the start of the quarter before Navarro and Mikeal took the lead back up to six points.

The Russians tried to claw their way back with a series of three pointers, but they lacked variety and Barça tightened up on the defensive rebound to limit any second chances to ensure they ran out 71-69 winners to confirm their place at the top of group F with eight wins and just one defeat.