Barça 77-59 Betis: Fourth quarter push brings win at Palau

It was never easy for Barça as they secured a 77-59 win against Betis at the Palau in week 19 of the Endesa League. The winning margin was only really achieved in the final quarter with the returning Thomas Heurtel playing an important role in the blaugranes' victory. Kurci chipped in with 17 points in a game in which Mirotic missed out due to a stomach bug. 

The game was tight from the offset and the appearance of Huertel after just over eight minutes in the first quarter brought a thunderous ovation after five months out. Just before the break Betis were ahead 29-28 but Víctor Claver's basket before the half time hooter allowed Barça to go in 34-31 up. 

In the third period, Kuric's shooting prowess allowed Barça to extend their lead in a still open contest at 47-42. A 10-2 run of points for the blaugranes due to contributions from Oriola, Abrines and Heurtel decided the game in the home side's favour and a 77-59 win is their fourth in a row in the domestic league. Their next fixture comes in Europe at the Palau with the visit of Zenit Saint Petersburg on Thursday 30 January. 

MATCH STATS 

Barça, 77
Betis, 59

Barça: Hanga (5), Kuric (17), Claver (10), Smits (4) and Davies (3) -starting five- Ribas (-), Heurtel (11), Oriola (15), Abrines (6) and Tomic (6)
Betis: Sipahi (2), Slaughter (16), Conger (16), Whittington (2) i Niang (2) -starting five- Albert Oliver (2), Borg (3), Almazán (3), Nacho Martín (13), Izundu (-) and Enechionyia (-)