Barça 67-65 Lenovo Tenerife: Gutsy win against the leaders

The win against Lenovo Tenerife at the Palau Blaugrana didn't come easily. After the loss in the EuroLeague against Zalgiris Kaunas (73-72), Barça were back home to play their fifth Liga ACB game of the season against the unbeaten leaders. The final score of 67-65 was a good reflection of a tight game, with the home side spurred on to the victory by the lively Palau crowd and the MVP, Nico Laprovittola.

Even start, low scoring

The game began very evenly as the defences were on top, with the score only 4-4 after eight minutes in the first quarter. Barça's young centre, Nnjai, started the game and showed his physical prowess with seven rebounds, whereas Salin was shining for Lenovo Tenerife, who went into second quarter two points up. The second quarter was also tight, but Nico Laprovittola and Jokubaitis scored a couple of three pointers, helping Barça to take a two point lead into half time.

Laprovittola takes centre stage

With eight points and two three pointers, Nicolas Laprovittola, was the star of the third quarter, helping Barça extend their lead to +11 (40-29, min 25). When he was replaced to an ovation, Lenovo Tenerife stepped up their game, Fernández and Salin scoring three pointers to cut the lead to +6 at the end of the third.

Victory confirmed in the fourth

With six minutes to go in the fourth, Barça were 13 points up (58-45), thanks again to Laprovittola, who had scored 20 points, but the side from the Canary Islands weren't cowed, coming back strongly, outscoring the home side 15-7 over a 5 minute period, score 65-60 with one minute left on the clock. Despite the visitors pushing hard, Barça saw out the period to edge the game 67-65 - their fourth win in the league this season.

GAME STATS

Barça, 67
Lenovo Tenerife, 65

Barça: Satoransky (0), Laprovittola (25), Paulí (8), Vesely (4), Nnaji (4) - starting five - Da Silva (4), Sanli (7), Kalinic (2), Higgins (4), Jokubaitis (9)
Lenovo Tenerife: Bruno Fitipaldo (3), Joan Sastre (0), Cook (16), Abromaitis (5), Shermadini (2) - starting five - J. Fernández (6), S. Rodríguez (0), M. Huertas (2), Salin (22), Diagné (2), Cruz (2)

Quarters: 10-12 / 27-25 / 48-42 / 67-62

Referees: Carlos Cortés, Luis Miguel Castillo, Roberto Lucas