FC Barcelona's basketball team earned a hard-fought 98-101 win over Coviran Granada in a much tougher game than the standings suggested. The victory was Barça’s fourth straight in the Liga Endesa, moving the team into third place and firmly in the race for second.

Backed by a passionate home crowd and fighting to keep their survival hopes alive, Granada pushed Barça all the way. The defeat mathematically confirmed the Andalusian side’s relegation.

Barça started strongly, moving the ball well and creating early advantages, although Granada stayed close thanks to their three-point shooting, especially through Valtonen. The visitors looked solid in the opening quarter, with Juani Marcos controlling the tempo and Willy Hernangómez and Fall dominating inside (16-20).

Granada improved in the second quarter and briefly took the lead after a tightly contested stretch (24-22). Barça responded through Kevin Punter, who scored 11 first-half points, regaining control and punishing turnovers in transition to go in for the break ahead (35-42).

The intensity remained high after the break. Barça tried to pull away, but Granada kept fighting, with Bozic and Jassel Pérez leading the comeback as the hosts levelled the game at the end of the third quarter (68-68).

In the final period, Barça stepped up when it mattered most. Willy Hernangómez imposed himself in the paint, while Brizuela, Cale and Parra added key points to restore what looked like a decisive lead. Granada still threatened late on, forcing Barça to battle until the final seconds before sealing a valuable 98-101 victory.

Barça’s next game will be this Sunday at 8pm CET against La Laguna Tenerife.

MATCH STATS

COVIRAN GRANADA, 98
BARÇA, 101

Coviran Granada: Lluís Costa (7), Elias Valtonen (13), William Howard (4), Luka Bozic (20), Babatunde Olumuyiwa (2), Rousselle (10), A. Fernandez, Alibegovic (11), Durán, Tomàs (-), Pérez (26), Brimah (2), A Fernández (3), Duran (-).

Barça:  Juani Marcos (16), Kevin Punter (19), Joel Parra (9), Toko Shengelia (10), Youssoupha Fall (2), M. Cale (10), M. Norris (3), Brizuela (9), Hernangómez (18), Nuñez (5), Dani González (-).

Periods: 16-20, 19-22 // 33-26, 30-33

Referees: Jordi Aliaga, Javier Torres & Cristóbal Sánchez

Força Barça