By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Both teams had the same record (4-8) before tonight’s game but Unicaja Malaga defeated 83-90 FC Barcelona Lassa on the road and improved its record to 5-8, while the home side slipped to 4-9.
The star (s): For Unicaja, Nemanja Nedovic was the man of the match as he posted, 26 points and four assists. James Augustine added a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Jeff Brooks put up 13 points.
The fourth quarter: Unicaja showed leadership in the first three minutes and went up by six points (66-72). Malaga kept this five + point lead for the next two minutes and with five minutes on the clock, Barca had to respond. Huertel tried to spark a comeback but eventually, it fell short as Nedovic’s show continued. With great defense, Malaga won the game.
The game: Both teams were scoring early on (8-9) (3:00), but Valencia managed to go up ahead by five points, 16-21 with Nedovic leading the way. The first quarter finished 24-26.
In the second period, the game remained close with the two teams playing physical basketball down low but making three-point shots. With Thomas Hurtel creating and scoring (11 pts in the first half), the home side took control of the game as Alonso’s team went up by six points (41-35), but the visitors responded with a 4-9 run cut this lead to one point at half-time (45-44).
Barcelona started the third period on the right foot as the team went up once more by five points (61-55) (25:00). Plaza’s players, responded as they had been doing all game long and regained the lead (61-65). In the fourth quarter, Unicaja controlled the tempo until the final buzzer.
Not enough: Thomas Huertel finished with 19 points and nine assists for Barca.