By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a difficult week following their EuroLeague Play-In elimination against AS Monaco and the injury to Tomas Satoransky, FC Barcelona secured an important and hard-fought win in the ACB League ahead of the playoffs.
Xavi Pascual’s side defeated Baskonia 95–92 at Buesa Arena, improving to 19–9 and climbing to fourth place with the tiebreaker advantage.
Tornike Shengelia led the way for Barcelona with 20 points and six rebounds, while Will Clyburn added 16. Kevin Punter and Jan Vesely chipped in 14 points apiece, and Juani Marcos contributed 11 points and four assists.
For the hosts, Kobi Simmons stood out with 25 points, Mamadi Diakite posted 19 points and seven rebounds, while Rodions Kurucs added 15.
Barcelona opened the game in dominant fashion, racing to a 19–3 lead, but Baskonia responded by the end of the first quarter to cut the deficit to six. The hosts carried that momentum into the second and third quarters and briefly took the lead, but Barcelona answered with a decisive 16–2 run in the final period to regain control and hold off a late push to seal the win.
ACB League Round 28
Unicaja de Málaga – Hiopos Lleida 91-72
UCAM Murcia – La Laguna Tenerife 86-80
Dreamland Gran Canaria – Bàsquet Girona 100-90
Valencia Basket – Real Madrid 82-96
Rio Breogán – Asisa Joventut 93-86
Kosner Baskonia – Barcelona 92-95
Coviran Granada – Morabanc Andorra 89-86
BAXI Manresa – San Pablo Burgos (26/4)
STANDINGS: Real Madrid 25-3, Valencia Basket 21-7, Murcia 21-7, Barcelona 19-9, Baskonia 19-8…