By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona might be plagued by injuries, yet survived the clasico against Real Madrid, forcing its rivals to their first loss of the season with 85 – 75.
From early on, Ante Tomic’s presence in the low post was Barcelona’s strongest point in the game. The Croatian big man had 8 points and 5 rebounds only during the first period, which ended 20 – 15 in the hosts’ favor. With Stratos Perperoglou shooting from middle range distance, the Blaugranas expanded their lead in the second period and were up 49-33 at halftime.
Even after the break, the hosts were unstoppable, grabbing a 14-point lead after 30 minutes of game with 67-53. Real Madrid cut down the deficit in the final period of the game, yet Barcelona was still up 80-71 with 2 minutes left in the game.
For the winners, Tomic finished the game with 19 points and 7 rebounds, Perperoglou with 18, while Tyrese Rice added 16.
For Real Madrid, Dontaye Draper had 13 points, followed by Othello Hunter who scored 11 and Andres Nocioni’s 10.
Baskonia had it easy over Manresa, with Jaka Blazic leading the hosts with 17 points.
No team remains perfect in the lead, though Barcelona and Real are even in the standings with 5-1, while Tenerife has played all 7 games and holds a 6-1 record.
ACB 2016-17 – Day 7
MoraBanc Andorra (4-2) – UCAM Murcia (2-5) 88 – 72 (Baron 21)
FC Barcelona Lassa (5-1) – Real Madrid (5-1) – 85-75 (Tomic 19)
Baskonia (5-2) – Manresa (1-5) 82 -69 (Blazic 17)
Gran Canaria (3-4) – Real Betis Energía Plus (3-4) 82 – 62 (Zoric 14)
Fuenlabrada (2-5) –Valencia (4-2) 73 – 68 (Smits 17)
Joventut (2-5) – Unicaja (4-3) 82 – 79 (Suarez 16)
Obradoiro (2-5) – Zaragoza (2-5) 80 – 63 (Dulkys 21)
Tenerife (6-1) – Estudiantes (2-4) 81 – 70 (Jackson 19)