In Round 32 of the top tier of Spanish basketball — the Liga Endesa — Baskonia hosted Barcelona in Vitoria and came away with a 110-98 win, a crucial step forward in their fight for a playoff spot.
This game carried extra weight for Baskonia, as they are in a fierce battle to reach the postseason.
They’ve had little to celebrate this season — they failed to crack the EuroLeague’s top 10, missed the Copa del Rey for a second straight year (a first in the 21st century), and have been hovering around the playoff cut line all season long.
Dario Brizuela came out hot and led Barcelona to a 23-19 lead after the first quarter, punishing every Baskonia mistake, including five turnovers. It was also unusual to see Baskonia shoot just 1/2 from three in the first quarter, though they quickly corrected that in the second.
They went on to play one of their best quarters of the season, led by Markus Howard, who scored 19 points and hit all four of his three-point attempts. Trent Forrest also stood out with eight points and eight assists — most of them to Howard. Jabari Parker struggled with a poor 1/7 shooting half, and Brizuela was hit with a technical foul, which also marked his third personal. Baskonia turned a four-point deficit into a 57-44 lead, dominating the second quarter 38-21.
Everything Baskonia showed in the second quarter, Barcelona returned in kind after halftime. In under two minutes, Baskonia committed four fouls, putting Barcelona in the bonus. Kevin Punter and Jabari Parker combined for 14 points during a 14-3 run. Barcelona went on to win the third quarter 31-26, but still trailed 83-75, with Brizuela forced to exit due to hamstring pain.
Baskonia built a 9-point lead early in the final quarter, but Punter sparked a 6-0 run to cut the gap to just three points. The game was played at a frantic pace on both ends, but Forrest’s three-pointer pushed Baskonia to a 103-92 lead. Howard then crossed the 30-point mark, and his eighth three-pointer — a tough off-balance shot — sealed the deal at 106-95.
Markus Howard was the game’s top scorer with 34 points, shooting 8-of-11 from three, 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, and adding four assists. Trent Forrest added 19 points and 11 assists, while Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot contributed 17 points. For Barcelona, Jabari Parker led with 21 points, and Kevin Punter added 18.
It remains to be seen what the situation is with Dario Brizuela, who did not return to the game in the final quarter. Given Barcelona’s already depleted roster, it’s crucial that his injury isn’t serious heading into the final stretch of the season.
With this win, Baskonia takes a big step toward the playoffs. Their upcoming opponents, Leyma Coruna and Bilbao, are teams they’ll be expected to beat. They now hold a 17-15 record. Barcelona, now at 19-13, will have to fight to retain fifth place, with Gran Canaria and Joventut trailing by just one win.
- Alba Berlin will play in the FIBA Champions League starting next season
- Tornike Shengelia will reportedly sign a three-year contract with Barcelona
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