Barcelona secured a crucial victory on their home court, defeating Lithuanian side Zalgiris 82:70.
The hosts were without Jan Vesely, Juan Nunez, and Nicolas Laprovittola, while Zalgiris missed only Lukas Lekavicius.
Zalgiris dictated the tempo early with a tough defensive approach that slowed down Barcelona’s offense. Deividas Sirvydis hit two three-pointers to give Andrea Trinchieri’s team a 20:16 lead after the first quarter. However, much like in the game against Partizan, Kevin Punter stepped up for Barcelona, sparking his team with aggressive drives and efficient trips to the free-throw line. The American guard scored 10 points in the second quarter, leading a turnaround, while Barcelona’s defense tightened up, allowing them to take a 36:31 halftime lead.
Zalgiris attempted to double-team Punter in the second half, but he smartly passed out of pressure, creating open shots for his teammates. Barcelona steadily built their lead, entering the final quarter ahead 59:51.
Dario Brizuela had an outstanding performance, reaching 15 points early in the fourth quarter and pushing Barcelona’s lead into double digits. Zalgiris struggled offensively, exposing their weaknesses, while Barcelona maintained control. The visitors lacked the offensive firepower to mount a serious comeback, allowing Joan Penarroya’s squad to close out the game without much drama.
Dario Brizuela led the way for Barcelona with 20 points, while Justin Anderson contributed 16. Ignas Brazdeikis and Sylvain Francisco were Zalgiris’ top scorers with 13 points each.
With this victory, Barcelona improved to 17-13, the same record as Bayern, Crvena Zvezda, and Paris. Meanwhile, Zalgiris fell to 14-16, nearly eliminating them from the play-in race.
Top Betting Offers 2025:
