By Eurohoops team / info@Eurohoops.net
Nicolas Laprovittola scored 27 points to carry a shorthanded Barcelona past Gran Canaria 87 – 79 in the Spanish League to improve to a league-best 24-5. It was the last game of the Blaugrana before they begin the playoff series vs. Zalgiris Kaunas.
Laprovittola shot 5-5 2-pointers, 3-8 triples and 8-8 from the line in 26:49 to take over scoring duties for a Barcelona team that was without Cory Higgins, Nikola Kalinic, Oscar da Silva and Alex Abrines. Nikola Mirotic (17 points, seven rebounds) was the only other Barca player in double figures, climbing to the 15th spot on the club’s all-time scoring list in ACB. He passed his coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.
AJ Slaughter had 13 points and Vitor Benite scored 12 for Gran Canaria. The Las Palmas team dropped to 17-11 and the seventh spot in the standings.
With seven (!) players scoring in double figures, Valencia beat Bilbao 95 – 88 to remain within the playoff spots, now at 15-4. Bilbao is 12-16 and 10th.