By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After winning the first two games of this best-of-five series at home, FC Barcelona managed to get the upper hand in Game 3 as well, winning 93-82 to complete the job and lift the Spanish league title in the WiZink center. Barcelona was way better from deep (11/22 vs 5/21) and at the line (90% vs 65%).
In what may realistically be his last game with FC Barcelona after four seasons, Nikola Mirotic had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. He was one of five players in double-digits for Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team, with Jan Vesely being the highest scorer as he dropped 19 points with 9/16 inside the area.
Mirotic won the MVP Finals trophy, getting his award from the hands of Pau Gasol while getting booed by Real Madrid fans who have an ongoing vendetta against their former player.
✨ Pau Gasol entrega el MVP de la final a Nikola Mirotic pic.twitter.com/VmTexdJP32
— EurohoopsES (@EurohoopsES) June 20, 2023
It was a bittersweet goodbye for Mirotic who had already confirmed before the start of the Finals that he is leaving Barcelona due to the financial issues that plague the club, making his record-breaking contract unaffordable.
He finished his tenure as the team’s captain by winning the title and also calling the injured Cory Higgins to lift the trophy together with him.
Nikola Mirotic’s last act as Barcelona’s captain
Calling injured Cory Higgins to lift the trophy together 👏pic.twitter.com/r0W1SWXYKW
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 20, 2023
On the losing end, Walter Tavares ended the season with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds with 7/11 from two. The French duo of Fabien Causeur and Guerschon Yabusele combined for 21 points.
After coming off short in the 2021-22 season by losing against Chus Mateo’s team, the Lithuanian head coach took revenge by sweeping Barcelona’s rivals. It’s the 20th ACB League title for the Catalan side.
ACB Finals Results and Schedule
FC Barcelona – Real Madrid, G1: 97-88
FC Barcelona – Real Madrid, G2: 86-85
Real Madrid – FC Barcelona, G3: 82-93
PHOTO CREDIT: ACB