By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Taking over the second half with a brilliant display on both ends, FC Barcelona secured the crucial win, 89-80, against Partizan Mozzart Bet Tuesday.
Dominating the first quarter with 11 points, Nicolas Laprovittola ended up with 25 points behind 5/7 field goals and seven assists in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 31 contest. He connected 4/5 from beyond the arc in a total of 11/18 threes for the visitors at the capital of Serbia.
“To start the week like this, in this atmosphere, with this kind of win, it is very important for us,” mentioned the Argentine guard at the top end of EuroLeague’s final double-game week of the 2022-23 season, “I think the best fans of the league are here. We prepared to play against them. I think we did a good job.”
Nikola Mirotic poured 15 of his 19 points in the second half. “It was a tough game, an emotional game here in Belgrade, as always with those fans. It was a huge win. We played amazing basketball, especially in the second half,” he said in the flash interview.
Back in Belgrade to face his first EuroLeague team in an emotional night as well, Jan Vesely chipped in 14 points. Fellow Czech star Tomas Satoransky added ten points, five assists, and three rebounds. Lacking injury issues, Barcelona scratched both Oriol Pauli and Sergi Martinez along with young center James Nnaji.
The team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius overcame a poor showing in the second quarter and bounced back for the first double-digit lead thanks to a 17-4 start to the second half. Supported by the loud fans at Stark Arena, the home side did not give up but nor found a way back as the impressive shooting percentages of the first half dwindled against a better defense. The double-digit being restored down the stretch sealed the deal for the Catalonia powerhouse.
“I thought our physicality went up. I think we responded to their runs very well keeping their crowd out of the game, which is one of the most important things here,” the Lithuanian play-caller described the second half and dealing with the sold-out crowd, “It was a very good win.”
Forcing difficult looks was instrumental in Barca going up to 21-10 with a third EuroLeague win in a row and sixth straight across all competitions. A seventh consecutive win in direct meetings with the Belgrade outfit was an added bonus in the hunt for the best possible seeding on the Playoffs bracket.
Facing his former team, Dante Exum tallied a team-high 24 points, including ten in the second period shifting Partizan to the driver’s seat until the break. Limited to 6/17 field goals, Kevin Punter followed with 16 points in his tenth straight EuroLeague showing with over 14 points. Sidelined since early January, Balsa Koprivica (illness) has yet to be cleared for action.
Legendary tactician Zeljko Obradovic saw his side fall to 17-14, after winning seven of the last eight games in all competitions, including the last two outings in Europe’s premier club continental competition.
Partizan completing back-to-back opposite ACB giants
From Barca to Real Madrid is the case for the team guided by Obradovic. The Whites will visit Belgrade Friday at the bottom end of the two-game week. With a chance to improve the AdmiralBet ABA League-leading 20-2 record, Partizan will face FMP Soccerbet on the road Monday. Traveling to AS Monaco shapes EuroLeague’s penultimate Round 33 next Friday.
Obradovic’s former player, Jasikevicius will now plan for a home game versus ALBA Berlin Thursday. Part of a three-way tie on top of Spain’s Liga Endesa table at 20-4, his side will be in the Canary Islands to take on Lenovo Tenerife Sunday before switching to Italy for a EuroLeague game against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan next Friday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net