By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In the end, Barcelona won 90-83 over ASVEL, but it was not easy.
Kevin Punter with 20 points and Jan Vesely with 14 led a balanced effort for the hosts who trailed in the first half.
Still, they managed to close the game out well and never lost the lead in the last five minutes.
Theo Maledon once more with 21 points and Neal Sako with 17 did the best they could for the French side which dropped to 2-3, while Barcelona with a 4-1 record shares the top of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings with Zalgiris Kaunas.
“When they stopped playing regular defense, it became tougher for us because the focus was on Nando and Theo. With some players missing, like Lauvergne, who could have been a great asset for us by creating mismatches on the switch, we just had to keep doing the same thing and prey they found the extra energy to score,” said Pierric Poupet, head coach of ASVEL.
A fight until the end
The game was close from the first second and despite playing on the road ASVEL managed to close the first period up by three points (20-17) and was still up by one (44-43) at the end of the first half with Neal Sako making two free throws for a total of 11 points.
Kevin Punter also had 10 first-half points and Barcelona managed to get a five-point advantage (52-47) to start the second half.
Still, ASVEL didn’t back down and closed the third period with the score tied at 69. The French side took the 76-71 lead with seven minutes left and Maledon having 20 points.
Barcelona tied the score with Parker at 76 one minute later and the fight which included 18 lead changes continued.
However, the hosts saved the best for last, got an 86-81 advantage, and never lost it until the end.
Photo credit: EuroLeague