By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was not an easy night, especially when it was announced just before the game that Jan Vesely would not play.
When it was all said and done, Barcelona got the big 90-79 road win over Paris Basketball with Willy Hernangomez having a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Chimezie Metu added 13 points and the Catalans have a 10-9 record being in the playoffs mix, while Paris dropped to 11-7, having played one game less.
“It’s an important moment for us, it’s the moment to be together, to try to give more of ourselves to the team and the fans because they deserve wins”, said Hernangomez after the final buzzer.
TJ Shorts with 20 points and Maodo Lo with 18 tried to save the day, but Paris with 7/30 threes couldn’t keep up with the guests for most of the game.
Barcelona demonstrating character
Barcelona set the tone in the first half, leading 25-19 after the first period and 40-36 at halftime as Paris made just three out of 18 threes.
TJ Shorts with 13 points in the first half was the only scorer in double digits, while Barcelona also had 2/9 threes but kept things in check, extending their advantage to seven points (40-33) before a three at the buzzer by Yakuba Ouattara.
Barcelona kept their composure and continued to dominate extending their lead to 56-42 by scoring 16 points in the first five minutes of the second half with Hernangomez reaching the 14-point mark.
The guests entered the last period leading by 10 (65-55) and Barcelona managed to get a 14-point advantage again (73-59). Still, Paris didn’t back down and with the first made three of Maodo Lo in the game they managed to trim the lead to four (81-77) entering the last five minutes of play.
With the game on the line, Barcelona scored five unanswered points (86-77) as Paris missed three straight possessions and entered the last two minutes with the game on their hands.
Photo credit: EuroLeague