By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona was on the verge of a crucial win, however, Bayern Munich closed the game the right way.
In the end, the Bavarians got the big 102-101 win as Kevin Punter missed the chance to win the game at the buzzer.
Vladimir Lucic, with two free throws, was the hero in the end for the winners. Once more, Carsen Edwards, with 23 points, was the top scorer for Bayern, Elias Harris added 17 crucial points, and Nick Weiler-Babb added 16 plus a key shot in the closing seconds.
“Against such an opponent and with so many lead changes, I am just happy for us getting out of this game healthy and be able to win”, said Edwards at the end of the night.
Bayern improved to an 18-13 record and keeps the fifth spot, while Barcelona dropped to 17-14, and anything is possible for them.
Jabari Parker with 23 points and Kevin Puner with 20 were impressive, Juancho Hernangomez had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, but couldn’t get the win, plus Chimezie Metu left the game injured. A bit later, the club announced that Metu had suffered a rupture of the Achilles tendon in his right leg, and the season is over for him.
Decided on the last shot
Everyone expected a big game, and nobody was disappointed from the get-go.
Bayern got a 30-28 lead after the first period, and despite getting an 11-point advantage (47-36) after a three by Carsen Edwards with five minutes left in the second, with Parker scoring 16 first-half points and Punter adding 14, Barcelona trailed just by one (56-55) at halftime.
Danko Brankovic, with 10 points in less than nine minutes of the first half, was the x-factor for the guests.
Barcelona took the 57-56 lead with a bucket by Joel Parra to start the second half and closed the third period also up by one (77-76).
The hosts finally created some distance, opening the last quarter with six unanswered points (83-76) thanks to two threes by Justin Anderson and Dario Brizuela.
Bayern tried to react, but Barcelona extended their advantage to 11 points (94-83) with five minutes left.
Bayern didn’t fold and made it a one-point game (101-100), with Nick Weiler-Babb and Edwards scoring back-to-back, just 39 seconds left before the final buzzer.
Brizuela took the responsibility, he missed, and Lucic got the rebound with 17 seconds on the clock and was fouled. He made both free throws to give Bayern the 102-101 with a 6-0 run in the last two minutes, and Barcelona had the ball.
Punter got the ball, missed the shot at the buzzer, and Bayern got the big win.
Photo credit: EuroLeague