By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona prevailed over Panathinaikos with 98-71 in Palau Blaugrana on Friday evening, after stepping up in the second half. It was the sixth straight defeat of the Greens by Barcelona and the point margin was the second biggest in their EuroLeague history.
The star: Kevin Seraphin reached new career highs in the game, by adding 24 points and 7 rebounds, combining an evaluation of 29.
There were also notable performances by Adrien Moerman (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Thomas Heurtel (10 points, 9 assists).
Turning point: Barcelona managed to overcome the pressure after the middle of the third quarter and kept double-digit leads until the end of the game. When the deficit rose to 19 points, it was too late for the visitors to attempt a comeback.
Fast paced first quarter: Barcelona enjoyed its homecourt advantage, trailing Panathinaikos 15-12 after 6 minutes in the game. Kevin Seraphin took charge and led the hosts with 24-20 after the first period.
Just when Barcelona built a 29-20 lead, two consecutive baskets by Gabriel helped Panathinaikos stay in touch of the score. Yet, Heurtel and Seraphin helped their team keep a 5-point lead at halftime, with 45-30. The hosts were more efficient in creation, dashing 11 assists up until that point of the game, while the Greek side counted five.
A 13-2 sweep in the third period helped the Spanish team establish a 56-38 lead at 24′. Panathinaikos quickly reacted, trimming the deficit to 8 points, yet Barcelona’s domination persisted, giving them a double-digit lead head after the end of the third quarter with 65-54.