Third game of the week and third victory for Barça as they defeated Baskonia 91-83 at the Palau Blaugrana in the league. The win rounds of a great seven days for the team after Euroleague wins against first Bayern and then Virtus Bologna. Will Clyburn was the star man against the Basques racking up 24 points and a 23 point valuation in what was caretaker coach Óscar Orellana's third and final game in charge with new coach Xavi Pascual set to take over ahead the team's next fixture. 

Tight early on 

The first quarter saw both sides swap the lead without ever putting daylight between themselves and their opponents. The lead changed hands six times in the opening ten minutes as the teams ended the period all square at 19-19. In the second quarter the tone of the game remained the same until an inspired Luwawu-Cabarrot for Baskonia led his team to a 41-32 lead thanks to a run of seven unanswered points. Óscar Orellana's team rallied and pulled it back to a four point deficit at 43-39 come half time. 

Barça reaction 

The third quarter turned out to be decisive with a 10-2 run for the blaugranes giving them the lead at 49-45. Switched on at both ends of the court, Shengalia, Brizuela and Clyburn added 10, 9 and 8 points respectively to lift the fans on to their feet and give Barça a 70-62 advantage going into the final period. 

Baskonia rallied and came to within two of the blaugranes at 75-73 but three pointers from Cale and Punter put Barça eight points in front. Shengelia's steal set up a spectacular dunk from Clyburn at 87-77 and the American notched up the final points of the game to give the home side a valuable 91-83 win. 

Barça's next test will come with Xavi Pascual in charge for the first time for his team's trip to Turkey to take on Anadolu Efes on Thursday at 6.30pm CET on match day 12 of the Euroleague. 

MATCH STATS

Barça, 91
Baskonia, 83 

Barça: Punter (11), Juani Marcos (4), Cale (9), Shengelia (14), Vesely (11) -starting five- Brizuela (9), Satoransky (0), Hernangómez (9), Laprovittola (0), Clyburn (24), Parra (0).

Baskonia: Howard (14), Simmons (8), Diallo (8), Kurucs (4), Diop (0) -starting five- Diakite (17), Villar (0), Sedekerskis (9), Luwawu-Cabarrot (21), Spagnolo (2), Frisch (0).

Quarters: 19-19; 20-24 (39-43) // 31-19 (70-62); 21-21 (91-83).

 

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