The Barça basketball team have ended 2022 in the best way possible. A 99-94 win away at Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade came courtesy of a great three point display that enabled the visitors to take the win in overtime.
Barça take early lead
Two consecutive three pointers from Satoransky helped the blaugranes into an early lead in Serbia and at 20-12 Saras Jasikevicius' team were in control. Barça pressed home their advantage and led 28-17 at the end of the first quarter.
Barça then extended their lead to 15 points in the second quarter, however, Crvena Zvezda launched an impressive comeback to take the lead in the contest. Only seven unanswered points from Satoransky and Laprovittola allowed Barça to retain their lead at 43-40 at half time.
Abrines brings Barça back
In the second half the game became a tight affair. Nevertheless, the home side slowly clawed their way in front to take an eight point lead with Barça stuttering in attack. At one point Crvena Zvezda led by 12 points but Saras' team fought back to reduce the deficit to just two points thanks to Abrines' precision from the three point line.
Barça got back on level terms at 79-79 with just a minute to go. A mistake from the blaugranes handed the home side two free throws and at 84-81 the game appeared decided. The hero for Barça was Mirotic as the Montenegrin nailed a three pointer with seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Barça took the momentum into overtime and once they established a four point lead they never looked like relinquishing their advantage. The blaugranes closed out the 99-94 win to round off 2022 with their first game of the new year to come at Real Madrid on 2 January.
MATCH STATS
Crvena Zvezda, 94
Barça, 99
Crvena Zvezda: Vildoza (-), Lazarevic (-), Mitrovic (18), Nedovic (24) i Petrusev (24) -starting five- Holland (7), Lazic (-), Dobric (14), Markovic (3), Kuzmic (-), Bentil (4)
Barça: Satoransky (19), Laprovittola (7), Kalinic (7), Mirotic (12) i Vesely (10) -starting five- Higgins (15), Jokubaitis (2), Da Silva (3), Sanli (10), Abrines (14)