Barça 80-69 Granada: No easy victory

Barça certainly bring their A-game to Sunday's encounter with Granada, but they pulled their act together in the final period and ended up winning it by 11.

The game coming less than 48 hours after facing ASVEL in the EuroLeague, the Catalans could be forgiven for looking a little tired at times, and they struggled to get into their stride, going 9 down early doors (6-15).

It was the 3-point attempts that were really letting them down, with Abrines bagging the only one of the first period. But the gap was slowlwly narrowing with Jabari Parker in particular leading the reaction, and Oriol Paulí making the most of his opportunity to shine. By the break, Barça had somehow managed to get into the lead (35-31).

But the tables had not turned quite yet. Eight uncontested points from Granada meant things were tightened up and the third period ended with the sides level pegging (54-54).

Jokubaitis was the main man now, but while the 3-pointers weren't going in, neither were the free throws, with Barça collecting a miserable number of fewer than 50%. While Cristiano Felicio was giving Barça all kinds od headaches in defence, the Lithuanian seemed more determined than anyone to make sure the home fans would be going home happy. And they did indeed, for two quick threes finally did find the basket and Barça ended up winning a very tight match by a surprisingly wide margin.

Next up are back-to-back EuroLeague fixtures in Bologna (06/12) and then back at the Palau against Fenerbahçe (08/12).

MATCH STATS

Barça: 80
Granada: 69

Barça: Satoransky, Brizuela, Kalinic, Da Silva, Vesely, Hernangómez, Parker, Jokubaitis, Parra, Paulí, Abrines & Nnaji.

Granada: Costa, Thomasson. Cheatham, Felicio, Tomàs, Kairys, Díaz, Kramer, Rouselle, Konontšuk, Martínez & Iriarte.

Periods: 11-15, 35-31, 54-54, 80-69.

Referees: Miguel Ángel Pérez Pérez, Jorge Martínez & Alberto Baena.