Olimpia Milano 88-98 FC Barcelona: Big message

After a tough one-point loss to Bayern on Tuesday, Barça came out strong and dominated Olimpia Milano on the road, securing a crucial win that brings them closer to the playoffs. Brizuela and Punter were difference-makers.

Turning on the style in Milan

This one was circled on the calendar. Barça, sitting in the play-in zone, faced a Milano squad just one win behind in the standings. From the jump, the Catalans came out firing, but Milano, led by a hot-starting Mirotic pushed back late in the period. But Barça flipped the script with an 11-2 run, closing the first quarter up 25-21.

The momentum carried into the second, where Barça put up a blistering 30 points. Brizuela dropped all 17 of his first-half points in the second quarter, while Sarr added 10 before the break. Shooting efficiently from everywhere, Barça headed into halftime with a promising 55-44 lead.

Comfy ride home

Barça kept the pressure on in the second half. Parker set the tone with an early tripled, while Barça’s rebounding and perimeter shooting extended their control. Brizuela’s first-half heroics gave way to Parker’s sharpshooting in the third, keeping the lead intact heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter started much like the third—Milano’s possession, but Barça’s impact. Brizuela drilled another three to reach 22 points, while Punter’s deep ball stretched the lead to 20 (85-65). Milano made a late push, cutting it to eight, but Barça never flinched and went on to seal the win.

With this victory, Barça now holds a two-game cushion over Milano and they are now one step closer to the goal of the endseason playoffs.

MATCH STATS

Milano: 88
Barça: 98

Milán: LeDay (7), Mannion (14), Mirotic (28), Shields (18), Tonut (5), Caruso (7), Bolmaro (6) i Ricci (3).

Barça: Satoranksy (3), Abrines (0), Hernangómez (3), Parker (10), Sarr (13), Brizuela (27), Punter (25), Parra (9), Fall (7), Anderson (1). 

Periods: 21-25, 44-55, 63-74, 88-98.

Referees: Ilija Belosevic, Luka Kardum & Eduard Udyanskyy.