Barça 72–69 Bàsquet Girona: Blaugrana victory in the Catalan derby

Barça took victory on a special day at the Palau Blaugrana. The game against Bàsquet Girona was not just a local derby, but also a chance for former blaugranes Pierre Oriola and Marc Gasol to return to their former home. 

The visitors started strongly with six unanswered points giving them the advantage early on. Nevertheless, a trio of three pointers from Higgins, Satoransky and Abrines saw the home side fight back and after a run of 14 points without reply, Barça led 23-19 at the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter Barça moved up a gear and a three pointer from Higgins saw Barça move 12 points into the lead. Five from five three pointers in the second quarter saw the home side take a 50-38 at half time and put themselves seemingly on the road to a comfortable win. 

Lack of precision late on 

Both sides struggled to find their rhythm in the third quarter but the blaugranes kept their advantage. A dunk from Kalinic made it 63-46 and at the end of the period, Saras Jasikeviicius' team led 65-50. 

In the final quarter Barça took their eye off the ball and Bàsquet Girona launched a comeback. After bringing the lead back to 10 points at 68-58, the visitors found a three pointer from Taylor to make it 68-63. Saras had to call a time out to break the rhythm of his side's Catalan opponents but on the restart neither side was able to assert control. 

Colom came close late on for Girona to levelling the scores but Barça had the experience to hold on for a tougher than expected win. 

MATCH STATS 

Barça, 72

Bàsquet Girona, 69

Barça: Vesely (14), Kalinic (6), Abrines(8), Higgins 13), Jokubaitis (4), Nnaji (2) – starting five- Laprovittola (3), Satoransky (3), Sanli (1), Paulí (2), Oscar Da Silva (16)-

Bàsquet Girona: Fjellerup (8), Figueres (9), Miletic (8) - starting five- Vila (4), Taylor (12), Prakcin (6), Colom (13), Marc Gasol (9)