Real Madrid 96-85 Barça: Defeat in the final
Barça have lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid despite keeping things tight for most of the final, but the first silverware of the Roger Grimau era will have to wait.
All out from the start
A final is always special, and even more so if it's a Clásico too, and both sides flung themselves into this game in Malaga. Madrid drew first blood, but five points from Satoransky raised Barça's confidence, and we had a match on our hands.
Madrid threatened to break into a lead, but two threes from Laprovittola and some Willy Hernangómez magic kept that in check, and in the second period Jokubaitis particularly came into the game as Barça edge their way in front at last, and were still two points by the time the half-time buzzer sounded.
All to play for
Vesely was imperial early in the third period with eight points and then Jabari Parker started showing us what he was made of. Madrid were also bringing their A-game into this one, and it was clear to see why these are viewed as two of the best teams in Europe right now. Some of the basketball was out of this world.
Going into the final period, there was still nothing to pick between the sides. Brizuela's 3-pointer was eclipsed by three from the all-whites, two from Yabusele and one from Deck in between, and all of a sudden there was a big difference, and sadly it wasn't a blaugrana one. 77-68. From here on it was an uphill battle and one that Barça were ultimately going to lose. Madrid kept things at around +9, mainly thanks two one or two more than questionable foul calls but also Barça wastefulness with both 3-point attempts and free throws, meaning that any chance of cutting down the deficit gradually faded to nothing.
MATCH STATS
Real Madrid: 96
Barça: 85
Real Madrid: Campazzo (18), Musa (15), Deck (13), Yabusele (15), Tavares (4), Rudy Fernández (0), Hezonja (12), Sergio Rodríguez (0), Poirier ( 17), Llull (2), Causeur (-) & Abalde (-)
Barça: Satoransky (15), Kalinic (3), Da Silva (0), Parker (19), Vesely (14), Hernangómez (8), Laprovittola (6), Abrines (2), Parra (3), Brizuela (8), Nnaji (-) & Jokubaitis (7).
Periods: 19-19, 43-45, 66-63, 96-85.
Referees: Antonio Conde, Rafael Serrano & Arnau Padrós.