Barça 82-73 Panathinaikos: Defeat of the champions

Barça can be proud of tonight's win at the Palau Blaugrana (82-73), and over the same Panathinaikos side that won this tournament last season. Things didn't get off to the best of starts, but a 29-12 win in the third period and brilliance from Jabari Parker (25) and Brizuela (15>) did the trick.

The Greeks started the better side and it was perhaps fortunate that the first period didn't end with Barça in deeper trouble than they actually were (18-21). In the second they actually led by four at one point, but a 0-9 streak from the visitors meant they were trailing by eight at the interval (30-38).

What a reaction!

The third period was the turning point. Barça improved enormously in defence, imposed their character and powered their way back into the lead. Panathinaikos were utterly flustered, and a Brizuela three ended the period with the score looking a whole lot healthier (57-49).

The visitors reacted in the final quarter, but Barça did a wonderful job of holding them off, and when Brizuela bagged another three to make it 69-60, that was practically game over. A 3-pointer from Abrines and a couple of Punter free throws finished off the job and Barça could celebrate a morale-boosting victory.

MATCH STATS

BARÇA, 82
PANATHINAIKOS, 73

Barça: Tomas Satoransky (2), Kevin Punter (7), Justin Anderson, Jabari Parker (25), Youssoupha Fall (6), Chimezie Metu (8), Juan Núñez (3), Jan Vesely (4), Álex Abrines (12), Darío Brizuela (15) & Joel Parra.

PAO: Kendrick Nunn (7), Jerian Grant (18), Juancho Hernangómez (12), Cedi Osman (14), Omer Yurtseven (11), Wenyen Gabriel (4), Kostas Mitoglou (2), Kostas Sloukas (5), Lorenzo Brown, Ioannis Papapetrou & Panagiotis Kalaitzakis.

Period: 18-21, 12-17, 29-12, 23-23

Referees: Emin Mogulkoc, Jakub Zamojski, Saulius Racys.