Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz ended 2021 in the best way possible as it emphatically defeated FC Barcelona 94-75 to snap the league-leader's nine-game winning streak. Baskonia put together the first run with 16 straight points to open a 10-point advantage in the second quarter. The margin was down to 4 in the third, but Baskonia went on a 17-6 run and the advantage grew as high as 25 points. Rokas Giedraitis led the way with 20 points for Baskonia, which won back-to-back games for the first time since winning Rounds 3-5 early this season, and improved its record to 7-11.
Baskonia snaps Barcelona's winning streak, 94-75
Wade Baldwin IV added 18 points, Simone Fontecchio scored 14 points, Steven Enoch and Matt Costello both chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Jayson Granger tallied 10 points. Baskonia was led by assistant coach David Gil since head coach Neven Spahija was not available due to COVID-19 protocols. Barcelona, which had beaten Baskonia by 26 points at home in Round 9, dropped to 15-3 despite Nikola Mirotic scoring 19 points. Sertac Sanli added 13 points, Nicolas Laprovittola scored 12 and Rokas Jokubaitis 11 points in the loss.
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Brandon Davies opened the game for the visitors with Giedraitis hitting from deep for Baskonia’s first score and first lead. A three-pointer from Laprovittola and 5 points by Mirotic put Barcelona ahead 8-12. A Giedraitis triple put Baskonia back ahead only to have Laprovittola answer with 5 points for a 13-17 lead. Lamar Peters joined the three-point party as Baskonia went up 18-17. Sanli took advantage of a mismatch against Fontecchio with 4 points and Barcelona led 20-23 after 10 minutes.
Jokubaitis hit a three-pointer to start the second quarter and extend Barcelona’s lead to 6. Baskonia stepped up its defense and Costello took over offensively with 9 points. Granger’s three-pointer completed a 16-0 run over nearly 7 minutes, which included two Barcelona timeouts, for a 36-26 Baskonia advantage. Mirotic’s triple ended the drought and started a 2-8 spurt to close within 4. But Costello continued his fantastic quarter with a putback at the buzzer and Baskonia led 40-34 at the break.
Baskonia scored the first 5 points of the second half with Fontecchio’s three-pointer making it 45-34. Mirotic drained one from deep as Barcelona needed nearly 2 minutes to score. Mirotic added another triple but Giedraitis and Fontecchio answered with three-pointers and Giedraitis’ three-point play had Baskonia up 56-44. Barcelona couldn’t get any production from anybody other than Mirotic while triples from Baldwin and Peters and a Fontecchio fastbreak dunk increased the margin to 18 points. Jokubaitis scored 4 points, but Giedraitis knocked down two more three-pointers and it was 74-54 after 30 minutes.
Enoch’s free throws started the final stanza with Sanli answering from deep at the other end. Enoch scored again and the gap was up to 82-57 with 8 minutes to play. Baskonia remained concentrated and did not let Barcelona get closer than 18 points - at 88-70 with less than 4 minutes remaining.