Endesa League | A very physical Barça contains Unicaja at the Palau

A match of high tension, of fight, was expected, and the first three minutes neither team was able to scorefruit of that entry into the duel with too much uncontrolled energy between both teams.

It was Vesely who opened the scoring in a very close duel at the beginning, with defenses on the limit of both teams and without anyone taking the initiative despite the first points from Mirotic, who was highly motivated. Ejim responded to Abrines’ first three-pointer, who He was the player who kept the Malaga squad in attack (11-11).

Although it was the awakening in Barça’s three-pointer, after failing the first three, when Saras’ men took the initiative. Abrines and two from Sanli, along with an action from Jokubaitis led to the first stretch on the scoreboard with a 11-0 (22-11).

The Barça opens gap

It was difficult for Unicaja to score against the Barça defense and Barça opened up a gap in those first 10 minutes with a very physical basketball leaving Unicaja in only 15 points (26-15).

Barça picked up a run, thanks to its defense and an initial triple by Alberto Díezthe Barcelona team responded with good actions from Jokubaitis and Kuric to open the maximum (30-18).

Jasikevicius moved the bench before the rhythm of the duel just as Unicaja approached seven after Kalinoski’s triple (32-259. Saras stopped the game, and Barça’s reaction was immediate, again from the triple.

Good moments of the Barça

One from Satoransky and another from Laprovittola brought the lead to 15 points (42-27) against a Unicaja where their point guard, Kendrick Perry, who couldn’t get into the game, got into a brawl with Laprovittola, which ended with technique and both to the bench with three fouls.

A new triple by Mirotic brought the maximum to 16 (45-29) which Ejim reduced to 14 at the break (45-31) with a very physical Barça and with the success in the triple (7/12) controlled a Unicaja that he couldn’t develop his game.

The second half started with total dominance by Unicaja, which completely changed the scenario of the first half. Much more focused and accurate on the shot, the people from Malaga posted an initial run of 0-8, which brought them closer to six (45-39).

Kuric broke Barça’s bad start from the three-pointer, although Ibón Navarro’s men continued to attack easily in the area, with Yankuba Sima leading the way (11 points) and came within just three after Kalinoski’s three-pointer (50-47).

The success of the visitors led them to only two points (59-57) with Perry on the bench with four fouls, although Barça ‘survived’ the great quarter of Unicaja (66-58).

With a grown Unicaja, Saras could not wait long to return Mirotic to the track. The game heated up as it reached the final minutes, with techniques for Ejim to release his elbow and the despair of Ibón Navarro who they couldn’t get close enough to Barça (75-65) at 5:59 from the end.

Close victory but 1-0 in the series

The losses hurt Unicaja although they continued to fight to the death in those final minutes, rebounding in attack, but without hitting the shot, something that Barça took advantage of to go 10 (77-67) at 3:21 from the end.

Unicaja continued to believe, with a 0-5 run (77-72) and a triple from Satoransky seemed to decide the duel. But Navarro’s team continued to persist and after Carter’s triple, they came within three points (82-79) with 18 seconds remaining.

After the pressure from the people of Malaga, Laprovittola scored the two free throws (84-79) and Kalinoski forced three shots. He scored two and in the third, which he missed, Unicaja recovered the ball with 3.3 seconds. They had the ball to tie the game, but there was no shot because Mirotic stole the ball to close Barça’s victory (84-81).