FC Barcelona recovered after a heavy loss in Game 1 of the ACB League finals, this time defeating Real Madrid at Palau Blaugrana 71-69 (13-17, 19-15, 24-22, 15-15) and leveling the series 1-1.
Player of the Game | |
EFF
26
|
|
Nikola Mirotic | |
Points | 26 |
Accuracy | 9-14 |
Rebounds | 7 |
Assists | 1 |
Game 3 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Friday (June 17) at 21:00 CEST in Madrid.
Nikola Mirotic kicked into the higher gear in the third quarter, scoring 12 points per 10 minutes. He navigated Barca to a two-point lead (56-54) before the last period.
The same Mirotic and Cory Higgins pushed Barca with a 9-1 spurt for a record-breaking advantage (65-57) but Guerschon Yabusele responded with 4 points in a row (61-65). Fabien Causeur and Walter Tavares poured in 4 straight free throws and the match was tied at 65 with 5 minutes to go.
After almost two and a half minutes without points, Nikola Mirotic terminated the silence with a deep two-point shot (67-65). Walter Tavares answered him with a duo and leveled the contest at 67 with 1:30 to play. Though, Mirotic added one more basket off the glass (69-67).
Tavares continued the duel between the two, tying the game again (69-69), as one minute was left on the clock. Mirotic missed from deep, Barca got an offensive rebound, while Cory Higgins drained two clutch free throws from a charity stripe (71-69). Fabien Causeur had a chance to win it but the Frenchman's three-pointer was off the mark.
Nikola Mirotic led the route for Barcelona with 26 points (6/8 2PT, 3/6 3PT, 5/6 FT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and a game-high 26 PIR.
Guerschon Yabusele shone on the other side, finishing the match with 16 points (7/10 2PT, 0/3 3PT, 2/6 FT), 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 21 PIR.
Barcelona: Nikola Mirotic 26 (7 REB), Cory Higgins 10, Brandon Davies 8, Nicolas Laprovittola 8 (5 REB).
Real: Guerschon Yabusele 16 (11 REB), Walter Tavares 11, Adam Hanga 10 (5 REB).
Nikola Mirotic's performance
Game highlights
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