Rather than trying to attack Unicaja’s second place, Barça will do well to try to secure third place ahead of the Endesa League playoffs after giving up a new defeat, the eighth in 24 days, against Markus Howard’s Baskonia.
The one from New Jersey destroyed any hope of a Barça that started well again but went less and went home with 37 points in the bag, including eight triples and up to two four-point plays.
Baskonia’s victory allows Ivanovic’s team to stay in the fight to get into the top eight of the standings, leaving Barça third, tied with Gran Canaria and with UCAM Murcia and Valencia lurking just one victory away.
Grimau’s team, in which Ricky Rubio made his League debut, experienced its worst moment in the final stretch of the third quarter, in which it lost by 14 points (82-68). Barça had a burst of pride, which caused Baskonia’s wrists to tremble, and Laprovittola managed to cut it to 92-90 with less than three minutes remaining. But Vesely’s fifth foul was once again a loss for the Blaugrana and Grimau preferred to play without a center rather than putting Willy Hernangómez on the court, as lucid in attacking as he was opaque in defending. The situation allowed Baskonia to have many second options and take the final victory.
