Table officials' blunder almost gives a win for ALBA against Barcelona / News - Basketnews.com

ALBA Berlin's table officials were late to start the game clock after Nikola Mirotic's missed free throw with 4.7 seconds left, which gave the home team an extra second to tie the game or take the win.

Credit: dpa/picture-alliance - Scanpix Credit dpa/picture-alliance - Scanpix

ALBA Berlin's table officials made a crucial mistake at the very end of the game that gave an opportunity for the home team to take down FC Barcelona.

Player of the Game EFF 29 Nikola Mirotic Points 19 Accuracy 6-8 Rebounds 6 Assists 2

With 4.7 seconds left in the game and the teams separated by only one point (87-86), Nikola Mirotic stood at the free-throw line with a chance to push the lead to three. After making the first shot, the Barca superstar missed the second one, leaving ALBA with a chance to tie the game.

Luke Sikma rebounded the ball and passed it to Jaleen Smith. However, the game clock wasn't started by the table officials yet. The clock began to tick down only after the ball left Smith's hands.

Overall, it gave the home team an extra second to tie or win the game but Sikma's ill-advised pass led to a Yovel Zoosman turnover which ended the match.

It was the first game for Nikola Mirotic wearing a Barca jersey this year. The Montenegrin star continued where he left off last year, scoring 19 points (2/3 2PT, 4/5 3PT, 3/4 FT), grabbing 6 rebounds, and collecting 29 PIR points.

ALBA: Tamir Blatt 17 (5/9 3PT, 6 AST), Jaleen Smith 15 (3/6 3PT), Johannes Thiemann 12 (4/6 2PT, 4/5 FT, 7 REB).

Barcelona: Nikola Mirotic 19 (2/3 2PT, 4/5 3PT, 3/4 FT, 6 REB, 29 PIR), Nicolas Laprovittola 20 (2/4 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 6/6 FT, 6 AST), Cory Higgins 15 (2/6 2PT, 2/5 3PT, 5/5 FT), Tomas Satoransky 11 (3/4 2PT, 6 REB, 5 AST), Mike Tobey 11 (4/5 2PT, 1/3 3PT).

Full game highlights:

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