Mirotic-led Barcelona one step away from ACB finals / News - Basketnews.com

FC Barcelona recovered after the latest home loss against Joventut Badalona, this time winning the Catalan derby on the road 83-77 (23-14, 23-22, 15-20, 22-21) and taking the 2-1 series lead.

Player of the Game EFF 27 Nikola Mirotic Points 18 Accuracy 5-8 Rebounds 7 Assists 2

A vital Game 4 for Joventut is scheduled in Badalona on June 10, at 21:00 CEST

The resilient Joventut kept fighting in the fourth quarter and came within 5 points in the middle of the fourth quarter (65-70).

However, Nikola Mirotic and Nick Calathes, who hit a crucial 3-pointer to give Barca a 6-point lead (74-80) with 40 seconds to go, were the main factors.

The winners were led by Nikola Mirotic, who was big in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 18 points (2/4 2PT, 3/4 3PT, 5/6 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 27 PIR.

Joventut's Ante Tomic had a great personal game with 21 points on 9/14 shooting, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 27 PIR.

Barcelona managed to make a run in the second half of the second quarter after two Mirotic's 3-pointers, which allowed Barca to regain the 10-point advantage to close the first half with the score of 36-46.

In the third quarter, Joventut kept Barca within fighting distance, mostly thanks to Derek Willis' efforts, who scored 11 points in the third quarter alone, including a 3-pointer, which cut down Barca's lead to 4 points (53-57) with 1:46 to go in the quarter.

FC Barcelona: Nikola Mirotic 18 (7 rebounds), Cory Higgins 13, Nicolas Laprovittola 10.Joventut Badalona: Ante Tomic 21 (7 rebounds), Derek Willis 17, Guillem Vives 13, Pau Ribas 10 (5 AST).

Highlights

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