Laprovittola's Barcelona dismantle Real with a record-setting first quarter / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Zuma Press - Scanpix Credit Zuma Press - Scanpix

The two leaders of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings faced off, with FC Barcelona (20-5) dismantling Real Madrid (20-5) in Madrid 86-68 (28-8, 24-23, 17-24, 15-13).

Player of the Game EFF 27 Nicolas Laprovittola Points 20 Accuracy 7-8 Rebounds 7 Assists 2

Nicolas Laprovittola set the entire Barca team on fire after nailing three consecutive 3-pointers to start the game (12-2). Laprovittola and Sertac Sanli scored the first 17 points for the visitors.

Dante Exum added seven unanswered points, and Barcelona's lead skyrocketed to 24-2. They won the first period by 20, making it Real's third-largest deficit after the first period in EuroLeague history (8-28).

Barca continued asserting dominance in the second, extending their advantage to 26 (40-14). The visitors were up 21 going into halftime (52-31).

Barcelona converted 61% from the field in the first half. Real missed all seven 3-pointers in the first half, making only 34% of their field goals. Barca also dished out 13 assists, compared to Real's four.

Walter Tavares was active in the second half, helping Real mount a small spurt in the fourth quarter, cutting their deficit to 13 (62-75). However, that was their best effort, as Barcelona secured an 18-point victory.

This was the first home loss in the EuroLeague for Real this season. Barcelona overtook Real in the EuroLeague standing, securing the first spot due to the largest winning margin.

"I was telling the guys at halftime this is not an easy moment to play with, to jump on such a huge lead is also not easy," Jasikevicius said. It is always better to play with a lead, of course, when you are smart, but it is not easy. I thought we lost concentration a couple of times, but it's normal."

"Right now, first place is not so important. It is nice to look there and to see your team's name there, but much more important is this ability that we came out with in an opponent's gym. And then we have to continue to keep playing the longest periods as soon as possible."

Nicolas Laprovittola led Barcelona with 20 points (2/3 2PT, 5/5 3PT, 1/1 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 27 PIR. Dante Exum added 13 points (3/5 2PT, 1/2 3PT, 4/4 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, and 19 PIR.

"I play for my teammates, for my coach and for Barcelona," Laprovittola said post-game. "I play for my family. My parents are here, so I am really happy, I am enjoying it. Our team is amazing. I think it is special. We are working a lot, improving every day, and I think we have to keep going like today."

For the opposition, Walter Tavares was the best player for Real, ending with 25 points (10/10 2PT, 5/6 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 35 PIR.

Barcelona: Nicolas Laprovittola 20 (7 REB), Dante Exum 13, Brandon Davies 11, Kyle Kuric 10, Nick Calathes 10 (5 AST), Nikola Mirotic 9.

Real: Walter Tavares 25 (10/10 2PT, 6 REB), Fabien Causeur 8, Sergio Llull 8, Alberto Abalde 7.

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