Barcelona faced Baskonia this Sunday with renewed intensity, shaking off a run of shaky results by delivering one of their most solid defensive performances in recent weeks and posting a clear victory at Palau Blaugrana, 82-62. Heading into the game, Barcelona had averaged 82.3 points in the Endesa League, and the team did not disappoint on the numbers front, setting the pace from the opening tip and maintaining control through most of the match thanks to focused defense and disciplined ball movement.
The Catalan side imposed their tempo early, using aggressive ball pressure and tight rotations to compensate for a slow start in terms of scoring. Their defense forced Baskonia to work for every basket, and rebounding was a clear strength that allowed Barcelona to retain possession and push the pace when opportunities appeared. Despite some early shooting hiccups, Barça converted pressure into a steady advantage as the first half unfolded, moving ahead comfortably before halftime.
Jabari Parker contributed a strong 14 points, and Rokas Jokubaitis added 12 along with Willy Hernangómez, who also reached 12 in a balanced team effort. The absence of Jabari Parker in the midweek clash with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan due to gastroenteritis left room for the supporting cast to step up, while Markus Howard led Baskonia with 24 points in a performance that highlighted the visitors’ fight but ultimately could not overturn the deficit Barça had built.
From the opening minutes, Barcelona maintained aggressive on-ball defense and secured rebounds with purpose. Their opponent struggled to find clean looks, and when Baskonia did settle for shots, Barcelona’s defenders were often there to contest or retrieve misses. An early stretch where Howard found space for seven points showed Baskonia’s resilience, but Barcelona answered with a collective response. The local coach emphasized maintaining physical intensity and quick rotation, and the plan began paying dividends as Laprovittola and Hernangómez each drew fouls and converted free throws. Jokubaitis also breached Baskonia’s defense with penetrations that helped nudge the score back toward Barcelona’s favor.
By the end of the first quarter, Baskonia had to manage a defensive disruption and was forced to regroup, while Barcelona continued to press. A late burst by Howard kept Baskonia within striking distance at the end of the period, but the home side carried momentum into the second quarter with a stronger, more cohesive defensive stance that kept Baskonia from getting hot from beyond the arc and opened the way for fast-break points when opportunities appeared.
As the game progressed into the second half, Barcelona extended their lead through a combination of improved ball movement and steady scoring from the inside. Moneke’s three-pointers briefly closed the gap, but Barcelona responded with disciplined execution and improved finishing near the rim. The defense remained the narrative, with rebounding efforts and rotation saves helping to frustrate Baskonia’s shooters and limit clean attempts. Satoransky found his touch with a timely three-pointer, while Brizuela and Parker added key triples to widen the margin and restore a comfortable cushion.
Entering the third quarter, Barcelona continued to resist Baskonia’s rally attempts. Hernangómez continued to contribute inside, while Da Silva’s presence around the rim helped generate easier looks for teammates. Howard’s resurgence for Baskonia sparked renewed pressure, yet the Catalan defense held firm, maintaining a double-digit lead that kept the game within reach for Barcelona.
In the closing stages, Laprovittola, Jokubaitis, and Parker extended the advantage with three-point shooting that effectively sealed the result. The team’s collective effort showed through in the late moments as Barcelona refused to let the tempo dip, even as Baskonia attempted to push into the final minutes. Parker and Parra contributed on the attack in the closing minutes, and the game finished with Baskonia still trying to mount a late charge but unable to threaten the result beyond the final tally of 82-62.
Data sheet:
82 – Barcelona (17+20+19+26): Satoransky (3), Laprovittola (8), Kalinic (5), Parker (14), Vesely (-) -starting team-, Da Silva (5), Brizuela (5), Hernangómez (12), Abrines (9), Jokubaitis (12), Parra (9) and Nnaji (-).
62 – Baskonia (19+14+11+18): Howard (24), Miller-McIntyre (11), Díez (-), Moneke (6), Kotsar (7) -starting team-, Raieste (-), Chiozza (2), Sedekerskis (4), Marinkovic (-) , Rogkavopoulos (-), Diop (8) and Mannion (-).
Referees: Carlos Peruga, Javier Torres and Cristóbal Sánchez. They signaled a technical foul to guest player Miller-McIntyre (min. 19).
Events: The 14th matchday of the Endesa League was played at the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona in front of 5,219 spectators. During halftime, spectators threw stuffed animals collected for charity onto the field. [Source: Endesa League recap, team reports].