Injuries and a long recovery kept him off the floor for stretches, but Niko Mirotic has found his form again as Barcelona returned to its winning ways. The Barça star stepped back into the spotlight during a visit from Zalgiris Kaunas, delivering a standout performance that drove a 93-74 victory for the Catalan club. The lidos of Palau were lit by his 28 points, a display that reminded everyone why he’s a key piece in Barça’s lineup as the season presses on.
Barça collected their 18th win in 26 games, riding a quiet yet impactful night that highlighted Mirotic’s reemergence on the European stage. The Spanish-Montenegrin brought a dose of rhythm and scoring that helped the team mantain its pressure, flashing his scoring touch and efficiency as he emerged from a period away from the spotlight. His performance energized a Barca side that faced a familiar opponent in Jasikevičius and Jokubaitis, showing cohesion and a solid defensive discipline that troubled the Lithuanian squad.
In postgame reflections, the moments that defined the night came through fast, decisive plays and a sense of collective purpose. A bold sequence highlighted the mood of the bench and the style Barca aimed to play—aggressive defense paired with efficient scoring avenues. The crowd roared as the team navigated the game with confidence, steadily building a lead that never felt fragile as the night progressed.
Barcelona’s ascent in the first half established control early. The team surged ahead with a strong interior game and dynamic perimeter scoring, creating a gap that the opponent struggled to close. By the second quarter, Barca had already posted a multi-possession advantage, and by halftime they sat with a comfortable lead that set the tone for the rest of the night. Satoransky and Laprovittola contributed to the team’s balanced attack, while Mirotic sustained his scoring rhythm, mixing long-range shots with penetrating drives.
As the game resumed after the break, Barca maintained their superiority. Zalgiris found it difficult to penetrate Barca’s defense and mount a challenge, and the Catalan squad stretched their advantage further through smart ball movement, timely shots, and disciplined defense. The distance on the scoreboard remained sizeable, with Barcelona pressing forward and the visitors struggling to recalibrate.
FC Barcelona, 93 – Zalgiris Kaunas, 74
barcelona: Satoransky (12), Laprovittola (6), Kalinic (5), Mirotic (28), Vesely (7) – top five: Sanli (10), Abrines (5), Higgins (3), Kuric (2), Jokubaitis (5), Nnaji (5)
10 out of 25 from three-point range (Mirotic with 3), 28 rebounds, 11 assists (Satoransky, Jokubaitis with 5 each)
Zalgiris Kaunas: Taylor (4), Brazdeikis (15), Ulanovas (7), Smits (6), Hayes (8) – top five: Giedraitis (0), Lekavicius (7), Birutis (12), Polonara (8), Dimsa (1), Butkevich (6)
2 out of 9 from three-point range (Polonara 2), 24 rebounds, 4 assists (Butkevicius 4), 11 assists distributed across the Barca defense
Score progression: 19-17; 27-19; 31-18; 16-20