By Eurohoops team / [email protected]
Following Monaco’s dominant first two games in the best-of-five series in this year’s EuroLeague Playoffs against Barcelona, it looked like Vassilis Spanoulis’ team had all the momentum to go on the road to finish up what they started, clinching a spot in the Final Four.
After the 100-89 win in Game 3 to reduce Monaco’s lead, Barcelona doubled it up with the 79-72 victory in Palau Blaugrana in Game 4 – the series will now be decided back in the Principality.
Jabari Parker (22 points over 4/8 from three and a perfect 6/6 at the line) and Dario Brizuela (17 points) led Barcelona as the team’s highest scorers, but also provided mental strength throughout their comeback in the second half. Kevin Punter added 11 points with 6/6 at the charity stripe.
“This is a good team. Most importantly, we performed in front of an amazing crowd today. Our fans are amazing, we owe them everything. We gotta keep it rolling,” Parker said.
“The team believed all year that it’s the EuroLeague Playoffs with great atmosphere at home. I’m proud of our players, but the series isn’t over. We need to win one more game,” Joan Penarroya added.
In the first quarter, Mike James (16 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds) started heating up for Monaco, but slowed down as time passed by. Alpha Diallo had a 13-point losing effort.
Barcelona won it (at least) twice
The first quarter was all about Barcelona’s up-tempo offense, entering a 13-0 run from down 3-2 to up 15-3 thanks to Jabari Parker’s three-pointer from the corner in transition. Eventually, Joan Penarroya’s team was already leading by 15 points (21-6) heading to the end of the first.
Things completely changed entering the second, with Vassilis Spanoulis’ team slowing down the tempo and increasing the intensity. Monaco was able to get calls by attacking the basket aggressively, already converting 18 out of 21 free throws in the first half; Barcelona shot 2/2 at the charity stripe.
Thanks to a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter, Monaco imposed themselves in Palau Blaugrana, but after more than five minutes of non-scoring action in the second quarter, Dario Brizuela provided back-to-back three-pointers to spark Barcelona’s offense.
Ultimately, the Monegasque side got the 38-35 lead heading to halftime, also thanks to Matthew Strazel’s four consecutive free throws; three came after being fouled on a missed three-pointer, and one following Tomas Satoransky’s technical foul right after it. “We woke up,” Jordan Loyd said at halftime.
The second half began with Monaco applying the same aggressiveness, as Jaron Blossomgame slammed his way to Barcelona’s basket. The hosts tried to reduce the gap all the way to 52-50 with Youssoupha Fall under the basket, as the French center continued drawing fouls.
With the rhythm getting faster once more, Barcelona got back in action, with Justin Anderson tying things at 58-58 before the fourth. Dario Brizuela drew a foul from Jordan Loyd when the ultimate quarter hadn’t even begun, and he quickly delivered a one-legged fadeaway.
He was crucial in hyping up his team and put Barcelona back up front. Alpha Diallo and Jabari Parker stepped up for their teams late in the game, while Jordan Loyd at the shot to tie it at 75-75, but missed it.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague