Barça edges out unicaja in thrilling endesa clash

Barcelona basketball clawed past Unicaja Malaga in a nail-biting 97-91 victory at the Palau Blaugrana, a result that underscores the enduring rivalry between the two teams.

Unicaja pushes barça to the limit in close contest

Malaga, hampered by key absences, mounted a spirited comeback attempt, but the home side held on for the win in a game that went down to the wire.

The contest began with a tentative offensive flow from both sides, the lead changing hands frequently in the opening minutes. A three-pointer from Alberto Díaz provided a spark for Unicaja, but Barcelona responded with consecutive triples from Norris and Punter, establishing an early lead. Despite a brief rally from Unicaja, led by Sulejmanovic, Barcelona’s outside shooting proved too potent, maintaining a 20-10 advantage after the first quarter.

Brizuela ignited the second quarter with a series of triples, extending Barcelona's lead to over ten points. However, Unicaja refused to fade, with Djedovic spearheading a response that closed the gap. The half ended with Barcelona holding a 47-41 lead.

Unicaja continued its fight after halftime, with Sulejmanovic matching Barcelona's scoring punch. Djedovic's combination of scoring and playmaking kept the visitors within striking distance. A late push from Unicaja reduced the deficit to just one point, and even tied the game at 77-77 in the final minutes. But a decisive run by Barcelona, spearheaded by Brizuela and a key three-pointer from Vesely, secured the victory.

The game concluded with a disappointing injury for Unicaja’s Jonathan Barreiro, who suffered a foot injury. The final score reflected a hard-fought battle: Barça 97, Unicaja 91. Vesely's late scoring proved the difference.

Refereeing decisions played a role, with Miles Norris of Barcelona receiving a technical foul in the 32nd minute, and Chase Audige and Tyler Kalinosky of Unicaja being ejected. The game was played before a crowd of 4,964 at the Palau Blaugrana.

Final Score: Barça 97 - Unicaja 91.

Key Performers: Vesely (18) for Barça, Sulejmanovic (19) for Unicaja.