Poirier powers Baskonia to brink of playoffs

Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz further strengthened its position in the playoffs places with a 73-86 road victory over FC Barcelona Lassa courtesy of a dominant final period. The game was close for the first three quarters but Baskonia stepped up its intensity in the last ten minutes, producing a 0-14 run to put the result beyond doubt. Baskonia took advantage of the absence of Ante Tomic through sickness to dominate inside, winning the rebounding battle 24-41. Vincent Poirier shone with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, while Johannes Voigtmann provided 17 points and 7 boards. Janis Timma had a strong all-round game with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, and Toko Shengelia had 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Petteri Koponen led Barcelona’s challenge with 21 points on 5-of-5 three-point shooting, and Pierre Oriola scored 15 points in defeat. The victory sends Baskonia to 15-13, two games ahead of Maccabi in the battle for the final playoffs place, and needing just one win from its remaining two games to ensure progression. Barcelona drops to 9-19.

Baskonia took charge early through strong play at both ends from Poirier and Voigtmann, who scored 7 as the visitors went ahead 2-7. Barcelona restored parity through 5 points in a row from Phil Pressey, and a low-scoring opening quarter then progressed mainly through free throws before finishing 16-16. The pace picked up in the second period, with Baskonia moving 7 ahead as Timma followed a triple with a fastbreak lay-up. Barcelona came back as Koponen heated up with his first triple, and a driving lay-up from Thomas Heurtel levelled the score at 25-25. Baskets were traded evenly before Baskonia established an advantage through triples from Voigtmann and Luca Vildoza, but Koponen beat the half-time buzzer with a long-range two-pointer to make it 40-43 at the break.

Another three from Koponen levelled the score early in the third, and Barcelona took its first lead as Oriola scored 5 in a row. But Baskonia came back to lead through a two-pointer and free throws from Patricio Garino, and close-range finishes from Shengelia and Rodrigue Beaubois made it 50-55. Adrien Moerman’s triple got the home team closer, and after a series of free throws the third quarter ended 58-63. That was the signal for Baskonia to completely take over, launching a 0-14 run at the start of the fourth containing 5 points in a row for Poirier, a triple for Timma and a pair of close-range finishes for Shengelia. Barcelona tried to respond with baskets from Oriola and Pau Ribas, but Shengelia with a lay-up and Voigtmann’s third triple put the result beyond doubt and the final few minutes were irrelevant to the outcome.