2020-21Regular SeasonRound 34
April 09, 2021 CET: 21:00
Local time: 21:00 PALAU BLAUGRANA

Bayern tops Barcelona in Gasol's return

FC Bayern Munich claimed a solid 72-82 victory over FC Barcelona at Palau Blaugrana on Friday night to earn fifth place in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague standings at the end of the regular season. The visitors never trailed as they built a 22-29 first-quarter lead resisted all of Barcelona's comeback attempts. Bayern, whose record improved to 21-13, was led by Jalen Reynolds, who scored career-high 26 points on 13-of-17 two-point shooting, grabbed 5 boards and added 3 steals in just 25 minutes against his former team. He was followed by Wade Baldwin IV, who tallied 18 points and 6 assists, and Vladimir Lucic, who contributed 14 points for the winners. Leo Westermann and Leandro Bolmaro paced the hosts with 12 points apiece, while Brandon Davies chipped in 11 in the losing effort. Barcelona dropped to 24-10 but had already secured the first place. Club and European basketball legend Pau Gasol started in his first game back with the team after 20 years. He scored 9 points and pulled 4 boards in 13 minutes on the floor.

The visitors used a strong start in which Leon Radosevic hit a three and Baldwin added a three-point play to get an early 4-11 lead. The hosts fed Gasol on the offensive end to stay close until Westermann nailed a three to 13-13 after 5 minutes. Both squads ran quick offenses, but Bayern benefitted the most from it. A triple by Lucic, 6 points in a row by Reynolds, and another bucket by JaJuan Johnson opened a 17-26 margin for the guests. Diego Flaccadori made it bigger with a three-pointer, but Bolmaro beat the buzzer from deep as the first quarter closed at 22-29. Davies brought Barcelona within 26-31 early in the second quarter, but after a Bayern timeout, Lucic and Reynolds rebuilt a comfortable advantage, 26-35. Baldwin and Reynolds combined later to push it to double digits, 31-41, as the hosts switched lineups attempting to find their momentum. Gasol joined Victor Claver in Barcelona's frontcourt, and that combination worked better, especially on defense. Bayern didn't hit a field goal for more than 4 minutes, allowing Barcelona to close within 37-43 at halftime on a late layup by Claver and a free throw by Gasol.

Defenses kept dominating after the break. Rolands Smits became the go-to guy for Barcelona, scoring 6 points to reduce the gap to 43-47. Gasol added a layup to make it a one-possession game, forcing a Bayern timeout. Reynolds returned on court then and scored twice to calm Bayern, while Zan Sisko showed up from deep to soon extend the margin to 46-54. Westermann and Adam Hanga combined on offense to help Barcelona keep the visitors in sight, 55-60, entering the fourth quarter. Davies tried to boost his team with an inside bucket, but Bayern reacted quickly once again. Lucic hit a jumper to start a 2-10 run in which Baldwin and Reynolds provided several highlight plays to make it a double-digit lead, 59-70. Hanga hit from beyond the arc then assisted Bolmaro to keep alive Barcelona's fire. A timely three by Bayern's Paul Zipser cooled it, however, then Baldwin and Lucic joined to rebuild a solid 66-77 margin with 3 minutes to go. Barcelona got stuck in Bayern's tough defense, unable to score from the field, so when Reynolds dunked it for a 67-79 lead, both teams understood things were decided already. Alex Abrines tried to fight against the odds with a three-pointer, but a quick answer from Baldwin entering the last minute definitely sealed the outcome.

Gasol and the Euroleague reunited

Pau Gasol returned to the EuroLeague for the first time in over 20 years, marking longest period between appearances of any player this century. Starting the game, Gasol didn't need much time to score. He hit a five-meter jumper after 45 seconds and followed that with 4 more points before heading to the bench after almost 5 minutes on court. He finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes.

Pivotal performer

Jalen Reynolds, who had played 9 games for Barcelona at the end of 2017-18 season, had a terrific performance against his ex-team. He was dominant all over the court, against everyone he faced, providing several highlight plays. Reynolds made 13 of 18 two-pointers, matching the season high in the EuroLeague, on his way to a career-high scoring night of 26 points.

Bayern led all over the way

The visitors dominated the game from the beginning to the end, never trailing. FC Barcelona could only forge a tie in the first quarter, the last time when Leo Westermann hit a three and a bucket to get it all square at 15-15.

Time to rest

FC Barcelona took advantage of its first seeding having already been secure to rest some major players. March MVP Nikola Mirotic, Cory Higgins and Pierre Oriola all sat out for head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.

Next game

FC Barcelona will have to wait to know who will face to start its EuroLeague Playoffs series, as Zenit St Petersbourg will play against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens on Monday, April 14, to decide the last playoff spot. FC Bayern Munich will play against AX Armani Exchange Milan in the Italian capital on Tuesday, April 20.

Jalen Reynolds - FC Bayern Munich - EB20
Friday, April 9, 2021
Euroleague.net
Referees: CHRISTODOULOU, CHRISTOS; JAVOR, DAMIR; TRAWICKI, TOMASZ
Attendance: 0
By Quarter1234
FC Barcelona22151817
FC Bayern Munich29141722
End of Quarter1234
FC Barcelona22375572
FC Bayern Munich29436082
FC Barcelona
  Rebounds Blocks Fouls
# Player Min Pts 2FG 3FG FT O D T As St To Fv Ag Cm Rv PIR
0 DAVIES, BRANDON 12:46 11 4/5   3/3 2 1 3         1   5 17
2 WESTERMANN, LEO 16:34 12 3/4 1/3 3/3 1 2 3 2         1 3 16
8 HANGA, ADAM 19:10 7 2/5 1/2   1 3 4 1 1 1     2   6
9 BOLMARO, LEANDRO 25:15 12 2/5 1/1 5/6   1 1 3 1 4     2 5 12
10 SMITS, ROLANDS 14:04 6 3/4 0/1 0/1 1 2 3   1       1 3 9
14 PUSTOVYI, ARTEM 11:57 2 0/1   2/4 2 1 3     2 1   1 2 2
16 GASOL, PAU 13:03 9 4/9 0/1 1/2 1 3 4 1   1     2 1 5
21 ABRINES, ALEX 14:59 3 0/1 1/4   1 1 2           4   -3
23 MARTINEZ, SERGI 24:00 4 2/5 0/2   1 1 2 1 1 1   1 3 1 -1
24 KURIC, KYLE 12:55 4 1/2   2/2         1         2 6
30 CLAVER, VICTOR 23:05 2 1/1 0/2   1 2 3 1 1 1         4
99 CALATHES, NICK 12:12   0/6 0/2   1 2 3 5 1 1     3 1 -2
Team           4 1 5               5
Totals 200:00 72 22/48 4/18 16/21 16 20 36 14 7 11 1 2 19 23 76
        45.8% 22.2% 76.2%
Head coach: JASIKEVICIUS, SARUNAS
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
FC Bayern Munich
  Rebounds Blocks Fouls
# Player Min Pts 2FG 3FG FT O D T As St To Fv Ag Cm Rv PIR
2 BALDWIN IV, WADE 27:00 18 8/13 0/1 2/2   3 3 6 1 3 1   4 5 21
3 KRAEMER, DAVID DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4 SEELEY, DENNIS 9:25 2 1/2           1   2     3   -3
8 REYNOLDS, JALEN 25:23 26 13/17 0/1   1 4 5 1 3 5     2 3 26
11 LUCIC, VLADIMIR 33:23 14 3/3 1/3 5/7 1 4 5 3 2 2     2 4 20
12 FLACCADORI, DIEGO 17:48 5 1/3 1/1   1 1 2 1 1       3 1 5
15 AMAIZE, ROBIN DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
16 ZIPSER, PAUL 15:01 3   1/1     1 1           1   3
21 GIST, JAMES 23:51 2 1/2   0/2   2 2 1 2   1   2 1 4
25 JOHNSON, JAJUAN 10:51 2 1/1       1 1     1     2 1 1
31 SISKO, ZAN MARK 23:19 5 1/4 1/2   2 3 5 6       1 3 2 10
43 RADOSEVIC, LEON 13:59 5 1/1 1/4     3 3           1 2 6
Team             4 4               4
Totals 200:00 82 30/46 5/13 7/11 5 26 31 19 9 13 2 1 23 19 97
        65.2% 38.5% 63.6%
Head coach: TRINCHIERI, ANDREA

Head Coaches

JASIKEVICIUS, SARUNAS
FC Barcelona
“Congratulations to Bayern, congratulations to Andrea. They were better team today. It’s also fair to say that we tried to work on our things, we tried to do our things, to protect some players. There are some players who haven’t been good for a while and we tried to build their confidence and make them feel better. Some of them took their opportunities, some other didn’t, as it usually happens. I’m very happy about the return of Pau [Gasol]. Of course, it’s great news for our club and great news for Pau, to see him playing at the highest level and from now we have to prepare the next games in the domestic competition. We need to win them, but the most important thing is to prepare for the Euroleague Playoffs. It’s very important for our club.”
TRINCHIERI, ANDREA
FC Bayern Munich
“We are very happy. It’s very clear to me that Barcelona missed some players; we also missed one. But it’s too important for us to finish the regular season with 21 wins, and to come in here and play a solid game against the best team of the Euroleague, best in everything. If you had asked me in September how was is it going to look this season, I would have never imagined something like this. All the credit goes to my players. They created bonds, the chemistry, and tried to play in the right way, knowing we are not perfect. Today, we played as a team in defense and we used the great performance of [Jalen] Reynolds and [Wade] Baldwin on offense to win the game. But without the dirty work of players like [Diego] Flaccadori, for example, who didn’t play the last 5 or 6 Euroleague games, or the sacrifice of Lucic, we wouldn’t be able to play these kinds of games. One more time, it was a team win and we have to enjoy it as a team.”

Players

GASOL, PAU
FC Barcelona
"I am happy to be able to be back on the court, compete and have a good feeling. First of all, I am trying to get in game rhythm at a key part of the season, with very important games. Each game will be important from now on. But I am happy, very happy that I played today after more than two years. I didn't even expect to feel so well. It is an important step forwards and now, I have to keep working with the same energy and willingness to do better in the next game. My teammates are also excited and trust me. I hope to carry on and make the best decision in every situation, for my shot or creating a good shot for my teammates. This is what we have been doing in practice for about a month. I have to keep on doing that and take it to the court during games. Each player has to contribute and be important, contribute what he has to. I will be available for Saras to contribute what I can."
REYNOLDS, JALEN
FC Bayern Munich
“I only try to go out there every night and give my best. This is obviously a team win, and in the humblest way, we have to keep going, stand and stay locked and stay focused. I just try to stay humble, like I said. I’m a team player, I try to do my best and try to round out the team.”
LUCIC, VLADIMIR
FC Bayern Munich
“They missed some players, like in the first game in Munich, but we came here to compete. We still have some goals to make. We stay with the same mentality, aiming to compete in every game, to be ready for what’s coming and the playoffs. Playing against Barcelona on their homecourt is tough, but beating them twice this season is a great thing for us.”