Basketball · Valencia
Barcelona steals 113-112 overtime thriller in Valencia to open ACB finals with a bang
Will Clyburn's three straight triples in the dying seconds forced overtime and Barcelona rode that wave to a 113-112 victory at the Roig Arena, stealing home-court advantage in the best-of-five Liga Endesa final.
AI text based on reports by LaVanguardia, europa press, ABC TU DIARIO EN ESPAÑOL and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
Will Clyburn hit three consecutive three-pointers in the final 27 seconds of regulation, erasing a four-point deficit and sending the game to overtime.
The 113-112 win on the road gives the fifth-seeded Barcelona a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series and moves the pressure squarely onto Valencia.
The duo combined to drag Barcelona back from a 14-point deficit, with Laprovittola controlling the tempo and Clyburn providing the late fireworks.
The hosts led 25-13 after one quarter and by as many as 14 points in the first half but could not close out the game in regulation.
- 18 JunValencia leads 99-95 with 27 seconds left
- 18 JunClyburn's three triples tie game, forces overtime
- 18 JunBarcelona wins 113-112 in overtime
First-quarter storm
Valencia came out blistering in the opening game of the ACB playoff final, punishing a flat Barcelona defence for a 25-13 first quarter. Badio, Costello and Taylor repeatedly exploited the visitors' confusion as the hosts built their biggest lead at 38-24 early in the second period. The Roig Arena crowd smelled a rout, but the margin slowly shrank before halftime.
The comeback gathers pace
After the break Nico Laprovittola and Will Clyburn turned the contest into a new game. Barcelona's defence tightened and the scoreboard tilted. Kevin Punter, who had started cold, found his range and the Catalans closed the half at 52-47 before eating even deeper into the lead during the third quarter. Laprovittola's playmaking and Clyburn's scoring carried the rally.
Valencia's last stand
With 27 seconds left in regulation, Valencia led 99-95 and appeared to have the opener wrapped up. Jean Montero and Brandon Taylor had re-energised the home attack, answering every Barcelona push with clutch baskets. The game seemed decided until Will Clyburn detonated three consecutive three-pointers, the last tying the score and forcing an extra period nobody in the building expected.
Overtime drama
In the extra session Barcelona held their nerve while Valencia gradually deflated. The teams stayed within one possession of each other, but a final stop sealed a 113-112 triumph. The win gives the fifth-seeded Catalans a 1-0 series lead on the road and shifts all pressure onto the top-seeded hosts.
What it means for the series
“We are facing the best basketball in Europe.”
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Sources and context
- LaVanguardiaEl Barça irrumpe en la final con un triunfo épico en la prórroga
- europa pressEl Barça golpea primero en la final contra el Valencia Basket
- ABC TU DIARIO EN ESPAÑOLEl Barça se lleva el primer asalto en un monumental partido contra el Valencia
- La RazónValencia - Barça, en directo hoy: primer partido de la Final de la Liga Endesa
- Will Clyburn
- Barcelona forward who hit three consecutive three-pointers to force overtime in Game 1 of the Liga Endesa final
- Nico Laprovittola
- Barcelona point guard who directed the team's comeback in the final opener
- Xavi Pascual
- Barcelona head coach for the current season, set to leave the club at its end
- Pedro Martínez
- Valencia Basket head coach leading the team in the finals
- Jean Montero
- Valencia guard who became productive after a cold start in Game 1
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