Barcelona defeats Unicaja 97-91 in convincing home performance

Barcelona delivered a serious performance under Xavi Pascual’s guidance, maintaining control throughout most of the contest. The Blaugrana established early dominance and built a commanding 40-22 lead by the 14th minute, but Unicaja demonstrated remarkable resilience, refusing to surrender and keeping themselves in contention until the final moments.

The home team’s victory was ultimately secured by the late surge from the duo of Jan Vesely, who finished with 18 points, and Darío Brizuela, who contributed 17 points. Despite trailing for most of the game, the Málaga-based team showed incredible fighting spirit and even managed to tie the score at 77-77 in the 33rd minute.

Norris provides early spark, Brizuela explodes against former team

Pascual’s decision to start Miles Norris proved effective, as the American forward provided the physicality needed to match Unicaja‘s intensity. Norris delivered exactly what was expected: defense, rebounds, and scoring, helping Barcelona take their first advantage at 9-8 in the fifth minute.

With Norris finding his rhythm, Barcelona went on a devastating 14-2 run that threatened to break the game open early, leading 20-10 by the eighth minute. However, despite their early struggles, Unicaja found ways to attack the paint and closed the gap to 22-17 at the end of the first quarter.

¡Lo que metiste, che!
ESTE TRIPLE LO HA ENCHUFADO DESDE ROSARIO 🇦🇷

📺 @DAZN_ES | #LigaEndesa | @FCBbasket pic.twitter.com/pVE3UEYGld

— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) March 29, 2026

The second quarter belonged to Brizuela, who exploded against his former team with three consecutive 3-points that sparked a brilliant five-minute stretch for Barcelona. This 18-5 run extended their lead to 40-22 by the 14th minute, leaving Duarte isolated as Unicaja‘s offense struggled to find answers.

Unicaja’s resilient comeback falls short

Just when the visitors appeared defeated, coach Ibon Navarro’s timeout changed everything. The previously unrecognizable Unicaja emerged with renewed collective energy, creating doubts for Barcelona. Their 7-19 run tightened the score to 47-41 at halftime, leaving everything open for the second half.

Despite Emil Sulejmanovic’s 19 points and Olek Balcerowski’s 18-point contribution, Unicaja couldn’t sustain their comeback effort. After tying the game at 77-77 in the 33rd minute, Barcelona responded decisively with an 8-0 run led by Brizuela and an inspired Vesely, reopening the gap to 85-77 by the 35th minute.

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 ✨ pic.twitter.com/Y4A613LKwR

— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) March 29, 2026

The visitors attempted one final reaction but lacked the energy after constantly fighting from behind. Barcelona controlled the tempo in the closing minutes, with Vesely displaying his 3-point shooting ability and the team converting from the free-throw line to seal the 97-91 victory. This win completed Barcelona’s perfect week at Palau Blaugrana, reinforcing their position among Liga Endesa‘s top eight teams while handing Unicaja their second consecutive league defeat.