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oct 11 2026Thursday against Besiktas, Kosner Baskonia made just three three-pointers in the entire game and lost at home. Sunday, in the same Buesa Arena, they made sixteen. That difference sums up almost everything that happened against Asisa Joventut (93-73). With their outside shooting recovered, Paolo Galbiati's team was transformed: better ball movement with 25 assists, careful with the ball with just 8 turnovers, and patient in waiting for their moment in a game Joventut kept competitive for 35 minutes.
Chris Duarte was once again the key man. The shooting guard, who Thursday sustained the team from the free-throw line, this time spread his influence: 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, plus a three-pointer in the final stretch that sealed the game. Alongside him, Rodions Kurucs had a very complete afternoon with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Both finished with a rating of 22.
A Joventut That Never Went Away
The game took time to find a clear leader. Baskonia won the first quarter by three (24-21), with Duarte setting the pace, and Joventut responded with Ricky Rubio running the offense and Simon Birgander doing damage near the basket. An 8-0 run led by DJ Stewart gave the home team breathing room in the second quarter, but a three-pointer by Nico Laprovittola before halftime left the difference at six (45-39). The quarter also brought tension: Kurucs and Eli Ndiaye were both called for flagrant fouls at the 19-minute mark.
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After halftime, Damion Baugh appeared. The point guard was a constant problem for Joventut's perimeter defenders in the third quarter and helped extend the lead to twelve points (68-56). Still, Dani Miret's team didn't give up. They opened the fourth quarter with a 0-5 run and found in Emir Sulejmanovic, who finished with 12 points, an argument to stay engaged in the game.
Five Minutes to Decide It
Everything was decided with five minutes remaining. Joventut began missing open shots and Baskonia, with the accuracy that eluded them Thursday, put together a closing stretch that turned a slim advantage into a comfortable victory. The fourth quarter ended 25-17. Kobi Simmons, with 14 points and a +24 rating while on the court, and Kenneth Faried, with 12 points and 6 rebounds, completed the scoring for a team that had eleven different scorers. For Joventut, Laprovittola led with 15 points and Rubio distributed 7 assists, but the visitors' 9-of-29 three-point shooting couldn't compare to the home team's accuracy. The victory also had historical significance: Kosner Baskonia surpassed 140,000 total points scored in the ACB.
