GRANADA — Baloncesto Girona defeated Covirán Granada 84-91 in Liga Endesa action, in a tightly contested matchup decided in the final stretch thanks to a crucial performance by Mark Hughes. The team coached by Moncho Fernández snapped a two-game losing streak in the ACB with a victory at the Palacio de los Deportes in Granada.
The game between Granada and Girona began with a high offensive pace and constant exchanges of baskets. Both teams found scoring opportunities with relative ease in the opening minutes, though Baloncesto Girona managed to open the first small gap thanks to the aggressiveness of Jonathan Rousselle, who forced the home team into the bonus.
The standout performer of the first quarter was Mark Hughes. The Girona shooting guard started with tremendous offensive inspiration and scored 10 points in the opening period, allowing the Catalan team to take the first leads on the scoreboard.
Covirán Granada, however, remained competitive despite their three-point shooting struggles. The Andalusian side went into halftime 3 of 15 from three, but compensated for their poor outside shooting by dominating the offensive glass and with points from Amar Alibegovic near the basket.
The game gradually became more balanced. Girona began to lose offensive fluidity and Covirán Granada took advantage of the moment to turn the scoreboard around. A three-pointer by Jonathan Rousselle put the home team ahead (38-37) and a 14-4 run reinforced the temporary dominance of the team coached by Arturo Ruiz.
When Girona seemed to be accumulating problems, Pepe Vildoza appeared to keep his team alive. The Argentine point guard hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer that left the score at 43-42, keeping the Liga Endesa matchup completely open.
After the halftime break, Baloncesto Girona changed the rhythm of the game. Moncho Fernández's team came out with greater intensity and put together an 8-0 run that returned control of the scoreboard to them. Luka Bozic tried to stop the comeback with a 2+1, but the visiting momentum continued.
At that moment, Otis Livingston emerged as a key figure, taking on offensive responsibility and leading Girona's best stretch in the game. The American point guard propelled his team to a +12 advantage, putting Covirán Granada against the ropes.
Far from giving up, the Granada squad reacted with pride. Luka Bozic took on offensive responsibilities and kept the home team alive, who began to chip away at the deficit progressively. Tension grew in the final stretch and a three-pointer by Lluís Costa left the game completely open (82-83) with 98 seconds remaining.
Costa appeared again immediately after with a jump shot that returned the advantage to Covirán Granada (84-83), unleashing excitement at the Palacio de los Deportes.
But when the game entered its most critical moment, Mark Hughes took center stage once again. The Girona shooting guard hit a crucial three-pointer that returned the lead to the visitors (84-86) and changed the course of the game.
Hughes extended his outstanding performance on the next possession, converting a 2+1 that definitively sealed the game and secured the victory for Baloncesto Girona in Granada.
Girona thus achieves an important triumph in Liga Endesa after falling in the previous two matchdays against Baskonia and Real Madrid, while Covirán Granada leaves empty-handed after competing until the final minute.