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sep 29 2026Barcelona led after the first quarter but trailed by fifteen just ten minutes later. That was the game. Aleksander Sekulic's team fell 94-87 in Dubai, conceding a devastating 29-12 second quarter and couldn't recover despite a much stronger second half.
The Problem, Once Again in the Paint
Barcelona started strong, with a solid performance from Umoja Gibson and the first quarter closed at 23-25.
Everything changed in the second. Dubai created doubt in the visiting offense and systematically punished Barcelona's interior defensive weaknesses, a team that arrived with Olek Balcerowski as the only healthy center—Nebo, Makoundou, and Evbuomwan are injured—and with Olivier Nkamhoua improvising at the five.
With Mfiondu Kabengele, McKinley Wright IV, Thomas Walkup, and Dwayne Bacon leading the way, the Emiratis surged to 52-37 by halftime.
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The Comeback Came Too Late
Barcelona improved after halftime, with better pace and offensive clarity, but Dubai kept adding: Walkup orchestrating and Jaron Blossomgame punishing inside extended the home lead to twenty points.
Two baskets from Tyrese Martin, who had been largely off-target until then, calmed things slightly late in the third quarter (76-62). And in the fourth, Kevin Punter appeared.
The shooting guard scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half and, after assisting Martin on a three-pointer, brought his team within six (86-80) with four minutes remaining.
Joel Parra had a chance to get even closer with 1:22 left. It didn't fall. From there, Wright IV and Okoro closed out the game from the free throw line.
The Numbers
Kabengele was the game's leading scorer with 21 points, followed by Wright IV and Bacon with 14 each and Blossomgame with 10.
For Barcelona, Punter finished with 25, Gibson added 12, Balcerowski 10, and Martin 9.
