Dubai Basketball (3–2) overpowered FC Barcelona (3–2) on Thursday night, securing an 83–78 home victory in Round 5 of the EuroLeague. Head coach Jurica Golemac’s squad set the tone early by attacking the paint and controlling the glass from start to finish.
The hosts opened with seven consecutive field goals inside the arc before attempting their first three-pointer midway through the first quarter. Filip Petrusev and Mfiondu Kabengele fueled the early surge, combining for 13 of Dubai’s first 18 points as the home side jumped to a double-digit lead.
Dubai’s emphasis on interior play paid off again in the second half. Petrusev dominated the third quarter with 12 points, while Dwayne Bacon’s aggressive drives kept Barcelona’s defense off balance. Even with limited outside shooting, Dubai maintained its lead through efficient ball movement and strong rebounding.
In the closing stretch, Davis Bertans and Klemen Prepelic finally found their rhythm from beyond the arc. Bertans hit two three-pointers in 70 seconds, and Prepelic added another to stretch the lead. Those shots forced Barcelona to defend wider, opening up more space inside.
The hosts sealed the win in classic fashion — through the paint. Bacon muscled in a layup, Petrusev sank a mid-range jumper, and Bacon closed the game with a breakaway basket to put the result beyond doubt.
Petrusev led all scorers with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting inside and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Bacon added 20 points on 8-of-10 two-point attempts, and Kabengele delivered a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Defensively, Dubai’s interior presence proved just as decisive. The team limited Barcelona to just 37.2% shooting on two-pointers (16-of-43) and held a 46–39 advantage on the boards. Justin Anderson’s late-game block on Kevin Punter highlighted a disciplined defensive effort that kept the visitors from gaining momentum.
The victory marks a statement result for Dubai, which returned home from Istanbul just two days earlier and still delivered one of its most complete performances of the season.
Dubai will next face ASVEL on the road, while Barcelona returns home to host Zalgiris.
