FC Barcelona secured an 88-78 home victory over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Wednesday night at Palau Blaugrana, giving Xavi Pascual his first win since returning to the head-coaching position.
The hosts improved to 8-5 after breaking open a tight contest that featured 17 lead changes and 13 ties through three quarters.
Barcelona gained separation at the start of the fourth period, using sharper execution and more efficient halfcourt spacing to hold ASVEL to 13 points in the final 10 minutes.
Kevin Punter led the charge with 24 points and seven assists, scoring all of his points after the opening quarter while shooting 8-of-12 inside the arc and 8-of-9 at the line.
He anchored Barcelona’s offense during a stretch in which the team overcame a sluggish perimeter-shooting night, finishing just 7-of-21 from three but compensating with 21 assists and 19 made free throws.
Dario Brizuela provided a major spark with 12 points, including seven during the defining burst to open the fourth quarter that shifted the momentum for good.
Tornike Shengelia added 15 points on 5-of-12 two-point shooting, and Jan Vesely finished with six points and two rebounds in 17 minutes as Barcelona controlled the interior with a 40-31 rebounding edge.
The hosts also committed only 11 turnovers, limiting transition opportunities for ASVEL and maintaining control of the tempo in the second half.
ASVEL dropped to 3-10 and remained winless on the road despite one of its strongest performances of the season, highlighted by Nando De Colo’s return.
The veteran guard delivered 22 points, 12-of-12 free-throw shooting, a season-high nine assists, and two steals for a performance index rating of 34.
Bodian Massa added 10 points and nine rebounds, but ASVEL struggled again from the perimeter, finishing 4-of-18 from deep.
The visitors committed 17 turnovers and were outscored 20-13 in the fourth quarter, unable to match Barcelona’s regained defensive intensity.
Barcelona now prepares for a trip to Belgrade to face Crvena Zvezda next Friday, while ASVEL heads to Bulgaria for a Round 14 matchup against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
