FC Barcelona protected its home court Tuesday night, defeating Anadolu Efes Istanbul 78-71 at Palau Blaugrana to keep its EuroLeague playoff push on track.
The victory moved Barcelona to 19-14 in the standings, keeping the Catalan club firmly in the crowded postseason race with five regular-season games remaining.
The home side controlled the first half but had to withstand a determined Efes comeback before closing the game with key stops and free throws.
Will Clyburn led Barcelona with 21 points and five rebounds, delivering consistent scoring throughout the night.
Toko Shengelia anchored the frontcourt with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes.
Jan Vesely added 10 points and four rebounds, providing interior presence as Barcelona controlled the glass.
The hosts finished with a 34-24 rebounding advantage, a factor that helped offset 14 turnovers compared to just seven for Efes.
Barcelona built its early advantage through balanced scoring and defensive discipline.
The Catalans took a 12-point lead into halftime after limiting Efes’ perimeter rhythm and winning the defensive rebounding battle.
Despite the deficit, the Turkish side regrouped after the break and gradually reduced the margin.
Forward Ercan Osmani fueled the comeback effort with a strong all-around performance, finishing with 18 points and eight rebounds.
Efes continued to pressure Barcelona late in the fourth quarter, forcing the hosts into a tense closing stretch.
The home team ultimately relied on composure and free-throw accuracy to secure the win.
Clyburn converted all 11 of his attempts from the line, an important contribution given his 69 percent free-throw average entering the game.
For Efes, the loss dropped the club to 10-23, leaving little margin for error with only a handful of games left in the regular season.
The Turkish side now faces another difficult test on Thursday when it travels to play Real Madrid.
Barcelona will remain at home to face Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on March 27 in another critical matchup for playoff positioning.
