Valencia Basket made a statement in its first EuroLeague home game of the season, overwhelming Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 111-88 at Roig Arena on Tuesday to improve to 2-0.
After reaching its first EuroLeague Final Four and winning the Spanish League title last season, Valencia entered the new campaign with a dramatically reshaped roster and a new head coach in Xavi Albert. The early signs suggest the club’s fast-paced, ball-moving identity has remained intact.
Valencia took control immediately, using a 17-1 run to build a 26-10 lead after the opening quarter. Newcomers Nikola Mirotic, Dylan Osetkowski and TJ Shorts combined for 14 points during the first 10 minutes, while Valencia recorded seven assists without committing a turnover.
The hosts continued to pull away in the second quarter. Armoni Brooks hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 37-15, and Valencia entered halftime ahead 52-33.
Eleven Valencia players had scored before the break, with six contributing between five and seven points. The hosts had 13 assists and just two turnovers at halftime, while Baskonia struggled from beyond the arc, making only one of its first 14 attempts.
Baskonia never threatened to turn the game around after halftime. Valencia pushed its advantage to 83-60 after three quarters before Brooks’ second three-pointer of the game made it 91-65 early in the fourth.
Brooks led Valencia with 17 points, while Mirotic, Osetkowski and several other contributors helped the hosts produce a balanced offensive performance. Seven Valencia players finished in double figures.
Mirotic scored 13 points and moved into fourth place on the EuroLeague’s all-time scoring list with 4,423 career points, surpassing Kostas Sloukas. Shorts added 12 points and 10 assists while committing only one turnover.
Valencia shot 53.1% from two-point range and 48.1% from three-point range, making 13 of 27 attempts from deep. The hosts also finished with 27 assists and 11 turnovers.
Baskonia shot 63.8% on two-point attempts but made only six of 28 three-pointers. D.J. Stewart led the visitors with 14 points, while Tadas Sedekerskis added 16 and Kenneth Faried scored 15.
The 111 points marked a new EuroLeague scoring record for Valencia, surpassing the previous club mark of 108, which was also set against Baskonia last February.
Valencia will look to remain unbeaten when it visits LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Friday. Baskonia will host Armani Olimpia Milan the same day.
