


FC Barcelona took an important step towards clinching home-court advantage in the upcoming Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs by downing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 80-89 in the Serbian capital on Tuesday. Already-qualified Barca raised its record to 21-10 while Partizan dropped to 17-14 and is still fighting to clinch a playoffs berth.
Nico Laprovittola led the winners with 25 points while Nikola Mirotic added 19, Jan Vesely 14 and Tomas Satoransky had 10 for Barca. Satoransky and Laprovittola combined for 12 assists and just 2 turnovers. Dante Exum led Partizan with 24 points against his former team. Kevin Punter added 16 and Zach LeDay had 10 for the hosts.
Laprovittola struck twice from downtown in a 2-8 opening run for Barca. Yam Madar and Punter stepped up for Partizan, getting their team within 10-11. Satoransky swished a mid-range shot, then Vesely followed a jumper with a dunk for a 16-19 Barca lead. Sertac Sanli scored down low, getting help from Nikola Kalinic to give the guests a 21-25 lead after 10 minutes. Partizan found a go-to guy in Exum, who sank a couple of triples and scored in the low post to put the hosts in charge, 32-27. Exum stayed on fire and Mathias Lessort's layup made it a 40-32 Partizan advantage, but Laprovittola and Cory Higgins brought Barca within 45-44 at halftime.
Vesely dunked right after the break, then Alex Abrines followed a jumper with a triple that made Partizan call timeout at 45-51. Satoransky buried a three-pointer, then Mirotic and Vesely boosted Barca's lead to double digits, 49-61. Exum and Punter joined forces to bring Partizan closer, 58-66, after 30 minutes. Exum single-handedly brought Partizan within striking distance, 70-73, with under 6 minutes left. But Laprovittola hit a three-pointer and Mirotic added an off-balance tip-in to give Barca fresh air, 70-78. Satoransky buried a critical triple and Mirotic sealed the outcome with a tip-in, 73-83, in the next-to-last minute.