If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, they say.
With that in mind, FC Barcelona took on the highest-scoring team in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season and responded with its highest point total without overtime in almost exactly a year in downing Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 96-84 on Friday.
In a game that began with 9 three-pointers between the teams before either tried a shot inside the arc or from the foul line, it was clear early that a shootout was in order. By halftime, it was 52-48 and the pace barely slackened as Barca clung to a 76-73 advantage after 30 minutes.
Something had to give, but that only happened in the fourth quarter, when Barca kept filling up the basket long enough for Baskonia to lose focus amid failing on its last 9 three-pointers.