Missed shot at buzzer avoids Bayern upset
FC Barcelona capped a successful two-round week with a hard-fought 72-70 home win over FC Bayern Munich to make it two out of two after overpowering Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 83-78 on Tuesday, improving to 15-8 and staying firmly on course to reach the playoffs.
Veteran Nikola Mirotic paced Barcelona with 12 points and Cory Higgins added 9, including the go-ahead mid-range shot with 22.3 seconds left on the clock which decided the dramatic contest. Center Jan Vesely posted 10 points and 9 rebounds and Sertac Sanli also racked up 10 points including a pair of three-pointers. Nick Weiler-Babb led Bayern with a game-high 15 points, Ognjen Jaramaz chipped in with 12 and Augustine Rubit scored 10 for the short-handed visitors, who missed several key players through injury and head coach Andrea Trinchieri through bereavement.