FC Barcelona had to work for all 40 minutes to defeat FC Bayern Munich 77-67 in all-important Game 1 of their best-of-five playoffs series on Tuesday. Dante Exum had to do a lot with that success.
Exum was everywhere for Barca
Exum posted solid numbers against Bayern, finishing the game with 12 points on near-perfect shooting. He hit 4 of 5 two-pointers, burying his only shot from beyond the arc and his only free throw attempt. He added 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 fouls drawn for a PIR of 18. He didn't lead his team in scoring or PIR – Brandon Davies had 19 points and a PIR of 24 – and was on court for les than 20 minutes, but Exum provided the energy Barca needed in very critical moments of the game, stepping up over and over again.
Bayern opened the game with good rhythm and built a 13-22 lead late in the first quarter. Barca desperately needed a go-to guy and Exum rescued his team with a big three-pointer as the shot clock expired. He also helped Barce improve its defense, which led to a 12-0 run which he capped with an off-balance three-point play.
Later, Exum also provided the biggest play of the night: an outstanding one-handed slam over Othello Hunter that seemed to seal the outcome, 67-53, early in the fourth quarter. Bayern used a 0-9 run to get back in the game but Exum was there to rescue his team, banking in a running hook that capped a 6-0 run, sealing the outcome.