FC Barcelona stun NBA champion Lakers with win
Juan Carlos Navarro, the Spanish point guard for FC Barcelona, playfully informed good friend and fellow Spaniard Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers, that his team, the reigning Euroleague
champions, would win the exhibition game between the two teams played in Barcelona Thursday night. And he turned out to be right.
Navarro paced Barcelona with 25 points and six assists on their way to a surprising 92-88 win over the two-time defending NBA champions, who are playing their second and last game in Europe
as part of the NBA Europe Live event. The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-92 Monday night in London, England.
"It was physical, and despite the fact we missed a lot of outside shots, we held on to get the win," said Navarro, who made only three of his 12 three-point attempts.
In a game that was more physical and competitive than many expected, Barcelona got a near triple-double from forward Pete Mickeal, who finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
Terence Morris scored 12 points while Fran Vazquez chipped in with 10 points.
The Lakers, playing in front of a packed house in the Palau Sant Jori, gave up a 12-point advantage in the second quarter, entering the second half of play down 45-44. Despite playing
their starters down the stretch, the Lakers were outplayed in the final minutes with the game tied at 72 apiece midway through the final quarter. Gasol, in his first homecoming since winning two championship titles with the Lakers, returned as a national hero
and led his team with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
"You always want to win, but it was an emotional game," Gasol said. "The fans enjoyed it, and the atmosphere was spectacular. We lost, but when your friends win you have to be happy for
them."
Kobe Bryant, currently recovering from knee surgery, played 25 minutes in the game, compared to a mere six on Monday in London, scoring 15 points on 2-15 shooting. He missed two three-pointers
late in the game that would have tied it.
"[The other starters] were going back in anyway and I wanted to go back in and do some more exercise," Bryant said. "I've had maybe three practices since training camp started. My knee
was feeling good, my knee was feeling fine."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who said he expected a physical game, said Bryant is not fully recovered. "He is not ready to play. He went out there to show his goodwill for the fans and to
support his team."
The Lakers also got 12 points from both Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom as well as 10 from Ron Artest.
Even though his team lost, Gasol, who helped Barcelona win two Spanish League titles before entering the NBA, was the centre of attention last night, receiving a roaring ovation when he
addressed the crowd before the game. "It was a wonderful feeling to be so well supported and appreciated after so many years playing abroad, and I am very proud to have been received in this way."
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