The Liga Endesa Finals between Valencia Basket and Barça could hardly have started in more spectacular fashion. Barça’s dramatic 112-113 victory allowed Xavi Pascual’s side to steal home-court advantage and take an early lead in this best-of-five series. And if Game 1 is any indication of what’s to come, nobody will be left indifferent.
The opening game of the finals series, played in a stunning atmosphere at Valencia’s Roig Arena (official attendance: 14.423 fans), has already secured its place in Spanish basketball history. Never before had so many points been scored in an ACB Finals game, with a combined 225 points in a matchup that also marked the first time both teams broke the 100-point barrier in a championship game in Spain. In fact, that mark had already been reached during regulation, as the game headed into overtime tied at 101 after three clutch three-pointers by Will Clyburn rescued what had looked like a certain Valencia victory.
😱 Will Clyburn, el hombre 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐨
Un triple y un tapón para forzar la prórroga en el primer partido de la FINAL del #PlayoffLigaEndesa 🤯
📺 @DAZN_ES | @FCBbasket pic.twitter.com/5K92amZKYL
— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) June 18, 2026
To win in Valencia, Barça had to post the highest scoring total ever recorded in an ACB Finals game (113 points) while also setting another historic mark: the most three-pointers ever made in an ACB playoff game. The Catalan side knocked down 19 shots from beyond the arc while shooting an impressive 50 percent from three-point range. Clyburn buried five, Nicolas Laprovittola added four, while Joel Parra and Darío Brizuela chipped in three apiece.
Valencia Basket was not far behind the visitors either. Their team efficiency rating of 129 also set a new all-time Finals record in that category, with Barça —despite the win— finishing at 118.
In the end, it was a game to remember and the perfect appetizer for a finals series that already promises plenty of drama. Chapter two, once again in Valencia, will tip off on Saturday at 8 p.m. local Spanish time.
