Oviedo secured a comfortable 99-86 win over Palma Basket in the ACB (Oro) on Friday evening, closing out the fixture with authority at home. The result keeps the hosts sixth in the table after 32 games, while Palma remain in 14th place with 10 wins and 22 defeats. by then it was clear Oviedo had control of the tempo and refused to let the visitors back into the contest.
What struck me watching the game is how Oviedo managed their lead without panicking. Palma pushed hard in the second quarter, but the home side answered with a run that closed the game out in the final minutes. We had called for a home victory at 66 per cent confidence, and the result vindicated that call without us needing to gloat about it.
Oviedo's record shows 19 wins from 32 games, and this performance reinforced their push for the upper half of the table. Palma's struggles are more evident now — 22 losses in 32 matches means they are fighting to avoid the drop. The gap between the two sides was visible throughout, especially in the fourth quarter when Oviedo extended their advantage.
The visitors had some moments of promise, particularly in the passing game, but they could not find the consistency that comes with winning streaks. Oviedo's defence held firm when it mattered most, and their offence found the right shots at the right time. to be fair, Palma were not without chances, but they left too many on the floor.
This was a fourth straight win for Oviedo in their last five outings, a run that includes a comeback against Gipuzkoa and a solid victory over the same opponent earlier in the season. Palma, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five, including a narrow defeat to Estela and a closer-than-expected loss to Palmer Basket. The form gap between these two teams is now measurable in points as much as in results.
The final scoreline of 99-86 does not tell the full story of how the game unfolded, but it captures the essence of a match where Oviedo dictated terms from the opening tip. Palma will need to regroup quickly if they are to salvage something from this campaign. Oviedo, meanwhile, will look to build on this momentum as the season progresses.
