2021 ACB Playoffs
Tournament details
CountrySpain
Dates31 May–15 June 2021
Teams8
Defending championsTD Systems Baskonia
Final positions
ChampionsBarça
16th ACB title
19th Spanish title
Runner-upReal Madrid
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played18
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 ACB Playoffs, also known as 2021 Liga Endesa Playoffs for sponsorship reasons, was the postseason tournament of the ACB's 2020–21 season, which began on 19 September 2020. The playoffs started on May 31 after the EuroLeague Final Four, which was played on May 28–30, and ended on June 15 before the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, which will be played on June 29–July 4.

TD Systems Baskonia was the defending champion which got knocked out by Valencia Basket in the quarterfinals. Barça claimed their 16th ACB title and their 19th Spanish title, ending a 7-year drought, by downing archrivals Real Madrid in Game 2 of the Finals. Barça swept the series and completed its first Spanish double (League and Cup titles) since 2011.

Format

On May 4, 2021, ACB delayed the regular season ending calendar one week to play the postponed matches.[1] With Barça's already qualified to the EuroLeague Final Four in Cologne, the playoffs will be played in best-of-three, instead of best-of-five as usual. Only if there had been no Spanish representation in the Final Four, the finals would have been played to best-of-five.[2][3]

At the end of the regular season, the eight teams with the most wins qualified for the playoffs. The seedings were based on each team's record. The bracket was fixed; there was no reseeding. All rounds were best-of-three series; the series ended when one team won two games, and that team advanced to the next round. All rounds, including the Finals, were in a 1–1–1 format. Home court advantage went to the team with the better regular season record, and, if needed, ties were broken based on head-to-head record.

Playoff qualifying

On March 16, 2021, Real Madrid became the first team to clinch a playoff spot.[4]

Seed Team Record Clinched
Playoff berth Seeded team Top seed
1 Real Madrid 34–2 March 16[4] April 8 May 20[5]
2 Barça 32–4 March 23[6] April 14 –
3 Lenovo Tenerife 27–9 April 4[7] April 21[8] –
4 Valencia Basket 24–12 April 25[9] May 22[10] –
5 TD Systems Baskonia 23–13 April 14[11] – –
6 Hereda San Pablo Burgos 22–14 April 28[12] – –
7 Joventut 20–16 May 11[13] – –
8 Herbalife Gran Canaria 18–18 May 23[14] – –

Bracket

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding, the numbers to the right indicate the result of games including result in bold of the team that won in that game, and the numbers furthest to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round.

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                  
1 Real Madrid 103 81 – 2
8 Herbalife Gran Canaria 79 75 – 0
1 Real Madrid 81 67 80 2
4 Valencia Basket 70 85 77 1
4 Valencia Basket 87 65 78 2
5 TD Systems Baskonia 86 76 73 1
1 Real Madrid 75 73 – 0
2 Barça 89 92 – 2
2 Barça 84 63 94 2
7 Joventut 74 72 73 1
2 Barça 112 68 89 2
3 Lenovo Tenerife 69 80 72 1
3 Lenovo Tenerife 86 92 – 2
6 Hereda San Pablo Burgos 78 68 – 0

Quarterfinals

All times are in Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00)

Real Madrid v Herbalife Gran Canaria

31 May 2021 Real Madrid 103–79
(Series: 1–0) 		Herbalife Gran Canaria Madrid
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 34–11, 22–19, 22–34, 25–15
Pts: three players 14
Rebs: Poirier 11
Asts: Laprovíttola 6
PIR: Poirier 26 		Boxscore Pts: Costello 23
Rebs: Stević 6
Asts: Albicy, Dimša 4
PIR: Costello 23 		Arena: WiZink Center
Attendance: 0
Referees: Fernando Calatrava, Sergio Manuel, Rubén Sánchez
2 June 2021 Herbalife Gran Canaria 75–81
(Series: 0–2) 		Real Madrid Las Palmas
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 15–16, 20–21, 16–21, 24–23
Pts: Slaughter 22
Rebs: Costello 11
Asts: Albicy 4
PIR: Slaughter 17 		Boxscore Pts: Fernández 15
Rebs: Tavares 12
Asts: three players 3
PIR: Fernández 17 		Arena: Gran Canaria Arena
Attendance: 200
Referees: Carlos Peruga, Jorge Martínez, Esperanza Mendoza

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Real Madrid winning the previous three meetings.

Barça v Joventut

1 June 2021 Barça 84–74
(Series: 1–0) 		Joventut Barcelona
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 26–18, 14–20, 20–12, 24–24
Pts: Bolmaro 16
Rebs: Gasol 6
Asts: Bolmaro, Hanga 4
PIR: Gasol 18 		Boxscore Pts: Tomić 17
Rebs: Tomić 8
Asts: Dimitrijević 3
PIR: Brodziansky 19 		Arena: Palau Blaugrana
Attendance: 0
Referees: Óscar Perea, Martín Caballero, Cristóbal Sánchez
3 June 2021 Joventut 72–63
(Series: 1–1) 		Barça Badalona
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–13, 8–14, 18–17, 23–19
Pts: Bassas 20
Rebs: Parra 7
Asts: Tomić 7
PIR: Bassas 19 		Boxscore Pts: Higgins 13
Rebs: Davies 8
Asts: Higgins 5
PIR: Mirotić 19 		Arena: Palau Municipal d'Esports
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Juan Carlos García, Vicente Bultó, Alfonso Olivares
5 June 2021 Barça 94–73
(Series: 2–1) 		Joventut Barcelona
18:30 Scoring by quarter: 25–21, 20–17, 37–14, 12–21
Pts: Kuric 22
Rebs: Abrines 7
Asts: Calathes 9
PIR: Kuric 24 		Boxscore Pts: Tomić 17
Rebs: Tomić, Ventura 5
Asts: Dimitrijević 6
PIR: Tomić 23 		Arena: Palau Blaugrana
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Antonio Conde, Fernando Calatrava, Arnau Padrós

This was the 13th playoff meeting between these two teams, with Barça winning nine of the first 12 meetings.

Lenovo Tenerife v Hereda San Pablo Burgos

1 June 2021 Lenovo Tenerife 86–78
(Series: 1–0) 		Hereda San Pablo Burgos San Cristóbal de La Laguna
19:45 Scoring by quarter: 19–14, 26–28, 21–13, 20–23
Pts: Shermadini 16
Rebs: Shermadini 6
Asts: Huertas 5
PIR: Shermadini 24 		Boxscore Pts: Salvó 14
Rebs: Salvó 7
Asts: Cook 6
PIR: Salvó 21 		Arena: Santiago Martín
Attendance: 0
Referees: Miguel Ángel Pérez, Jordi Aliaga, Vicente Martínez
3 June 2021 Hereda San Pablo Burgos 68–92
(Series: 0–2) 		Lenovo Tenerife Burgos
19:45 Scoring by quarter: 26–23, 15–12, 11–31, 16–26
Pts: Kravić 20
Rebs: Kravić 7
Asts: Renfroe 5
PIR: Kravić 23 		Boxscore Pts: Huertas 20
Rebs: Sulejmanović 5
Asts: Huertas 9
PIR: Huertas 28 		Arena: Coliseum Burgos
Attendance: 879
Referees: Antonio Conde, Luis Miguel Castillo, Alberto Baena

This was the first meeting in the playoffs between Lenovo Tenerife and Hereda San Pablo Burgos.

Valencia Basket v TD Systems Baskonia

31 May 2021 Valencia Basket 87–86
(Series: 1–0) 		TD Systems Baskonia Valencia
19:45 Scoring by quarter: 22–18, 13–26, 25–19, 27–23
Pts: Dubljević 20
Rebs: Kalinić 7
Asts: Van Rossom 7
PIR: Kalinić 24 		Boxscore Pts: Peters 16
Rebs: Polonara 7
Asts: Colom, Henry 3
PIR: Henry 18 		Arena: La Fonteta
Attendance: 1,500
Referees: Daniel Hierrezuelo, Juan de Dios Oyón, Joaquín García
2 June 2021 TD Systems Baskonia 76–65
(Series: 1–1) 		Valencia Basket Vitoria-Gasteiz
19:45 Scoring by quarter: 26–16, 15–12, 21–18, 14–19
Pts: Giedraitis 15
Rebs: Giedraitis 7
Asts: Henry 10
PIR: Giedraitis 24 		Boxscore Pts: Prepelič 20
Rebs: Dubljević 9
Asts: Van Rossom 3
PIR: Prepelič 15 		Arena: Buesa Arena
Attendance: 0
Referees: Emilio Pérez, Arnau Padrós, Javier Torres
4 June 2021 Valencia Basket 78–73
(Series: 2–1) 		TD Systems Baskonia Valencia
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–19, 20–15, 16–19, 19–20
Pts: Kalinić 18
Rebs: Kalinić 7
Asts: Van Rossom 6
PIR: Kalinić 29 		Boxscore Pts: Dragić 16
Rebs: Jekiri 6
Asts: Henry 8
PIR: Polonara 20 		Arena: La Fonteta
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Miguel Ángel Pérez, Carlos Peruga, Alberto Sánchez

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with TD Systems Baskonia winning three of the first four meetings.

Semifinals

All times are in Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00)

Real Madrid v Valencia Basket

6 June 2021 Real Madrid 81–70
(Series: 1–0) 		Valencia Basket Madrid
18:30 Scoring by quarter: 25–14, 19–24, 14–8, 23–24
Pts: Causeur 24
Rebs: Garuba 12
Asts: Alocén 8
PIR: Tavares 27 		Boxscore Pts: Hermannsson, Labeyrie 11
Rebs: Dubljević 12
Asts: Kalinić 4
PIR: Dubljević 16 		Arena: WiZink Center
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Emilio Pérez, Jordi Aliaga, Luis Miguel Castillo
8 June 2021 Valencia Basket 85–67
(Series: 1–1) 		Real Madrid Valencia
21:15 Scoring by quarter: 24–18, 20–11, 20–19, 21–19
Pts: Labeyrie 18
Rebs: Dubljević 7
Asts: Hermannsson 5
PIR: Labeyrie 22 		Boxscore Pts: Carroll 13
Rebs: Tyus 6
Asts: Alocén, Taylor 3
PIR: Tyus 12 		Arena: La Fonteta
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Carlos Peruga, Óscar Perea, Alberto Sánchez
10 June 2021 Real Madrid 80–77
(Series: 2–1) 		Valencia Basket Madrid
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 22–18, 20–21, 17–16, 21–22
Pts: Garuba 16
Rebs: Garuba 14
Asts: Llull 5
PIR: Garuba 23 		Boxscore Pts: Kalinić 13
Rebs: Labeyrie 5
Asts: Van Rossom 3
PIR: Kalinić, Tobey 14 		Arena: WiZink Center
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Antonio Conde, Carlos Peruga, Jordi Aliaga

This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with Real Madrid winning five of the first six meetings.

Barça v Lenovo Tenerife

7 June 2021 Barça 112–69
(Series: 1–0) 		Lenovo Tenerife Barcelona
21:15 Scoring by quarter: 18–18, 25–18, 40–18, 29–15
Pts: Mirotić 21
Rebs: Abrines 6
Asts: Calathes 7
PIR: Mirotić 23 		Boxscore Pts: Guerra 14
Rebs: Shermadini 4
Asts: Fitipaldo 7
PIR: Guerra 12 		Arena: Palau Blaugrana
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Juan Carlos García, Fernando Calatrava, Martín Caballero
9 June 2021 Lenovo Tenerife 80–68
(Series: 1–1) 		Barça San Cristóbal de La Laguna
21:15 Scoring by quarter: 15–19, 23–16, 20–20, 22–13
Pts: Huertas 26
Rebs: Shermadini 10
Asts: Huertas 11
PIR: Shermadini 37 		Boxscore Pts: Gasol 15
Rebs: Mirotić 9
Asts: Calathes 4
PIR: Gasol 21 		Arena: Santiago Martín
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Emilio Pérez, Antonio Conde, Sergio Manuel
11 June 2021 Barça 89–72
(Series: 2–1) 		Lenovo Tenerife Barcelona
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–21, 23–18, 22–11, 21–22
Pts: Gasol 15
Rebs: Gasol 5
Asts: Mirotić 4
PIR: Gasol 24 		Boxscore Pts: Doornekamp 19
Rebs: Doornekamp 5
Asts: Huertas 9
PIR: Doornekamp 22 		Arena: Palau Blaugrana
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Emilio Pérez, Fernando Calatrava, Luis Miguel Castillo

This was the first meeting in the playoffs between Barça and Lenovo Tenerife.

Finals

All times are in Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00)
13 June 2021 Real Madrid 75–89
(Series: 0–1) 		Barça Madrid
18:30 Scoring by quarter: 20–15, 16–18, 16–29, 23–27
Pts: Tavares 16
Rebs: Tavares 11
Asts: Llull 3
PIR: Tavares 26 		Boxscore Pts: Higgins 26
Rebs: Gasol 8
Asts: Calathes 4
PIR: Higgins 26 		Arena: WiZink Center
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Carlos Peruga, Jordi Aliaga, Martín Caballero
15 June 2021 Barça 92–73
(Series: 2–0) 		Real Madrid Barcelona
22:00 Scoring by quarter: 26–15, 22–15, 29–25, 15–18
Pts: Mirotić 27
Rebs: Gasol, Šmits 6
Asts: Calathes 7
PIR: Mirotić 35 		Boxscore Pts: Abalde 15
Rebs: Tavares 6
Asts: Alocén 5
PIR: Abalde 21 		Arena: Palau Blaugrana
Attendance: 1,000
Referees: Antonio Conde, Emilio Pérez, Luis Miguel Castillo

This was the 20th playoff meeting between these two teams, with Real Madrid winning 10 of the first 19 meetings.

References

  1. ^ "Comunicado acb-Reajuste calendario | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  2. ^ "El playoff final de ACB será al mejor de tres". Mundo Deportivo (in European Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ "La final de la ACB se jugará al mejor de tres partidos". AS.com (in European Spanish). 4 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b "R.Madrid, clasificado para Playoff | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 17 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Real Madrid, campeón de la regular | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 20 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  6. ^ "El Barça ya está en Playoff | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 23 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Lenovo Tenerife... ¡en Playoff! | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 4 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  8. ^ "El Lenovo Tenerife, ¡cabeza de serie!". elDiario.es (in European Spanish). 21 April 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Valencia Basket ya está en Playoff | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 25 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Valencia Basket-Urbas Fuenla (96-76 | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 22 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  11. ^ "TD Systems Baskonia ya en Playoff | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 14 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Hereda SPB clasificado para Playoff | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 28 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  13. ^ "El Joventut es equipo de Playoff | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Crónica: Coosur Betis-Herbalife GC | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

External links

Liga ACB
2020–21 in Spanish basketball
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