Real Madrid's growth continued with the visit of Kosner Baskonia. The whites tied their fourth consecutive victory in the Euroleague (94-87) and the seventh also counting the Endesa League. Los victorianosdespite the fact that they did not give up even with several very dark scenarios, They still have not won away from home in the continental competition. Seven exits and seven defeats. Only bottom-place ASVEL is worse playing away from home.
A choral Madrid, with Hezonja, Campazzo, Maledon and Tavares reaching 17 rating creditshad to win the match on several occasions. He had it on track when he started 13 up midway through the third quarter (58-45)but Baskonia held on to Luw-Carbrot to survive (60-55).
Facundo Campazzo, defended by Khalifa Diop.
The whites had it done when they went up by 14 at the beginning of the last period (76-62), but Howard went into a trance to even overtake the Vitorians with a partial 0-15. He scored 13 points almost in a row with three consecutive triples and some of them impossible, those that only an enlightened person can convert. Impossible to stop even for Abaldewho had managed to tie him short throughout the night and even went to the bench applauded as a reward for his efforts.
Hezonja, very involved
Hezonja had to appear on the run to lead an 11-0 run with six points and restore calm to Madrid (87-77). The forward finished with 17 points and was once again the Madridistas' top scorer for the fifth consecutive game. He missed some called baskets and was whistled for some dubious fouls. Nothing distracted him. Very involved.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot tries to overcome the defense of Walter Tavares.
But Baskonia still had something to say. With a 2+1 from Howard, who scored 16 points in a brutal last quarter, and a triple from Luwawu-Cabarrot, They got within five (92-87) with 45 seconds remaining. Campazzowhich always appeared in the hottest moments, closed. His were the last seven points of his team. Madrid won, and continues to rise. Baskonia fell, whose effort had no reward.
Howard's Contrast
Howard is a player who gives you in front what remains behind you. There are few like him in attack, if he has the day. But in defense it is a black hole. It was shown at the beginning, with Abalde punishing him and he sneaking in to score two triples. Then marked Tavares territory so that Madrid took control in the first break (24-23). The whites, not very fluid, found a vein in the free throws (they went 18 to 1) and in the attacking rebound. The baskonist exteriors, with Spagnolo, Simmons and Luwawu-Cabarrot, hit from mid-range or found their way to the rim to support their team. Happy, with a triple after great circulation, put the 42-39 at halftime.
After, a rushing start from the locals, with a great defense. Hezonjaoff until then, plugged in. Campazzo followed him. Partial 16-4 to go 13 (58-45). Luwawu-Cabarrot was the visiting lifeguard, but Maledon gave another tug at the end of the third quarter (71-60). The clash seemed to break at 76-62 after a triple by the French point guard, but Howard reached ecstasy and forced Madrid to win the game again. The escort could not stop the white flood.
Technical sheet
94 – Real Madrid (24+18+29+23): Campazzo (16), Abalde (9), Okeke (-), Hezonja (17), Tavares (11), -starting five-, Maledon (15), Llull (), Lyles (7), Deck (9), Garuba (2), Andrés Feliz (8).
87 – Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (23+16+21+27): Simmons (11), Howard (22), Radzevicius (), Kurucs (8), Diop (4) -cinco inicial-, Spagnolo (8), Luwawu-Cabarrot (20), Frisch (3), Diakité (7), Nowell (-), Forrest (4).
Referees: Sasa Pukl (Slovenia), Olegs Latisevs (Latvia) and Tomasz Trawicki (Poland). They eliminated Abalde due to five personal fouls (m.38).
Incidents: matchday 15 of the Euroleague played at the Movistar Arena in Madrid in front of 8,141 spectators. In the preview, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the writer and journalist Alfonso Ussía.
