Baskonia-Real Madrid: Whites looking to seal EuroLeague Final Four spot
Chus Mateo's charges lead 2-0 and will be looking to wrap up the tie at the Buesa Arena (8:30 pm; CEST).
Real Madrid need one more win and have three chances to get it. The Whites are looking to become the first team to reach the Final Four this evening in the third game of the playoffs, which will be played at the Buesa Arena in Vitoria. This would be the club's third appearance in a row and the sixth of the last seven. Chus Mateo's troops will be aiming to justify their status as the best visiting team in the EuroLeague on a court where they have prevailed on their two visits this season.
The madridistas travel to the city of Alava boasting a 2-0 lead achieved at the WiZink Center last week. In this tie, Madrid have been unstoppable in the first two games, winning 90-74 and 101-90, and in the second clash they beat their own record for points and in PIR in a playoff game. However, Real Madrid have stepped up a gear in the title play-offs. They average 124.5 in PIR (18 more points than in the Regular Season) and have brought Baskonia's down from 93.3 to 81. Meanwhile, their attack has increased by seven points (from 88.2 to 95.5) and they have also managed to reduce Baskonia's by two (84.2 to 82).
There has been a lot of talk about Baskonia's dangerous three-point shooting and minimising their percentages is certain to be one of the big challenges of the game once again. However, Madrid are shooting better from the perimeter with a 45.2% success rate, and in both victories they have exerted their strength as a team. In defence, they were able to stop the competition's top scorer. Markus Howard, who averaged 19.2 points in the Regular Season, has dropped to 13.5 thanks to the defensive efforts of our team. Thanks to two victories in which five players recorded double digits in PIR. Poirier and Tavares have been decisive in the paint, prevailing over Costello and company. The former averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 16 in PIR and the latter 9, 8, 2 and 18.5. Together with Campazzo (17, 5 assists for 23 in PIR), they have been Madrid's standout performers so far in this series.
On the road
Baskonia will throw everything they have into the game because they have no margin for error. The Buesa Arena is guaranteed to provide a tremendous atmosphere that Chus Mateo’s side will have to deal with. This season the Whites have won both matches played there. In the first round of the EuroLeague by 77-79 and in the league by 85-99. Madrid are also the best away team in the competition with 13 wins, equalling the record in a Regular Season. Should the Whites claim another win, they would set the all-time record for the most total away victories in a single edition of the competition. Tonight, the madridistas will be looking to make their tenth appearance in a Final Four out of the last 13.