Baskonia-Real Madrid: looking to remain unbeaten in the league
Our boys face a tough trip to the Buesa Arena looking to pick up the fifth win on the bounce (7:15pm CEST).
This evening at the Buesa Arena in Vitoria, Real Madrid close out a week which has seen them play 3 games inside 5 days. Following Friday's win over KK Crvena zvezda, our team now face a tough test in the league, where they have won the last four in a row. It will be Chus Mateo's boys' final outing in October, and it comes against one of their biggest historic rivals.
The madridistas head into matchday five unbeaten in the league so far, topping the table alongside Lenovo Tenerife. They've won both games on the road in Girona and Málaga, and this week picked up a win and a defeat in their Euroleague double-header. The team from Vitoria sit seventh 2-2, having shown their best form in Europe 3-1, despite losing on Friday at home to Olympiacos.
The madridistas head into matchday five unbeaten in the league so far, topping the table alongside Lenovo Tenerife. They've won both games on the road in Girona and Málaga, and this week picked up a win and a defeat in their Euroleague double-header. The team from Vitoria sit seventh 2-2, having shown their best form in Europe 3-1, despite losing on Friday at home to Olympiacos.
Tonight's encounter sees two of the league's best offenses go head-to-head. Madrid are averaging 89.7 points per game, with Baskonia on 88.2. The hosts are a hugely dangerous team from 6.75, posting an average of 13 triples per game with a 44.4% success rate. They rack up loads of points through short possessions and boast two highly mobile and versatile centers who open the court up. Inside, Madrid will have to make their greater strength in depth tell, calling on superior height and all-round resources. We have the better record on the rebound, with Hezonja leading the way. The forward has taken more than any other player on the team, averaging 6.8. As for points, Musa top-scores with 17.5.
Defense
But this game will be built on defense. Whenever Baskonia have failed to reach the 80-point mark, they've lost so far this season. They're conceding 86.5 to our team's 79.2. Costello, Thompson and Giedraitis have been the standout men up top for the Basques so far, alongside Kotsar and Howard as the spine of the team. The madridistas have won the last 3 head-to-heads in the league, and 6 of the last 7. It's the last trip on the road in October, as next week's games all come at the WiZink Center, against Virtus Bolonia and Carplus Fuenlabrada.
Defense
But this game will be built on defense. Whenever Baskonia have failed to reach the 80-point mark, they've lost so far this season. They're conceding 86.5 to our team's 79.2. Costello, Thompson and Giedraitis have been the standout men up top for the Basques so far, alongside Kotsar and Howard as the spine of the team. The madridistas have won the last 3 head-to-heads in the league, and 6 of the last 7. It's the last trip on the road in October, as next week's games all come at the WiZink Center, against Virtus Bolonia and Carplus Fuenlabrada.