Real Madrid-Baskonia: League play-off quarter-finals get underway
Chus Mateo's men will be aiming to take the lead in a best-of-three series at the Movistar Arena (7 pm CEST).
Real Madrid kick off the road to clinching a 38th league title with the first game of the quarter-final play-offs this evening against Baskonia. The Whites will be looking to take a 1-0 lead at the Movistar Arena and make the home-court advantage count after finishing first in the Regular Season. Madrid will be up against the Vitoria team for the fourth time in this first round. In the previous three, Madrid managed to advance.
This will be like a EuroLeague clash but in the Liga ACB quarter-finals. Real Madrid and Baskonia previously met last season in the playoffs of the top continental competition. It finished 3-0 to Madrid. This will be a short but intense best-of-three series between the Regular Season leaders and the eighth-placed club. With 17 wins, Madrid completed a perfect second half of the season, reaching the playoffs on the back of 22 consecutive victories, a run that began on 29 December last year. The Whites have now gone six months unbeaten in this competition.
Meanwhile, Baskonia have managed to break into the top eight after an inconsistent season, but their strong final stretch, with 7 wins in the last 9 games, has given them the chance to fight for the title. Pablo Laso's team possesses plenty of offensive firepower, a quick and physical game and they will be looking to benefit from the in-form players such as Forrest, Howard, Moneke and Hall.
Unbeatable at home
Chus Mateo's side have gained home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. While this is not decisive, it certainly will be valuable. Real Madrid have not lost on their home court this season and in the last game at the Movistar Arena against Coviran Granada they equalled their record of consecutive wins in front of their home fans, with number 26.
The two teams have gone head-to-head on four occasions this season, with three Madridista victories: two in the Liga Endesa (82-89 and 83-78) and one in the EuroLeague (90-89). In addition, history in the quarter-finals also favours the Whites: they have beaten Baskonia the three times they have met (1987/88, 1988/89 and 1989/90).