Real Madrid-Gran Canaria: Whites aiming for first blood in league playoffs
The EuroLeague champions host the Eurocup winners in the quarter-finals (12.30pm CET).
Real Madrid host Gran Canaria in the first clash of the Liga Endesa quarter-final playoffs. Chus Mateo's charges, who are on their longest winning streak of the season with 10 consecutive victories, will be bidding to take the lead in a best-of-three play-off series against a team that finished sixth in the Regular Season.
After being crowned European champions a week ago in Kaunas after Llull's historic basket against Olympiacos, the Whites must now turn their attention to the league with the aim of clinching what would be their third trophy of the current campaign. To do so, they will first have to overcome the reigning Eurocup champions. Gran Canaria will be looking to spring a surprise in what has already been a landmark season for them.
However, the madridistas are in the top form. Since the second EuroLeague playoff game against Partizan on 27 April, they are unbeaten - a total of 10 games. This includes the last game in April and the nine fixtures in May, including the game in Gran Canaria a fortnight ago. This will be a stern test against opposition who have nothing to lose and who have made the play-offs for the league title for the third year on the trot.
After being crowned European champions a week ago in Kaunas after Llull's historic basket against Olympiacos, the Whites must now turn their attention to the league with the aim of clinching what would be their third trophy of the current campaign. To do so, they will first have to overcome the reigning Eurocup champions. Gran Canaria will be looking to spring a surprise in what has already been a landmark season for them.
However, the madridistas are in the top form. Since the second EuroLeague playoff game against Partizan on 27 April, they are unbeaten - a total of 10 games. This includes the last game in April and the nine fixtures in May, including the game in Gran Canaria a fortnight ago. This will be a stern test against opposition who have nothing to lose and who have made the play-offs for the league title for the third year on the trot.
One of the driving forces behind Madrid's rich vein of form has been their defence. Chus Mateo's men have improved defensively and in the last five games have averaged just 71.2 points against. This will be a decisive aspect again against Gran Canaria, as Lakovic's boys are a very offensive-minded team. They have averaged 83.4 points, five less than Madrid, and they move the ball nicely in attack with 17 assists on average and eight players averaging between 7 and 12 points. Brussino, AJ Slaughter and Shurna are the standouts. For the Whites, Tavares, Musa and Yabusele top this list. The first two, were named in the best team in the league, and the third, MVP of the month of May. However, Williams-Goss, Hezonja and Sergio Rodriguez are also playing extremely well.
Unbeaten against Gran Canaria in the playoffs
The previous meetings between the two sides in the league quarter-finals have seen Madrid on top on all three occasions without losing a game against the Canary Islanders: 2-0 in the 2020/21 season; 2-0 in 2014/15; and 3-0 in the 1999/00 campaign. This season, Madrid have claimed victory in both league clashes, 105-85 at the WiZink Center and 67-95 at the Gran Canaria Arena. Today, the madridistas will be looking for the first point in the quarter-finals before travelling to Las Palmas.
Unbeaten against Gran Canaria in the playoffs
The previous meetings between the two sides in the league quarter-finals have seen Madrid on top on all three occasions without losing a game against the Canary Islanders: 2-0 in the 2020/21 season; 2-0 in 2014/15; and 3-0 in the 1999/00 campaign. This season, Madrid have claimed victory in both league clashes, 105-85 at the WiZink Center and 67-95 at the Gran Canaria Arena. Today, the madridistas will be looking for the first point in the quarter-finals before travelling to Las Palmas.