UCAM Murcia-Real Madrid: final game ahead of the Copa del Rey
Chus Mateo's team are looking for a seventh successive win on matchday 20 in the league (6:30pm CET).
Real Madrid head to face UCAM Murcia this evening in their final outing before next week's Copa del Rey. The opener versus Valencia Basket is on the horizon, but first all efforts will be focused on defending the Endesa League top spot. Our boys will be looking to extend a winning run that has seen them come out on top in their last six in a row and in 11 of the last 12 games in total, against tough opposition on their home turf.
The team will go into next week's cup competition off the back of their second best streak of the season if they come away from UCAM Murcia with a win, as they have done on their last five visits. Having enjoyed more rest than usual following the postponement of Thursday's clash with Efes due to the earthquake in Turkey, Madrid arrive in Murcia in fine form. The same can't be said for the hosts - UCAM Murcia sit mid-table with 8 victories but have lost five of their last seven. That means Chus Mateo's team may well come up against an extra-motivated outfit, roared on by the fearsome home support.
The team will go into next week's cup competition off the back of their second best streak of the season if they come away from UCAM Murcia with a win, as they have done on their last five visits. Having enjoyed more rest than usual following the postponement of Thursday's clash with Efes due to the earthquake in Turkey, Madrid arrive in Murcia in fine form. The same can't be said for the hosts - UCAM Murcia sit mid-table with 8 victories but have lost five of their last seven. That means Chus Mateo's team may well come up against an extra-motivated outfit, roared on by the fearsome home support.
In the first half of the season, Madrid won with ease at the WiZInk Center 93-57, led by Poirier 23 PIR and Musa 19. The Bosnian forward has been a key player in the positive run since the turn of the year. In all 13 games so far, he's scored at least 10 points and 10 PIR, helping our team to cement themselves as the highest rated in the competition at 107.8, the highest average since the 2015/16 campaign. Up the other end, the best team on the offensive rebound.
Battle on the rebound
First versus third. Madrid will have to close out their defensive rebound, a key area of their game, in order to avoid second chances for opposition with lots of points from the outside thanks to the Trice-McFadden-Davis trio. For our team, three of the top four scorers are on the inside - Yabusele 11.5 points, Tavares 11.2 and Poirier 8.5. The Murcia-based side also boast deep rotation inside with Iliop, Pustovyi, Sakho, Radovic and Luther. It's sure to be a tough test for Chus Mateo's boys with just four days to go until their Copa del Rey opener in Badalona on Thursday.
Battle on the rebound
First versus third. Madrid will have to close out their defensive rebound, a key area of their game, in order to avoid second chances for opposition with lots of points from the outside thanks to the Trice-McFadden-Davis trio. For our team, three of the top four scorers are on the inside - Yabusele 11.5 points, Tavares 11.2 and Poirier 8.5. The Murcia-based side also boast deep rotation inside with Iliop, Pustovyi, Sakho, Radovic and Luther. It's sure to be a tough test for Chus Mateo's boys with just four days to go until their Copa del Rey opener in Badalona on Thursday.