Valencia Basket-Real Madrid: A showdown before the EuroLeague playoffs

Real Madrid and Valencia Basket face off tonight at the Roig Arena on Matchday 28 of the Liga Endesa. Scariolo's team, the leaders and best away team in the competition, hold a three-win advantage over the taronja team, who are in second place with the best home record. All this comes ahead of the EuroLeague playoff against Hapoel.

The leader aims to return to winning ways after a streak of 12 consecutive victories. And what better way to do it than on the court of their closest pursuer to make a statement in the League. Our team has won 13 of their 14 away games and already knows what it takes to triumph at the Roig Arena. They achieved it in the epic comeback in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey with two three-pointers by Hezonja in the last 18 seconds.

Valencia Basket is having a great season. In the League, only Unicaja has defeated them at the Roig Arena. This season, Real Madrid and Valencia have faced each other five times, with a favorable record for our team at 3-2. In Scariolo's three victories, in the aforementioned Copa semifinal (105-106) and in the two home games in the League (94-79) and EuroLeague (96-79), the common denominator has been three-point shooting and rebounding. Madrid has made as many or more three-pointers than their opponent with an efficiency of nearly 40% and has outperformed them in rebounding.

Managing players' minutes will be key, considering that next week both teams will begin the EuroLeague playoffs. Madrid, who will start on Wednesday the 29th at the Movistar Arena against Hapoel (8:45 pm CEST), will play their 71st game of the season tonight, one less than Valencia Basket. Without EuroLeague games this week, madridistas and taronja will arrive fresher for tonight's big League clash.