102-90: Madrid excels in offence to defeat Unicaja
Yabusele (33 index rating points) and Llull (23) lead the team to their fourth win in the last seven days ahead of Wednesday's decisive game against Partizan.
Real Madrid pulled through a very difficult game against Unicaja. Three days before the decisive Euroleague playoff game, against the fifth-placed team and with eight injuries, our team gave a display of commitment, sacrifice and also showed its squad depth. They excelled in attack with 102 points in an offensive display led by an unstoppable Yabusele, who played his best game in a Real Madrid jersey 28 points and 33 in index rating, and Llull 23 and 23. Chus Mateo's players won their twenty-fifth league victory to secure their home-court advantage in the playoffs. It is also the fourth consecutive victory in the last seven days after the win over Zaragoza and the two against Partizan in Belgrade. Homegrown players Ismaila and Egor would also make their debuts.
With up to eight absentees Alocén, Sergio Rodríguez, Rudy, Hanga, Hezonja, Deck, Poirier and Tavares, the latter of whom received the award for best defender in the league in the run-up to the game, the madridistas faced a game that started at break-neck speed in attack, resulting in a totally balanced first quarter 24-24. Our team, who good on offensive rebounding, relied on Yabusele 10 points and 50% in three pointers and Causeur 4 to face the superiority of Sima in the paint and the success of Barreiro and Perry on the outside.
Madrid takes command
They applied themselves in defence, closed the zone and were able to run and put together their best minutes of the first half. Yabusele continued to be unstoppable and Musa joined the attack. The Bosnian was on fire in the second quarter, scoring 11 points in 7:35 to lead Madrid's first surge after a 17-6 run. The visitors, with the entry of Brizuela, and the contribution of Perry and Osetkowski, closed the gap, but were met by the emergence of Llull who, with seven consecutive points, allowed us to go into the break at 49-46.
With up to eight absentees Alocén, Sergio Rodríguez, Rudy, Hanga, Hezonja, Deck, Poirier and Tavares, the latter of whom received the award for best defender in the league in the run-up to the game, the madridistas faced a game that started at break-neck speed in attack, resulting in a totally balanced first quarter 24-24. Our team, who good on offensive rebounding, relied on Yabusele 10 points and 50% in three pointers and Causeur 4 to face the superiority of Sima in the paint and the success of Barreiro and Perry on the outside.
Madrid takes command
They applied themselves in defence, closed the zone and were able to run and put together their best minutes of the first half. Yabusele continued to be unstoppable and Musa joined the attack. The Bosnian was on fire in the second quarter, scoring 11 points in 7:35 to lead Madrid's first surge after a 17-6 run. The visitors, with the entry of Brizuela, and the contribution of Perry and Osetkowski, closed the gap, but were met by the emergence of Llull who, with seven consecutive points, allowed us to go into the break at 49-46.
Both teams were relentless in offence, offering a veritable point-fest in the third quarter. Madrid were almost perfect from th 6.75m mark. They shot a spectacular 7/8 with Yabuesele at the helm. The Frenchman scored three of his five shots up until that point and with 24 points was the backbone of our team in the face of the drive offered by Unicaja, who managed to keep up with the home side at all times. The Andalusians took advantage of Madrid's turnovers to punish them with quick transitions and an Osetkowski who was also in a state of grace. With the score tied at 71-71, Llull came on again and in the blink of an eye put our team seven up 81-74, min.31.
Defensive display seals game
Unicaja closed the gap to 83-82 in the 33rd minute with some good work from Kravish near the hoop. But Madrid had the Yabusele factor on their side and his energy rubbed off on the team when they were in trouble. A dunk after a driving lay-up brought the WiZink Center to its feet and was the starting point for the victory. Our team didn't give anythinhg away from there and showed their most solid defensive side, allowing their opponents to score just 16 points in the last quarter. Ndiaye closed down the zone two blocks and Madrid went on the attack with Williams-Goss and Musa as today's other stalwarts. They went in with a lead of more than 10 points in the last two minutes and defended it convincingly. The icing on the cake would come with the debut of two home-grown players: Ismaila, who became the second youngest Madrid player after Doncic, and Egor 102-90, min.40.
REAL MADRID-UNICAJA STATISTICS
Defensive display seals game
Unicaja closed the gap to 83-82 in the 33rd minute with some good work from Kravish near the hoop. But Madrid had the Yabusele factor on their side and his energy rubbed off on the team when they were in trouble. A dunk after a driving lay-up brought the WiZink Center to its feet and was the starting point for the victory. Our team didn't give anythinhg away from there and showed their most solid defensive side, allowing their opponents to score just 16 points in the last quarter. Ndiaye closed down the zone two blocks and Madrid went on the attack with Williams-Goss and Musa as today's other stalwarts. They went in with a lead of more than 10 points in the last two minutes and defended it convincingly. The icing on the cake would come with the debut of two home-grown players: Ismaila, who became the second youngest Madrid player after Doncic, and Egor 102-90, min.40.
REAL MADRID-UNICAJA STATISTICS