68-79: Madrid keeps up winning streak
Chus Mateo's side won their sixth victory in 12 days in their visit to Valencia Basket, with Yabusele and Hezonja playing key roles.
Real Madrid won again, keeping their good run of form going. After making a historic comeback against Partizan to reach the Final Four, our team returned to league action with a great win against Valencia Basket at La Fonteta, their sixth in 12 days. Chus Mateo's team knew how to stop the home team's advances to secure their 26th win in the championship thanks to their successful three-point shooting and their solid defensive performance. Yabusele registered another great game with 25 points and 27 index rating points and Hezonja was decisive from 22 feet 20 points and 4 of 6 in three pointers.
Chus Mateo reshuffled the bench at the start to alleviate the effects of fatigue after the playoff against Partizan. The result was as expected. Madrid was very focused on both sides of the court and Yabusele was the offensive reference. The Frenchman, with 7 points, brought intensity and accuracy to make the score +10 in six minutes. The home side's reaction did not take long to come. Thanks to Dubljevic and Webb's outside shooting, Valencia Basket went on an 8-0 run and got closer on the scoreboard. But up popped Hezonja with two three-pointers in a row to stop their momentum. Our team took the first quarter 15-20.
Pressure from the home side
The strengths of both teams were equalised, but Madrid continued to find loopholes in the home defence through Tavares. Mumbrú's team, with a very collective game, managed to take the lead in the encounter 25-24, min.15. However, our team soon regained the initiative, taking advantage of the success of Hezonja 15 points in less than 10 minutes and Llull. In the end, Chus Mateo's men took the first half and went into the break with a 35-39 lead.
Chus Mateo reshuffled the bench at the start to alleviate the effects of fatigue after the playoff against Partizan. The result was as expected. Madrid was very focused on both sides of the court and Yabusele was the offensive reference. The Frenchman, with 7 points, brought intensity and accuracy to make the score +10 in six minutes. The home side's reaction did not take long to come. Thanks to Dubljevic and Webb's outside shooting, Valencia Basket went on an 8-0 run and got closer on the scoreboard. But up popped Hezonja with two three-pointers in a row to stop their momentum. Our team took the first quarter 15-20.
Pressure from the home side
The strengths of both teams were equalised, but Madrid continued to find loopholes in the home defence through Tavares. Mumbrú's team, with a very collective game, managed to take the lead in the encounter 25-24, min.15. However, our team soon regained the initiative, taking advantage of the success of Hezonja 15 points in less than 10 minutes and Llull. In the end, Chus Mateo's men took the first half and went into the break with a 35-39 lead.
Valencia pressed again after the break. However, Madrid's inspiration from three-point range helped them to regain the lead. Yabusele and Causeur were key, tallying up 4 assists and 13 points respectively. The home side did not throw in the towel with a very active Jones, but Madrid increased the difference little by little and went into the last quarter with a +7 lead.
Madrid put the game to bed
The game was not over and our team knew it, and began to step up their performance under the hoop with Tavares and Yabusele. Valencia responded with quick transitions. It was in this exchange of blows that Madrid won the game. With Yabusele and Hezonja at the helm, they were up 13 with less than two minutes to go. Madrid knew how to manage the advantage and certified their second win in a week with three games. The next game is on Sunday against Gran Canaria, also away from home 1:30pm CET.
VALENCIA BASKET-REAL MADRID STATISTICS
Madrid put the game to bed
The game was not over and our team knew it, and began to step up their performance under the hoop with Tavares and Yabusele. Valencia responded with quick transitions. It was in this exchange of blows that Madrid won the game. With Yabusele and Hezonja at the helm, they were up 13 with less than two minutes to go. Madrid knew how to manage the advantage and certified their second win in a week with three games. The next game is on Sunday against Gran Canaria, also away from home 1:30pm CET.
VALENCIA BASKET-REAL MADRID STATISTICS