86-85: Madrid loses in the dying seconds at the Palau
Chus Mateo's team had a shot to win the second game, but it didn't go in this time and they will have to come back from 2-0 down at the WiZink Center.
Real Madrid lost the second game of the final at the Palau and will head to the WiZink Center with a 2-0 deficit and no room for error. Our team battled until the end trying to get the win and they came very close. They clawed back nine points against all odds to go into the last three minutes with a six-point lead, but threw it away in the final seconds thanks to the free throw. Llull, who had a big final quarter, couldn't hit the winning shot. Hezonja 18 points and 21 PIR and Tavares 13 and 19 were the team's best performers. The match now heads to the WiZink Center Tuesday, 9pm CEST. It's time to invoke the comeback spirit.
A very physical start with defences on top. None of the two teams allowed easy baskets in an evenly matched first quarter with scoring shared out very evenly Poirier and Laprovittola, six points each. Madrid kept their scoring close to the hoop with high percentages and with their dominance of the rebound. However, they committed four turnovers compared to none for Barça, who had a bit more balance in their inside-outside production. The worst were the two fouls by Tavares, the second very questionable for a block on Abrines, which saw him sent to the bench. But Poirier performed to perfection and came into the game with two dunks 20-19.
Hezonja and Poirier step up
The second ten minutes followed the same pattern with very aggressive play. Madrid came into the game stronger and with the contribution of Poirier 11 straight points and the emergence of Hezonja 12 of his 14 points at half-time, they turned the score around with a 7-13 run to go 5 up 27-32, min.16. Our side looked sharp from the point 70% success rate from the field and excelled in rebounding around the rim, with another six turnovers, however, they became a little unsettled and this affected their game, leading to a number of fouls and even a technical foul on our coach. This situation was used by the blaugranas to level the game, led by Mirotic and Vesely. A three-pointer by the latter on the buzzer closed the first half at 45-41.
A very physical start with defences on top. None of the two teams allowed easy baskets in an evenly matched first quarter with scoring shared out very evenly Poirier and Laprovittola, six points each. Madrid kept their scoring close to the hoop with high percentages and with their dominance of the rebound. However, they committed four turnovers compared to none for Barça, who had a bit more balance in their inside-outside production. The worst were the two fouls by Tavares, the second very questionable for a block on Abrines, which saw him sent to the bench. But Poirier performed to perfection and came into the game with two dunks 20-19.
Hezonja and Poirier step up
The second ten minutes followed the same pattern with very aggressive play. Madrid came into the game stronger and with the contribution of Poirier 11 straight points and the emergence of Hezonja 12 of his 14 points at half-time, they turned the score around with a 7-13 run to go 5 up 27-32, min.16. Our side looked sharp from the point 70% success rate from the field and excelled in rebounding around the rim, with another six turnovers, however, they became a little unsettled and this affected their game, leading to a number of fouls and even a technical foul on our coach. This situation was used by the blaugranas to level the game, led by Mirotic and Vesely. A three-pointer by the latter on the buzzer closed the first half at 45-41.
Barça began the second half more fluent in offence than our team. They were also more accurate. A run by the blaugranas gave them a nine-point lead at the halfway point of the third quarter 57-48. Chus Mateo introduced Tavares and this time the fouls seemed to respect him. The Cape Verdean player grew in stature and was strong in the zone. Almost all the attacks went through him and Madrid regained their confidence, responding with a 2-10 run and cutting the deficit in the next two minutes. With the score at 59-58, both teams went into an exchange of blows to reach the final stretch with everything still to play for 68-65, min.30.
No reward
Kalinic extended the gap to 71-65 and the refereeing rulings were making our team more and more angry with another technical on the bench for complaining about a Barça backcourt that was not flagged. In the midst of a very adverse atmosphere, however, Madrid grew once again. Doing so with Llull leading the way. The captain carried the team on his shoulders and notched seven consecutive points, out of his 12 in this quarter, which completed the comeback. A basket by Yabusele sent us into the last three minutes at 72-78, but Barça were quick to respond and ended up winning the game thanks to their better free throw shooting. At 86-85 with six seconds left, Llull had the match-winning shot, but today it didn't go in.
BARÇA-REAL MADRID STATISTICS
No reward
Kalinic extended the gap to 71-65 and the refereeing rulings were making our team more and more angry with another technical on the bench for complaining about a Barça backcourt that was not flagged. In the midst of a very adverse atmosphere, however, Madrid grew once again. Doing so with Llull leading the way. The captain carried the team on his shoulders and notched seven consecutive points, out of his 12 in this quarter, which completed the comeback. A basket by Yabusele sent us into the last three minutes at 72-78, but Barça were quick to respond and ended up winning the game thanks to their better free throw shooting. At 86-85 with six seconds left, Llull had the match-winning shot, but today it didn't go in.
BARÇA-REAL MADRID STATISTICS