95-68: Madrid edge ahead in league playoff quarter-finals
Chus Mateo's charges gave Gran Canaria no chance with a stunning first half and moved 1-0 up in the series, which now heads to Las Palmas.
Real Madrid got off to a flying start in the Liga Endesa quarter-final playoffs with an emphatic win over Gran Canaria at the WiZink Center to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The Whites produced a very complete performance in both attack and defence and, with a 38-6 run between the first and second quarters, were vastly superior to their opponents. Five players were in double figures, spearheaded by Musa 20 points and Llull 16 and four three-pointers in 15 minutes. The captain became Madrid's top scorer in the Liga ACB, overtaking Felipe Reyes 6,027.
After a pretty slow start from Madrid, where there both sides cancelled each other out, the Canary Islanders soon opened up a lead, before the hosts pulled level. At 3-7 in the fourth minute, Madrid gathered momentum and hit form to deliver a killer blow to Gran Canaria before the break. Musa, who had made 11 of the team's first 13, went for 16 in the first half and spearheaded a blistering run, which started with a 19-6 run in the final minutes of the first quarter 22-13.
After a pretty slow start from Madrid, where there both sides cancelled each other out, the Canary Islanders soon opened up a lead, before the hosts pulled level. At 3-7 in the fourth minute, Madrid gathered momentum and hit form to deliver a killer blow to Gran Canaria before the break. Musa, who had made 11 of the team's first 13, went for 16 in the first half and spearheaded a blistering run, which started with a 19-6 run in the final minutes of the first quarter 22-13.
Madrid open up the contest
The Whites were on fire by this point and showed a great balance between attack and defence. The home side were stubborn in possession and barely gave the ball away. They showed the defensive strength of the last few games and forced Gran Canaria into making rash shots. Madrid also bossed the rebounding, without having to rely on Tavares. Sergio Rodríguez, Causeur, Rudy, Hezonja, Eli and Llull all played keys roles to ensure the madridistas clicked to perfection. The captain stormed in with seven straight points to become Madrid's all-time leading scorer in the ACB, overtaking Felipe Reyes. A stunning 19-0 run in the first seven minutes of the second quarter, which ended a 38-6 run between 4' and 17', gave the Whites a 28-point lead at 41-13 and appeared to be well on track for victory before the break.
All 12 players score
The team refused to slacken off in the second half despite the huge lead. Thanks to continuous rotations Madrid kept up the intensity and, although Gran Canaria improved offensively, the Whites were in total control of the game. Any attempt by the opposition to come back was in vain because they ran into Madrid's robustness time and time again. Sergio Rodríguez, Musa and Tavares, Sabonis in Madrid's all-time list of top rebounders, replied in attack to Lakovic's troops in a quarter that ended 70-47 with a 30-point lead at 58-38. The game was dead and buried. Madrid comfortably managed the lead and Llull continued to hit three-pointers. The point guard surpassed 900 three-pointers as a madridista he scored four of five attempts, the first Madrid player to do so. Hanga marked his introduction with a three-pointer to ensure that all 12 players scored today in a scintillating victory, the eleventh in a row of the season. Next Wednesday, it will be round two at the Gran Canaria Arena 9pm CET.
REAL MADRID-GRAN CANARIA STATISTICS
The Whites were on fire by this point and showed a great balance between attack and defence. The home side were stubborn in possession and barely gave the ball away. They showed the defensive strength of the last few games and forced Gran Canaria into making rash shots. Madrid also bossed the rebounding, without having to rely on Tavares. Sergio Rodríguez, Causeur, Rudy, Hezonja, Eli and Llull all played keys roles to ensure the madridistas clicked to perfection. The captain stormed in with seven straight points to become Madrid's all-time leading scorer in the ACB, overtaking Felipe Reyes. A stunning 19-0 run in the first seven minutes of the second quarter, which ended a 38-6 run between 4' and 17', gave the Whites a 28-point lead at 41-13 and appeared to be well on track for victory before the break.
All 12 players score
The team refused to slacken off in the second half despite the huge lead. Thanks to continuous rotations Madrid kept up the intensity and, although Gran Canaria improved offensively, the Whites were in total control of the game. Any attempt by the opposition to come back was in vain because they ran into Madrid's robustness time and time again. Sergio Rodríguez, Musa and Tavares, Sabonis in Madrid's all-time list of top rebounders, replied in attack to Lakovic's troops in a quarter that ended 70-47 with a 30-point lead at 58-38. The game was dead and buried. Madrid comfortably managed the lead and Llull continued to hit three-pointers. The point guard surpassed 900 three-pointers as a madridista he scored four of five attempts, the first Madrid player to do so. Hanga marked his introduction with a three-pointer to ensure that all 12 players scored today in a scintillating victory, the eleventh in a row of the season. Next Wednesday, it will be round two at the Gran Canaria Arena 9pm CET.
REAL MADRID-GRAN CANARIA STATISTICS