Madrid's attacking flair shines in the last game of the Regular Season

Real Madrid got the better of Baskonia at the WiZink Center in the final game of the Regular Season. Our team recorded their 28th win of the season in a game in in which they took the initiative, but it didn't turn the game in their favour until the final minutes of the game. Chus Mateo's men put on yet another offensive display, equalling their highest points total this season with 106 (without overtime). Poirier (18 points, 4 blocks and 27 PIR) and Rudy (14 without missing, 5 rebounds and 20 PIR), were the standouts among the seven players in double digit valuation. Gran Canaria will be their opponent in the quarter-finals.

Tavares received a standing ovation at the WiZink Center following his receipt of the trophy for best defender in the league from Madrid legend Felipe Reyes, as the final game of the regular season got underway. A showdown against Baskonia with no Deck or Howard but with the same characteristics between the two teams: a very high tempo and a lot of points (28-26, min.10). Madrid managed to do so through a greater variety in scoring, with Tavares on the inside (6) and an inspired Musa from the outside (10 in 7 minutes). Baskonia took advantage of the three-pointers, five in the first quarter (8 points from Marinkovic and 7 from Costello).

Madrid were fluid in attack, finding Poirier on the paint (7 points and 2 blocks) and good shots from their outside players. Rudy racked up 11 points with three three-pointers in the second quarter. But Baskonia were dangerous near the hoop with their usual speed, offensive rebounding and a leading role for Raieste (7). Our team made a big push in the last minute of the first half, an 8-0 run led by Campazzo (7 points and 4 assists at the break), to gain the maximum advantage in the game at 56-47.

Madrid returned from the locker room with a more aggressive defence than they had shown in the final stretch of the first half. They were able to extend the lead thanks to a 12-0 run and go up by more than 10 points for the first time in the game (62-49, min.23). Musa and Yabusele became our focal points in terms of output in the team's finest minutes. Baskonia, however, was competing for the playoff spot. Needing to win, Baskonia hung in there with three-pointers and Miller-McIntyre and Costello coming to the front. They picked up confidence and in the following minutes they gradually reduced Madrid's lead until it was cancelled out at the end of the third quarter after a three-pointer on the buzzer by Miller-McIntyre (73-73).

Final push

Madrid sustained a very high offensive tempo. Rudy was outstanding all night (14 points without a miss and 5 assists), and was joined by Hezonja and Porier. A lot of attacking firepower, which enabled us to maintain the advantage over a Baskonia team that, despite finding themselves eight down at the midway point of the last quarter, put up a great fight. With two and a half minutes to go, the game was 96-94. However, our team delivered the final blow in the next two plays thanks to three-pointers from Llull and Musa to equal the best offensive score of the season with 106 points (not counting the four-overtime game against Efes).

REAL MADRID-BASKONIA STATISTICS