The leaders lose in Murcia

Real Madrid were unable to win in Murcia. Chus Mateo's men tried to cope with the schedule, with their third game in six days, and the absence of Llull, Musa, Rudy, Tavares and Poirier, to compete on one of the toughest courts in the league. Despite committing lots of turnovers, they turned around a game they were trailing by 15 points at the start of the third quarter, but with 25 seconds left and 63-61, Hezonja was called for an unsporting foul that proved decisive to the final score. Deck returned, who was one of the most outstanding players for our team along with Campazzo, Yabusele and Causeur. Despite the stumble, Madrid continue to lead LaLiga.

Without pivots, the leaders showed up in Murcia and with the academy graduates Ndiaye and Diagne as the tallest men. Chus Mateo started with an unprecedented quintet. An open five with two point guards (Campazzo and Alocén), Hezonja as a four and Yabusele as a five. After a low-scoring start, the home side took the lead with a small five-point advantage, punishing Madrid after a turnover and winning the rebounding game. But our team improved offensively after a time-out. They moved the ball more patiently and began to feed Yabusele, who scored 9 points in the first quarter (19-16, min. 10).

Trailing

Rashness and a lack of success from three-point range prevented Madrid from getting into the rhythm of the game. UCAM Murcia was more aggressive and took advantage with a 15-4 run in the first seven minutes of the second quarter (34-20, min. 17). The leaders improved in rebounding with the return of Deck after a month and a half. The Argentine and Causeur took on more of a leading role in attack to reduce the deficit to 10 points at half-time (36-26, min. 20).

Madrid came out with a different attitude in the second half. It is true that the Murcians led 44-29 in the 23rd minute, but our team began to show some more positive traits. They gained in intensity at the back, closed down the rebounding and in attack they found the success in the three-pointers that they had not had until then. Six in the third quarter (two by Hezonja, two by Campazzo and two by Causeur), five of them almost consecutively to lead a 7-20 run that tied the game at 46 in the 28th minute.

It was all down to the last minute

The leaders had arrived on time in a very complicated game. They gave their all on every play, helping everyone on the defensive rebound and going the extra mile on defence. Campazzo carried the team and with five straight points put Madrid ahead with seven minutes to go (52-56). UCAM responded with baskets near the hoop, where they had superiority in height. Ennis, the best of his team, and an omnipresent Causeur (he finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists), kept the score level until the last minute. 60 seconds that produced a lot: a review of a fight between Deck and Kurucs in which UCAM Murcia was finally awarded possession; a basket by Kurucs to make it 63-61 and a decisive play with 25.9 seconds left, when Hezonja fouled Sant-Ross and the referees, after going to the review, changed it to an unsportsmanlike foul. Hakanson's free throws and technicals on Causeur and Campazzo sealed the result (73-61, min. 40).