Defeat in Valencia

Real Madrid lost on their trip to Valencia in a very tough, physically demanding and evenly matched game, ultimately going the way of the home side in the closing stages. Chus Mateo's men, who were coming off the back of two excellent efforts in the Euroleague victories over Paris Basketball and Monaco, were in better form from the second quarter onwards but threw away an eight-point lead with four minutes to go. At 85-84 Deck, the Madrid standout player (19 points, 8 rebounds and 25 PIR) along with Hezonja (20, 7 and 21), missed the last possession to give his team the win.
It was a highly tense game at La Fonteta, starting with a very physical first quarter, with a lot of heavy contact and with both teams concentrating more on the defensive aspect and waging a huge battle on the rebound. In the final stretch of this period Valencia Basket took the initiative after a 10-2 run between the 7th and 10th minute (17-9).
Madrid grow in attack
The offensive tempo picked up in the second quarter. Rathan-Mayes, with 2 three-pointers, and especially a brilliant Hezonja, who finished the first half with 9 points and 7 rebounds, improved Madrid's attacking output that was not very accurate from the outside. That was the difference with Valencia Basket because the rest of the game was equal. The Taronjas, with Sestina and Jovic leading the way, hit 3 three-pointers to take a 10-point lead into half-time (40-30).
A three-pointer by Musa just after the resumption of the game heralded a change of momentum. Madrid's focus went up a notch in the back, no longer giving Valencia Basket second chances, who were scoring in dribs and drabs. Tavares was more visible in the paint (2 blocks) and Deck increased his presence all over the court. The Argentinian helped with the rebounding, recovered balls and led Chus Mateo's team's attack with his intelligence and his usual grit. Eleven points from him, along with the emergence of Campazzo and the energy of Hugo González, led Madrid to turn the game around after a 16-29 run in the third quarter (56-59, min. 30).
Deck had the victory
The defensive prominence for 30 minutes faded in the last ten minutes. Madrid, with balance on both sides of the court and the contribution of Campazzo, Tavares and Deck, were 8 points up at 71-79 in the 36th minute. It was in their hands, but their opponents responded quickly thanks to Jones and Ojeleye to level the game at 82 with a minute to go. Deck's slam dunk made it 82-84; Costello cancelled it out with a three-pointer with 28 seconds left and Deck was unable to score on the last possession to give Madrid the win (85-84, min. 40).
VALENCIA BASKET-REAL MADRID STATISTICS