The league leaders pick up another win in Bilbao

Real Madrid got the better of Bilbao Basket on the road and remain unbeaten this season with 17 wins, nine of them coming in the league. A tough game and the leader had to be at their best to take a game that was decided in the final minutes. Campazzo and Hezonja played a key role in the victory with a magnificent performance that saw them score 16 points between them in the last 5 minutes of the game. Deck, Causeur and Musa also played their part, with double digits in scoring.  
 
Chus Mateo's team got off to a dominant start by controlling Bilbao Basket from the outside. That is where Real Madrid's advantage lay at the start of the game. Two consecutive three-pointers from Deck, Campazzo and Musa were the offensive focal points against an opponent who scored from second chances and the visitors' turnovers 7-13, min. 6. With each passing minute, our team worked harder on defence with Tavares, who was impassable in the zone 3 blocks and 3 rebounds. This enabled them to build a +9 lead in the first 10 minutes, spearheaded by the outstanding performance of Deck, who shot 100% from the court. 
 
All-square
The Basques stepped up their defensive performance and increased their physical presence on the court. With Pantzar, K. Jones and Kullamae, they provided their team with more offensive fluency to close the gap on the scoreboard after a 11-4 run 22-24, min. 14. From that moment on, every play became a fierce battle under the basket. Whenever the league leaders pressed through Poirier, Hezonja or Tavares, Bilbao hit back with baskets from Tsalmpouris and K. Jones. The scoreboard was therefore very even at half-time, despite a three-pointer from Causeur 33-36.

That basket boosted the French forward and Real Madrid after the restart. Causeur scored seven points in three minutes to get our team going in offence 37-49, in 24' while not neglecting the good work on defence, where they imposed their dominance with 17-31 in rebounds. Led by Campazzo, and allying with Musa and Deck 12 points, they opened up a small lead. But Bilbao Basket hadn't had their last word and began to pull closer thanks to the collective work on both sides of the court as they fought for the win in the last 10 minutes 56-63.
 
Campazzo and Hezonja were key
With half an hour gone, the game became an end-to-end affair that only favoured Ponsarnau's team, with a 10-5 run 66-68. The home side turned to Kullamae and Pantzar, who responded by scoring from different positions. However, the strength of this team emerged to put the brakes on the rival momentum. Campazzo 19 points and 6 assists and Hezonja were in charge of giving Madrid a little breathing space 75-79, min. 38. The two Madrid players continued to hold Madrid's lead with 16 points between them, but Pantzar turned the game upside down with 30 seconds left 81-83. Chus Mateo's men finally held their nerve to claim their 17th win of the season in Bilbao, their ninth in the league, and remain unbeaten in the league this season.

SURNE BILBAO BASKET-REAL MADRIS STATISTICS