The league leaders win in Granada to remain unbeaten

Real Madrid opened November with a fifteenth successive win, their best start to the season in the last 10 years. They got the better of Coviran Granada on the road on matchday eight in the League, and they stay top of the table as the only unbeaten team so far. It was a difficult clash, ultimately decided by a 12-0 run in the final quarter, after being three points down. Campazzo was the key man with 21 points, 5 assists and a PIR of 28, while Poirier 9 and 10 rebounds and Musa 15 were also impressive .

The game got underway at a high pace based around offense, as Real Madrid took the initiative from 5 minutes on once they had settled into the game. At 10-10, Coviran Granada were well in the game, before our boys turned on the style with a flawless 3-15 run led by Causeur 4/4 triples alongside the basics: rebounds and running. Campazzo 5 and 2 assists and Musa 6 and 2 were able assistants for the Frenchman in offense, posting 23 of 25 points between them in the first quarter 13-25, min. 10.

Defending the advantage
The hosts upped the pressure in the second period, led by Costa and Martínez, whose presence added a threat on the outside. Madrid's three-point percentages fell away, but they found solutions in some fine work on the offensive rebound and the contributions of Llull, Abalde and Poirier to stay in front. The captain provided 4 assists to become the sixth-highest assist-maker in ACB history, eclipsing Elmer Benett. Coviran Granada were being roared on by the home crowd though, and cut the deficit to 34-40 at half-time.

The game was a far more even affair in the third quarter. The Andalusians came out with high energy and fought back against an increasingly erratic Madrid who were unable to find their feet in defense. The hosts showed why they boast some of the best offensive stats in the league with Kramer, Tomàs and Cheatham putting their team ahead for the first time at 56-54 with 26 minutes on the clock. The pace didn't suit our boys, with short possessions and end-to-end blows, but the league leaders kept their heads and resisted the hosts' push thanks to the relentless Campazzo 65-62, min. 30.

Madrid react well
The game had become a bit of an uphill battle, not just due to the opposition's efforts but because we were struggling to find our range from the three-point line and looked sloppy in defense. Despite this, and the immense pressure of the Palacio de los Deportes de Granada, Madrid stepped up and turned the situation around in a manner only they know how. It was a stunning 12-0 run from 33’ to 37’ that did it. They dug in at the back, closing out Felicio and the rebound and pressuring the perimeter well. Campazzo took up the mantle and enjoyed a sublime spell, scoring and moving the team around as the points began to flow. Hezonja joined in the attack and sunk a triple two in the quarter to go from 70-67 to 70-79 with less than three minutes left. Our boys gave Coviran Granada no chance in the closing stretch 76-83, sealing what was Rudy's 400th win in the ACB.

COVIRAN GRANADA-REAL MADRID STATISTICS