UCAM Murcia-Real Madrid: last game of the year
Scariolo's team are looking for their 11th consecutive league win to finish 2025 as leaders (9 pm CET).
Real Madrid face a daunting task today in the last game of the year. They are playing for the league lead and to finish first in 2025 on the court of UCAM Murcia, in second place with one win less. The Whites will be looking to extend their streak of 10 consecutive victories in this competition.
The two top teams so far in the ACB will face each other at the Palacio de Deportes de Murcia. Madrid are the leaders with 11 wins in 12 games, one more than Murcia, but they need to win to keep the first place, as the overall basket average is +11 for the hosts.
Both teams come into the game on a roll. Madrid have won last Sunday against Unicaja and have made 20 out of 20 this year in the league at the Movistar Arena. They have won 10 in a row since 19 October. Away from home, they have won in 5 of their 6 outings. Meanwhile, UCAM Murcia have won 5 in a row and 9 in their last 10 games. They have only lost against La Laguna Tenerife away and Río Breogán at home.
Two of the best attacks in the competition, averaging 90 points, will face each other. It will also be a rebounding battle, where the Murcians are top in this area. Scariolo's team will have to be at their best defensively to stop an opponent with a lot of threat from the outside. DeJulius and Forrest are two high-scoring point guards. Ennis, Radebaugh and Sant-Roos complete the perimeter. They have two strong small forwards in Raieste and Nakic. On the inside, their main point guard is former Madridista Cate.
Key players
Real Madrid have won on their last two visits to Murcia. Last season, by 64-85 with an outstanding performance from Hezonja and Tavares. Precisely, both are in the fight for the lead in several statistical sections in the calendar year. The Croatian is the player who has recorded the most points (555) and the most minutes played (903), while the centre will end up leading in rebounds (273) and blocks (72). The Madrid captain, Sergio Llull, will play the most games in 2025 in the Liga ACB. He has 41, one more than Unicaja's Perry. Scariolo's men bid farewell to the year in Murcia.