REPORT | 15/06/2018 | Edu Bueno
They won the second game against Baskonia with a spectacular third quarter (31-13). Ayón-Thompkins-Tavares were decisive.- Playoff Liga Endesa
- Game 2 (Final)
- Fri, 15 Jun
98
91Let's go Real, until the end!, cried the thousands of fans at the Palacio, they knew the importance of this second game. The good start for the Whites, with six points from Taylor (12-9, min.3), was cut down by a Baskonia who were inspired on the three. They got six of eight in the first quarter, with three followed by Janning, and with Poirier dominating in the paint (9), the Vitoria based side opened a gap of +11 with 22-33 in minute 9, which was helped by the technical foul on Campazzo. Madrid could not follow the offensive rhythm of their rivals, and were weak on the rebound. The two teams scored the most offensive opening quarter of a final with 61 points.
Reaction from the defense
Everything changed as Ayón and Thompkins came on. The locals were aggressive and strong under the basket. The Mexican cancelled out Poirier and the outside players stopped the three-point scoring Sangria. Doncic, Rudy and, especially, an inspired Thompkins (11 points in 11 minutes) led the comeback. First with a quarter of 10-0 between the first and second half, which went to 19-7 that allowed the Whites to go ahead 43-40 in the 16th minute. From there to the break it was an exchange of blows. Janning got five three-pointers without missing and with the help of Huertas and Vildoza countered the enormous work of Reyes who, with seven points, had already become the fifth highest scorer in the history of the ACB. 52-52 at the break.
Reyes became fifth best scorer in the ACB with 8050 points.
The Madrid offense after the break was the cherry on the cake. With Tavares as the defensive controller driving out his competition (three blocks), Real Madrid found their ideal rhythm. Bounce, run and run. This is what they did. Tavares closed off the hoop and prevented Janning from scoring. There was no trace of Baskonia, who saw the Whites smash a 21-5 in eight minutes, with Doncic as a key point in attack, to reach a 20 advantage (77-57, min.28) in a sensational third quarter that ended with a 31-13 for the quarter and 83-65 on the scoreboard.
White solidity
Pedro Martinez tried to square the game in the last quarter but the Whites managed to get a comfortable advantage, always more than the ten, partly thanks to a great strength on the rebound. In attack Carroll was more than good enough, with two triples in a row and eight points in this time frame, to make it clear that they were not going to trip twice over the same stone. That was it. Real Madrid will travel to Vitoria with good sensations after a great team performance, which was two points under the 100 (98-91, 40 minutes).
