By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It seemed like Joventut might give Real Madrid a good fight in Badalona, just 48 hours before the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series with Partizan Mozzart Bet, but the Spanish champions routinely outlasted 7DAYS EuroCup semifinalists on the road – 76:86.
Chus Mateao even managed to distribute minutes evenly to his 11 selected players, as Mario Hezonja spent the most time on the court with 22:02 minutes. The Croatian forward was also the top scorer of the Whites with 20 points as they continued the fight for the top spot in the ACB league before the playoffs.
Dzanan Musa followed him with 16 points, while Gabriel Deck returned to the court after missing the previous two matches and scored 13 points in around 20 minutes.
Joventut couldn’t cope with the reining Spanish champions, as only Andres Feliz, with 13, and Vladimir Brodziansky, with 11 points, finished the match in double digits.
Real Madrid is now tied with Baskonia for the second place in the ACB League standings with a 23-5 score, but the team from Vitoria is yet to play its Round 29 match versus Fuenlabrada. Barcelona defeated Gran Canaria to stay one win ahead of them.
Coming up next for Chus Mateo’s squad is the start of the EuroLeague quarterfinals against Partizan, as they will host the Belgrade team on Tuesday (25/04) in WiZink Center.
Joventut will face Gran Canaria in Las Palmas on Wednesday (26/04) in the EuroCup semifinals.
Baskonia had one of the best offensive performances winning against Fuenlabrada 112-93. Markus Howard led all scorers with 26 points in just 20 minutes of playing time.
ACB League Round 29:
Basquet Girona – Granada 88-73
Valencia – Bilbao 95-88
Barcelona – Gran Canaria 87-79
Manresa – Murcia 93-83
Tenerife – Breogan 85-67
Zaragoza – Unicaja 70-74
Obradoiro – Real Betis 67-82
Joventut – Real Madrid 76-86
Fuenlabrada – Baskonia 93-112
Standings: 1. Barcelona 24-5, 2. Baskonia 24-5, 3. Real Madrid 23-6, 4. Unicaja 20-9, Tenerife 20-8…