By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid are even more firmly at the top of the Liga Endesa after defeating Hiopos Lleida 95–78. The Madrid side’s victory, combined with Valencia Basket’s loss, means that Sergio Scariolo’s team now holds a three-win advantage over their closest challengers.
Theo Maledon, with 18 points, was the top scorer for Real Madrid, while Chuma Okeke contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds, also reaching a performance rating of 20.
However, the game’s overall top scorer was Gyorgy Goloman, who finished with 19 points.
After a first quarter that even ended with the visitors ahead (16–17), Madrid showed their clear superiority over the team coached by Gerard Encuentra.
A 31–9 run in the second quarter allowed Scariolo’s side to pull away and take full control of the game, a lead they never relinquished.
Things went much worse for Kosner Baskonia, who suffered a clear defeat on their visit to San Pablo Burgos, losing 107–96. Howard’s 26 points and Forrest’s strong performance (19 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds) were not enough for Galbiati’s team.
To finish the round, Asisa Joventut and Barça clashed in the Catalan derby and Xavi Pascual’s team suffered a clear defeat 84-72, a result that perfectly reflected what happened at the Olímpic.
Ricky Rubio (17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Ante Tomic (14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists) put on another outstanding performance, doing whatever they wanted against Barça’s lethargic defense.
Only Darío Brizuela (11 points), Joel Parra (19), and Will Clyburn (13) finished in double figures for Barça.
Despite a disastrous 4/18 from three-point range, Joventut managed to dominate Barça thanks to their clear control of the paint. The 36 rebounds grabbed by the home team compared to the visitors’ 23 are just one of the many statistics that demonstrate how porous Barça’s interior defense was today.
The green-and-black victory wasn’t a matter of big runs, but rather a consistent display of superiority and a clear game plan. Miret’s team won all four quarters, achieving their first double-digit lead in the second half, which only made things easier for a comfortable end to the game.
Liga Endesa Round 22
Basquet Girona – MoraBanc Andorra 82-75
San Pablo Burgos – Baskonia 107-96
Real Madrid – Força Lleida 95-78
Granada – Manresa 92-79
Joventut – Barcelona 84-72
Bilbao Basket – Breogán 100-90
La Laguna Tenerife – Valencia Basket 89-71
UCAM Murcia – Gran Canaria 87-76
Unicaja – Basket Zaragoza 112-89
STANDINGS: Real Madrid (20-2), Valencia Basket (16-6), Barça (15-7), UCAM Murcia (15-7), Unicaja de Málaga (15-7)…