By Rigas Dardalis/ dardalis@eurohoops.net
Playing in USA soil, things got complicated for Euroleague teams. Real Madrid with former NBAer Rudy Fernandez scoring 16 points and Nikola Mirotic adding 14 gave a decent fight at Memphis against the Grizzlies, which had a great game by Rudy Gay (27 p.) and got the win (105-93).
The Spanish team got withing 5 points (91-86) six minutes before the end of the game, but Memphis responded with a 12-1 run and the outcome was decided. Memphis’ center Marc Gasol playing against a team from his country did impress with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists.
On the contrary, at San Antonio the Spurs dispatched easily rebuilding Italian powerhouse Siena. The final score was 106-77, after a dazzling first half by the host team, which build a 24 points lead (59-35). The Spurs used 18 players with Manu Ginobili scoring 11 points in a balanced offense, while former NBA player of Siena, Bobby Brown, had 20 points.