Βy Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With the game tied and two seconds left, Sergio Llull, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, or Facundo Campazzo would have all been logical choices to make the last shot.
This time, however, Campazzo made the inbound pass, and Edy Tavares at the buzzer gave Real Madrid the crucial 91-89 road win over Partizan.
It was a night to remember, with Tavares having 15 points and six rebounds, Musa being the top scorer of Real Madrid with 15 points, Lull adding 13, Hzonia and Campazzo scoring 12 points each, and Serge Ibaka contributing a double-double (11 p. 10 r.).
“This is a gift from God”, said Tavares about the last play and winning the game in such a way, as the “Whites” with a 20-14 record made a huge step towards the 5th spot of the standings and a potential matchup with fourth Monaco. However, they can still end up in the 7th spot and the Play-Ins.
Partizan was playing for pride and has a final 16-18 record, dropping out of the post-season race two rounds before the end of the regular season.
Brandon Davies had 22 points, Carlik Jones added 15, and Isaac Bonga scored 14 and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Big-shot Edy
Despite already being out of the postseason, Partizan put up a fight in the first half, getting a two-point advantage (24-22) at the end of the first quarter.
The guests took a 46-42 lead and led by two (48-43) at halftime.
However, the hosts didn’t give up, and after a three by Aleksej Pokusevski got a 64-56 lead after five minutes of play in the third quarter.
The two teams entered the last period with Partizan having a nine-point lead (74-65), but Madrid was chipping away throughout the last quarter, making it a one-point game (85-84) after a three by Hezonja.
Carlik Jones extended the lead back to three (87-84) with two minutes left and and Campazzo with 3/4 free throws tied the score again (87-87).
Sergio Llul finally gave the lead to Real Madrid (89-87) after a steal by Tavares, who got the ball from Carlik Jones, who tried to redeem himself by tying the score again at 89 with two seconds left.
Still, the last word belonged to Tavares, who killed Partizan at the buzzer.
Photo credit: Real Madrid