By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid faced a challenge against Bilbao on the road before getting an 80 – 85 win to conclude 2022 in the Spanish League as the top-placed team. In a very close game, the Blancos survived a tough Bilbao team and a particularly hot Ludde Hakanson, who had a career-high 29 points on 12 out of 16 shots.
With the score 2:30 to play and the two teams tied at 75, Edy Tavares and Gabriel Deck combined for a 0 – 5 run that put Real up for good. After consecutive mistakes by Bilbao, Adam Smith hit the triple to make it 80 – 82 with 22 seconds remaining. That was the last Bilbao scored while, on the other end, Sergio Llull drained free throws that shaped up the final result.
Tavares finished with 15 points plus nine rebounds while Lull scored 13. Deck and Guerschon Yabusele had 11 points apiece while Rudy Fernandez dropped six points in his debut this season in ACB.
Smith scored 19 points for Bilbao.
In Las Palmas, local Gran Canaria triumphed over Valencia 95 – 80 behind Damian Inglis’ 17 points and four assists. Baskonia had a dominant fourth quarter (15-22) to overcome Rio Breogan 86 – 77 on the road. Darius Thompson provided 15 points plus seven assists to the visiting squad.