By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Banking in a second straight win after dropping Game 1, Real Madrid defeated Joventut Badalona, 83-73, in Pavello Olimpic Saturday.
Setting the pace with eight points in the first quarter of Game 3 of the Liga Endesa Semifinals, Dzanan Musa made 8/13 from the field en route to the game-high 25 points. Guerschon Yabusele followed with 16 points and Mario Hezonja chipped in 13 points. Unavailable players stretched to Alberto Abalde, Carlos Alocen, Gabriel Deck, and Petr Cornelie.
The team coached by Chus Mateo never trailed, instead built a double-digit advantage in the first quarter and did not give it up until late in the fourth quarter. The lead peaking at 30 points in the third period was reduced to five points but Badalona’s comeback bid ran out of time.
Kyle Guy registering 20 points with 6/13 field goals was not enough for the team guided by Carles Duran. Veteran shooting guard Pau Ribas remained on the injury list.
Entering the Playoffs as the third seed, the Whites are one win away from clinching a berth in the ACB Finals. Staying on the road, Game 4 is scheduled to be held on Monday. Falling short of a two-game sweep at Badalona would set up a Game 5 in Madrid’s WiZink Center Wednesday.
With top-seeded FC Barcelona and fifth-seeded Unicaja placed on the opposite side of the bracket, the series is tied 1-1. Moving to Malaga, Games 3 and 4 will be played Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.