By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Jumping into a safe distance way early, Real Madrid strolled to yet another win.
The latest solid effort produced the 91-68 victory versus Zunder Palencia in WiZink Center on Sunday.
With scoring naturally spreading due to the comfortable lead, Mario Hezonja banking in ten points in the fourth quarter reached a game-high 16 points. Dzanan Musa followed with 13 points. Facundo Campazzo paired nine points with six assists. Walter Tavares pulled down 13 rebounds besides connecting six of his eight points from the free-throw line.
All twelve available players checked in for action in the Round 7 game of Spain’s Liga Endesa Regular Season. However, Rudy Fernandez sat out alongside Carlos Alocen (left knee) and Guerschon Yabusele (left knee).
The undefeated streak in domestic and continental competitions was extended to 14 games, including 7-0 in the ACB. On the wrong end of one-way traffic, the visitors were forced down to 1-6.
Short-handed Baskonia losses fifth straight, with Howard getting injured
There’s a dark cloud over Baskonia, as the Vitoria team losses fifth straight game in the EuroLeague and the ACB League, falling 85-68 on the road against MoraBanc Andorra.
Not just that, the injuries keep pilling up, as Marcus Howard got injured in fourth minute of the match. The US guard got back on the court, but recored only seven minutes of play time in a convincing defeat.
Joan Pennarroya had only eight players at his disposal, seven without Howard, and with Chima Moneke playing limited minutes. Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Dani Diez, Khalifa Diop and Nico Mannion were unable to participate due to injuries.
In the end, Codi Miller-McIntyre was the top scorer of the losing side with 16 points, Vanja Marinkovic added 15, while Tadas Sedekerskis recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Matt Costello also finished in double digits with 11 points, but it wasn’t enough.
Andorra grabbed the win with Markel Starks leading the way with 15 points, and Stan Okoye scoring 14. Tyson Perez had a double-double with 10 points and rebounds, while Tobias Borg added 10 points.
Chris Jones takes down Barcelona from the free throw line
Barcelona erased 14-point deficit , tied the score in the final quarter, but couldn’t find the way to turn it around, as Chris Jones sealed a 71-68 win for Valencia in final seconds from the free throw line.
Jones managed to trick Willy Hernangomez to foul him with less then five seconds to go, while he was in the shooting motion from a distance, and refeeres awarded him with three free throws. He hit all of them, Alex Abrines missed the tying shot on the other side of the court and Valencia emerged victorious in La Fonteta.
The hero Jones finished the match with 17 points, while Berndon Davies added 11 and Jared Harper 10 for the winning side.
For Barcelona, who once again played without injured Nicolas Laprovittola, Willy Hernagomez had a great game with 22 points and eight rebounds, but only Nikola Kalinic followed him with 15 points and was also two boards short of a double-double.
Valencia therefore improved to 6-1, trailing only perfect Real Madrid, while Barcelona fell to 5-2.
ACB Round 7
Unicaja – Rio Breogan 87-70
Girona – UCAM Murcia 82-76
Dreamland Gran Canaria – Monbus Obradoiro 87-80
Casademont Zaragoza – Joventtut Badalona 113-83
Real Madrid – Zunder Palencia 91-68
Baxi Manresa – Coviran Granada 90-84
MoraBanc Andorra – Baskonia 85-68
Surne Bilbao – Lenovo Tenerife 93:94 OT
Valencia – FC Barcelona 71:68
STANDINGS: Real Madrid 7-0, Valencia 6-1, Barcelona 5-2, Unicaja 4-3….
Photo Credit: ACB / Victor Carretero