By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After dropping an early two-digit advantage, Real Madrid grew an even bigger lead in the fourth quarter en route to the 79-59 victory against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Tuesday.
The player of the game, Walter Tavares posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with four blocks and three assists in Belgrade’s Aleksandar Nikolic Hall.
Dzanan Musa recorded a game-high 19 points in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 18 contest. Still, it was a game decided in the last period with Zvezda trailing just by six points after the third quarter (57-51).
As Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo said: “We didn’t surrender and didn’t retreat in bad moments. We were able to come back when we were down. We were together during the whole game and this is one of the keys to winning today. We did a very good defense at the end”.
Nemanja Nedovic with 18 points and Filip Petrusev with 17 did their best for the home side, but the partial score in the last 10 minutes was 22-8 in favor of the guests.
“And it is not easy to play here, but this is good; the feeling, the atmosphere they created”, added coach Mateo, “All the players at this level want to play here because it is very good to play in front of this crowd”.
Tavares agreed: “Their fans pushed their team a lot, so we have to respect that. I think we did a great job and that helped us win the game, stay focused and try to do our best”.
The hosts missed injured Luca Vildoza and unregistered yet Facundo Campazzo, but on the other hand, Zvezda coach Dusko Ivanovic admitted this his team didn’t close the game the right way: “The game of basketball is 40 minutes. We played maybe 25 minutes well and, in one moment, we stopped playing; especially, we stopped playing defense. After that, we had problems on offense, but first, we stopped playing good defense and, against Real, it is difficult to play like that”.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net