By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It was not an easy night for Madrid, but they got the job done and prevailed over Valencia (95-91) in a really close game.
The winners are left alone in the second spot of the standings with a 19-8 record, despite having played one game less so far.
Gabriel Deck with 18 points led the charge, Edy Tavares added 14 and Real Madrid bounced back after losing at home to Cazoo Baskonia two days ago.
“I think we did a great job”, Deck said after the game. “We were focused in the second half and dominated the rebounds, playing really well. So, we are very happy about this victory.”
Chris Jones with 19 points and Jasiel Rivero with 17 were the top scorers on the losing side, which dropped to 13-15 and two wins away from the current playoffs line after four losses in a row.
Real Madrid was in the driver’s seat for most of the game, building a 12-point lead (47-35) and going into halftime with a nine-point advantage (49-40).
Valencia reacted and got a two-point lead twice (55-53, 59-57) in the third period, however, Madrid closed the quarter with a six-point cushion (71-65).
The hosts led even by eight (73-65) but Valencia trimmed the lead to three (75-72) after a three by Shannon Evans. Μadrid kept things in check with an 8-2 run (83-74) and Deck scored six of those points with four minutes left.
That was the cue for one more run by Valencia. The guests with an 8-0 run made it a one-point game (83-82) after a three by Chris Jones. Still, Madrid kept the lead until the end and entered the last minute leading by four (90-86).
Jones made it one last time a two-point game (93-91) with 15 seconds left. Deck was fouled, he made two more free throws (95-91) and that proved to be enough.
Chus Mateo: “It was a similar game to the one against Baskonia”
Real Madrid Chus Mateo talked after the game about the efficiency of Valencia which had 15/31 threes and pretty much that kept them in the game: “It was a similar game [to our Round 27 game against Baskonia] because they scored again 15 threes, and it is not easy to play against this success from the line. But anyway, we were consistent. We played with confidence in the end and it was the difference, probably, compared to Tuesday. It was much more difficult [to play against Valencia], for sure, because they know us much better. We know them, too, but they know us. It is the fourth time that we have played against Valencia this year. It is not easy to play against them once again.”
Valencia Basket head coach Alex Mumbru prefers to focus on the future since his team is losing valuable ground in the playoffs race: “We tried, and we need to continue working hard. We know we’ve had four losses in a row, but we are fighting [to win] the next one.”