By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Controlling the game since the very first minute, Real Madrid managed to beat Fenerbahce 90-75 in the Wizink Center, clinching the home-court advantage in the EuroLeague playoffs.
After saying that he’s privileged to play with Real Madrid, Dzanan Musa was once again the highest-scorer for Chus Mateo’s team with 16 points, being perfect at the line (9/9). The 23-year-old Bosnian superstar reached the 500-point milestone in the EuroLeague.
“They are a great team, with great individual players, and they are dangerous. We answered all their attacks, I’m very proud of the team. I love it here, I hope I will stay for as long as possible. I can call this my home”, Real Madrid’s number 31 said following the victory.
The French Cornelie-Yabusele due provided 9 points each, while Gabriel Deck had the usual effective all-around performance with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Vincent Poirier and Adam Hanga added 11 each.
“We’ve managed the goal we started the game. The players did a big effort to get the home-court advantage in the playoffs. It’s not easy to get too many wins in the EuroLeague”, Chus Mateo said in the post-game press conference.
Real Madrid got things under control
The former FC Barcelona small forward Nigel Hayes-Davis didn’t feel the pressure against last year’s runner-up, as Fenerbahce‘s number 11 ended the game with 17 points. Committing the fourth foul with 5:26 left in the third quarter, Johnathan Motley couldn’t be a factor in the duel against Tavares.
Nick Calathes brought out all his experience by producing a performance of 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Greek point guard, however, wasn’t enough for Dimitris Itoudis’ team.
“We were trying to stay close to the score with our offensive alignments. They got the right rhythm into the pace, we couldn’t find answers for them”, the Greek head coach commented after the loss.
Reaching a 14-point lead with 6:39 left in the fourth quarter, Real Madrid never had problems since the beginning of the game, winning all the quarters against the yellow-and-blue Turkish side. The Blancos shot the ball great from two (57.6%), from beyond the arc (57.1%), and at the charity stripe (88.9%).
In Round 32, Real Madrid (22-9) will face Partizan Belgrade on the road on March 31 at 20:30 CET. At the same time, Fenerbahce (18-3) will need a win at Cazoo Baskonia‘s home to secure its playoff spot. The Spanish side is 1st next to Olympiacos, while the Turkish team is 5th, tied with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague