Βy Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
KAUNAS, Lithuania – Real Madrid veterans have been there and done that.
And once more they prevailed in the Final Four semifinal for a fifth time this century over Barcelona getting a rematch in the EuroLeague final against Olympiacos.
The final score was 78-66 for Real Madrid which got 20 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocks from Edy Walter Tavares. Mario Hezonja and Sergio Rodriguez who practically decided the outcome with nine straight points in the last period, scored 12 points each, while Nigel Williams-Goss had 10.
Alex Abrines with 16 points was the top scorer of Barcelona, while Nikola Mirotic scored just three points with 0/7 threes, a EuroLeague low for him with the jersey of the “Blaugrana”.
Barcelona with the early lead
After a balanced first period which ended with the score tied at 18 despite a 10-3 start by Real Madrid, Barcelona managed to get things going.
With Kyle Kuric already having eight points, Barcelona jumped to a 36-29 lead that was even extended to nine points (42-33) by Thomas Satoransky.
Real Madrid couldn’t react, but Sergio Llull managed to make his first three of the game with three seconds left to halftime, cutting the lead to six (42-36).
It has to be noted that Barcelona had 9/14 threes, but despite this huge advantage couldn’t build a solid distance from their opponents.
Real Madrid comes back
Barcelona was still on top of things, leading by eight (47-39) at the start of the third period after a three by Nicolas Laprovittola.
However, that was the point when Real Madrid managed to finally turn things around.
With a 15-0 run and Walter Tavares getting to 16 points, the “Whites” got a 54-47 lead and closed the quarter leading by three (58-55).
Laprovittola tied the score again at 58 with eight minutes left and set the stage for an amazing finish. To be exact that was the only points scored in the first 3,5 minutes of the last quarter.
But then Real Madrid took over again with Sergio Rodriguez making things happen with nine straight points for a 7-2 run making the score 67-60 entering the last five minutes and practically deciding the game.