By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pulling away with a brilliant performance in the second half and especially in the third quarter, Real Madrid picked up a second win through the two-game stay in Greece.
Ending up with a 90-78 victory over Panathinaikos Aktor in OAKA Altion improved the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague tally to 12-1.
Allowing only ten points in the third quarter and limiting Kendrick Nunn to four points in the second half were the highlights of the solid defensive effort after the break.
Joining the club of players with 2,000 points in Europe’s premier club continental competition during the third-quarter takeover, Walter Tavares finished with ten points, nine rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and one steal in the Round 13 affair. His side outscoring Panathinaikos by a margin of 16 points in the third period ballooned the advantage to 18 points.
“I feel great,” the Cape Verdean center commented on his latest milestone, “Playing in EuroLeague is a blessing. So, every day we come out to play against great teams, against fans like this, it is always a pleasure. I try to enjoy every second.”
A fan favorite in Athens, Mario Hezonja fired in 19 points in a game-high performance index rating of 23. “It sucks a little bit,” he replied to a question about facing his former team, “Thankfully, we won playing extremely well. They are a new team. It is going to take them some time to adjust to what coach Ataman wants to do with them. It was great to see everybody again.”
Among the three more double-digit scoring showings, Gabriel Deck registered 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Extending a double-digit PIR streak to eight games, Facundo Campazzo chipped in eight points, six rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Dzanan Musa logged his eighth double-digit scoring performance in a row with 14 points, including 11 in the third quarter.
“We played good from the steals. We could run and we played more fluid,” head coach Chus Mateo referred to the dominating third quarter starting from improved defense, “Now, we got to keep working day by day.”
Nunn, 28, set his season-high to 24 points after eclipsing his best score in Europe in the first half. Following with 18 points to his name, Mathias Lessort hit the mark of 1,000 points in EuroLeague and with a team-high PIR of 22 stretched the double-digit streak to 20 games. Konstantinos Mitoglou had 15 points in the losing effort.
The defending champions were coming off a win over Olympiacos to start the road trip in Greece. The dominating start in the Regular Season includes six wins in seven games away from Madrid. A third loss in a row sent the team coached by Ergin Ataman to 6-7.
“When you miss open shots against Real Madrid, they punish you,” the Turkish tactician shared his opinion on the second half, “They are a very good team. They know how to manage the game. We had a chance to play the game until then but we missed a lot of open shots and inside it is difficult to attack Tavares.”
“Real Madrid is the best team now in Europe,” added Ataman, “They really play like a machine.”
Carrying nine consecutive EuroLeague showings with a double-digit PIR, Jerian Grant was limited to 16 minutes and five points due to tendinitis in his right knee. The impressive streak was snapped. With Juancho Hernangomez (finger) and Ioannis Papapetrou (knee) remaining sidelined, Dimitris Moraitis was a healthy scratch for the hosts. Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Kyle Guy, and Kostas Antetokounmpo did not play.
Sergio Rodriguez missed the trip to Greece due to a hip injury, joining Guerschon Yabusele (left knee) on Madrid’s injury list. Also, starter Eli Ndiaye did not return after an injury in the first quarter. Alberto Abalde and Carlos Alocen did not leave the bench.
Back to Madrid
After challenges on the road against Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, Los Blancos returning to the capital of Spain will face FC Bayern Munich next Thursday. On Sunday, the approaching domestic challenge in WiZink Center is against Dreamland Gran Canaria. They carry a league-high 11-1 record in Spain’s Liga Endesa.
Also leading their domestic league, the Greens hope to jump to 10-0 in Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League with a potential home win versus PAOK mateco on Sunday. Switching again to the continental level, they visit LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne next Thursday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net