By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After losing in Munich, Real Madrid had to react at home, and for 30 minutes things were not easy against Partizan. In the end, however, Real Madrid created more than a solid distance and got the 93-86 home win without any late drama.
Serge Ibaka with 15 points was the top scorer of the winning side, still, newcomer Xavier Rathan-Mayes stole the show with 12 points on 4/4 threes.
Dzanan Musa also scored 12 points, Mario Hezonja and Gabriel Deck added 10 points each and Facundo Campazzo dished 11 assists with just two turnovers plus scored eight points.
Duane Washington Jr. who was released by Charlotte but not re-signed yet by Partizan, was not available. Carlik Jones scored 15 points, while the duo of Vanja Marinkovic and Sterling Brown had 12 points each.
Keeping the best for the last
For three quarters the game was balanced, tied after the first (24-24) and Madrid had a three-point advantage at halftime (50-47) and four at the end of the third (68-64).
While after the first period, the home side had the lead with no more than seven points, Partizan was always right behind them, pressuring them constantly.
However, entering the fourth quarter, things changed after a 13-2 run by Madrid which included two threes by Rathan-Mayes. Suddenly the “Whites” were up by 17 (83-66).
Partizan tried to come back and did trim the lead to nine (84-75) and even to seven (90-83) but it was too little, too late.
The only bad news for Madrid came from the injury of guard Andre Feliz, since the “Whites” already have a pretty thin roster compared to other years.
Photo credit: EuroLeague