By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid beat 78-72 Barcelona in Game 1 of Liga Endesa’s finals. The Euroleague winners need two more wins to get the championship and the triple crown.
The “Madridistas” were leading the score during almost the whole game but without having absolute control of the rythm. Rudy Fernandez was great once again against the Catalans (17 points with 3/4 3p.) with Reyes (12p., 6 r.), Rodriguez (12 p., 8 as.) and Ayon (10p., 7 r.) pushing their team to the win.
Barcelona was close to complete a great come back during the last two minutes (72-70) having Super Mario Hezonja (18p.) in a outstanding night with 5/5 threes until then. However, in the crucial possesion for Barcelona, Satoransky missed his shot, got the offensive rebound and then Hezonja missed the three point shot. The young Croatian wonderboy destroyed his perfect shooting percentage and Barcelona its chances to get the win.
The biggest problem for the visitors was that Hezonja was alone, while Tomic (2 points with 1/5 shots) and Navarro (7 points with 2/6 shots) were out of the games’ spirit. The second game will be held again in Madrid on Sunday.