Βy Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid flirted with disaster, Taylor Rochestie had a great game (22 p., 8 as.), however in the end the Spaniards got the 101-98 win over Nizhny Novgorod, despite their awful defense and got their Top16 ticket.
In a contest which was all about offense, Nizhny entered the last five minutes having a one point advantage (81-80), but Madrid got the 88-83 lead in the 38th minute thanks to 8-0 run which was concluded with a dunk by Rudy Fernandez after a steal and an assist by Sergio Rodriguez. Still this was not the end. With 11 seconds to go, Nizhny was in striking distance (98-97). Sergio Llull answered with 2/2 free throws (100-97) and with one second to go Fernandez fouled Tarence Kinsey in order to avoid a three pointer by Nizhny. Kinsey made the first free throw, missed the second on purpose, Reyes got the rebound, he was fouled and the game was over with 1/2 free throws by the captain of the Spaniards.
Sergio Rodriguez had one more big performance (19 p., 6 as.), however Rochestie stole the show, specially with an usual trick. With 39 seconds to go, injured Rochestie, who missed the last minutes of the game after spraining his ankle, replaced Artsiom Parakhouski who was fouled, cut and obviously faked injury. Rochestie entered the game in his place, made 2/2 free throws, cut the lead of Real to one point and then he immediately fouled Lllull. The guard of Nizhny was replaced by the suddenly healthy Parakhouski, a move than should have been punished with a technical foul by the referees. Still Nizhny had one hell of a game