Laso’s men give in to Maccabi like two days ago in Istanbul, with a very bad last quarter
MADRID, 24 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid fell (75-74) at home this Thursday against Maccabi Tel Aviv on matchday 32 of the Euroleague, despite having a lead of nine points at the start of the fourth act, a disastrous partial by the whites who they said goodbye to Menora Mivtachim Arena without scoring the last six minutes.
With the ‘Top 4’, court factor in the ‘playoffs’, assured, the white team works on its set-up for the moment of truth unable to leave behind the last pothole. BAXI Manresa, then Efes and now a Maccabi that was undoubtedly more at stake, cleared up doubts in a Madrid that derailed with eight points in the fourth quarter.
The local team is fully in the fight for the ‘Top 8′ with the elimination of the Russian teams and fought until the end despite losing track of the score with a 59-68. Tavares’ rebounds were lifesavers that no one knew how to wear or assume, after a good start by Yabusele and the warm-up of Poirier and Heurtel.
Two days after fighting and falling in the Sinan Erdem Dome, the white team had another tough test in what was previously known as Mano de Elías. Filled to the brim, the Maccabean pavilion began to collapse with Heurtel’s three triples in the third quarter but roared again with Nunnally and Evans in the last.
Laso’s team shot Yabusele in the first quarter, author of four triples, but could not send inside. In reality, Madrid scored from three but did not know how to handle themselves in the paint, while Maccabi also enjoyed the exchange with Wilbekin.
Reynolds began the second act showing even more the visitor’s need to get their batteries on the inside game. Poirier and Tavares finally entered the game and fought under the hoop, but within the equality of the score, the domain was local.
Both teams let loose more in attack, triples by Nunnally and points by Llull and Hanga, but it was up to Madrid to improve in defense pending the distribution of minutes due to casualties and wear and tear for Deck and Yabusele against Efes. Laso needed a good version of Heurtel and the Frenchman found it at times.
Hanga put up the defense but Nunnally took pains to make up the visitor’s lead (59-66). The European Classic had a lot of coming and going, a lot of fighting, with Poirier and Tavares winning the internal battle against a missing Zizic. Laso’s team left at a key moment but Evans was in charge of adding emotion to the outcome.
With a run of 10-0, with no response from the visitors for six minutes with Heurtel hoarding without success, the Israeli team raised the defense in time and caused Madrid to collapse again without regularity to finish off the job. Laso’s men remain second but with only one victory margin.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: MACCABI TEL AVIV, 75 – REAL MADRID, 74. (41-44, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
MACCABI TEL AVIV: Wilbekin (14), Evans (19), Nunnally (14), Williams (11) and Zizic (3) –initial quintet– Reynolds (12), Caloiaro (2), Ziv (-), Dibartolomeo (-), Thomas (-).
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss (7), Hanga (8), Deck (10), Yabusele (14) and Tavares (6) –starting five–; Heurtel (11), Rudy Fernández (2), Poirier (13), Llull (3), Thompkins (-).
–PARTIALS: 20-21, 21-23, 18-22, 16-8.
–REFEREES: Lottermoser, Paternico and Petek. Without eliminated.
–PAVILLION: Menora Mivtachim Arena.