Hezonja allows Real Madrid to leave Monaco alive
The Croatian’s 30 points leave Chus Mateo’s team at the top of the Euroleague
MADRID, 3 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid achieved a key and level victory this Friday on their visit to Gaston Medecin after defeating (91-95) a direct rival for the ‘Top 4’ of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2022-2023 such as AS Monaco , after an offensive and defensive display by Mario Hezonja, key to overcoming a bad third quarter.
The Madrid team (7/16), who played their first game of this weekly doubleheader after beating Panathinaikos 83-68, once again gave their best version to continue at the top of the table and continue for another week more with morale through the roof after the victory also in the Clásico of the previous day.
The good work of the Croatian forward (30 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds), the undisputed leader on the court, was enough to defeat a combative Monegasque team (14/9), who also lost their direct duel with the whites, despite after his victory in overtime in the first round at the Wizinc Center (94-95), but that he continues with his options to sneak into the top four.
In the Principality, the initial scoring by both teams left a low scoring rhythm in the first moments, also marked by a good defensive performance on both sides of the paint. All this seemed like a mirage when Mario Hezonja appeared in the second quarter to dominate on the court and stop the momentum of a local team that was also very successful. The Croatian forward gave an offensive display (20 points and 4/7 on three-pointers) to settle a first half that fell to the Madrid side (46-50).
Monaco came out more plugged in after the break with an 8-0 run. Madrid needed one more march in defense to contain the attacks from Sasa Obradovic’s men, who were more effective in transitions. The four personal fouls by Tavares, relegated to the bench, and the expulsion due to fouls by Poirier, did not help to protect the rim of a Madrid team that accumulated too many turnovers (9) before reaching the middle of the third quarter.
In addition, the good tone of Mike James and Elie Okobo in attack allowed the locals to go on the scoreboard. Even so, the Madridista three-point shot, led by Llull and Hezonja, once again saved a Madrid team that, despite the mistakes, came alive at the end (71-70).
Thus, in the last quarter the intensity of the whites reappeared to put up a fight against a Monaco who did not give up on their efforts either. With an exchange of blows in the form of baskets, both teams reached the final minutes with maximum equality on the scoreboard (80-80). It was from there that the figure of Yabusele began to gain strength on the painting.
That, added to a decisive triple by Hezonja with two minutes to go, ended up deciding a match that Madrid no longer missed (85-90). Although the locals did not want to give up, now they did, Chus Mateo’s men brought out their entire offensive and defensive arsenal to finish controlling the clash and prevent a successful Mike James from reappearing on the track. Despite the tightness of the result, the whites knew how to manage the last seconds to seal the victory.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: AS MONACO, 91 – REAL MADRID, 95. (46-50, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
AS MONACO: James (23), Loyd (4), Blossomgame (6), Brown (7) and Montiejunas (7) –starting five– Okobo (16), Moneke (4), Diallo (15), Ouattara ( 3), Strazel (-) and Hall (6).
REAL MADRID: Cornelie (2), Williams-Goss (3), Hezonja (30), Deck (13) and Tavares (3) –starting five– Causeur (-), Llull (10), Musa (14), Poirier (2), Yabusele (9), Sergio Rodríguez (2) and Hanga (7).
–PARTIALS: 20-24, 26-26, 25-20, 20-25.
–REFEREES: Pukl, Latisevs and Vilius. Eliminated for fouls Poirier.
–PAVILION: Gaston Medecin.