Real Madrid exhausts Zalgiris in his streak
Laso take the leadership of the Euroleague with 13 straight wins
MADRID, Jan. 9 (SportsFinding) –
Real Madrid beat Zalgiris Kaunas (88-82) on Thursday on the 18th day of the Euroleague held at the WiZink Center, a triumph worked by the locals to knock down an opponent in search of resurgence in the table that now commands the team white, thanks to 13 straight wins, a record in the competition from the new Regular League format.
Those of Pablo Laso had to sweat the shirt and not just pull the unstoppable inertia without rival in Europe. The Lithuanians, who came in good time with two victories to close the first round, endured until the last five minutes the demanding pulse commanded by Rudy Fernández (17 points, all in the second quarter), Thompkins (20), Facu Campazzo (12 and 8 assists) and the good internal rotation in the targets.
Rudy had his boil again this week. The captain of the Spanish team world champion last summer once again demonstrated his second youth and signed 17 points in the second quarter. A succession of five triples, with a robbery and a mate, that made the Palace vibrate, delighted with the Balearic, although with Lekavicius on the other side preventing the local escape.
It was not enough for Madrid to sink Jasikevicius' ship, which sails against the current this course but does not throw in the towel. Despite the Balearic festival, the interior power of the whites with Mickey or Tavares, and a greater ease to score, Madrid only went from six to rest (47-41). Lekavicius was very guilty, emulating Rudy with 16 points in the room.
The visiting player gave a good relief to a Walkup that had led the Lithuanian bet in the first quarter. Campazzo equaled it and Laso's weapons appeared. Rudy's, as before Asvel and Valencia in recent days, again made a difference but the rest relaxed. After the break 'Facu' and Tavares were activated again, with the giant of Cape Verde winning everything under hoops.
Thus the rent of 10 returned to the whites, while Zalgiris found no other way to attack than to play triple. The exchange was uneven again, although Walkup and KC Rivers were enough so that in the last quarter there was still the visiting team in the match (75-69). With the most even perimeter, Madrid tightened again in defense and burned ships inside with Garuba.
Gasoline did not hold Zalgiris in a very demanding final stretch of whites, with a lot of rotation and intensity in defense. Thompkins was responsible for knocking down the Lithuanian resistance that aspired to a third victory followed against the 10-time European champion. Madrid is 15-3 at the top of the table, to take advantage of the direct duel this Friday between Efes and Barça.
DATA SHEET.
– RESULT: REAL MADRID, 88 – ZALGIRIS KAUNAS, 82. (47-41, at rest).
–EQUIPMENT.
REAL MADRID: Campazzo (12), Causeur (8), Thompkins (20), Mickey (13) and Tavares (10) – initial quintet–; Laprovittola (2), Carroll (-), Rudy Fernández (17), Taylor (6), Mejri (-) and Garuba (-).
ZALGIRIS KAUNAS: Walkup (19), KC Rivers (12), Ulanovas (3), Hayes (6) and Landale (11) – initial quintet – Lekavicius (21), Milaknis (7), Leday (-), Jankunas (3) and Venskus.
– PARTIALS: 20-18, 27-23, 21-18, 20-23.
– ARBITRATORS: Javor, Rossi and Halliko. Without eliminated.
– PAVILION: WiZink Center, 9,096 spectators.