Real Madrid saves the fall on the horn
Yabusele and Heurtel lead the reaction in the final minutes against Maccabi to continue the streak in the lead
MADRID, 2 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Thursday (72-70) on matchday 13 of the Euroleague held at the WiZink Center, a bad game but saved in the final stretch by Heurtel and a Yabuselle who signed the winning basket.
Pablo Laso’s men are still at the forefront of the highest continental competition, with 11-2 awaiting what Barça does (10-2) this Friday against Anadolu Efes. The continental ‘Classic’ choked the white box, but the 10-time champion reacted in defense and found French inspiration.
With 50-59 at the start of the last quarter, poor attack – both inside and out – Madrid was at the mercy until Heurtel made up the bad percentage of three in the whites. The point guard pushed the team on his back after Maccabi took control in the third quarter. Defense was once again the key.
It was a guerrilla in a basketball game, with a 37-38 after 20 minutes that left little room for the imagination. Heurtel and Yabuselle were already the best at the start with a run that Maccabi slowed down. Madrid greatly missed the presence of Tavares or Poirier, and the visitors were pulling Wilbekin.
Laso’s gesture was twisted more if possible in a third quarter of 13 points. Looking for solutions, the Basque coach found them in the defense of Causeur and in a decisive Heurtel in his first season in white. The point guard not only scored but found Tavares and Maccabi was under pressure. Those of Tel-Aviv failed several attacks followed while the ex of the Barça did not forgive.
However, a 3-pointer by Williams leveled the score again, with one last possession taken by Yabuselle to win the game. Madrid’s sixth consecutive victory in the Euroleague saved the start of a tough December, with the next stop at the Palau Blaugrana, where perhaps Randolph and Thompkins will return.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 72 – MACCABI TEL-AVIV, 70. (37-38, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
REAL MADRID: Heurtel (15), Hanga (7), Taylor (2), Yabuselle (15) and Tavares (9) –initial quintet– Llull (2), Rudy Fernández (3), Williams-Goss (4) , Abalde (-), Causeur (4), Poirier (11).
MACCABI TEL-AVIV: Wilbekin (14), Evans (10), Taylor (4), Williams (8) y Zizic (10) –quinteto inicial– Nunnally (2), Reynolds (8), Caloiaro (2), DiBartolomeo (4), Sorkin (2), Blayzer (6).
–PARTIALS: 20-18, 17-20, 13-21, 22-11.
– REFEREES: Lottermoser, Vilius and Mogulkoc. Without eliminated.
– PAVILION: WiZink Center, 6,941 spectators.