Real Madrid struggled but managed to defeat Tenerife 80:78 in the 24th round of the Liga Endesa, while Valencia had a tough game against Obradoiro, winning 97:75.
For much of the game, Real Madrid trailed in the scoreline. Clearly nervous, they once again showed a certain decline in their performance, especially evident in the EuroLeague where they suffered three consecutive losses.
The crucial part of the game was the third quarter, during which they managed to erase the previously largest deficit of six points. Dzanan Musa and Mario Hezonja were instrumental in the comeback, which gave them a 63-59 lead going into the decisive final ten minutes.
Fabien Causeur responded to the opponent’s attacks after another tie at 63:63. Following that, the team from the Spanish capital created an 8:0 run, but it turned out not to be enough as, entering the final minute, the guests held a minimal advantage, 77:76. Facundo Campazzo gave Real Madrid the lead from the free-throw line, and Jaime Fernandez had a shot for the win, but he missed. Then, Real Madrid sealed the win from the charity stripe.
The leading scorers for the winning team were the quintet of Real Madrid players, each scoring 10 points. They were Fabien Causeur, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Walter Tavares, and Vincent Poirier. Kyle Guy led the losing team with 14 points.
Real Madrid remains the top team in the standings with a record of 21-4, closely followed by Unicaja, who have one less win and one more loss. In the next round, Real Madrid will play Palencia away, while Tenerife will host Gran Canaria.
Valencia secured their 15th win of the season with a convincing 97:75 win over Obradoiro on the road.
The leading scorer was Chris Jones, who contributed 22 points, while Brandon Davies added 14 points. On the opposing side, Artem Pustovyi stood out for Obradoiro with 22 points and seven rebounds.
In the next round of the Liga Endesa, Valencia will face Murcia at home in La Fonteta. Obradoiro, currently with a record of 6-18, resides at the lower end of the table, where their survival in the Spanish basketball top tier remains uncertain.