Cazoo Baskonia complied and He finished the year with a victory by beating Real Madrid (92-86) on the 16th match day of Euroleague. It was held at the Fernando Buesa Arena this Thursday to add to its eleventh straight win in an pristine December and confirm the good form of a Basque team that has nearly risen to the top of the table.

Adding to the good work of Rokas Giedraitis (21) the display of one star Markus Howard (28 points) was enough to beat a gruff Real Madrid. Joan Peñarroya’s men, six consecutive victories (11/5) in Europe and Five more in the Endesa League to reach the top of the ‘playoffs’ and add an important victory to their ‘Top 4’ fights.

Having a good taste in the mouth at the end of the yearThose from Peñarroya also prevailed over a white team that bid farewell to 2022 at the top but lost outright in a duel due to a deadly second quarter (35-15).). It won’t be easy as Madrid fans return to the competition where they will have to face Barça in the Clásico league at Wizink Center on January 2.

In the first moments of the match in Buesa Arena, both teams revealed their main weapons. a) Yes, the locals once again showed their great scoring skills with a great Giedraitis (9p) and an effective Howard (2/3 in the triples). Chus Mateo’s men showed their inner game with Edy Tavares, leading the first quarter with two baskets (8s and 5 rebounds) (24-28).

Even if, Joan Peñarroya’s men didn’t stop reversing the signr. The magnificent Howard, who caught a 35-15 series in the second ten minutes of the game, was once again decisive with 21 points and 5/7 three pointers at halftime. The American did and did what he wanted against a somewhat confused white defense before the Indians came in with a big score midgame with a wide advantage (59-43).

Unable to stop the Basque’s shot from outside, Chus Mateo’s team came back a little more energetic after the restart. The Whites managed to reduce the lead to 5 with Tavares (15s and 11 rebounds), re-entering the game in the middle of the third quarter. Again, With two minutes left, Howard’s other trio also stopped bleeding in the third quarter to maintain the domestic advantage (73-69).

With all things settled, the forces were leveled again in a quieter final quarter, with a lower scoring rate typical of both teams’ defensive solidity on the track. Gabriel Deck (17p) threatened to return the advantage to Whites, but local outside play once again thwarted any attempt at a return to Madrid.. Despite this, Chus Mateo’s men didn’t stop trying, but Vitoria’s momentum was enough to boost Vitoria’s faith in an important season.

DATA SHEET

-RESULT: CAZOO BASKONIA, 92 – REAL MADRID, 86th (59-43 at halftime).

–TEAMS.

CAZOO BASKONIA: Darius Thompson (1), Markus Howard (28), Giedraitis (21), Dani Díez (-) and Kotsar (-) –from five–; Hommes (12), Henry (10), Costello (12), Sedekerskis (2), Marinkovic (3), Kurucs (-) and Enoch (2).

REAL MADRID: Sergio Rodríguez (4), Moses (6), Abalde (-), Cornelie (9) and Tavares (15) –top five– Llull (-), Deck (17), Yabusele (5), Poirier (2), Williams-Goss (16), Causeur (7) and Hezonja (5).

–PARCELS: 24-28, 35-15, 14-26, 19-17.

— REFEREES: Radovic, Foudis and Peerandi. Fouled Costello.

–PAVILLION: Arena of Fernando Buesa.