Overview of the Euroleague clash between Baskonia and Real Madrid
In a fiercely contested Euroleague showdown, Baskonia and Real Madrid exchanged momentum swings and clutch moments, delivering a game that kept fans on the edge. The visitors from Baskonia, guided by standout contributions from Darius Thompson and Maik Kotsar, pulled off a notable 81-85 victory as the season advances. The win marked Baskonia’s third triumph against Real Madrid this season, underscoring the visitors’ cohesion and late-game execution.
From the opening minutes, Baskonia pressed Madrid with a plan designed to disrupt Real Madrid’s typical offensive rhythm while exploiting gaps on defense. Walter Tavares sat out with a sprained ankle, yet Madrid leaned on Adam Hanga and Nigel Williams-Goss to provide defensive intensity and perimeter pressure. Thompson showcased his playmaking early, creating chances and testing Madrid’s defense, while Guerschon Yabusele and Tavares supplied the energy to finish the first period with Madrid ahead 22-17.
Madrid deployed a defensive approach aimed at limiting Markus Howard and Thompson, while keeping an eye on the rest of Baskonia’s lineup. Howard finished the first half with five points and Thompson with nine, as both faced extra scrutiny from Madrid’s defense while staying within striking distance. Poirier assumed a larger offensive role for Baskonia, contributing to the scoring while occasionally misfiring on defense. Baskonia, with Costello’s timely two-pointer, held a brief lead as Madrid entered the locker room with a 43-40 edge despite turnovers that tested both teams.
The second half opened with Baskonia regaining rhythm through a trio of Kotsar, Thompson, and Vanja Marinkovic, allowing the visitors to move in front 47-52 by the 24th minute. Dzanan Musa ignited Madrid’s offense with a burst of points and Tavares returned, but both teams intensified their defensive effort and quickened the tempo. Madrid mounted a 10-0 burst in under three minutes, sparked by a trio including Rudy Fernandez and Moses Brown, yet Baskonia answered and the third period ended 65-62 in Baskonia’s favor, signaling an opportunity still within reach for the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, Thompson tied the game with a timely three, and both squads traded blows in a gritty, trench-warfare style. Moses Brown matched Giedraitis and Thompson when it mattered, making every possession feel pivotal. A sequence featuring Gabriel Deck’s counterattack dunk and Tavares’ baskets briefly pushed Madrid ahead, but Baskonia steadied itself and kept the game within reach. With about six minutes remaining, the score showed 78-71 in favor of Baskonia as the atmosphere inside the Palacio de los Deportes (WiZink Center) grew intensely dramatic. Deck delivered a crucial basket, and a defensive stop late shifted the balance again. A costly turnover by Marinkovic and a defensive lapse by Musa opened the door for Baskonia to seize the closing minutes, pushing the final tally to 81-85 behind Costello’s decisive play and a timely stop on Madrid’s late push.
Madrid could not sustain the late surge, and Baskonia closed out with disciplined defense and controlled execution on both ends. The result marked Baskonia’s third win against Real Madrid in this season’s matchups, reflecting a tough, no-nonsense approach when it mattered most. The atmosphere inside the arena was electric as 7,286 fans witnessed a tightly contested Euroleague evening.
Data sheet: 81 – Real Madrid (22+21+22+16): Williams-Goss 6, Hanga 6, Deck 4, Poirier 10 and Moses 21, Causeur 1, Rudy Fernández 9, Hezonja 2, Sergio Rodríguez 3, Tavares 13, Yabusele 6. 85 – Baskonia (17+23+22+23): Marinkovic 3, Thompson 18, Kotsar 13, Giedraitis 6, Hommes 2, Howard 11, Heidegger 5, Sedekerkis 0, Díez 3, Enoch 4, Costello 20, Kurucs 0. Referees: Damir Javor, Emin Mogulkoç and Gytis Vilius. The match represented the twenty-seventh day of the Euroleague, played before a sellout-like atmosphere and showcasing the high level of competition between these two teams this season. (Citation: Euroleague)