Real Madrid Cruises to 103-89 Victory Over Baxi Manresa
Real Madrid rolled to a comfortable 103-89 win over Baxi Manresa, a performance built on balanced scoring and sharp defense. Six players reached double figures, with Fabien Causeur creating steady scoring momentum and displaying his typical floor leadership as the game unfolded.
The opening hours of the match saw Musas contributions stand out, including a productive stretch from Musa and a Bosnian front line presence that kept Manresa honest. Jerrick Harding provided mobility and efficiency for the visitors, testing Madrid’s rotations and forcing timely defensive stays by the hosts.
Real Madrid’s defense tightened around the team’s focal point, often assigning Alberto Abalde and Fabien Causeur to track key Manresa threats. This pressure helped Madrid control pace and reduce easy scoring opportunities for their opponents.
Walter Edy Tavares was absent, and Vincent Poirier stepped in to fortify the paint. Poirier managed the minutes with precision, guarding the rim and contributing on both ends as a precaution for overwork in the schedule ahead.
@MovistarPlus #LigaEndesa | #ReadyToRomperla pic.twitter.com/H6uvSCHSOJ
— Endesa League (@ACBCOM) 11 December 2022
Manresa found some juice through the guard play of Juampi Vaulet, whose two-way impact helped keep the Catalan side competitive. The Argentine guard played with poise on both ends, trying to prevent a run that could swing momentum in Madrid’s favor.
Real Madrid opened strong, finishing the first quarter with a 23-16 edge and carrying a 46-35 lead into halftime. Though the game never felt out of reach for Manresa, Madrid’s urgency in the early stages limited any dramatic swings and allowed the home team to execute their planned rotation with confidence. Madrid maintained a measured approach ahead of the Euroleague double-day schedule coming up in Munich and Kaunas, balancing effort with sustainable energy levels for the stretch run.
Musa, who had a notable stretch of production, faced a late twist in the second period when he missed a third-quarter attempt in the sequence of the game. Yet his teammates continued to contribute, delivering a resilient collective effort across both halves as Madrid steadied the ship and kept the scoreboard in their favor.
Madrid surged again at the start of the third period, igniting with a 14-2 burst in under two minutes. Causeur connected from beyond the arc, sparking a sequence of made shots and helping the home side push the advantage to 60-37 as the period progressed. The early third-quarter surge set the tone for the rest of the game, with Madrid extending control and maintaining rhythm through sustained ball movement and disciplined shot selection.
As the game wore on, both teams eased their defensive intensity a touch, a natural consequence of a growing lead and the demand to manage minutes. Chus Mateo, Madrid’s coach, continued to distribute playing time strategically, enabling players to contribute in meaningful ways while preserving energy for upcoming fixtures. Individual performances began to accumulate, contributing to the overall victory in a way that highlighted Madrid’s depth and balance.
Causesur and the rest of Madrid’s guards supplied consistent scoring, while the frontcourt trio of Musa, Yabusele, and Ndiaye helped seal the win with efficient finishes and solid defense. The team’s offensive flow remained cohesive, with multiple players sharing the scoring burden and maintaining momentum through the final buzzer.
The tempo and tempo changes on the night reflected Madrid’s readiness to control pace and dictate terms. Teammates who entered the game off the bench found opportunities to contribute without disrupting the established rhythm, and the collective effort translated into a final scoreline that reflected a strong night for Real Madrid at the Palacio de los Deportes, a venue that provided a supportive home atmosphere for this regular-season clash. The capacity crowd of over five thousand witnessed a display of disciplined execution and strong execution from a Madrid squad that looks primed for the rest of the campaign. [ACBCOM]
Data sheet: 103 – Real Madrid (23+23+34+21): Williams-Goss (4), Abalde (14), Poirier (15), Cornelie (4) and Moses (19) -top five-, Causeur (20), González (0), Hezonja (4), Rodríguez (10) , Llull (0), Yabusele (11) and Ndiaye (2). 89 – Baxi Manresa (16+19+26+28): Harding (10), Tass (9), Sagnia (2), Ferrari (11) and Vaulet (27) -top five-, Badio (3), Waczynski (15), Tyson Pérez (0), Jou (3), Steinbergs (8), Coulibaly (0) and Dani Pérez (1). Referees: Jordi Aliaga, Sergio Manuel and Héctor Báez. Steinbergs was eliminated by five (min 36). The match, which corresponds to the eleventh day of the regular stage of the Endesa League, was played in front of 5,517 spectators at the Palacio de los Deportes (WiZink Center) in Madrid.