Left without Real Madrid Copa del Rey to Baskonia, the whites secured a commanding 85-99 victory at the Fernando Buesa Arena this Sunday, powering ahead with as many as 18 points and 17 three-pointers on the night. The Blaugranas faced a high bar, needing either a win or to keep the margin to a single point to claim top spot, but they could not capitalize on a strong start and now face an uncertain path to the final stage in Malaga. Real Madrid relied on the late-game endurance of Guerschon Yabusele, Dzanan Musa, and Facundo Campazzo, who delivered a stellar final quarter. Chima Moneke stood out for Baskonia as the most active player on a team that battled through a difficult night.
Early exchanges featured two quick triples from Yabusele and another from Musa, setting the tone for a fast-paced game filled with early mistakes. Markus Howard answered from long range to halt Baskonia’s scoreless drought in the opening minutes, and Dusko Ivanovic’s squad briefly found its footing as the visitors slipped to a 3-14 deficit in the fifth minute. Baskonia, resistant to changes, could not slow the Madrid duo, who found easy success in both transition and set plays. The French forward, a key component for Real Madrid in the opening period, drained four threes and finished with 17 points as the team raced to a 20-35 lead after a dominant first quarter.
Chris Chiozza’s eight points helped ease Baskonia’s slide, and those who remained in the game endured the visitors’ superior offensive pace. As the match evolved, Baskonia tightened its defense, though their three-point attempts remained a focal point for Real Madrid’s perimeter attack. A sustained push from Campazzo produced a six-point run that widened the gap to double digits and created a calm rhythm for Madrid as the half neared its end.
After Matt Costello picked up his third personal foul, Ivanovic rolled out a lineup that pressed back from both ends, seeking to narrow the margin. Points grew costly at both ends, yet Baskonia found momentum through the relentless activity of Chima Moneke, and the scoreline tilted to 43-51 as the teams entered halftime with Baskonia in the ascendancy.
Dzanan Musa opened the second half with five quick points to spark a Madrid rally, but Baskonia could not convert on multiple chances, and Real Madrid relied on outside shooting to stay in front. Codi Miller-McIntyre’s drives kept Baskonia within striking distance, and the speed of Ivanovic’s squad helped trim the deficit to four at 62-66 as the third period progressed and the drama intensified. Fabien Causeur stayed glued to Howard, while Madrid’s defense refused to surrender the edge, heading into the final period with a slender lead of 66-73.
The fourth frame opened with a mutual exchange of three-pointers, but Real Madrid quickly asserted their control, guided by Campazzo’s seasoned distribution. The Argentinian guard appeared at crucial moments, steering his team through the late stretch and preserving a comfortable advantage. Baskonia, hampered by a lack of reliable outside shooting, watched Madrid expand the gap as the clock wound down.
Real Madrid finished the night with a composed final push, leveraging Llull’s leadership and Causeur’s defensive pressure to seal a convincing 85-99 road win. The victory added to Real Madrid’s tally and marked another milestone in the season, with notable contributions from Yabusele, Musa, and Campazzo, who supplied the decisive plays when they mattered most. Sergio Llull closed with a key burst of points late in the game, tying Felipe Reyes in Madrid’s all-time appearances as the record-holder with a historic 1,046 matches (Source: Endesa League game log).
Data sheet:
85 – Baskonia (20+23+23+19): Miller-McIntyre (16), Howard (16), Raieste (0), Sedekerskis (7) and Costello (7) forming the top five; Kotsar (2), Rogkavopoulos (3), Marinkovic (11), Diop (0) and Moneke (15).
99 – Real Madrid (35+16+22+26): Alocén (5), Hezonja (10), Musa (20), Yabusele (26) and Tavares (2) in the top five; Abalde (5), Llull (5), Causeur (0), Poirier (4), Campazzo (20) and Ndiaye (0).
Referees: Antonio Conde, Rafael Serrano and Arnau Padrós. Costello was ruled out for personal fouls (minimum 37). A technical foul was issued to Tavares at minute 27.
Events: The match, part of the seventeenth day of the Endesa League, was played before 15,313 spectators at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria. Sergi Llull surpassed Felipe Reyes as Real Madrid’s all-time leader in appearances with 1,046 games, a milestone celebrated on the court (Source: Endesa League recap).