The Real Madrid Rally Yet Again as Musa and Hezonja Shine
Real Madrid edged Monbus Obradoiro (74-85) as Dzanan Musa extended his team’s late-season streak with a decisive burst in the final quarter. The Galician side fought hard, striking efficiently on fast breaks to keep the score close through much of the game, but Madrid managed to convert crucial moments into a victory that keeps their league push alive.
Obradoiro started strong in Galicia, taking a 19-15 lead after the opening period. Real Madrid responded with a disruptive defense that sparked a reversal by the end of the second minute. The visitors ripped away possessions with relentless pressure, forcing seven turnovers for Obradoiro after already recording a single turnover in the first ten minutes. The quick changes in momentum helped Real Madrid turn a 21-17 deficit into a 23-29 advantage as the quarter progressed. The home bench reacted with two timeouts in under a minute after Sergio Rodríguez connected with Poirier, signaling a shift in the game’s tempo.
The Galician lineup was adjusted, with Pustovyi entering the floor to replace Rubén Guerrero. Tres Tinkle put together a stretch near eight straight points to bring Obradoiro back into contention, supported by a trio that included Jordan Howard. In the first half, Obradoiro dominated the boards, while Real Madrid paid the price for a rough outside shooting night (3 of 10 from three).
Chus Mateo’s squad faced a difficult start to the second half without Facundo Campazzo. Obradoiro mounted two attempts to level the score, but Zurbriggen and Tinkle missed key threes. Abalde answered by exploiting the zone defense of Moncho Fernández, and a well-timed break stopped Obradoiro’s momentum as the score moved to 39-49 with a quarter to go.
The visitors regrouped and produced a 9-4 run that trimmed the gap to five at 48-53. Mateo kept faith with his rotations and did not call a timeout. He sent Rudy Fernández and Hezonja onto the court, reigniting Madrid’s offense with back-to-back triples. The team carried the advantage into the final period, leading 53-69 at the 33rd minute, resisting Obradoiro’s late push.
In the end, Real Madrid held off the hosts’ attempts to swing the result in the last minutes. Musa added a decisive scoring contribution, supported by established work from Hezonja, Tavares, and the rest of the rotation. The finish reflected a game plan that mixed aggressive defense with efficient scoring opportunities in transition, allowing Madrid to close out with a comfortable margin.
Data sheet:
74 – Monbus Obradoiro (19+15+14+24): Zurbriggen (2), Jordan Howard (13), Thomas Scrubb (14), Tinkle (18) and Guerrero – the starting five – Blazevic (8), Muñoz, Kovliar, Pustovyi (13) and Badzim (6). [Citation: Endesa League box score, game report]
85 – Real Madrid (15+24+23+23): Alocén (5), Deck, Abalde (8), Hezonja (16) and Tavares (13) – starting five – Rudy Fernández (3), Sergio Rodríguez (5), Poirier (6), Musa (17), Sergio Llull (8) and Ndiaye (4). [Citation: Endesa League box score, game report]
Referees: Emilio Pérez Pizarro, Juan de Dios Oyón and Vicente Martínez Silla. [Official referee crew]
Events: The match, played on the fourteenth day of the Endesa league, drew about 6,000 spectators at the Fontes do Sar Multi-Purpose Pavilion. [Attendance note]
The game showcased the depth of the Real Madrid roster and its ability to respond to tough challenges on the road, a theme that remains central as the season moves toward late-stage fixtures in North American and Canadian audiences who follow the Liga Endesa closely. [Context note]