'Los Blancos' returned to winning ways by downing archrival
Real Madrid battles past Barcelona for key Clasico win, 96-91
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Real Madrid outlasted FC Barcelona in a tense Clasico battle on Thursday night, forcing its way to a 96-91 victory to end a three-game losing streak. The Spanish rivals are now tied at 14-13 on the fringes of the playoff zone.
A closely contested first half saw Barca lead most of the way, going into the interval 40-43 ahead. But Real was better after the break, and finished strong to seize the win.
Mario Hezonja led the way with 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Facu Campazzo (18), Dzanan Musa (16) and Alberto Abalde (16) also contributed well for Los Blancos. A career-night from Joel Parra paced Barca with 20 points, while Jabari Parker scored 18, Chimizie Metu added 17 and Justin Anderson netted 15.
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Tomas Satoransky and Campazzo both struck from deep as the early scoring was evenly traded. Satoransky was also on target from midrange for a 6-9 lead midway through the first, and Dario Brizuela scored twice to keep his team ahead. Parker netted three quick scores to make it 14-21, but Hezonja’s deep strike sparked a 7-0 run to pull Real closer. Willy Hernangomez and Parra kept Barca ahead at the end of the first, 23-25.
Parra scored a strong layup in an otherwise slow start to the second quarter, but 4 points from Hezonja sent Real ahead, 28-27. Metu’s three forced another lead change, before Anderson and Parker kept the visitors ahead, 30-34. Serge Ibaka scored twice to tie it up, but Satoransky and Parra were on target for another Barca lead. Campazzo’s steal and score was followed by Musa’s triple for another tie, but Anderson’s buzzer-beating three made it 40-43 at the interval.
Walter Tavares opened the second half scoring before Alex Abrines and Usman Garuba threw down big slams. Abalde’s four-point play sent Real ahead, but Parker’s skillful three tied it up, 48-48. The scoring was evenly shared before Musa’s floater, Tavares’s dunk and Abalde’s three-pointer gave Real breathing room at 61-54. Musa and Hezonja were also on target from long-range, but 7 fast points from Metu kept Barca in contention, 70-67, at the end of the third.
Abalde’s fastbreak finish and Bruno Fernando’s power layup were answered by Metu’s triple and Brizuela’s slam, but Hezonja hit another triple to make it 80-72. Metu stayed hot with a mid-range strike as Barca kept fighting, before the scoring dried up as crunch time approached. Parra’s three-pointer helped make it 82-81, before Parker’s triple tied it, 86-86, inside the last 2 minutes. Campazzo’s layup and Abalde’s free throws pushed Real back ahead, and that was enough.