The top-ranked team in the league built some pre-playoff momentum with its win in Kaunas
Real Madrid takes ‘good feelings’ into playoffs after last-second win
Article
3 Mins read
On paper, Real Madrid’s victory over Zalgiris Kaunas on Thursday night did not have any meaning. Especially with star playmaker Facu Campazzo sitting out with a bum knee. But it was important nonetheless to head into the playoffs on a high note and shrugging off a poor offensive game to win on the road helps.
“It was good to come back with a victory and to have good feelings,” head coach Chus Mateo said in the post-game press conference.
Real was not up to its standards on offense, scoring a season-low 64 points. It made 46.9% of its two-pointers and 34.6% of its threes, while committing 16 turnovers. All were below its season averages. On the other hand, Real played strong defense and dominated the glass 30-44.
And credit must be given to Zalgiris, which played an inspired game in its final EuroLeague fixture of the season.
“We really fought. We competed to the very end,” Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri said afterward. “I would love to have a different end, but we played a great game and nobody can take that away.”
Mateo agreed: “Of course, Zalgiris at home is very dangerous.”
Sergio Llull makes the big play again
In what was a theme last season, Real was able to lean on veterans to get the job done. Last year, Sergio Llull sank the game-winner in the championship game against Olympiacos Piraeus. On Thursday, he read the situation in the final seconds to get Gaby Deck an unexpected open look.
As Mateo explained, because Zalgiris had fouls to give and Real had a timeout remaining, the visitors took the ball out under their own basket and tried to spread the floor and “take advantage of the open court.” They expected Zalgiris to foul and to be able to run another play, but if Llull could avoid the foul and get an open shot for himself or someone else, that was option A. Llull’s pass found Deck wide-open in the corner to win it.
“Sometimes it happens in basketball that in the last-second you can win,” Mateo smiled.
That win was No. 27 for Los Blancos, which is the most by any club under the current round-robin season format. And all of the things that helped Real win in Kaunas can be critical when the playoffs begin in less than two weeks' time.