Tavares clinches win for Madrid at the buzzer
Partizan Mozzart Bet
FinishedReal Madrid
The centre scores the winning basket, culminating a huge comeback in Belgrade. Our boys, in fifth place, will have to wait for tomorrow's games to find out where they finish.
Real Madrid, as their coach Chus Mateo said in the preview, did what was required of them and beat Partizan Belgrade away, coming back from 9 points down in the last 3 minutes with a winning basket from Tavares at the buzzer. The Whites will have to wait until the end of Friday's matches to find out their final position. They could be fifth, sixth or seventh.
The atmosphere in the Belgrade Arena was amazing as they welcomed Real Madrid, who were not intimidated by the pressure and took the initiative with an initial run of 0-7 in their favour, based on solid defence and a dominant Tavares in the zone (6 points). They were ahead until the 8th minute. Partizan kept up with them thanks to the Bonga-Davies duo (16 of their team's 24 points) and managed a final spurt to end the first quarter 24-22 despite a good few minutes from Ibaka (6 points), who had replaced Tavares with two fouls.
Musa steps up
The Bosnian scored 12 points in the second quarter and was the offensive reference point for Madrid, who went into the second quarter with 26 points with the help of Ibaka and a little more success from the three-point line. But the game remained tight with the scoreboard constantly changing direction. Partizan raised the level of intensity, forcing Madrid losses and getting offensive rebounds that gave them second chances. Campazzo's two free throws and an assist for Deck's three-pointer allowed us to take a minimal lead in the final minute to go two up at half-time (46-48).
Partizan came out better in the second half and Jones and Davies were causing damage with their shots and penetrations. Without the initial fluidity, Madrid resisted under the figure of Tavares and various bursts from Hezonja or Campazzo, but they couldn't find their rhythm and Obradovic's men opened up a gap on the scoreboard in the third quarter (74-65). Chus Mateo's men did not give up and continued to fight to reduce a 9-point deficit that seemed insurmountable with three minutes to go (85-76).
Tavares, at the buzzer, gives the sixth consecutive victory
Far from being affected, the Madrid players' morale was boosted. With a very tense atmosphere in the stands, the Whites turned the game around in another of their trademark comebacks. The captain, Llull, started it with a three-pointer, Campazzo followed suit, finishing as the team's top scorer with a steal and five points in quick succession. And alongside this, a three-pointer from Hezonja and a steal from Tavares as he threw Jones to the floor. Llull scored with 6 seconds left to put Madrid ahead 87-89. Jones equalised with 2 seconds left on the clock. Chus Mateo designed a play for Tavares and the centre received, turned and scored the winning basket, silencing the Belgrade Arena (89-91, min. 40).