Leaders stage impressive comeback in Malaga

Real Madrid consolidated their lead in the Liga ACB with a huge win at Unicaja Malaga, where the home side had lost only once, to continue a stunning 12-game winning streak. Chus Mateo's charges, who were dealt a blow when Campazzo was forced to withdraw at the last minute, overcame the home side's three-point shooting and came back from 11 points down in the final quarter, where they posted 39 points, to secure a valuable win. Musa (24 points and 37 in PIR), Garuba (18 and 25) and Tavares (14, 10 rebounds and 24), along with Feliz (10), Llull (13) and Hezonja (18) all recorded double-digit scoring totals.

The tempo of the game was blistering from the get-go. Real Madrid showed great physicality and were dominant in the paint. They did not allow Unicaja the chance to run (zero offensive rebounds), although they found a way to stick in the Madridista's tracks courtesy of six three-pointers. Chus Mateo’s men produced an outstanding first quarter in attack with different players contributing the team's offensive duties one after the other. First came Garuba and Tavares (4 points each), followed by Abalde (7 without a miss), Llull (5) and, finally, Musa (21-25, min.10).

Madrid start to perform
Shortly after the opening of the second quarter, Bruno Fernando was forced to retire due to a knock. Ibaka was also absent today and Tavares had to play a lot of minutes (10 points and 6 rebounds). A three-pointer by Hezonja put the Whites seven points up, but Unicaja was still in fine form from the perimeter. They hit 12 three-pointers before the break (5 by Osetkowski) and that forced Madrid to mount an attacking drive. Llull and the energy of Garuba neutralised the home side's points. On the buzzer, Tillie gave the Malaga outfit the lead in the first half (48-46).

Unicaja's three-pointers were dictating the game. The confidence that this shooting gave them enabled them to charge ahead on the scoreboard. Madrid kept pressing, spearheaded by Tavares and Hezonja. Abalde had two three-pointers to put his side ahead 56-52, but then Ibon Navarro's side, led by Carter, went on another run. Musa stepped up with seven straight points, but again two three-pointers from Kalinoski and Taylor left the difference at 78-68 at the end of the third quarter.

Sensational final quarter from the Madridistas
The Whites needed to fix the perimeter defence because Unicaja had barely managed to score seven baskets from two-point range in the whole contest. Chus Mateo opted for a man-to-man defence with Feliz, Rathan-Mayes, Musa, Hezonja and Garuba. This was a quintet that turned the game on its head, and they did so by showing the true Madridista DNA. They were all decisive at both ends of the court, contributing important baskets, many in the form of 2+1 or three-pointers. The Bosnian was the ringleader (13 of his 24 points in this period) of a team that always believed in victory. They finished with 39 points in 10 sensational minutes. Madrid turned the game around and with 1 minute to go had a 6-point lead at 100-106. They still had to dig in at the end as Unicaja drew closer and Llull, from the free throw, made it 105-107.

STATISTICS FROM UNICAJA-REAL MADRID