77-73: Defeat in Monaco

Real Madrid lost in Monaco an evenly matched game that was decided in the final seconds. Our team's turnovers (19) and the double technical at the beginning of the fourth quarter for Hezonja, who was ejected when he was the best Real Madrid player with 15 points and eight rebounds, were decisive in the game. Bruno Fernando made his Real Madrid debut.
The start of the game was an exchange of baskets. Two consecutive three-pointers by Calathes were countered by one by Abalde, who played his 300th game as a Real Madrid player, and a dunk by Tavares: 6-5 with 6:52 to go in the first quarter. This rhythm continued and with Bruno Fernando's first two points as a Madrid player (Making his debut replacing Tavares), everything tightened up again (14-13 at 1:20). From there until the end of the quarter, our team’s lack of precision allowed the home side to open up a seven-point lead (20-13).

Parity
It was more of the same in the second quarter with Monaco opening up their biggest lead with a +11 (28-17 at 6:35). It was time to react and, after two consecutive three-pointers by Hezonja and three free throws by Hugo Gonzalez, the lead was reduced to four (32-28 with 3:12 remaining). Chus Mateo's team’s defense was key to coming back and taking the lead for the first time in the game (36-37 with 1:15 to go) with a triple by an inspired Hugo González and a 3+1 by Llull. Two free throws scored by Feliz put Madrid even further ahead to reach halftime with a brilliant 4-20 partial for the visitors: 36-39.

Spurts
The lead increased to four points after three free throws from Campazzo but 5 points by former Madrid player Cornelie put the home team back in front (47-42 with 4:50 to go). The visitors' response came in under a minute with a basket by Hezonja and a three-pointer by Feliz (47-47). It was a game of spurts and Monaco gave themself a cushion again with a +7 (54-47). The scoreboard was level again (54-54) with one minute left in the third quarter, which ended 59-56.
The game took another turn at the start of the last quarter with Hezonja’s disqualification for two consecutive technicals when he was firing on all cylinders with 15 points and eight rebounds. Monaco went eight ahead (71-63 with 3:54 to go) and ten ahead with 3:10 to go, but Chus Mateo's team managed to get within three points thanks to Campazzo’s three-pointer (75-72 with 24 seconds left). There was no time for a comeback and Monaco took the win (77-73).
MONACO-REAL MADRID STATISTICS