106-101: Leaders win stunning offensive encounter to extend unbeaten run at the WiZink Center

Real Madrid continue their determined march towards their best ever home start to a EuroLeague campaign. They have now won 12 in a row at the WiZink Center, where they are yet to lose a single game in the competition. Victory over Maccabi in the first game of this week’s double-header means they are only three away from the 15 they achieved in the 2013/14 season. In a clash between the two most offensive teams in the tournament, the leaders showed why theirs is the best offensive unit with another attacking exhibition. It's the team's best score of the year excluding overt-ime, levelling the 106 points against UCAM Murcia in the League. Eight players posted between 9 and 19 points, Poirier top scored on PIR (16 points, 10 rebounds for 29) and Musa was leading point-scorer (19). On Thursday, we host ASVEL looking to extend our unbeaten run on home soil (8:45pm CET).

The game got underway with Madrid showing a fierce pace in offense that was just too much for Maccabi. Our boys were totally focused and well set up in defense. They soon found balance in their play, led by Campazzo (4 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists). The point guard was playing with effortless fluidity and delivering ball after ball for Deck (7), Poirier (8 and 4 rebounds) and Hezonja (8 and 3 assists). The three of them scored 23 of the 29 points for the leaders in the first quarter, restricting Maccabi to just 18. The Israelis took refuge in their offensive rebound and the quality of Baldwin IV to stay in the game (29-18, min.10).

Madrid take control from an offensive base
With Musa posting the points now (9), the team continued their high offensive rhythm, racing to 41 points in the first quarter of an hour and a +11 lead. But the visitors refused to let the madridistas out of site. The rebound under our hoop and accuracy from three in this quarter, particularly by Colson, kept them in it as the hosts enjoyed their best spell. This saw them cut the deficit in the closing stages, which stood at 7 points at the half thanks to fine work by Poirier and Rudy (52-45, min.20).

The game headed into the second half with both fives trading blows, led by Causeur for the madridistas and Web III for Maccabi, with nine points a piece. Continuity in offense was proving vital, as both were getting the better of the others' defenses. The scoreboard fluctuated throughout the third quarter as each unit enjoyed positive spells. Baldwin IV and Sorkin took their boys to within a point at 72-71 but Madrid always found ways to edge away again. First Musa, then Hezonja stepped up to return to the +7 of the first half (80-73).

Double reaction to take the win
Maccabi stayed alive doing what they know best, excelling on the offensive rebound. But Chus Mateo's boys injected extra energy and aggression in defense, powered by a shorter five including Deck and Yabusele inside. They managed to curtail the opposition's scoring, while the home side continued racking up the points through Sergio Rodríguez. We were 13 up with seven minutes to go.

The visitors reacted  la respuesta visitante no se hizo esperar y, dos minutos después, se habían colocado a dos puntos. Entonces, el Madrid dio un estirón en forma de 8-0 que parecía definitivo de la mano de Yabusele, Musa y Poirier. Pero no. Maccabi se empeñó en hacernos sufrir y se puso el 100-98 a un minuto del final. El líder no titubeó y desde atrás acabó ganando el partido con un mini parcial de 6 a 3 con un providencial mate en un rebote ofensivo de Poirier, el mejor hoy de nuestro equipo (106-101, min.40). Victoria número 21 en la Euroliga. 

REAL MADRID-MACCABI STATISTICS