Lucas Sáez-Bravo Madrid
Madrid
Updated Friday, April 5, 2024-22:48
Classification This is the Euroleague
There is no player in Europe like
Markus Howard
, a scorer of such magnitude, a shooter from any distance and circumstance who is not afraid of trouble. Baskonia was risking half its life in the Euroleague in the WiZink and in the first half fell by 15 against a Real Madrid with nothing at stake - for a few weeks it already knew that it would end up leading. But his genius had a bag of points in his hat:
Dusko Ivanovic
's men
will be in the play in (and could be the white rival in the quarterfinals). [91-95: Narration and statistics]
It was a strange night at the Palace, crazy at times, fun too, frustrating for a Real Madrid that gave in in the second half due to Baskonista hunger. Given the aggressiveness of
Moneke and Costello
in the paint and the arrow-like shots of Howard, who finished with 35 points (he is already the top scorer in the competition) - seven triples from 12 attempts - the last 10 of the visitors, who made strong in the finish line to get a victory from those who save seasons.
The duel was marked by the announcement in the preview of
Rudy Fernández
and his retirement. But the Spaniard, applauded at the presentation, did not play for a minute. Nor could
Llull reach
Navarro
's record of triples
(he is still two away). The initial role went to
Hezonja and Causeur
, who destroyed a Baskonia that seemed completely lost. As much as Moneke's glasses, broken at the first opportunity with an involuntary blow from
Tavares
.
At eight minutes, the Vitorians had conceded 27 points, transition after transition like a boxer takes
jabs
without knowing anything. Unable to stop the white momentum, they found themselves 15 down. A suicide. Apparently.
First, because they knew how to resist in the abyss. And second, because Madrid disconnected. And in that more relaxed atmosphere, Markus Howard appeared little by little, first in silence, then in a big way. He was going to decide the match.
After the first approaches before the break, Baskonia completed the comeback in the third quarter. With the appearance of
Musa
, Madrid reacted in turn, with an 11-2 to restore order (73-67), although Costello responded stronger, very powerful, for a partial 0-13 that was going to be key.
Because it allowed Ivanovic's team to enter the final minutes with an advantage to play with. And Madrid, nervous, lost focus with the refereeing (especially Poirier, Tavares and Hezonja) and with Howard's points, which unsettle any defense, because so many times they are unimaginable. A triple by Hezonja, the best of
Chus Mateo's
, brought Madrid closer (81-82), but a technical on Tavares and Hezonja's own fouls in his individual defense against Howard ended up deciding. Baskonia breathes, Madrid twists its gesture, which has already lost four of the last five games on the WiZink.