Musa stops an intrepid Alba

In the Euroleague, that there is no small enemy loses its cliché label and becomes a reality to be underlined because it is finally true. It may be bold to say it, but We had never seen a competition like this in Europe, so intense and even, with such a level in 18 teams. the dawn berlinwhich until Madrid’s visit had three victories in a row, He had stopped the leader, Baskonia at the time, as bottom team two days ago, and had just knocked down Armani Milan by 20 points on Tuesday. before the royalNow first alone, waiting for what Barça does against Efes, could not succeed again (77-84). What he was able to do was go from losing by 19 in the second quarter to putting himself within a shot of two in the last. A bold reaction. He put fear into the body of the meringues, where once again Tavares showed a high level, although he had trouble scoring against an inside player of his stature. And very well Musa in the resolution, who did not step on the field until the second quarter and piled up 9 of his 15 goals in the last one so that his team crossed the finish line with their arms raised. In the direction, we saw Hanga in that hot section, then Llull. And before that, Williams-Goss and El Chacho had passed by, both on the rise, it seems. Like Cornelie, and not because of his shot, an indisputable virtue, but because of holding back, because of being more complete.

There are not two without three, nor three without four, so Madrid came out very prepared to complete their fourth great game of 2023, all since the defeat against Barça on the 2nd, although perhaps this less great than the previous three. Seen now a week and a half later, the bump in the Clásico served to spur the team, to psych it up, so that that mantra that Chus Mateo of the collective repeats so much above all else. And we observed that at the start, with a very concentrated and fast block behind in assists, and who shared the ball very well in attack. After an exchange of blows, he soon cut ties from defense and then a high shot. At the end of the first quarter, Israel González’s men had a poor 2 of 16 shooting from the field (minimally compensated with 7 without a miss from personal). Chacho’s entrance, with a triple, by Williams-Goss (well both), the 3,500 point of the canary in the Euroleague; a streak of 8 points by Causeur; and the push of Hezonjaback after not playing for a personal matter in the last three games, They threw Madrid: 12-25 and already in the second act, a +19 (15-34). The rotation continued its course, now with Llull, Musa, Cornelie and Poirier, soon with Hanga. Real stopped in attack and Alba warmed up with triples, those by Jaleen Smith (17 at halftime, 4 of 7), which she hit to win the fourth with a basket.

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The income was still wide (35-46), but If in the second act the locals nailed five triples, in the third they were going to add another five with the giant Christ Koumadje, 2.23 meters (formerly from Estudiantes), as the protagonist. And it’s not that he put them in, however, he altered the game a lot. Tavares rarely finds someone who can look at him physically, and Koumadje can. He started, yes, the fourth without fouls and in less than six minutes he had four. The first two (one unsportsmanlike) were taken by Yabusele, the other two by Edy, who wore the MVP of the previous day. And despite that problem, the Chad center hung twice from the rim, tapped his hands, took free throws and… conditioned the rebound. With those of attack the home squad grewthat he had second chances that made him feel more alive, more involved in the duel.

How much in? Until 64-66 after a stormy start in the last period with a basket by Thiemann and a three-pointer from Tamir Blatt. 9 minutes remained and Chus Mateo’s urgent time-out was a must… He managed to stop the bleeding with Hanga at the base and Musa and Hezonja on the perimeter. A triple from the Bosnian and a run from the two Balkans (Mario’s assist) allowed Madrid to wipe the sweat from their foreheads. Hanga answered Smith and Tavares, recently returned, finished the alley-oop served by Musa (9 points in this decisive section), who then did not fail from the personal after Edy’s fourth block. The danger seemed averted (67-77)although those from Berlin tried to dance again close together: 74-79. Llull definitively broke the straits with a tackle from the right and a very distant triple at the end of possession. Third followed by Real in Europe to continue leading.