Advance | In times of pandemic, continuous shocks. When the December outbreak in Madrid seemed forgotten, a new one arrives: three new positives in the last week: Vukcevic on Friday the 7th, Rudy this Thursday and hours before the duel against Baskonia, Tavares. With 13 infected in a month, only Williams-Goss, Abalde and a Thompkins protagonist of the day (not the only one) are spared from this wave with his return to the courts eight months after undergoing arthroscopy on his left knee. The figure, yes, was Yabusele, with an extraordinary staging, ravaging Bitci Baskonia with his strength and efficiency. In the 8th minute, he had 13 points at 23-11, neither Alec Peters nor Sedekerskis could beat him. He finished with 17 points (7 of 7 from two), 8 sacks and 3 assists for a PIR of 27. And another of the highlights was Randolph, in the same position as power forward. Without their giant, Tavares, Madrid almost doubled Spahija’s men in the rebounding battle (40 to 22) with Poirier and his versatile battery of power forwards. October, November and January, the third resounding victory in this campaign against the Baskonia army.
Madrid had come out with Abalde at the base supported by Causeur and Taylor and with Poirier at five. They mixed well against a soft rival in defense (a single personal in the first quarter), devastated in the rebound and with zero aim (1 of 6 in triples). In the 12th minute Thompkins jumped onto the field, with the same class as always (basket to backboard playing one on one in the middle distance) after missing the last 44 games (35 of this course and 9 of the previous one), and coincided with Randolph, who for the first time remembered the one from before the injury. Accurate and fast, with a lot of mobility and constant on the rebound. He finished with 13 goals and 12 rejections, and beyond that, great sensations. The lead reached 17 (48-31) and Baskonia, although they improved their image in the second half, were never able to put together a credible comeback, although they were a shot away from getting to 9. They did not succeed. Madrid continued to dominate in the area and nailing destructive three-pointers after involving the whole team, very good collective effort despite interjecting some mistake. And a very complete performance by Abalde after a month away. Madrid is not the leader, but it seems so with one less defeat than Barça (and also two games less played). Laso, like the crowd, liked what he saw, hence his broad smile.