The Real Madrid team returned to the same venue where they had lost the Cup final just two weeks prior, but this time around, the circumstances were vastly different. With their sights set on upcoming European matches – Gran Canaria preparing for a crucial matchup against Venecia and Madrid gearing up to face the reigning champion Panathinaikos – both teams seemed more focused on their future endeavors than the task at hand. This mindset was evident in their performance, as the game ultimately went in favor of Madrid, with a score of 54-69, despite the lackluster display from both sides.
The outcome marked the sixth defeat in eight games for Gran Canaria in the Liga Endesa, putting their position in the playoffs under threat. One of the main factors contributing to this loss was the dismal shooting performance from both teams. Madrid managed a mere 6 out of 32 three-pointers, translating to a disappointing 18%, while Gran Canaria fared slightly worse, making only 5 out of 29 attempts, or 17%. It’s a statistics line that both teams would rather forget. Notably, Madrid took 15 minutes and 11 attempts to score their first three-pointer, courtesy of Hezonja, whereas Gran Canaria scored their first within the first five minutes but then went dry until the second half.
The score at the end of the first quarter, 9-12, tells the story of a lackluster start from both teams, which wasn’t solely the fault of the defenses, as it would be in the second quarter. Madrid found their rhythm in the second quarter, managing to secure a lead that, given the home team’s offensive struggles, could have been decisive. By halftime, the score stood at 18-31, with Gran Canaria unable to muster more than 10 points in either of the first two quarters.
The landscape changed after the break, with Gran Canaria, perhaps spurred by a last-second three-pointer by Brussino at the end of the first half or by Coach Lakovic’s strategies, starting to show signs of life on offense. They managed to close the gap, even briefly tying the game at 36-36. However, Madrid quickly regained control, showcasing their ability to respond under pressure.
As the final whistle blew, Madrid walked away with a hard-fought, albeit unimpressive, victory. The win came with a clear message: there’s significant room for improvement, especially considering their upcoming challenges. Hezonja stood out as a key playmaker for Madrid, alongside Llull, as they were the only two players from their team to reach double digits in scoring, with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Brussino, on the other hand, was the lone player from Gran Canaria to achieve this feat, also scoring 14 points.
Technical Sheet
The detailed breakdown of the game included the following statistics:
– For Dreamland Gran Canaria, the final score was 54 points, with contributions from Albicy (3), Brussino (14), Kljajic (-), Pelos (2), and Tobey (6) in the starting lineup, and additional points from Samar (-), Conditt (6), Thomasson (9), Salvó (7), and Shurna (7).
– Real Madrid ended with 69 points, thanks to Campazzo (9), Abalde (4), Musa (2), Tavares (5), and Ndiaye (-) as starters, with further contributions from Garuba (2), Llull (12), González (8), and Hezonja (14).
The referees for the game were Juan Carlos García González, Carlos Cortés, and Alberto Baena, with no players being ejected during the match.
