Real Madrid produced a commanding performance to down Brose Bamberge in their final home outing of the calendar year and the first fixture of this EuroLeague double-game week, ahead of Thursday’s trip to Red Star.
The Whites were well worth their ninth victory in this season’s competition, on a night in which they produced some stellar defensive work in the opening three stanzas and some excellent team play in offense, where Doncic posted his best-ever EuroLeague display (16 points and PIR of 25), as he led a total of six madridistas who registered double-digit PIRs (Llull, Ayón, Taylor, Thompkins and Hunter).
The Whites got their noses in front right from tip-off, courtesy of an outstanding first quarter (24-9). The hosts were at their best at both ends of the court, defending aggressively and with everyone contributing in offense, they racked up an 11-0 in the space of barely four minutes.
Stunned by Madrid’s bright early start and without one of their key men in Causeur, who was ruled out at the 11th hour, the Germans were powerless to keep up with the hosts’ offensive feats, which were led by Llull (8 points), Reyes (6) and Taylor and in which Thompkins, returning after over a month out, played his part.
Foot firmly on the gas
The second stanza witnessed a continuation of the hosts’ supremacy and the gap was increased to up to 25 points as Madrid registered a dominant 41-16 lead on 18′. Madrid were on imperious shooting form, with an accuracy rate of above 58% on three pointers, with Doncic (8) and Hunter, in the paint (5+4 rebounds) assuming the scoring responsibility for Pablo Laso’s men. The influence of Melli and Zisis were quashed, with the guests’ only points coming from Staiger and Lo (8), although their efforts offered scant resistance to the Whites’ overriding supremacy in the first half (47-25).
A minute’s silence was held prior to tip-off in memory of the victims of the Berlin attacks.
Madrid didn’t allow themselves to take their foot off the gas, as they maintained their focus at the back and prevented the visitors from producing a reaction, with Taylor completing the dirty work wonderfully well (7 rebounds), whilst Doncic, Ayón and Llull took care of posting the points. An unbelievable trey from the Mallorcan-born star saw the third quarter end with a +32 for the madridistas (72-40).
Over as a contest
The points of note to emerge from the final quarter were none other than Nocioni stepping up to the plate for the first time in the game – which speaks volumes of the strength in depth in this Real Madrid side -, a new PIR record for Doncic (25) and Llull becoming the sixth best passer in the history of the competition, as he overcame Juan Carlos Navarro (774). Laso didn’t need to call on Randolph, who was on the bench but didn’t come on. Brose Bamberg managed to take some of the gloss off the scoreline, but were unable to take anything away from fine account that the Whites had offered in their last home game of the year. Next up for Madrid is a trip to Belgrade in less than 48 hours. (95-72, min. 40).