Real Madrid advances to EuroLeague playoffs after blowout win over Fenerbahce
Real Madrid dominated Fenerbahce on the road in the final game of the regular season (67-93) and secured its place in the EuroLeague playoffs.
The “Whites” were unstoppable from start to finish and led by 20 in the second quarter to cruise to the win. The Turks (already qualified) couldn’t come closer than eight points (50-58) and ended the regular season with a defeat.
Real swept the EuroLeague regular season series with Fenerbahce (0-2) and took the tie-breaker, as both teams finished with identical records (20-14).
Valencia survived a do-or-die battle against Baskonia at La Fonteta (86-81) and remained alive in the EuroLeague playoffs race.
The hosts trailed by five at halftime (39-44), but turned things around and endured the comeback of the Basques to seal the deal.
Valencia finished the regular season in the EuroLeague with a 19-15 record and will qualify only if Zenit Saint Petersburg loses one of its final two games.
On the other hand, Baskonia dropped to 18-16 and was eliminated from the EuroLeague playoffs.
CSKA Moscow extended its winning streak in the EuroLeague to five games, after rallying past ASVEL Villeurbanne at home (88-70).
The Muscovites improved to 23-10 and secured the second place in the standings, as they have the tie-breaker over Anadolu Efes (22-11) (1-1, +5).
On the contrary, ASVEL dropped to 13-21 and will not play in the postseason.
Zalgiris Kaunas never trailed over Panathinaikos and decimated the “Greens” to end the EuroLeague regular season with an emphatic victory (93-78).
The Lithuanians outscored the Greeks 22-13 in the third quarter and never looked back, leading by as many as 24 points in the contest.
Zalgiris finished the regular season in the EuroLeague at 17-17, whereas Panathinaikos dropped to 11-21 and still has two games remaining.
ALBA Berlin finished its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season on a high note, thanks to its blowout win over Crvena Zvezda at home (81-58).
Both teams had already been eliminated from the EuroLeague playoffs, with ALBA ending the season at 12-22 and Zvezda dropping to 10-24.