Real Madrid and Galatasaray win in Euroleague
Real Madrid survived a road test by a dogged Zalgiris Kaunas as the Spanish team got back on track in the 2014/2015 Euroleague season. Los Blancos were not the only team tasting victory on Friday as Round 6 wrapped with three other games on the night. In the rest of the action, Nizhny Novgorod kept pace in Group A, while Unicaja Malaga took another step to the Top 16 in Group B. Rounding out the action in Group D was a mini classic as Galatasaray needed overtime and a high score to record its third win of the competition.
Group A
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Real Madrid, 66-68
Real Madrid bounced back from last week’s defeat at the hands of Anadolu Efes by defeating Zalgiris Kaunas on the road. It was no cut and dry victory though as the game went to the wire and was decided on the last shot of the contest (missed by the hosts). Nevertheless, Real Madrid took the spoils and holds possession of top spot in Group A with a 1-5 record, while Zalgiris remains in the hunt at 3-3.
The Spanish club made the early moves after an early 7-2 splurge from Zalgiris and after 10 minutes Madrid sat on a healthy 14-24 lead. That double digit advantage would have filled the away team with plenty of confidence, but the home players quickly eroded the deficit with a 24-14 run of their own in the second. At halftime the board read 38 apiece and the Lithuanian contingent built on its Q2 momentum with a 19-15 winning third to make it 57-53 with the fourth to come. In the final act Madrid fought back to snatch a 65-66 lead with 55 seconds of regulation left. Zalgiris went 50% from the charity strip to tie the game, but with the clock dying Los Blancos nailed their own free attempts to win the game.
Banco di Sardegna Sassari vs. Nizhny Novogorod, 82-89
Russian club Nizhny Novgorod piled more pressure on Sassari by travelling to Italy and leaving with a victory to put more wind in their qualification sails. The club now moves to 3-3 in the group and stays in the chasing pack, while Italians Dinamo Sassari need to get cooking from 1-5 if they are to have a chance of making the cut.
The two teams started the game in good touch at the bucket and played out a high scoring first stint, although through 10 minutes Nizhny had opened a 25-30 advantage. The visitors were in a point gathering mood as they nailed another 23 points in the second to win the period by 3 points for a 46-53 cushion at the long break. Sassari did not go quietly into the night as the hosts woke up at both ends of the court in the third frame to win it 19-10 to retake the lead at 65-63 after thirty minutes. The Novgorod based club found its scoring touch in the fourth quarter to pour in 26 points and overhaul Sassari to win the game.
Group B
Unicaja Malaga vs. Cedevita Zagreb, 82-73
Spanish hosts Unicaja Malaga joined Maccabi Tel Aviv for a share of second place and a 4-2 record by gunning down Cedevita Zagreb at home. The Croatian club is still in contention, but has a mountain to climb to improve on its 1-5 record at the bottom of the group. The victory also snapped a two game losing streak for Malaga.
The teams traded baskets toe to toe for much of the first quarter and it looked as though the period would be locked. However, Cedevita stole the initiative to win the frame 22-23. The Unicaja players kept their nerve and sent home another 22 points in the second quarter; this time the Croatians could not keep pace and offered only 18 points. Heading into the locker room the Spanish club possessed a 44-41 lead. In the third period the hosts made it a triple of 22 points by matching their score from the first two quarters, while Zagreb tied the period with an equal haul (66-63). It was still anyone’s game heading into the last act of the game, but Unicaja Malaga found another gear to win the fourth 16-10 and wrap the victory.
Group D
Galatasaray vs. Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, 110-103 2OT
Abdi Ipekci Arena in Istanbul was the venue for the highest scoring game of the competition so far and arguably the best game of the week. Galatasaray used home court advantage and big performances to overcome Crvena Zvezda, but needed two overtime frames to get the job done. The Turkish club now holds a 3-3 record, a stat shared with the downed Belgrade club.
The hosts had the better of the first quarter and by time the first interval buzzer sounded they led the way 22-16 on the scoreboard. In the second stanza the Serbian group found more consistency in offence and won the period 23-24 to make it 45-40 through halftime. Crvena Zvezda maintained the pressure in the third act with a stunning 9-23 run to wrestle control of the game through three quarters, the score reading 54-63. Gala went big in the fourth quarter to stream in 28 points and edge Belgrade to just 19, enough to tie proceedings 82 apiece at regulation. The teams could not be separated through the first added period as they both put 14 points into their accounts. In the second overtime period Galatasaray piled in 14 points once more as the Red Star fight faded, allowing the hosts to pace to a big win.