Real Madrid win starts Euroleague Round 4

Round 4 of the 2014/2015 Euroleague started one Wednesday as Real Madrid crushed Sassari at home to remain untouched in the competition this season. On Thursday the round kicked into action as five more games played out around Europe, with a further six clashes set for Friday evening.

Real Madrid vs. Banco Sardegna di Sassari, 115-94
Real Madrid put in a gigantic performance at home to sweep aside Sassari, although the Italian visitors gave a good account of themselves and nearly topped a century of points. During Wednesday’s game Madrid was simply too hot as they broke their own Euroleague assist record (33 through the game) and also amassed the second highest point total of the century.

Both teams opened their accounts shortly after the tip off, and Sassari even took an early lead at 5-6 before the scoreboard locked at 8-8. Los Blancos started to find an attacking rhythm and soon opened a 17-10 lead and through the end of the first quarter took a double digit lead at 27-17. The visitors struggled to get into the game as Madrid kept the pressure on with dangerous plays on a regular basis. The hosts opened the lead to 14 points during the second quarter and at the long break lead 57-42.

Sassari had no answer to the Spanish team as Madrid maintained the fifteen point deficit early in the third stanza to lead 65-50. The home team looked completely comfortable on its own hardwood and a twenty point cushion was soon opened as the final split arrived and Real lead 84-64. Hats should be tipped to the Italian contingent for never letting Madrid take it too easy, but the hosts clearly had a different gear to move into and eased through the final stretch to win the game.

Felipe Reyes led Madrid with 17 points, while Jaycee Carroll, Andres Nocioni, and Sergio Llull scored 15 points each. Gustavo Ayon also provided double digit scoring by bagging 13 points in the win.

Miroslav Todic collected a game high 20 points for Sassari, followed by Jerome Dyson with 16 points, Edgar Sosa with 15, and David Logan with 14 points. Olaseni Lawal had the only double-double of the game with 12 points and 13 rebounds.