Real Madrid Dominates Baskonia in Vitoria (86-104)

Real Madrid continues its winning streak and Baskonia sinks deeper into crisis. Pedro Martínez's team cruised to victory in Vitoria, extending their EuroLeague winning streak to five games and improving to 5-3 after an 0-3 start. They did it with only nine first-team players available and Theo Maledon, October MVP in the Liga Endesa, leading the way.

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At the Buesa Arena, the atmosphere was tense from before tip-off. The crowd booed the bench and displayed white handkerchiefs, reflecting frustration with a team that has accumulated seven losses in eight games.

A start that sets the tone

Real Madrid came out firing: a 4-15 run in the first five minutes and 19-30 at the end of the first quarter, with AJ Lawson as the only bright spot for the home team. In the second quarter, Baskonia toughened up with Kenneth Faried in the paint and an 11-3 run brought them back into the game, amid technical fouls on Pedro Martínez and Lawson. A three-pointer by Stefan Joksimović with nine seconds left in the half cut the deficit to six (46-52).

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Maledon and Luwawu-Cabarrot break the game open

Baskonia came out of the locker room strong, with three-pointers from Lawson and Joksimović, but Real Madrid regained control with one-on-one play and three-pointers from Maledon. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot closed the third quarter with five straight points and the lead grew to 13 (69-82). In the fourth quarter, a 5-0 run by the home team briefly energized the crowd, but Madrid quickly extinguished any hope.

Maledon finished with 19 points, and Luwawu-Cabarrot added 14, good news for a perimeter where the club is seeking reinforcement. Jantunen and Jones scored 13 each and Andrés Feliz, in the midst of negotiations to renew his contract, contributed 12. For Baskonia, Lawson and Kobi Simmons, who returned after missing last week, scored 17 each.