Pedro Martínez celebrated his 1,111th ACB game, matching Aíto García Reneses' record, with a dominant victory in Vitoria. Real Madrid defeated Kosner Baskonia at Buesa Arena (84-98), a venue where the Basque team hadn't lost a regular season game since April 26. The whites remain undefeated: 8-0.
Madrid was still dealing with several absences, but recovered Théo Maledon, who was the standout performer of the game. In 16 minutes, the French point guard scored 18 points, dished out 6 assists, and didn't miss his first three three-pointers. He finished with a rating of 29.
A Baskonia that held on for half the game
Baskonia debuted its two new big men. Kenan Kamenjas had a strong debut with 15 points and 8 rebounds, and was his team's most efficient player (22 rating). Rolands Šmits added 11 points. Velimir Perasović's team started with energy and led by seven at one point, but Madrid turned it around before the end of the first quarter (21-24). In the second quarter, Andrés Feliz and Dylan Jones attacked the paint effectively, and Madrid went into halftime up eight (39-47).
The third quarter breaks the game open
Madrid broke the game open after halftime. They won the third quarter 19-29, with Maledon orchestrating and exceptional accuracy near the basket: 28 of 41 on two-pointers for the entire game. The lead reached 23 points and Madrid entered the fourth quarter with an 18-point advantage (58-76). Baskonia, with 18 turnovers and just 7 three-pointers on 26 attempts, won the final quarter 26-22, but it was too late.
Feliz and Jones accompanied Maledon with 18 points each. Feliz made 7 of 8 two-pointers and Jones didn't miss any of his six. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 14 and Edy Tavares 10. For Baskonia, after Kamenjas, Chris Duarte scored 13 and Daulton Baugh 12.
Madrid remains in first place and undefeated. Baskonia falls to 5-3 and continues without a win in the EuroLeague for nine matchdays, though this is their first home loss in the Liga Endesa.