Pradilla Leads Real Madrid Past UCAM Murcia (90-71)
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Pradilla Leads Real Madrid Past UCAM Murcia (90-71)

Real Madrid bounced back from a European loss to Panathinaikos with a comfortable victory that took time to materialize. With a crowded injury list and a last-minute absence—Chuma Okeke ruled out during warmups—Pedro Martínez's team needed three quarters to pull away from UCAM Murcia, finally doing so in the fourth quarter with a 27-16 run. Jaime Pradilla, the only available natural power forward, led the way. Madrid improves to 7-0.

Pradilla Carries Madrid
Real Madrid started with three turnovers in their first possessions, but Murcia couldn't capitalize either. Pradilla kept the whites afloat with 7 points and 4 rebounds in seven minutes (13-8). Jean-Marc Pansa kept Murcia in the game, and they even took a lead (28-30) midway through the second quarter. Then came a 9-0 run with baskets from Sergio Llull, Alberto Abalde, and Damian Jones, and a final penetration by Andrés Feliz made it 47-39 at halftime.

Murcia Holds On Until the Fourth
The second half started with over two minutes without a basket. Madrid, dominant on the boards, opened up a 14-point lead (55-41), but Murcia answered with a 9-0 run fueled by steals and cut it to five (55-50). The third quarter ended tied (16-16) with the game still open (63-55).

The fourth quarter belonged to Madrid from the opening minute. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot hit his first two three-pointers of the game, Jones used his physicality near the rim, and another 9-0 run made it 72-55. From there, the lead ballooned past 20 points. Madrid dominated the boards 48-31, offsetting Murcia's 12 steals.

Pradilla finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds, Jones added 13 with 3-of-4 from three, and Abalde chipped in 12. With just over a minute remaining, 16-year-old junior Pablo Mera, called up due to Okeke's injury, made his Liga Endesa debut with a three-pointer. For Murcia, Dylan Ennis (15) and Pansa (11) led the scoring.