Rough Copa del Rey for Real and Sergio
19-02-2023
Real Madrid advanced on Thursday to the Copa del Rey semi finals, after a very intense game in front of Valencia Basket. The victory took its toll: Sergio Llull left the game with a knee injury and was not able to play further during the game neither in the semi finals.
Deck, Tavares and Hezonja were the best players for Real, who was a better team even though Valencia rallied late tying the game with only 3 minutes to go (79-79, min 37). But Deck's last minutes and a good defense allowed the Whites to put a quivering thriller, 86-85.
Real's toll in the semi final was however costly: Sergio Llull got injured and was not able to get back on court for the rest of the game. The guard was in fact sidelined for the semi finals against Unicaja Málaga.
Málaga was Real's executioner in the competition: the Andalusians were much better from the long range (14 threes from 27 attempts) and were better than the Whites on the rebound (34 for Málaga per 25 for Real) as well.
Despite a tied score on halftime (39-39), Unicaja's intensity and perseverance led them to open a 7 point gap twice during the third quarter, that became a 14 point gap with 7 minutes to go in the game (66-80, min 33).
It was too much for Real, without Llull (injured during the quarter finals), Musa (concussioned) and Tavares, who had to leave the game for some minutes due to a cut on an eyebrow, who could not come back, as Málaga qualified for the Final with an 11 point win, 82-93.
Deck, Tavares and Hezonja were the best players for Real, who was a better team even though Valencia rallied late tying the game with only 3 minutes to go (79-79, min 37). But Deck's last minutes and a good defense allowed the Whites to put a quivering thriller, 86-85.
Real's toll in the semi final was however costly: Sergio Llull got injured and was not able to get back on court for the rest of the game. The guard was in fact sidelined for the semi finals against Unicaja Málaga.
Málaga was Real's executioner in the competition: the Andalusians were much better from the long range (14 threes from 27 attempts) and were better than the Whites on the rebound (34 for Málaga per 25 for Real) as well.
Despite a tied score on halftime (39-39), Unicaja's intensity and perseverance led them to open a 7 point gap twice during the third quarter, that became a 14 point gap with 7 minutes to go in the game (66-80, min 33).
It was too much for Real, without Llull (injured during the quarter finals), Musa (concussioned) and Tavares, who had to leave the game for some minutes due to a cut on an eyebrow, who could not come back, as Málaga qualified for the Final with an 11 point win, 82-93.
