Los Blancos made 15 of their shots from deep en route to a 77-79 win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Three-point shooting allowed Real Madrid to overcome absences
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 1 of 34
Regular Season
Baskonia Vitoria-GasteizBKN
7779
Real MadridRMB
Overview
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Heading into a tough road game without the services of two key players who averaged more than 12 rebounds per game did not make things easy for Real Madrid against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday night. Yet, the reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champ shrugged off the absences of Walter Tavares and Gabriel Deck to claim a statement-making 77-79 victory at Buesa Arena.
With Eli NDiaye also unavailable for personal reasons, Real had just two centers available: Vincent Poirier and 16 year-old EuroLeague debutant Ismaila Diagne. Coach Chus Mateo opted to start with Diagne, but he only lasted five minutes after picking up 2 fouls. Then Poirier also raced to 2 fouls, also sending him to the bench for the remainder of the first half.
Real Madrid leaned on its three-point shooting
Baskonia led at the break 47-43, but Real was staying in the game through its three-point shooting – and the same story continued after the interval. Even Poirier contributed to the deep game, knocking down a three-pointer during a strong start to the second half which saw him score 7 points in a two-minute spell.
Nevertheless, the home team continued to use its physical advantage to maintain the lead and was up by 75-69 midway through the final period. But Real again came back, and appropriately enough it was through three-point shooting as Fabien Causeur and Guerschon Yabusele struck consecutive triples to tie it up.
Defense and threes were the key
Sensing blood, Real powered through the final minutes by relying on smothering defense, holding Baskonia to just 4 points in the last six minutes. A steal and score from Facundo Campazzo typified the reigning champ’s defensive effort in the closing stages, and also provided the final basket of the game to secure a 77-79 win.
Real triumphed thanks to its three-point shooting, making 15 of its 39 three-point attempts. That allowed it to overcome a lack of inside play, converting just 13 of 29 two-point shots, and being outrebounded a whopping 53 to 36. Another big credit goes to its perimeter defense, which restricted Baskonia to 5 three-pointers on 27 attempts.
And, overall, it showed that Real can do what champions do: overcome the odds and find a way to win.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/KoerEB3xwno/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | Round 21 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/38e910be-e79e-463b-8807-25c5ff3e2114.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv | Round 21 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a1c14a6e-e9b1-47f3-9843-269e549cbfb0.jpg?crop=889%3A500%3Anowe%3A339%3A113]()
Another nifty assist from Campazzo! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/ed25f753-9ecc-444f-8ffa-aa47bb451e6b.jpg?crop=575%3A323%3Anowe%3A336%3A40]()
Mario Hezonja's alley-oop dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Tkibgdsw1Kg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 20 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/kCDOseqSEUM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Real Madrid | Round 20 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e0404e4f-807c-4888-9f8c-7934560f7bac.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Top 10 Blocks | December | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e937534f-12a2-49d0-8c80-50cebd1105b7.jpg?crop=640%3A360%3Anowe%3A0%3A59]()
Real Madrid-Dubai Basketball | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/DqbKeyVW6Pk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/95514f4e-2bf7-44cd-9701-004ffe23743a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A121%3A21]()
Kobi Simmons crosses his defender and slams it home! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/bc456372-1b46-4e5a-bf6d-973859089046.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
AS Monaco-Real Madrid | Round 18 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/20f64d66-e6cc-4ac9-8146-944d46d09b5a.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 18 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LDOB5vXYIL0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 17 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/b2d8508b-a1fc-49c3-97a3-2690b23f91e9.jpg?crop=881%3A495%3Anowe%3A42%3A62]()
Howard sends it to overtime! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/r_3ItO8aNRc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | Round 17 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d6fb8d86-8c2f-4b31-8aa7-fce5e70674d1.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A162%3A64]()
Tavares beats the halftime buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/2YC2Bv2N7WE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-AS Monaco | Round 16 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/92zlawv4rQY/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Real Madrid | Round 16 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e894decd-b194-45f7-b404-24af6c090f1f.jpg?crop=925%3A521%3Anowe%3A425%3A37]()
Tavares blocks Booker with force! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PGuwjRsuCz8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 15 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/4a228f38-3e4f-4035-bfb2-9f0fa4a45ff2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A113%3A7]()
Diop rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/13d43404-ee99-4ecb-8cb1-b53398b586cf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A143%3A0]()
A vicious dunk from Hezonja! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/95514f4e-2bf7-44cd-9701-004ffe23743a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A119%3A24]()
A monster dunk from Simmons! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/22ebdee5-4e7f-4ec1-ad26-5d2c35ad824f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A37%3A15]()
Deck with a breakaway dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/q545a7Uxpo8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 14 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f317ae53-57ec-4c88-b339-9b3aacc3ce58.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A127%3A13]()
Khalifa Diop rejects Josh Nebo! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d1af0d34-d87e-4e9d-951b-d7174d0b12c6.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Real Madrid | Round 14 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/abe2679e-f3e9-4645-acb9-3edf160f279d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A217%3A0]()
Garuba stops Osmani! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c1e533c0-5659-4dde-9142-86ade7ffd427.jpg]()
Top 10 Assists | November | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d51db058-a2ea-4984-ad3c-971559829845.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv-Real Madrid | Round 13 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Sru1RVnbGcQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 13 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f354c8ee-b304-4408-ad77-9eb9e65df698.jpg?crop=864%3A486%3Anowe%3A486%3A6]()
Super Mario Hezonja with a reverse dunk in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/1b284a6d-a242-4798-ba02-bbb6fa15085c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A82]()
Edy Tavares with the double block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6791cb94-32aa-47d1-8eb9-20dcea4d35c1.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A72%3A239]()
Hami Diallo dunks with aplomb! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5ba1dca9-f69f-4d62-8cab-e0488e013681.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-FC Bayern Munich | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/1a7e06f9-7993-40cc-afa3-1aa90b3045ab.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A231%3A0]()
Diakite swats the shot off the backboard! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zGdRZLCLcfA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Zalgiris Kaunas | Round 12 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e7156813-1646-417f-a1d9-d51905a8c819.jpg?crop=684%3A385%3Anowe%3A619%3A153]()
Hezonja throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5344e928-e25e-4e3b-988e-3560141f49e8.jpg?crop=921%3A518%3Anowe%3A171%3A104]()
Campazzo's magic pass to Llull! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e894decd-b194-45f7-b404-24af6c090f1f.jpg?crop=825%3A464%3Anowe%3A460%3A38]()
Edy Tavares says 'no'! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/qJfieGFw5OI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 11 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZUC2n-f0X6E/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Round 11 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e8652d51-be6f-4a7e-afd5-2cbdc2438a3d.jpg?crop=693%3A390%3Anowe%3A474%3A69]()
Maledon detonates a dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/1a50b310-4cff-4374-859b-29800c5e8cb0.jpg?crop=2133%3A1200%3Anowe%3A119%3A83]()
Tavares smashes the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0syMPM-ss-A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Valencia Basket-Real Madrid | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3jmchTzTHL8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 10 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/80914f28-fe9e-4791-854f-6df124627cdd.jpg?crop=1987%3A1118%3Anowe%3A205%3A722]()
Hami Diallo skies for the slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f9e0e3c6-6bc2-42cc-81ec-794ce93afd90.jpg?crop=874%3A492%3Anowe%3A238%3A0]()
Tavares denies Reuvers! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d2ec585c-7d6d-40c2-8bb4-158b04c381d6.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A146%3A22]()
Diakite rejects Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9Nxxs6dHM1I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Round 9: Top 10 plays
