Real Madrid fans were happy when news first broke that Mario Hezonja was going to be wearing the team's famous white jersey from the summer of 2022, as his all-round game made him a valuable asset for first-year head coach Chus Mateo. But, in Los Blancos' 79-96 win at Virtus Segafredo Bologna, Hezonja showcased his excellent outside shooting.
Hezonja drained a career-high 8 three-pointers on 11 attempts en route to 26 points, while he also had 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. The 28-year-old truly took over the game in the fourth quarter with 6 made three-pointers, which was enough to hold off the attempts of Virtus sniper Marco Belinelli.
Curiously, those 8 made triples is a new record for Real, beating the 7 three-pointers hit on five occasions in the past (Raul Lopez, 2000-01; Alberto Herreros, 2001-02; Jaycee Carroll, 2014-15 and 2016-17; and Jeffery Taylor, 2016-17). His 6 makes from deep in the fourth quarter is also tied for a EuroLeague record, as five players in the past have hit 6 threes in a quarter and two have done so in the fourth quarter: Jaycee Carroll in 2016-17 and Kyle Kuric in 2020-21.
“We were just sharing the ball and it just so happened that I was the open one who scored,” said a modest Hezonja, who is shooting 46.4% on three-pointers this season.
But Virtus head coach Sergio Scariolo was far more effusive about the praise the Real forward deserved.
"The class of Real Madrid players – in this case, Mario Hezonja – killed the game with three-pointers. Some were not well defended, some were absolutely well defended," said Coach Scariolo. "But [Hezonja] proved that he played many years in the NBA. And we have to accept that and shake his hand."
