Campazzo and Maledon shine as Francisco delivers career night in 100–99 thriller
Real Madrid survives Zalgiris in historic shootout
Отчеты о матчах
3 Минутное чтение
Regular Season
Round 12 of 38
Regular Season
Real MadridRMB
10099
Zalgiris KaunasZAL
Overview
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In one of the best and most intense games of the season, Real Madrid beat Zalgiris Kaunas 100-99 at Movistar Arena in a game to remember. Theo Maledon and Facu Campazzo paced Los Blancos to their sixth win of the season, but according to Coach Sergio Scariolo's words after the game, it didn't go as planned.
"I don't remember a game where a team scored 100 points with just 2 threes. This is probably a unique case," Scariolo said.
Real Madrid finished the game having made just 2 of 9 three-pointers. Those 2 three-point shots made are the lowest mark for Real in over a year. It previously made only 2 triples in a 79-89 home loss against FC Barcelona on March 7, 2024. Real had never scored more than 80 points in games in which it made 2 or fewer three-pointers.
Still, Real found ways to be effective, mainly through its two star guards. Campazzo had a sensational first quarter, reaching 10 points in the game before Zalgiris. He left for the bench late in the first quarter with 12 points, no missed shots and his team leading 18-8.
Campazzo was scoreless from that moment until the final 3 minutes, in which he scored 8 points, including two critical acrobatic baskets that prevented Zalgiris from regaining the lead in the final minutes. Campazzo finished the game with season-highs of 20 points and a PIR of 25.
Maledon made things happen off the bench with an all-around offensive performance, getting easy baskets in transition and attacking the rim to draw fouls. He broke the 20-point mark for the first time in this EuroLeague season, making 7 of 8 two-pointers and 11 of 11 free throws for a season-high PIR of 34.
Zalgiris trailed almost all the way in the first half until Sylvain Francisco decided he had had enough. Francisco singlehandedly kept Zalgiris in the game throughout the second half, in which he had 24 points and 8 assists. The Zalgiris star scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, and struck three times from downtown in the final 80 seconds. When he fouled out with 2.5 seconds left, Francisco received a great ovation for Real fans, and even Coach Scariolo praised him after the game.
"Unbelievable, man. How easy can basketball be, right? Give the ball to the guy, make a couple of three-pointers, shoot the three and make it. But you got to know that he's a great player. He can do it. It's not the first time he does that," Scariolo said. "And Zalgiris proved that they are one of the best teams in this start of the competition because they have a tough, strong-sized team with many players who can shoot, and with great handlers like Francisco and [Maodo] Lo."
Francisco set two career-highs against Real with 11 assists and a PIR of 37. He also matched his personal best in scoring with 33 points. Francisco also scored 33 points with Zalgiris against FC Bayern Munich on January 30, 2025.
After he fouled out, Campazzo missed free throws, the second one intentionally to run the game clock down. And Zalgiris had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Ignas Brazdeikis's prayer from beyond midcourt only hit the backboard.
By not hitting three-pointers, Real went inside and almost broke a club record by scoring 33 two-pointers. The club record is 34 two-pointers in a 94-45 home victory over Spirou Charleroi on December 23, 2010. That night, Real also struggled from downtown, making just 4 of 17 three-pointers.
The two teams combined for 75 fourth-quarter points (38-37), which was the second-highest mark in EuroLeague history. Zalgiris holds the record along with SLUC Nancy, when they combined for 77 points in the fourth quarter on January 8, 2009. Zalgiris beat Nancy 105-94 in that game.
Real set a club record for fourth-quarter scoring with 38 points. Its previous best was 36 points in a 104-113 win over Ural Great on March 27, 2002. Scariolo was also Real's coach that night.
Though it did not go according to plan, Real found a way to win, bounce back from consecutive losses and deny Francisco the chance to give Zalgiris a victory in what statistically was his best night in the EuroLeague - for now.
