Unstoppable Tavares leads Real Madrid to ACB finals with sweep over Baskonia / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BasketNews.lt/V.Mikaitis Credit BasketNews.lt/V.Mikaitis

Just three days after their head coach Pablo Laso was hospitalized with an infarction,Real Madridrecorded another dominant performance and an 85-77 (25-14, 16-22, 25-17, 19-22) win in the ACB semi-final series againstBitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

3-pointers this season

35%9,6Points made:9,6Accuracy:35,3%Place in standings:3Record max:18Record min:1Most made 3FGs:Sergio LlullTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The team was coached by Laso's assistant, Chus Mateo, who called a time out with the score at 72-83 and 49 seconds remaining, to Neven Spahija's amazement.

That was in all likelihood the Croatian's coach last game on Baskonia's bench, as the Basque club has already agreed with Joan Penarroya, whose departure from Valencia Basket was announced on Tuesday.

Edy Tavares racked up a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds and prevailed over Wade Baldwin, who scored 26 points.

Real Madrid will wait for the other semi-final series featuring FC Barcelona and Joventut Badalona (currently tied 1-1) to conclude in order to find out their opponents in the best-of-seven ACB finals.

Real Madrid got off on the right foot in the Fernando Buesa Arena, making their intentions clear. Los Blancos dominated the game in the first quarter, leading by 25-14. Fabien Causeur provided 10 points on 4/5 from the field against a sluggish home team that was playing with its back against the wall.

However, in the last play, Rudy Fernandez had an ugly fall following a three-point attempt, as the veteran forwarded landed improperly on the court. Fernandez was carried off the court to receive treatment. Eventually, he returned to the game for the second half.

Wade Baldwin was trying to keep Baskonia afloat with 9 early points, but Real Madrid were simply too hard too handle. Although the margin was trimmed to three (38-41), Real responded with a 0-7 run that restored it to how it was.

Baldwin kept scoring, but Edy Tavares was unstoppable. The big man from Cape Verde even made some mid-range jumpers that were greeted with jubilations on his team's bench.

Real Madrid were up 66-51 and everything seemed to end, but Baskonia had one last shot at the game.

Granger and Costello were Baskonia's game-changers in the first quarter, as the Uruguayan guard stole some balls and the American forward converted them into easy baskets.

Real Madrid soon picked up, found some tough baskets from Adam Hanga and Gabi Deck and never looked back again.

Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz: Wade Baldwin 26 (11/20 FG, 1/2 FT, 3 REB, 4 TO), Simone Fontecchio 16 (6/11 FG, 1/2 FT, 4 REB), Jason Granger 10, Alec Peters 9.

Real Madrid: Walter Tavares 23 (8/13 FG, 7/8 FT, 12 REB), Adam Hanga 18 (4/9 FG, 5/7 FT, 6 TO), Gabriel Deck 17 (5/8 FG, 4/4 FT, 8 REB, 4 AST), Fabien Causeur 14 (5/12 FG, 2/4 FT, 7 REB).

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