Real Madrid uses late run to down Sassari

Real Madrid improved its chances to finish first in Group A by downing Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari 58-83 on the road on Friday. Madrid leads Group A with a 7-2 record, while Sassari dropped to 1-8 and will be sixth in this group. Felipe Reyes led the winners with 14 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. Sergio Llull added 12 points while Jaycee Carroll scored 11 for Madrid. Edgar Sosa pacd Sassari with 18 points and 6 assists. Jonas Maciulis and Llull combined for all the points in a 0-12 opening run for Madrid, but Sosa and Davis Logan fueled a 15-0 charge that helped Sassari get a 18-14 advantage after 10 minutes. Reyes and Gustavo Ayon shined throughout the second quarter and got help from K.C. Rivers and Carroll to give Madrid a 33-41 lead at halftime. A layup by Nocioni made it a 16-point game, 35-51, right after the break, but Sosa and Shane Lawal pushed Sassari to within 51-54 at the end of the third quarter. It didn't last long, however, as Reyes and Carroll fueled a 1-21 run that sealed the outcome long before the final buzzer.

First quarter: Sassari rallies from 12 down

Both teams struggled to score early until Sergio Llull got Madrid going with a bomb from downtown. Jonas Maciulis hit a three-pointer of his own, as Madrid held Sassari scoreless for more than six minutes. The hosts missed 10 shots and 2 free throw attempts in that stretch. Llull nailed another one from beyond the arc as did Maciulis, this time from the right wing to cap a 0-12 Madrid run. Shane Lawal tried to change things with a slam and a jumper by Edgar Sosa awakened Sassari. David Logan made free throws and a three-pointer by Brian Sacchetti brought the hosts back to life at 9-12. An acrobatic jumper by Sosa forced Madrid to call timeout with its once promising lead now only 1 point. Giacomo DeVecchi dunked off a steal to complete the hosts' comeback and a layup off a steal by Logan capped a 15-0 Sassari run. A layup by Rudy Fernandez and a buzzer-beating triple by Logan fixed the score at 18-14 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Rivers, big men ignite Madrid

Felipe Reyes stepped up with a layup-plus-foul early in the quarter, as Madrid tried to power the boards with him and Gustavo Ayon together on court. Reyes scored again and Ayon finished a three-chance Madrid offense with a layup for an 18-21 lead. Sassari kept struggling to score and a layup by Jaycee Carroll caused the hosts to call timeout at 18-23, after a 0-9 run. Sosa made free throws and Massimo Chessa added a fast break layup to tie it at 23-23. Jerome Dyson scored off yet another steal before Madrid calld timeout at 25-23. K.C. Rivers followed a three-pointer with a five-meter jumper and a layup by Reyes gave Madrid a 25-30 edge. Rivers scored again, but Sosa did better with a triple. Llull answered from downtown but so did Miroslav Todic to make it 31-35. Carroll hit a technical free throw and Ayon followed a wild dunk-and-foul with a layup for a 33-41 Madrid lead at halftime.

Third quarter: Madrid pulls away, Sassari returns

Both teams went scoreless for almost two minutes until Andres Nocioni hit a one-handed floater in the lane for a double-digit Madrid lead, 33-43. Nocioni kept pacing Madrid with a driving layup, as Sassari called timeout to find answers on offense. Lawal scored down low, but Fernandez answered with a fast break slam. Bourousis took over with a wild turnaround jumper, which Nocioni followed with a layup as Sassari stopped the game at 35-51. Sosa banked in a driving shot, as Sassari improved its defense. A huge three-point play by Lawal gave the hosts hope at 40-51. Sosa struck from downtown, as Madrid tried to use longer possessions without much success. Lawal split free throws and a three-pointer by DiVecchi ignited the crowd at 46-51, after an 11-0 run. Llull hit a triple off a timeout, but a three-point play by Sosa and free throws by Logan brought the hosts even closer, 51-54.

Fourth quarter: 1-21 run seals it early

Reyes stepped up with back-to-back backdoor layups early in the fourth quarter to give Madrid fresh air, 51-58. Sosa split free throws and a three-pointer by Carroll boosted the guests' lead to 52-61 with over seven minutes left. Carroll insisted from downtown and a free throw by Reyes made it a 13-point game. Facu Campazzo hit free throws and Ayon added a layup which sealed the outcome, 52-69, midway through the quarter. Rivers nailed a five-meter jumper, Campazzo made free throws and a fast break layup by Reyes capped a mammoth 1-21 run for a 52-75 Madrid lead. Matteo Formenti struck from downtown, but it was already too little, too late for the hosts, as Madrid had cruised to a valuable road win.