CSKA snaps Real's win streak at 13
CSKA Moscow returned home to the Russian capital and held Real Madrid to its lowest-scoring output in nearly a decade in a 60-55 victory on Tuesday night at Megasport Arena. Mike James scored 19 points to lead CSKA as it improved to 13-6, which could be tied for third place by the end of the round. Darrun Hilliard added 14 points and Kyle Hines had 10, including 6 in the fourth quarter to lead the final push. Trey Thompkins led all Real scorers with 14 points and Facu Camapzzo added 11 points and 5 assists. The loss snapped Real's 13-game winning streak and dropped it to second place with a 15-4 record.
Thompkins got the visitors off to a promising start with the game's first 5 points. Thompkins added a tip-in to make it 4-10 before CSKA called timeout. Johannes Voigtmann struck from downtown for the hosts, however, Real got triples from Fabien Causeur and Camapzzo to extend the lead. James drew CSKA within 14-18, but a baseline jumper by Thompkins gave him 9 points and Real a 14-21 lead after 10 minutes. A three-pointer by Felipe Reyes gave Real a double-digit lead and gave the rebounding king 3,000 career points. Hilliard heated up for the hosts, but Real had an answer for each score. Free throws by Nikita Kurbanov and Hilliard trimmed the deficit to 26-33 at the end of a low-scoring second quarter.
Nearly 4 minutes passed before James scored the first basket of the second half – and sank the free throw that came with it – to bring CSKA within 2. James's next bucket was a triple that gave CSKA its first lead and Sant-Roos added his first points for a 36-33 advantage. Thompkins ended Real's scoring drought with a three-point play and soon restored a Real edge. The score remained close after that as Campazzo and Hilliard traded threes to end the third quarter at 43-43. Jordan Mickey opened the fourth quarter with a three for Real, but Joel Bolomboy's put-back gave CSKA a 47-46 lead. The seesaw continued with Jeffery Taylor draining a three – the 100th of his career – and James a floater with the lead changing hands on each. Hines shined with a pair of dunks, but Nicolas Laprovittola's jumper kept Real on CSKA's heels at 53-52 with 4 minutes to play. James added a tough basket, but also committed his fourth foul. Campazzo missed a three that would have given the visitors the lead and Hilliard drained a triple at the other end that gave CSKA a two-possession lead with 37.6 seconds remaining. Hines iced the game from the line.
Game-changing sequence
It was a 1-point game heading into the final minute when Facu Camapzzo launched a three-pointer that would have given Real the lead if it went in. The shot missed and on the counterattack, Darrun Hilliard knocked down a triple that made it a two-possession game, 58-54, with 37.6 seconds remaining and CSKA held on the rest of the way.
Mr. 3,000
Just over 2 minutes into the second quarter Felipe Reyes of Real Madrid achieved a new milestone in his legendary Turkish Airlines EuroLeague career by becoming just the fifth player to reach 3,000 points in competition history. Playing in just his second game this season due to injury, the 39-year-old big man stepped out and hit his first points of the season from three-point distance to top the milestone. His tally now stands at 3,001 points in 347 career games.
Did you notice?
With 19.5 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, new CSKA signing Howard Sant-Roos made history when he took the floor and became the first Cuban player to compete in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Sant-Roos played nearly 22 minutes and finished with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. His biggest impact came with his stellar defense.
Real's low numbers
CSKA forced Real into one of its worst offensive games in recent memory. The 55 points scored were the fewest by Los Blancos since it was held to 49 by Spirou Charleroi in November 2010. Its 10 two-pointers made tied for the second-fewest since the turn of the century. Real’s 17 turnovers were its second-most this season.
What's next?
Real Madrid will remain in Moscow and look to get back on track on Thursday when it visits Khimki Moscow Region. CSKA will suit up on Friday for a showdown with KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Euroleague.net