Liga Endesa: Real Madrid still perfect, 24-0

Spanish juggernauts Real Madrid are still undefeated as they assert their rule in the top Spanish league, Liga Endesa. The defending league champions continue to assert their dominance with a 24-0 record. Their latest victim was eleventh ranked Bilbao Basket, whom they dispatched in a convincing 73-87 victory. The loss sends Bilbao falling down to 13th place in the standings with a new record of 9-15, locking them in a temporary three-way tie with Gipuzkoa and Fuenlabrada, which share their win-loss slate.

The game was close in the beginning, with the visiting squad from Madrid trailing Bilbao by four at the end of the first period, 15-19. Sergio Rodriguez led a second-quarter rally which pushed Real Madrid ahead of Bilbao by three at halftime, 35-38. Bilbao fought hard and showed their grit in the third frame to keep the lead within manageable levels, but the champs broke loose in the fourth period as they outscored the hosts by nine points and widened their margin of victory.

Even though Bilbao outdid their competitors from beyond the arc, the story boiled down to Madrid being able to control the glass as well as being able to score in the paint with Rodriguez finding his open teammates. He ended the game with 17 points, six assists and two steals. Felipe Reyes chimed in with 16 points of his own as well as six rebounds. Rudy Fernandez was the third and final player among the visitors to notch a double figure scoring effort with 13 points.

Latvian import for Bilbao, Dairis Bertans led his team with a game-high 19 points, most of which came from his explosion from downtown (4-5). Alex Mumbru and German Gabriel added 12 points apiece.

Here are the results of the other games from Round 24 of the Liga Endesa regular season:

CB Canarias vs. Gran Canaria 2014, 72-68

La Bruxia d’Or Manresa vs. CAI Zaragoza, 71-74

UCAM Murcia vs. Asefa Estudiantes, 85-84

Laboral Kutxa Vitoria vs. Cajasol Sevilla, 101-65

Unicaja Malaga vs. FIATC Joventut, 58-60

Lagun Aro Gipuzkoa vs. FCB Regal Barcelona, 75-86

Blancos de Rueda Valladolid vs. Valencia, 77-91

Rio Natura Monbus Obradorio CAB vs. Fuenlabrada, 75-76