Real Madrid rolls to 30th win in 31 league games

Real Madrid demonstrated patience and poise on Sunday, overcoming a subpar stretch to emerge victorious.

With a 101-92 decision over Joventut Badalona, the Spanish League powerhouse collected its 16th straight win.

Real Madrid (30-1) trailed by nine points in the 30th minute. What proved to be a key factor in the game was how the victors closed out the game at Wizink Center.

The Whites then outscored Joventut Badalona 36-20 in the fourth quarter to seize control in the Spanish Liga Endesa clash.

A day before the game against Joventut Barcelona, Laso acknowledged it’s been a demanding season for his team, noting the juggling act of the concurrent Spanish Liga Endesa and EuroLeague seasons.

“With such a demanding schedule, the fact that we have this number of wins speaks volumes about the team,” Laso commented.

Key players for Real Madrid

Sergio Llull scored 15 points and Usman Garuba chipped in with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jaycee Carroll gave coach Pablo Laso’s team a 13-point effort. Alberto Abalde and Walter Tavares finished with 12 points apiece. Frenchman Vincent Poirier made his mark in 15 impactful minutes, providing nine points and five boards.

Abalde nailed a 3-pointer to complete the scoring in the final stanza.

For Joventut Badalona (16-14), Pau Ribas had a game-high 20 points. Teammates Conor Morgan and Vladimir Brodziansky added15 points apiece.

Key turning point for Real Madrid

Real Madrid used a 9-0 spurt to pull ahead 74-72 in the 32nd minute.

Did you know?

Trey Tompkins became the sixth foreign player to appear in 300 games for Real Madrid. In his milestone game, Tompkins, a power forward who joined the club in the 205-16 campaign, contributed six points and three rebounds.

A look ahead for Real Madrid

Up next: Real Madrid, which was on the receiving end of Khimki’s big upset in early March, faces Anadolu Efes in the EuroLeague playoffs on Tuesday.