February 07, 2012
Jazz rule the night in Madrid
NBA Europe LIVE Travis Hansen - Real Madrid, NBA Europe Live game vs. Utah (640 x 816)A good memory from two years earlier was not repeated for Real Madrid fans on Thursday as the only NBA Europe Live game involving a Euroleague team this preseason ended with the Utah Jazz defeating the hosts 87-109 in the Spanish capital's Sports Palace. An inability to defend the basket, exacerbated by the absence of Madrid's only two big men back from last season, saw Utah score easily inside from the second quarter onward. There was no comeback for the home fans who had watched Madrid rally to beat Toronto two years earlier in the last NBA Europe Live game on the same floor. This time, Utah was too much, not letting Madrid get close to any leads after the end of the first quarter.

"It was tough, but at the same time a good lesson," Real Madrid head coach Ettore Messina summed up. "We have to play more solid basketball. It hasn't been an easy night for us against a bigger, stronger team. This is the preseason, however, and there's little time left, so we have to keep getting better."

"It was a tough game for us, especially after [Pablo] Prigioni was injured early and couldn't play anymore," Travis Hansen added. "And of course Felipe [Reyes], as everyone knows, is a very important player for us. We don't have to think much about the result, because it was a good game to share minutes. Everything important starts now, so we have to keep working."

Utah was led by Paul Millsap, who was responsible for his team taking over by scoring 18 of his 20 points in the first 15 minutes. Deron Williams added 16 for the winners and Carlos Boozer had 14.

"The game was more even than the scoreboard shows," Utah's star forward and former Euroleague player Andrei Kirilenko explained. "It's always beautiful to play here in Europe, and especially here, where I won EuroBasket with Russia in 2007. There are great teams in Spain and playing against Madrid is always difficult. I always feel nostalgic when I come back to play in Europe. It reminds me of where I come from, like a flashback. Madrid has a good team, a very complete team, and I am sure they'll do well because Ettore is a great coach."

Louis Bullock - Real Madrid, NBA Europe Live game vs. Utah Louis Bullock, who led the Madrid attack with 18 points, said "I definitely know that tonight was a tough challenge for us. This Utah team was a lot better than the Toronto team we beat two years ago, with all respect to Toronto. But I think we can take away some good out the game, and we definitely have to give a lot more effort. I think it was great for preparation. We can't get down on ourselves mentally, but see our mistakes tonight and work on correcting them. It's still a learning process for all of us."

Rimantas Kaukenas scored 14 and Sergio Llull and Novica Velickovic netted 11 each in defeat.

Bullock got Madrid on the board first with an open baseline jumper before Utah reeled off the next 9 points, including a triple by Mehmet Okur. Madrid fans got their first look at Darjus Lavrinovic, who had been injured, when his offensive rebound led to a basket by Garbajosa, which Bullock followed with another jumper at 6-9. Kaukenas came off the bench to can a pair of baskets, then Llull busted a triple for Madrid's first lead of the game, 15-14. Utah got a go ahead-basket from Williams and a put-back from Millsap. Kaukenas tied from downtown, but the Williams-to-Millsap connection kept Utah in front 21-23 after 12 minutes.

Millsap continued hurting Madrid around the basket early in the second quarter, but another newcomer, Vladimir Dasic, revived Madrid with a pair of short baskets at 27-31. Bullock returned to the scoring column with a change-of-hands layup-plus-free throw, then assisted Hansen on a triple. He was Madrid's only point guard for awhile, since starter Prigioni sat after less than 5 minutes, never to return. Millsap was unstoppable, however, whether dunking in traffic or finessing inside shots. He was up to 18 points before he got a rest, and his replacement, Spencer Nelson, scored twice to push the Utah lead to 34-49. That Madrid was missing its only two big men from last season, Reyes and Tomas Van den Spiegel, both injured, was clearer with each easy Utah basket. On the other end, Madrid was settling for jump shots and stopped getting to the foul line. A timeout by Messina only stalled Utah's march to a clear-as-the-numbers 37-56 halftime advantage.

Novica Velickovic - Real Madrid, NBA Europe Live game vs. UtahMadrid came out with trying to trim the difference, but desptie Bullock burying a quick triple, Utah was not deterred from going to the basket. Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer combined to lift the difference to 66-44 before Lull hit another three-pointer. The trend was clear, with Utah sure it could go at the rim, while Madrid did the exact opposite, passing for open outside shots that went in just once in a while. Both teams kept getting their chances, but the difference budged little as the third quarter ended 63-89.

The fourth quarter saw Madrid work on some sets and involve some other players, like veteran center Iñaki De Miguel, who has been practicing with the team all preseason due to the big man injuries. Utah hardly cruised with its lead, either, bringing back Millsap, Kirilenko and Kyle Korver. Velickovic made a sweet basket in the pivot that his new fans liked, and Bullock buried from deep again. But the good effort did nothing to affect the scoreboard and with not enough time left, Utah kept rolling to a deserved victory before heading back to the U.S. Madrid turned its attention to its domestic season, which starts Sunday, and the Euroleague opener just two weeks away.

  • Real Madrid 87-109 Utah Jazz: STATS | PHOTOS
    • Wednesday, October 07, 2009
    Frank Lawlor, Madrid
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