Real Madrid escaped with a dramatic 100-99 victory over Zalgiris Kaunas on Thursday night at Movistar Arena, surviving one of the most explosive fourth quarters in EuroLeague history.
The hosts improved to 6-6 after snapping a two-game slide, while Zalgiris fell to 7-5 despite a career night from Sylvain Francisco.
Madrid opened with control behind Facundo Campazzo’s blistering first quarter, in which he scored 12 points without a miss and pushed Los Blancos to an 18-8 lead.
Zalgiris stayed within range by matching Madrid’s energy inside, as the visitors made 7-of-9 two-pointers early and leaned on Maodo Lo and Mantas Rubstavicius to stabilize the offense.
Madrid carried a 43-37 lead into halftime after shooting 63 percent on two-point attempts but struggling from deep.
The hosts finished 2-of-9 from behind the arc, marking its lowest three-point output in more than a year.
Theo Maledon took over off the bench, attacking the rim in transition and converting 11-of-11 free throws to fuel Madrid’s offense.
He posted 25 points and a PIR of 34, breaking the 20-point barrier for the first time this season and keeping Madrid ahead during Zalgiris’s mid-game push.
Zalgiris found its spark behind Francisco, who erupted for 24 second-half points with relentless drives and deep perimeter shooting.He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter alone, including three three-pointers in the final 80 seconds to keep Zalgiris within a single possession.
Madrid entered the fourth quarter trailing 78-76 after Zalgiris used a 25-point third period to shift momentum.
Los Blancos responded with a club-record 38 fourth-quarter points, repeatedly beating Zalgiris inside as they finished with 33 made two-pointers—one shy of the all-time team mark.
Campazzo resurfaced in the final minutes, scoring 8 crucial points to prevent Zalgiris from taking the lead after Francisco fouled out with 2.5 seconds left.
Campazzo’s intentional miss on his second free throw gave Madrid the final defensive stop it needed.
Zalgiris still had a chance at the buzzer, but Ignas Brazdeikis’s heave from beyond midcourt hit the backboard and bounced away.
Francisco closed the night with 33 points, 11 assists and a PIR of 37, tying his career scoring high and setting new personal bests in assists and efficiency.
Real secured the win behind Maledon, Campazzo’s 20 points and 14 total team assists, while also finishing with a 33-24 edge in points inside the paint.
Madrid now travels to face Hapoel Tel Aviv next Tuesday, while Zalgiris returns to Kaunas to host Baskonia in Round 13.
