The featured match up in the Liga Endesa saw league leaders Real Madrid get the better of second placed Valencia 82-75.
Trailing 49-39 mid-way through the third quarter, the Euroleague finalists demonstrated terrific team basketball; mixed with accurate shooting to take the lead late in the fourth period and they did not relinquish the advantage.
Valencia stays second despite the loss but are being caught up rapidly by Barcelona in third. Madrid are top on an 11-0 record.
Rudy Fernandez led Real Madrid with 18 points with Oliver Lafayette leading Valencia with 17. Real Madrid held Valencia’s leading scorer Justin Doellman to just 6 points.
Barcelona kept in touch with the top two following a 77-73 away win against Fuenlabrada but were made to work hard for the win.
The Catalan giants were unable to pull away completely from their opponents but made the necessary buckets towards the end to get the win.
Jacob Pullen was outstanding with 24 points in just 19 minutes as he single-handedly pushed Barca to the win.
Gran Canaria needed overtime to see off a stubborn Joventut Badalona side at home 89-82 to go fourth.
A huge putback slam from Gran Canaria’s Brad Newley as time expired off a missed lay-up from Albert Oliver forced overtime and from there, defence was the key as the hosts did enough in the final two minutes to come away with the win.
Ben Hansbrough led the winners with 20 points and it was his three in the first minutes of overtime that set the tone for the rest of the extra period.
Bilbao also needed overtime to beat Laboral Kutxa 96-92 in what was one of the games of the week in Spain.
A deliberately missed free throw led to an offensive rebound and a score from Vitoria’s Lamont Hamilton.
Other games in the Liga Endesa saw Unicaja lose away at Manresa 79-61, but stay fifth in the process. Alberto Corbacho had 20 points to lead Manresa who are 14th.
Near the bottom, basement side Valladolid were thrashed 84-68 at CB Canarias, while second from bottom Estudiantes lost 61-54 to Cajasol Seville.
Gipuzkoa were comfortable 92-67 winners at Zaragoza as Jason Robinson kept up his good run of scoring with 21 points to lead Gipuzkoa.
La Bruixa d’Or picked up a much needed win against Murcia 84-74 as they attempt to get their season back on track. Darryl Monroe led the victors with 22 points.
