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Sports / Basketball |
Real Madrid rallies for 104-103 win over Toronto(AP)
Updated: 2007-10-12 10:15 MADRID, Spain - Louis Bullock and Charles Smith combined for 45 points and Real Madrid rallied for a 104-103 win over the Toronto Raptors Thursday in the finale of the NBA's three-match exhibition tour to Spain. Bullock converted four free throws over the final nine seconds to finish with a game-high 25 points, while former Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers player Smith hit a critical late three-pointer to help seal the victory. The game marked the return of Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa to their native Spain since joining the Raptors. Garbajosa scored 15 points. Earlier, Mike Conley scored 17 points and Pau Gasol added 10 as the Memphis Grizzlies pulled away in the first period to beat Estudiantes 98-73, the NBA's only victory on its Spanish tour. Gasol, also playing his native country, was 4-of-6 from the field with eight rebounds and three blocks in less than 20 minutes of playing time. "We're in good shape even if these games are a little different than regular ones, this is preseason where you're trying to find your rhythm," Gasol said. "Now we'll see how it goes for the rest of the season." Emilio Jasen led Estudiantes with 17 points, while center Larry Lewis - one of 38 Americans playing in the Spanish league - had 14. Estudiantes, which finished ninth in the 18-team league last season, finished with 33 percent shooting from the floor, a figure that improved after the pace dropped off going into the fourth with Memphis holding an 80-52 lead. "We played a little soft, we didn't have the right attitude," Estudiantes coach Mariano de Pablos said. "I think the game was over in the first quarter." The Grizzlies, coming off a 102-99 loss against Unicaja Malaga on Tuesday, outrebounded the Spanish team 49-39 and had 10 blocks. "The No 1 goal was how quickly we could build team chemistry and I think we achieved that and I think got better because of that," Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni said. "Overall, the trip was very positive." Memphis center Darko Milicic was jeered with every touch of the ball after insulting officiating staff in Madrid during the European Championship. The crowd cheered when Grizzlies guard Juan Carlos Navarro made his first appearance. The former Barcelona guard finished with six points and four assists. "Now I'm going to the US for good and the real serious stuff starts," he said. Toronto jumped out to a 9-0 lead and led by as much as 10 with 1:47 remaining in the first half before Real Madrid rallied to pull within 56-54 by halftime. Real Madrid took the lead for the first time 66-63 when Michalis Pelekanos hit a 3-pointer with 6:12 remaining in the third, and the two traded the lead until Sergio Llull hit another 3-pointer with 3:40 remaining to put Madrid ahead for good 87-86. A second straight three-pointer by Llull extended the lead to four, and a steal by Lazaros Papadopoulos led to 3-pointer by Smith for a 97-92 advantage with 1:04 remaining. |
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