Real Madrid – Panathinaikos OPAP 96-78

Real Madrid put one foot in the playoffs by outgunning Panathinaikos OPAP Athens 96-77 in a special Monday night opener to Round 26 in the Spanish capital. Real raised its record to 20-6 and will qualify for the playoffs before this round ends if one of Valencia Basket, AX Armani Exchange Milan or Khimki Moscow Region lose later this week. Panathinaikos dropped to 14-12 but will retain its sixth-place standing.

Real led 40-26 midway through the second quarter before Panathinaikos pulled within 3 points several times in the second half, but the hosts just kept piling up points to ensure victory, outscoring the Greens 23-13 in the fourth quarter. Walter Tavares led the winners with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, with Facundo Campazzo getting his own of 14 points and 10 assists. There were two of seven double-digit scorers for Real. Gabriel Deck added 13 points, Jaycee Carroll 12, Rudy Fernandez 11 and Trey Thompkins 11 each, and Nicolas Laprovittola 10. Panathinaikos got 13 points from Nick Calathes, while DeShaun Thomas, Ioannis Papapetrou and Jimmer Fredette scored 11 each.