Dubai Basketball opened its EuroLeague campaign with a statement victory, defeating Real Madrid 78-77 on Thursday at Coca-Cola Arena after a dramatic late comeback.
The ambitious Emirati team entered the season with significant expectations following the additions of Elie Okobo, Thomas Walkup, Jaron Blossomgame, Toko Shengelia and experienced head coach Xavi Pascual. However, it was one of Dubai’s returning stars who made the biggest impact against Real Madrid.
Dwayne Bacon delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting from two-point range. He also contributed five rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes, finishing with a game-high performance index rating of 31.
Bacon’s efficiency proved decisive in a contest that featured 18 lead changes and several momentum swings. Dubai opened the game with a 7-0 run, but Real Madrid responded with 9-0 and 12-0 stretches to establish control before halftime.
The hosts then regained momentum by producing a 14-0 run across the second and third quarters. Real Madrid answered again in the fourth, scoring 10 consecutive points to threaten a road victory.
Dubai, however, saved its best basketball for the closing minutes. The home team won the final five minutes 13-5 and scored the last seven points of the game, while Real Madrid failed to score during its final few possessions.
McKinley Wright IV delivered the decisive moment, hitting a three-pointer that gave Dubai the lead late in the contest. Wright finished with 12 points and three assists, while Mfiondu Kabengele and Filip Petrusev also made important contributions down the stretch.
Kabengele recorded nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Petrusev added three points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Toko Shengelia contributed five points and eight rebounds in his Dubai debut, although the forward struggled from the field.
Real Madrid received 11 points each from Theo Maledon and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, while Damian Jones and Mikael Jantunen each scored 10 points. Walter Tavares added eight points and four rebounds, but Madrid could not convert its late opportunities into a winning finish.
