Valencia, February 20, 2026 – Real Madrid’s basketball team showcased their best performance of the season yesterday, February 19th, securing a resounding 100-70 victory over Unicaja in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals at the Roig Arena. This dominant win propels them into their thirteenth consecutive semifinal, where they will face Valencia Basket today, Saturday, at 6:00 PM (CET).
A Historic Victory for Real Madrid
The team, led by coach Scariolo, delivered an incontestable triumph that is set to be etched in the competition’s history. Real Madrid led by as many as 37 points and achieved an impressive 135 valuation. It was a superb team effort, with Lyles (23 valuation) and Maledon (21 valuation) leading six players who reached double digits in this statistical category. Llull, with 982 minutes, became the player with the most minutes in the tournament and equalized Juan Carlos Navarro as the second player with the most Copa del Rey matches played (44).
Early Dominance and Offensive Prowess
The game began with Real Madrid setting the pace through aggressive defense, continuous rotations, and few concessions to Unicaja, limiting their scoring to Webb III. This defensive effort was complemented by a very secure and collaborative offense, always seeking the best option. Tavares was a key figure in the paint, contributing 7 points. However, it was a collective offensive recital, with 8 players out of the 10 rotated by Scariolo scoring. Hezonja and Lyles each added 5 points, and Maledon contributed 4. A 14-0 run in three minutes capped off an excellent first quarter, ending 28-12.
Real Madrid Unstoppable
Real Madrid extended its dominance in the second quarter by maintaining an exceptionally high level on both ends of the court, primarily due to their attitude and concentration. Unicaja struggled to disrupt Scariolo’s team’s rhythm. The offensive rebound, which had been Unicaja’s primary source of points, disappeared due to the outstanding work of Garuba, Len, Deck, and their teammates. With everyone contributing defensively and offensively (7 players scored in this quarter), Real Madrid built a 23-point lead (50-27, min. 19).
Closing Out the Game with Authority
Real Madrid, having learned its lesson, came out in the second half determined to seal the victory. Their defense, which was impressive throughout the night, intensified even further. Unicaja went five minutes without a field goal. In contrast, the Madridistas enjoyed themselves on offense. Deck and Llull shone in a third quarter where their superiority was evident, with the score reaching 71-35 in the 28th minute.
A Memorable Victory for Real Madrid
Although the path to the semifinals was secured, Real Madrid demonstrated their hunger and determination to win the Copa. They maintained their cruising speed without sparing any effort. Feliz, Lyles, and Abalde extended their lead to 37 points on several occasions. Unicaja managed to slightly narrow the gap, but Real Madrid reached the 100-point mark and finished with a 30-point difference, just two points shy of their tournament record. This exhibition concluded with 10 players scoring between 7 and 16 points, and the Real Madrid fans at the Roig Arena chanted, “That’s how Madrid wins!” (100-70, min. 40).
This decisive victory underscores Real Madrid’s strong contention for the Copa del Rey title, setting up an exciting semifinal clash against Valencia Basket.
