Unicaja clear at the top after win over Sevilla

JoanPlaza

Last season's runners-up Real had won their first nine matches of the current campaign, but have now lost back-to-back games as they went down 89-79 at Bilbao.

That came a week after an 89-84 loss at Estudiantes, while Unicaja continue to go from strength to strength and are now a game ahead of the chasing pack with a 10-1 record.

Konstantinos Vasileiadis was the star of Unicaja's 82-76 win over Sevilla, the Greek netting 24 points in a superb display.

Sevilla's Guillermo Hernangomez was also impressive, but his 21 points were not enough to stop the visitors falling to 3-8 this season.

Real paid the price for a poor first half in Bilbao, reaching the halfway stage 53-32 in arrears.

The capital club did regain some ground throughout the third and fourth quarters, but Bilbao always retained a comfortable lead as they moved to 8-3.

Real are now level with reigning champions Barcelona on 9-2, after the Catalans brushed aside Zaragoza 90-67.

Tibor Pleiss (15 points), Mario Hezonja and Marcelo Huertas (both 14) led the victory charge for Barca, who bounced back from their defeat to Sevilla last time out.

At the foot of the table, La Bruixa d'Or won for just the second time this season, edging a tight affair with Valencia by a single point, 78-77.

They are now level on 2-9 with Montakit Fuenlabrada, who went down 77-71 at Laboral Kutxa.

Just above the bottom two are four teams - including Sevilla - on 3-8, all of whom lost over the weekend.

Gipuzkoa were defeated 66-63 by FIATC Joventut, MoraBanc Andorra lost 74-68 to UCAM Murcia and Estudiantes failed to recapture the form of their win over Real as they went down 60-59 to Rio Natura Monbus.

Elsewhere, Herbalife Gran Canaria overcame Iberostar Tenerife 79-64.

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