Matchday 6: Tavares two blocks away from the record and crisis in Madrid

The Endesa League faces its sixth matchday with a landscape full of uncertainty at the top. Real Madrid, arriving undefeated with a record of 5-0, suffers a significant blow before facing San Pablo Burgos. Theo Maledon, October MVP, injures his right knee after falling against Fenerbahçe in European competition, while Mikael Jantunen suffers a complete rupture of the plantar fascia in his left foot. Both injuries add to the already extended absences of Gaby Deck and Usman Garuba, complicating Porfi Fisac's rotation at a critical moment in the season.

Tavares chasing history against Burgos

The matchup between Real Madrid and San Pablo Burgos (Sunday, 12:30) offers a unique opportunity for Edy Tavares. With 737 blocks in his ACB career, the Madrid pivot is just two rejections away from surpassing Fran Vázquez (738) as the all-time leading shot-blocker in the competition's history. Notably, Tavares will achieve this milestone in less time than any other historical leader of the major statistical categories, solidifying his defensive legacy. Burgos is a favorable opponent: they have conceded 21 blocks from Madrid in eight previous encounters. The whites dominate almost all offensive and defensive metrics of the Endesa League and have never lost to the Castilians in the regular phase (11-0), although they eliminated them in the 2020 Final Phase. Fisac's team arrives heavily affected after four consecutive losses in the EuroCup, although they still are the team closest in offensive rebounds.

Unicaja-Barça: the star duel at Carpena

The most attractive match of the matchday takes place at Carpena on Sunday at 19:00. Txus Vidorreta's Unicaja is going through its best moment with three consecutive victories by increasingly larger margins. Amine Noua has become the most valued interior player in the entire competition, accumulating 20 in valuation, 8 rebounds, and an impressive 80% in two-point shooting. Barça, who just defeated Valencia in the EuroLeague, urgently seeks its first league victory outside Palau. Their attack ranks among the best in the Endesa League, but their defense is ranked among the worst. They regain Joel Parra for this game, but lose Juan Núñez and have Umoja Gibson as a doubtful player. Unicaja remains without Tyson Pérez, Yannick Nzosa, and Alberto Díaz, while Kevin Knox's debut is anticipated, a player with NBA pedigree who could alter the offensive balance of Málaga.

Injuries and recoveries on the matchday

Absences significantly mark this matchday. Beyond the problems of Madrid and Barcelona, other teams are also facing injuries. Valencia Basket visits Andorra (Sunday, 18:00) without Nikola Mirotić and Nate Reuvers, two key pieces. However, TJ Shorts is having a historic start with 23 assists in his first 108 league minutes without losing a single ball, something no point guard has achieved in the Endesa League. Moncho Fernández's team is the one that loses the fewest balls and is the best from mid-range. The Andorrans have Leon Radošević in doubt due to a stomach virus and continue without Rafa Luz.

The Galician derby returns to Lugo

Monbus Obradoiro and Río Breogán face off at Fontes do Sar on Sunday at 12:00, in the first Galician derby at this venue since March 2024. Both teams arrive with a record of 3-2 and the history is tied at four victories, although Obradoiro leads in Santiago (3-1). Breogán boasts the second-best attack in the Endesa League but arrives with injuries to Bolton and Ilic. Dominik Mavra is just ten assists away from becoming the all-time leader in assists for the Lugo club. For Obradoiro, the only absence is Olle Lundqvist, and there is a particular story: Sergi Quintela will face his brother Erik, with whom he shared a locker room in Lugo for eight seasons.

La Laguna Tenerife visits Leyma Coruña on Saturday at 21:00 with a streak of six consecutive victories in league and EuroCup. The canaries come with the best defense in the competition and the highest three-point percentage. Marcelinho Huertas, who equaled Nacho Rodríguez's 737 matches in the previous matchday, will become the third player with the most matches in the history of the Endesa League, just behind Jofresa and Felipe Reyes. It will be his second visit to the Coliseum. The aurinegros will be without Giedraitis and have Xabi López-Arostegui as a doubtful player. Leyma Coruña, which only loses Tomas Dimša, is clinging to home court advantage.

Home court duels and historic retribution

Asisa Joventut hosts Surne Bilbao on Sunday at 12:00 in a duel between two teams that only win at home: Joventut is 2-0 at the Olímpic and 0-3 away; Bilbao is 3-0 in Miribilla and 0-2 away. History favors Penya, who has won eight of the last nine visits from Bilbao to Badalona. Joventut, which rebounds better defensively, continues without Ante Tomić, Ludde Håkanson, and Boogie Ellis, but may debut Nikola Radičević. Jaume Ponsarnau has his entire roster and returns to the court where he debuted with a victory as coach of Bilbao.

Kosner Baskonia hosts Kids&Us Manresa on Sunday at 17:00. Manresa is the only team without victories in the Endesa League, and if they lose, they will start 0-6 for the third time in their history. The Vitorians have won the last six duels at Buesa Arena, the last with a historic 23 of 33 in three-pointers. Nick Ongenda stands out on Manresa, leading the league in blocks and dunks in just 17 minutes; Rafa Villar and Timmy Allen are out and Hugo Benítez is doubtful. In Baskonia, 17-year-old Stefan Joksimović has made a place for himself in the rotation.

Casademont Zaragoza hosts FIATC Girona on Saturday at 18:00 with an even history (4-4), although Girona won both duels last season. Moncho Fernández's team seeks its first away victory and comes with Mac McClung recovered from the three-point line and Jassel Pérez as the league's leading scorer. For Zaragoza, the three-point shot is the thermometer: they score 15 in each victory and barely 8.5 in each defeat. The Maños lose Caleb Homesley for about three weeks due to an ankle sprain and have Trae Bell-Haynes as a doubtful player.

UCAM Murcia hosts iLERNA Lleida on Saturday at 19:30 after losing their European undefeated streak against Peristeri. Lleida is the team that concedes the most points in the league (103.2 per game), although they already surprised by winning at Roig Arena in the opening matchday. Dylan Ennis, with 52 points in the last two matchdays, is the local threat. UCAM trained with 15 players, although Raieste is doubtful.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jornada 6: Tavares a dos tapones del récord y crisis en el Madrid