Rodriguez heroic performance leads Real over Partizan

In a Game 5 that will go down in basketball history, Real Madrid rallied from 18 points behind in the second half to win 98-94 and take the last train to the Final Four in Kaunas with a 3-2 series victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. Real will face its archrival, FC Barcelona, in the semifinals on Friday, March 19. Alen Smailagic lifted the Partizan lead to 71-78 early in the fourth, but 5 points in a row by Sergio Rodriguez cut it to 76-81 and Mario Hezonja added a triple to make it 79-81. A second chance reverse by Rodriguez tied it up 81-81 with 6:16 left, completing a comeback from 18 down just 11 minutes earlier. Yam Madar fed Mathias Lessort for a dunk but Roriguez answered and assisted Sergio Llull a go-ahead triple and breakaway layup to suddenly make it 88-83. Kevin Punter banked in a triple that Hezonja matched at 91-86. Madar and Tavares split free throws before Sergio Llull drilled a “mandarina” at 95-87 with 2:50 to play. Rodriguez hit a layup but Dante Exum got 3 points back to make it 97-91 entering the final minute. Zach LeDay drilled a triple with 47.9 seconds left at 97-94 and Partizan got the ball back soon after. Punter missed form deep with 24 seconds left and Hezonja rebounded, but split his free throws at 98-94. Dzanan Musa led the winners with 20 points and Rodriguez scored11 of his 19 in the fourth quarter. Kevin Punter buried 28 points for Partizan to lead all scorers.