Five days after claiming their first Euroleague Super Cup, Real Madrid faced a setback on the opening day of the regular season. On Thursday, September 24, the team lost 78-77 to Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena in front of 7,269 spectators. The defeat came despite Real Madrid having the final possession of the game, with Andrés Feliz tasked with the crucial play, which has sparked discussion in Spain. Real Madrid had taken control in the first half, leading 44-38 at halftime. However, they struggled in the third quarter, losing 25-18. The team bounced back in the fourth quarter, mounting a 10-0 run to take a 77-71 lead with 3 minutes and 6 seconds left. A basket by Feliz helped secure that lead, but Dubai responded with a 7-0 run, including a three-point shot by McKinley Wright IV with 51 seconds remaining. The game's top scorer, Dwayne Bacon, contributed 24 points. Real Madrid's final attempts ended in missed shots by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Facundo Campazzo. Andrés Feliz blocked a three-point shot by Wright, and Dubai lost the ball with about ten seconds left. Coach Pedro Martínez called a timeout to set up the decisive play. The strategy involved Feliz receiving the ball after a screen and executing a pick-and-roll with Walter Tavares. However, when Dubai switched on the screen, Feliz found himself isolated and attempted a two-point shot that missed with two seconds remaining. The play has raised questions about whether the decision to isolate Feliz was made by the coach or the player. Two interpretations exist: Martínez might have anticipated the defensive switch to create a favorable matchup for Feliz, or he might have waited for a true pick-and-roll to open up a passing option. The coach has not publicly confirmed either scenario. In a press conference, Martínez admitted that the final attack was not effective and acknowledged the team's poor performance in the final minutes. He pointed out missed defensive rebounds and an open three-point shot by Dubai as key factors in the loss. Real Madrid made only six three-pointers compared to Dubai's ten. On the other side, Théo Maledon was the best-evaluated player for Madrid, scoring 11 points and dishing out 6 assists in 22 minutes. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, a new signing, also scored 11 points, and Olivier Sarr added 4 points in four minutes. For Dubai, Élie Okobo contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, including three consecutive baskets after halftime that helped tie the game at 44-44. The two teams met for the second time in a week. Earlier, on September 18 in Abu Dhabi, Real Madrid had won the Euroleague Super Cup semifinals 98-95 after overcoming a 16-point deficit, before defeating Olympiakos 93-89 in the final.