By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Vasilije Micic posted 26 points plus five assists and Shane Larkin scored 19 points as Anadolu Efes beat top-placed Barcelona 88 – 86 on the road and swept them 2-0 in the EuroLeague regular season.
“At halftime, I said we have to keep our concentration until the end and I think we did,” Micic said. “They are a very strong team with a great coach who never gives up. At the same time, we really played tough till the end and I think we deserve this victory. Congratulations to my teammates.”
Nikola Mirotic had 24 points plus five rebounds and Brandon Davies 17 points (including a buzzer-beater from half court at the end of the first half) plus seven boards for Barcelona that committed 18 turnovers and suffered its first loss in 2021 and after six straight EuroLeague wins. The Blaugrana were trailing 73 – 84 with 2:27 to play but managed to cut their deficit to 84 – 86 with 16 seconds to play thanks to some triples by Nick Calathes and Leo Westermann.
Barcelona didn’t approach closer than that since after free throws by Micic and a basket by Mirotic, the hosts didn’t foul quickly enough to have another ball.
“Congratulations to Ergin and to Efes,” Barcelona coach Sarunas Jasikevicius said. “They were the better team today. From the beginning, they marked the rhythm of the game. I don’t know how I was not able to prepare my team better, especially in the mental point of view, but it is what it is now. The last thing I want to say is congratulations to my players for the great streak.”
Efes never trailed in the match and held a steady lead following a 0-9 run they made in the third period. The Turkish side had a fluent offense for the most part of the game and went up 67 – 80 in the mid of the fourth quarter before Barca’s turnaround effort.
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball