By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A game that started unexpectedly, ended up being a classic thriller between two EuroLeague powerhouses.
This time Anadolu Efes got the crucial 74-64 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish capital.
Elijah Bryant with 13 points was the top scorer of Efes, while Darius Thompson and Jordan Nwora added 10 points each.
Former Madrid player Vincent Poirier with eight points and six rebounds was crucial for the win and as he said: “We knew that Real Madrid would come in the third quarter and we put ourselves in danger, but we made it”.
Facundo Campazzo with 20 points and Mario Hezonja with 13 were the top scorers of the hosts, who also got Andres Feliz back in action, even if he played just five seconds.
The most important stat of the game, however, was Madrid making at home just 5/34 threes. Efes now has a 6-4 record, while Madrid dropped to 4-6.
A crazy night in Madrid
Anadolu Efes shocked Real Madrid, dominated the first period, and got a 19-6 lead after the first quarter. Things got even worse for the hosts, who trailed by 22 at halftime (47-25) with Efes doing everything they wanted on the court.
Still, in the third period with Campazzo taking over, Madrid managed to trim the lead to nine points (58-49) with a partial 24-11 score.
The game ended up being a thriller and with four minutes left, Madrid trailed by one (63-62) with Sergio Llull making one of two free throws. Derrick Willis answered back with a three (66-62) and one more three from Rodrigue Beaubois made the score 69-62, two minutes and a half before the final buzzer.
Llull, Campazzo, and Mario Hezonja couldn’t score, the Argentinian was even called for a “T” for extending his legs while shooting with 72 seconds left and Beaubois sealed the deal from the free throws line (70-62).
Campazzo missed again, and among the tension of the closing seconds, Beaubois was injured on the shoulder, while Sergio Llull also got a “T” after being ejected with his fifth foul of the game over Darius Thompson.
A few seconds later Campazzo also was called for an unsportsmanlike foul to Thompson.