By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes needed a statement win on the return of Shane Larkin to the court and got it over defending champions Panathinaikos.
The Turkish side beat the Greens 93-67 and both teams now have an 8-7 record. It was the worst defeat of Panathinaikos under coach Ergin Ataman.
“We played like a junior team, but in sports sometimes it can happen”, admitted Ataman in the press conference.
Rodrigue Beaubois with 16 points and the duo of Jordan Nwora and Dan Oturu with 15 points each led a balanced effort, Efes shot with a mindboggling 70% in two-pointers and Panathinaikos didn’t have an answer.
Larkin had six points and three assists on his return to action.
Kostas Sloukas scored 15 points and Kendrick Nunn missed the game after getting banned for one game.
One team show
Anadolu Efes started the game with a 17-8 lead and despite Panathinaikos’ effort, the home side was up by five at the end of the first period (20-15).
Efes dominated in the second quarter, extending the lead to 43-28 while the halftime score was 45-34 with Rodrique Beaubois and Dan Oturu scoring 10 points each.
Nothing changed in the third period, as Efes pushed the lead to 21 points (64-43) with Jordan Nwora reaching the 13-point mark.
At the end of the quarter, Efes was up by 22 (68-46) and missed the chance to extend the lead to 25 because a crazy halfcourt three by Nwora was not valid, as the shot clock had expired.
The hosts continued their show with a quick 9-2 run creating a 29-point lead (77-48) to start the fourth period and the game was over.
Photo credit: EuroLeague