By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With six players scoring in double figures, Barcelona defeated Anadolu Efes 90 – 80 to close the EuroLeague double-game week with two wins. The Blaugrana are now 13-9 after four consecutive victories.
Efes, on the other hand, suffered its fourth straight loss and is still winless under new coach Luca Banchi. Elijah Bryand had 16 points for the Turkish side.
Kevin Punter led a quite balanced offensive performance for Barca with 15 points and five assists. His team finished the match with 27 assists and 29/40 2-pointers while taking Efes out of their game most of the time.
“In the last few games that [defense] has been our thing. We want to keep it going for the rest of the season. Coming out and playing defense,” Barca big man Chimezie Metu said after posting 10 points and six rebounds.
“I think a few weeks ago we probably hit the lowest point of the season so think it’s only up from now on for us. We’re regrouping and start playing together anymore.”
Barcelona with a 13-9 record is tied on the fourth spot of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings with Panathinaikos, Monaco, and Crvena Zvezda, while Efes dropped to 10-12.
Keeping the distance in the end
After an early 18-9 lead for Efes, Barcelona closed the gap and made it a two-point game at the end of the first period (24-22).
The hosts got a 31-26 lead, Efes tied the score again (35-35) and Barcelona with Dario Brizuela scoring five straight points built a seven-point cushion (42-35).
Barcelona closed the first half leading 48-41 with Youssoupha Fall having already 10 points. Efes tried to reclaim their lead but their opponents always kept an advantage beyond a shooting distance.
After Vincent Poirier scored and trimmed the lead of the hosts 74-69 halfway through the fourth period, Barca made a 7-0 run to gain a position of strength as the final minutes were approaching.
Poirier was ejected with a second technical foul with 1:24 and Barca up 81-72.
Photo credit: EuroLeague