By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
On a very fun-to-watch game, Real Madrid defeated Anadolu Efes 88-74 and started their EuroLeague season with a road win. Led by the young Slovenian prodigy “Los Blancos” got what they wanted in Istanbul.
The star: Luka Doncic shined for Real like a real star showing his all-around skills. Real Madrid fans can breathe and wait for the return of injured Sergio Llull, as Doncic scored 27 points and also had 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
The key: The 18 years old sensation scored 11 points in the last quarter, a clutch performance which made everything simple for Madrid.
The Spaniards went to lockers into the halftime with a 9 point lead (36-45) as Doncic scored 13 points in just the first half. The advantage could have been higher if it wasn’t because of Errick McCollum who dropped 26 points in total for Anadolu Efes in his EuroLeague debut.
But it was all about Doncic. He also got help from Gustavo Ayon who finished with a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds). Anthony Randolph also contributed with 12 points and 8 boards. Madrid first opened an 18-point lead in the first half, and when Efes closed within a single possession early in the fourth quarter, Los Blancos strung together a 14-3 run that put the game away.
Both teams started the season in the shadow of the absence of two main stars, Derrick Brown for the hosts and Sergio Llull for Madrid.