By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes beat AXA Armani Exchange Olimpia with 73 – 68. With their first win at home, the hosts improved to 3-7 in the standings, the same record as the Italian team. Efes continues undefeated at home against Olimpia in the EuroLeague era (12-0).
The key: With one point deficit and less than a minute left Vladimir Stimac scored the layup and also got the foul, giving a 70-68 lead. Tha proved to be the most crucial play of the game.
The star: Errick McCollum dropped 13 fourth-quarter points after scoring just 2 in the first three quarters. However Stimac with a double-double (19 p., 10 r.) and the biggest play of the night was more than crucial for the final result. Brock Motum added 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners.
Vladimir Micov and Jordan Theodore scored 15 points each for Olimpia but it wasn’t enough.
The game: Paced by Zoran Dragic in the first quarter, Efes tried to make it a high scoring game (23 – 16). Everything change in the next period with both teams struggling from the field and the guests cut the lead to three before the break (33 – 30).
The guests couldn’t stop Vladimir Stimac as he started the second half dominating both ends of the floor. But despite the Serbian’s effort, Milan kept the game close with one quarter left.
The game remained tight with both teams exchanging leads until McCollum took charge of the game with 8 consecutive points. At the end, Efes got its first win of the season at home.