By Alex Madrid/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid is worried only about finishing among the four top teams in the competition while Anadolu Efes continues to be in no man’s land. “Los Blancos” registered their thirteenth win after defeating the Turks 87 – 68.
It was a blue-collar win, with a lot of work and sacrifice for the home side for three quarters. The rim protection was the key and there’s where Edy Tavares dominates above everyone else on the court. The big man won the duel with Bryant Dunston in the first half (0-of-4 shooting and -4 PIR) and was simply unstoppable.
Tavares finished the game with career-high 14 points, 9 boards -5 offensive rebounds- and 4 blocks despite not playing in the last quarter. The return of Anthony Randolph to action, which was expected to happen in this game, was postponed, but with Tavares playing like that, almost nobody noticed.
Efes with Ergin Ataman on the bench is slightly improved but not enough in order to bounce back for real. Ataman tried to stop Tavares with smaller guys against him, but the former Cavalier continued his dominance. It was a block after block affair.
Luka Doncic, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, joined the party in the last quarter. With the Cape Verdean on the bench, Doncic took Madrid’s leadership and sealed the deal. The Slovenian led the winners in scoring with 17 and he also added 6 boards and 5 assists.
His countryman Zoran Dragic finished with game-high 18 points for the losing side.