A great win for Barça against Anadolu Efes (82-77) after a very even game, with both sides threatening throughout. After two losses, this is a welcome win for Saras' men, with Jokubaitis top scoring for Barça with 16 points.
Barça make early running
The first quarter saw Barça scoring freely from the off, featuring a 3-pointer from Mirotic and Laprovittola (5 assists, game high) pulling the strings, featuring a lovely no-look assist (17-9, min. 7). Anadolu Efes reacted though, bringing the score back to 19-17. Despite another Mirotic 3-pointer after a pump fake, Mucic (18 points, top scorer) and increasingly important Larkin, kept the away side slightly ahead. A real nip and tuck affair, the teams went in 40-41 at the break.
Same again in the second half
Barça took charge of the game again after the break, going 53-47 up by minute 26. The game briefly paused as the Anadolu Efes coach, Ergin Ataman, was sent off, but the game remained very even and Larkin (4 assists) conducting proceedings for the visitors. Gradually Barça began to grind out a small lead, before a super 3-pointer from Davies took the score to 80-72 in minute 38. Jokubaitis (16 points) had the final say for the home side as they closed out the game for a valuable win.
Game stats:
Barça, 82
Anadolu Efes, 77
Barça: Laprovittola (5), Higgins (9), Martínez (2), Mirotic (2) y Davies (7) – five starters -, Exum (1), Sanli (13), Smits (-), Hayes-Davis (4), Kuric (8), Jokubaitis (16) and Nnaji (2).
Anadolu Efes: Simon (12), Micic (18), Bryant (-) y Singleton (6) – five starters -, Larkin (17), Beaubois (2), Moerman (6), Pleiss (2), Anderson (2), Petrusev (-) and Dunston (12).
Quarters: 19-17 / 21-24 / 21-15 / 21-21
Referees: Damir Javor, Borys Ryzhyk and Tomislav Hordov.
