Defeat in Istanbul. Barça lost away to Anadolu Efes, bringing their winning run in Europe to an end. Strong second and third quarters by the home side saw the game slip away after a good first quarter for Barça, despite the best efforts of top scoring Laprovittola.
Intense first half
Kalinic set Barça on their way at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall with a superb block and a three pointer after a slow start to the game. Sanli followed his lead to make it 8-13, which became 16-22 at the end of the first.
Barça started the second slowly too, allowing Anadolu Efes to rack up some points and even take the lead at one point. Laprovittola and Sanli redressed the balance and the game had a nice intensity while remaining in the balance. The home side were proving more efficient with their throws, however, and went in 45-41 up at the break.
Home side turn up the heat
The flow of the game was now with the home side, who even went up by +12 (53-41) in third. Barça came back with a five point play. The atmosphere was tough and loud, but that wasn't an issue, it was just that the points weren't coming, with only Higgins managing to convert. Efes then went +13, but two three pointers - from Abrines and Sanli - clawed back some of the lead, score 66-57 going into the final quarter.
The final quarter saw the same pattern, +14 for the side from Istanbul and Barça missing their shots. However, with heart, effort, and quality, they reduced the deficit through three Laprovittola three pointers in a row. Anadolu Efes always had answer though, and saw out the win to put an end to a three game winning streak in the EuroLeague.
GAME STATS
Anadolu Efes, 96
Barça, 86
Anadolu Efes: Beaubois (5), Bryant (16), Pleiss (-), Micic (22) and Polonara (5) - starting five - Clyburn (24), Taylor (4), M'Baye (13), Zizic (-) and Dunston (7)
Barça: Sanli (18), Kalinic (10), Satoransky (3), Laprovittola (28) and Tobey (-) - starting five - Abrines (9), Da Silva (-), Jokubaitis (2), Higgins (14), Paulí (2) and Vesely (-)
Quarters: 16-22; 29-19 // 21-16; 30-29
Referees: Robert Lottermoser, Carmelo Paternico and Luka Kardum
