Anadolu Efes 75-68 Barça Lassa: The first point is Turkish

Barça Lassa weren't able to win in the first game of the Euroleague quarterfinal series (75-68). Pesic's side have were defeated by Anadolu Efes in Istanbul in a low-scoring match during which the Turks were always ahead on the score board. Heurtel's 12 points and Pangos' 14 weren't enough to add the first point, but in 48 hours, the blaugrana will try again to win at the Sinan Erdem Arena in order to send the tie to the Palau Blaugrana at 1-1.

Open game until the end

The defeat doesn't hide the fact that Barça fought hard during the 40 minutes. After a poor start from the visitors, Efes were comfortable and with more success at the basket (15-4, min 5).

Barça were able to react and managed to bring the score back to 32-32 with a Smits action, but the hosts had the advantage again at the break (40-36, 20 min). A triple from Moerman and another from Dunston, as well as some key actions from other Efes players, were key to neutralising Tomic's eight points in the second half and that saw the Turks end the third quarter 58-49 up. 

Despite two points from Heurtel, two more from Blazic and a triple from Hanga to reduce the difference to five points (71-66, min 39), Pesic's side were unable to bridge the gap in the last minute (75-68, min 40). 

MATCH DETAILS

Anadolu Efes, 75
Barça Lassa, 68

Efes: Micic (21), Simon (3), Anderson (5), Moerman (12), Dunston (11) -starters- Larkin (12), Beaubois (2), Balbay (-), Pleiss (9).

Barça Lassa: Heurtel (12), Blazic (4), Claver (5), Singleton (5), Tomic (14) -starters- Pangos (12), Hanga (7), Smits (9), Oriola (-), Kuric (-).

Partials: 26-15, 40-36 (14-21), 58-49 (18-13), 75-68 (17-19).

Officials: Pukl, Lottermoser, Koromilas.