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Anadolu Efes 86-79 Barça: Defeat in Turkey

A fatal third period sees the Catalans lose their second consecutive game in the Euroleague

The third period was the decisive one in Istanbul and Barça have lost to Anadolu Efes (86-79). It was all square at the break (43-43), but the 25-11 in the third left Jasikevicius’ facing an uphill struggle that they couldn’t complete.

It had all looked so different when Barça stormed to +10 (12-22, min 9), and it wasn’t until the second period that the home side truly found their own touch. In fact, a 12-2 streak suddenly had the hosts leading (34-33, min 17), and absolutely nothing was settled at the interval.

But Barça lost their pattern after the restart. And 18-4 from the Turks had them trailing by 13, and things had not improved by the end of the period (68-54).

Defensive intensity and sharper shooting clawed the Catalans back into the game, and with four minutes to play there was some hope when the deficit was reduced to eight (77-69, min 36). Anadolu Efes went for five possessions without scoring and at 83-79 with 15 seconds left we were in for a nail-biting finale. But the home side found what they needed to hang on, and Barça have tumbled to a second successive defeat in the Euroleague.

MATCH STATS

Anadolu Efes: Simon (16), Dunston (12), Anderson (5), Micic (17), Moerman (5),  Larkin (23), Beaubois (2), Singleton (-) & Sanli (6). 

Barça: Calathes (15), Abrines (6), Higgins (14), Mirotic (18), Pustovyi (2), Hanga (6), Bolmaro (2), Smits (6), Oriola (8), Sergi Martínez (-) & Kuric (2). 

Periods: 18-24 / 25-19 / 25-11 / 18-25

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