Larkin's incredible dagger shuts down Fenerbahce's comeback against Efes / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Aykut Akici/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Aykut Akici/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Anadolu Efes Istanbul (12-8) won their fourth straight contest against their Turkish rivals, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (9-13).

Player of the Game EFF 23 Vasilije Micic Points 24 Accuracy 7-14 Rebounds 2 Assists 3

Efes proved their edge right from the start, defeating the visiting Fenerbahce at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague 84-79 (23-14, 18-11, 23-18, 25-31).

Achille Polonara nailed a 3-pointer to start the fourth period, Marko Guduric added five quick points, and Dyshawn Pierre made two more to complete a 10-0 Fenerbahce run, as their deficit was down to just three points (63-66).

Pierre converted a pair of free throws with three minutes remaining to bring Fenerbahce within one (71-72). However, Rodrigue Beaubois was clutch down the stretch, nailing his fourth 3-pointer in the period and increasing Efes' lead to four (77-73).

Devin Booker's layup cut Fenerbahce's deficit to two (75-77), but Shane Larking made a difficult long-range bomb on the other end, sealing a five-point Efes victory.

Vasilije Micic and Rodrigue Beaubois led Efes, combining for more than half of their team's points. Micic finished with 24 points (4/4 2PT, 3/10 3PT, 7/7 FT), 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 5 turnovers, and 23 PIR.

Beaubois added 20 points (2/5 2PT, 4/6 3PT, 4/4 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, and 21 PIR. He had 16 points in the fourth period alone.

"We knew Fenerbahce would not give up in this game," Micic admitted. "I think we really played well for 30 minutes, but then we with some lack of concentration gave them a chance to come back. Huge congratulations to Shane and Roddy to play this game today."

Vasilije Micic and Elijah Bryant started the game out hot, making 11 of Efes' first 16 points to gain the early lead (16-9). They kept firing away to help the hosts increase their advantage to 14 points at the start of the second period (28-14).

Points this season

47%83,2Points made:83,2Accuracy:47,4%Place in standings:2Record max:109Record min:67Best scorer:Vasilije MicicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Micic added two more consecutive 3-pointers as Efes' advantage ballooned to 18 (36-18). They went into halftime after only allowing Fenerbahce to score 25 points in the first half (41-25). Micic had 14 points in the first two periods.

The 2021 EuroLeague MVP stayed hot in the third, adding eight more points to his total and helping Efes maintain a commanding lead (55-39). However, Achille Polonara managed to cut Fenerbahce's deficit to 11 going into the final period (48-59).

"For us it is unacceptable this last quarter, after leading the game by 22 points, to make all the wrong decisions," coach Ataman said. "To shoot the air balls from 7-8 meters, then allow them to score 31 points, it is not good for our road to the Final Four to win the title. We won the game, but we will talk in the locker room that this is not correct."

Efes: Vasilije Micic 24, Rodrigue Beaubois 20, Shane Larkin 10 (5 REB, 9 AST), Elijah Bryant 8, Bryant Dunston 8, Adrien Moerman 6 (6 REB).

Fenerbahce: Dyshawn Pierre 19 (7 REB), Achille Polonara 15 (7 REB), Nando De Colo 13 (5 REB), Shemus Hazer 13 (5 AST), Marko Guduric 11.

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