Micic and Larkin lead Efes to an all-time 3-point record as they beat Maccabi / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Anadolu Efes Istanbul (13-12) continue to battle for a playoff spot at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, beating the visiting Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (11-13) 109-77 (21-10, 24-21, 29-16, 35-30).

Player of the Game EFF 30 Vasilije Micic Points 20 Accuracy 7-9 Rebounds 0 Assists 10

Efes started off hot right from the start, gaining the quick 11-4 lead after Elijah Bryant's 3-pointer. The hosts continued dominating in the first period, increasing their advantage to double digits after one (21-10).

It was more of the same in the second quarter, with Efes' lead ballooning to 13 (36-23). Ergin Ataman's squad was up by 14 going into halftime (45-31).

Efes kicked into an even higher gear in the third, going on a 19-2 run to gain a commanding 30-point advantage (71-41). The final period was just a formality, as Efes walked away with an easy 32-point victory.

Efes made 22 of 34 3-pointers today, which is an all-time EuroLeague record. Previously, the most threes in a single EuroLeague game were made by Buducnost Podgorica, who did it in 2018.

"I start with my words that I said in the beginning of the game. Stop the war. This is an unacceptable war. People are dying, innocent people, children. So, stop the war, please," Ergin Ataman said regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war.

"Then, about the game, yes, we played a perfect game tonight. 22 made three-point shots they told me is a record of the EuroLeague. But it doesn't matter the shots. All shots are good shots. Our defense was excellent tonight. And step by step, Anadolu Efes is coming back."

Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin led Efes to victory tonight. Micic finished with a double-double: 20 points (3/4 2PT, 4/5 3PT, 2/2 FT), 10 assists, and 30 PIR.

Larkin added 16 points (2/3 2PT, 4/6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 turnovers, and 22 PIR.

"I really try to play my best every game," Micic said. "Sometimes I make unnecessary turnovers with the best desire to create for others. But today it was [zero turnovers] and I will try to keep playing this way."

This was Avi Even's first EuroLeague game as a head coach after Ioannis Sfairopoulos was relieved of his coaching duties for Maccabi.

Efes: Vasilije Micic 20 (10 AST), Adrien Moerman 17 (5 REB), Shane Larkin 16 (6 AST), Rodrigue Beaubois 13 (5 AST), James Anderson 11, Elijah Bryant 8 (6 REB).

Maccabi: Scottie Wilbekin 17 (6 AST), Ante Zizic 17 (8 REB), John Dibartolomeo 10, James Nunnally 7, Jalen Reynolds 6 (5 REB).

All 22 Efes' 3-pointers:

Highlights:

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