Larkin-led Anadolu Efes erase 15-point deficit, edge out CSKA in overtime thriller / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Ivan Korzhenevskiy/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Ivan Korzhenevskiy/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Anadolu Efes Istanbul (11-11) sneaked past CSKA Moscow (13-9) 99-97 (23-16, 21-25, 13-23, 29-22, 13-11) in the overtime drama and reached revenge.

Player of the Game EFF 36 Shane Larkin Points 26 Accuracy 9-14 Rebounds 5 Assists 9

Anadolu Efes opened the last tally with an 8-0 run to regain the lead in the game (65-64). Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin nailed a couple of treys in a row.

Both clubs were trading buckets, while the game was going back and forth. After Rodrigue Beaubois' trey and Daniel Hackett's fade-away jumper, the match was tied at 79 with 2:50 to go in the fourth quarter.

Bryant Dunston scored a duo but Will Clyburn responded with a triple (82-81). Vasilije Micic converted both shots from the line on the other end (83-82) with 1:38 to play. Marius Grigonis and Vasilije Micic exchanged with missed layups, while Adrien Moerman sank one shot from the charity stripe (84-82) with 27 seconds on the clock.

Though, Daniel Hackett converted a crucial 3+1 play (86-84) with 13 seconds to go. That was not the end, Vasilije Micic penetrated the rim and made a layup with less than a second left. Will Clyburn missed the alley-oop two-pointer and the game went to overtime.

Semen Antonov and Tibor Pleiss scored on both ends and the game was tied at 94 with 1:20 to go in the overtime.

Rodrigue Beaubois splashed a three-pointer and Efes built a three-point advantage (97-94) with 50 seconds on the clock. Krunoslav Simon converted one shot from the line, while Marius Grigonis responded with a triple (97-98); 30 seconds were left.

CSKA got the stop and Alexey Shved had a chance to win the game with a three-pointer but the deep shot was off the mark. CSKA committed an unsportsmanlike foul, Moerman missed both free throws. Beaubois was fouled and sealed the deal with one successful shot from the charity stripe (99-97).

CSKA Moscow / Schedule

UNIKS Kazan CSKA Moscow75-86 CSKA Moscow Anadolu Efes Istanbul97-99 CSKA Moscow ALBA BerlinFri17:00

The EuroLeague classic brought spectacular individual performances. Shane Larkin led the route for Efes, posting 26 points (4/7 2PT, 5/7 3PT, 3/3 FT), 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 turnover, and 36 PIR.

Rodrigue Beaubois aided him with 22 points (0/4 2PT, 7/13 3PT, 1/2 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, and 24 PIR.

On the other side, Daniel Hackett had a career-high 33 points (5/7 2PT, 6/10 3PT, 3/3 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, and 32 PIR.

Marius Grigonis contributed with 20 points (2/4 2PT, 4/6 3PT, 4/4 FT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 20 PIR.

Rodrigue Beaubois-led Anadolu Efes were in front by 12 points (23-11) in the first quarter but CSKA responded with Marius Grigonis on the court, arranging a 20-4 push and taking the game control into their hands (31-27).

However, Shane Larkin was pouring one basket after another and the Turkish powerhouse was in front by 3 (44-41), going into the break. Larkin dropped 19 points in the first half, being 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

The game's scenario changed completely at the start of the third period, while CSKA organized a massive 18-0 run (59-44). Daniel Hackett scored 11 points on his own, as Joel Bolomboy, Alexey Shved, and Marius Grigonis contributed with the baskets.

The Army club held Efes without points in 5:38 minutes of the third quarter. Nevertheless, the reigning champs managed to recover and stabilize their positions. They answered with a 13-5 spurt to cut their deficit to 7 points (57-64) before the last quarter.

Both clubs were playing without their head coaches. CSKA's Dimitris Itoudis was not on the bench due to illness, while Anadolu Efes' bench boss Ergin Ataman missed the game due to anupper respiratory infection. Andreas Pistiolis and Yakup Sekizkok served as head coaches in this duel.

Anadolu Efes: Shane Larkin 26 (5 REB, 9 AST), Rodrigue Beaubois 22 (6 REB), Vasilije Micic 16 (6 AST), Bryant Dunston 12, Tibor Pleiss 9 (12 REB).

CSKA: Daniel Hackett 33, Marius Grigonis 20, Will Clyburn 19 (7 REB).

Highlights

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