Huge comeback: ASVEL returns from a 19-point deficit to stun the EuroLeague champions / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: ASVEL Twitter Credit ASVEL Twitter

The reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul (0-3) remain winless by blowing a 19-point advantage against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (3-0) in France 73-75 (20-25, 24-15, 13-18, 11-22).

Player of the Game EFF 17 Elie Okobo Points 7 Accuracy 3-10 Rebounds 6 Assists 10

ASVEL were down by as much as 19 points in the third quarter (37-56) but managed to cut their deficit to nine points going into the fourth quarter (53-62).

Efes' lead evaporated after two threes by Chris Jones and William Howard (67-67). They added two 2-pointers to give their team an advantage with less than 2 minutes remaining (71-70).

Vasilije Micic tied the game at 73 with 1:23 remaining, but Alex Antetokounmpo converted a clutch put-back to bring their team back in front with 12 seconds remaining (75-73).

Shane Larkin had a chance to give his team a victory, but his 3-pointer was off the mark, and ASVEL were victorious.

Chris Jones and Elie Okobo were once again spectacular tonight. Jones finished with 16 points (4/9 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, and 16 PIR.

Okobo had 7 points (2/5 2PT, 1/5 3PT), 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 6 turnovers, and 17 PIR.

"After minus 19, what is it? It's heart," ASVEL's coach TJ Parker said. "The team showed a lot of heart. We got a stop after stop, after stop. We got some key buckets down the line, and congratulations to the guys. It's a great win. You always have to believe you can win the game. You have to show your team they can win the game. You can't do otherwise."

A great performance by Vasilije Micic was not enough for Efes. He ended the game with 24 points (4/6 2PT, 4/7 3PT, 4/4 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 8 turnovers, and 21 PIR.

"Of course, it's not easy to talk after this kind of a loss," Efes coach Ergin Ataman said post-game. "I believe in the last 12, 13 minutes, of the second half, we played like a mini-basket team. The mistakes we made were like that. Congratulations to Villeurbanne. They put great effort into the last quarter, and they changed the game."

Efes looked hungry for their first win in the first quarter, led by Vasilije Micic's 11 points in the period. They took a 10-point lead towards the end of the first period (25-15).

ASVEL cut their deficit to five to end the first (20-25), but Efes were dominant in the second, going on a 12-2 run to start the quarter and running away from their French rivals (37-22).

ASVEL: Chris Jones 16 (6 REB), William Howard 13, Paul Lacombe 10, Dylan Osetkowski 10, Kostas Antetokounmpo 10, Elie Okobo 7 (10 AST, 6 REB, 4 STL, 6 TO).

Efes: Vasilije Micic 24, Shane Larkin 15 (6 AST), Rodrigue Beaubois 13, Tibor Pleiss 8 (11 REB), Adrien Moerman 6.

Highlights

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.