Madrid slip to defeat away at Anadolu Efes

Real Madrid were beaten by Anadolu Efes in their first of two games in Istanbul this week (they play Fenerbahce on Thursday). After an even first half, Chus Mateo's side went into the final quarter with a 5-point lead but the opposition rallied to turn it around in the closing stages. The visitors were made to pay for their lack of precision in free throws (11 of 19). Hezonja was the team’s top point scorer (18).

Anadolu Efes made the brighter start with an 8-0 run in three minutes. This allowed them to pull ahead in the first quarter, but Madrid improved thanks to an inspired Bruno Fernando, who started the game and became the team's offensive focal point (7 points and 3 rebounds). He was accompanied in the scoring by Hugo González (4), but the home side, thanks to their dominance of the rebound and their accuracy in three-pointers, managed to maintain their lead (25-17, min.10).

Madrid improve in the second quarter
Chus Mateo's team picked up energy and aggressiveness. Feliz and Llull brought freshness to the attack (5 points each) and the presence of Tavares and Garuba in the paint evened the rebounding contest. Dennis Smith Jr. also contributed on his EuroLeague debut. The Madridistas limited the home side to 13 points in the quarter to his 25. The visitors' persistence drove them level at 38-38 at half-time after a three-pointer from Hugo Gonzalez. The home-grown player was brilliant in the first half.

The game then shifted into a period of exchanging baskets with Poirier and Thompson, on the home side, and Abalde and Hezonja, for the visitors. Neither team was allowing big breaks, but Madrid's defensive persistence and determination allowed them to take the lead in the 26th minute. Hugo González, with an offensive rebound that broke his personal record in the EuroLeague (11 points), culminated the comeback (49-51). But it was in the last two minutes of the third quarter when Chus Mateo’s men launched a big surge. Campazzo took control and his connection with Bruno Fernando ensured they went into the final period with a 56-61 lead.

Anadolu Efes pegged back the Madridistas on the back of two consecutive three-pointers and a 2+1 from Bryant. The gap widened and Madrid were unable to respond on the offensive end, where they were weighed down by their failure to hit free throws and three-pointers. Hezonja spurred his team on and, with two consecutive three-pointers, brought the score to 75-73 on the 37' mark. But the Whites were unable to get anyone other than the Croatian scorer and his 12 points in this period were insufficient to counteract the home side's impetus in the final stretch (79-73, min.40).

STATISTICS FROM ANADOLU EFES-REAL MADRID