Efes defeated Zalgiris in extra time, despite Evans’ over-the-top performance

Efes needed the additional five minutes to overcome the resistance of the stubborn Zalgiris. Erdem Can’s team ultimately prevailed 86-82 (74-74 etc.), with Will Clyburn being the top player who finished the game with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Keenan Evans, who scored 15 of the 20 points from the 35th to 40th minutes, impressed the visitors, but in the end it wasn’t enough for Zalgiris to leave Turkey with the brace.

The race

Zalgiris was slightly more effective in the first few minutes of the game, although the tempo was of course low and he found himself in a double score (6-12, 5’45”). Somewhere there, Efes – who saw Erkan Yilmaz limping off the ground – who ended the quarter at -1 (13-14, 10′).

The second period belonged exclusively to the home team, which went into the locker room with a lead of 25:12 and a twelve point lead (38:26, 20th minute).

The gap increased to 18 points (44-26, 21’38”) after consecutive three-pointers from Derek Willis and Darius Thompson, but Zalgris, led by Rolands Schmitz, managed to get closer to 5 (51-46) after 30′ .

With an eight-point series from Arnas Butkevicius, Kevarius Hayes and Thomas Dimsa, Kazis’ team overtook Maksvitis 53:54 (31’30”). Efes immediately responded with its own 9-0 series and was up at 6:20 62:54″ before 40 minutes are up. There, Keenan Evans appeared with 14 points of his own from the 35th to 40th minutes, sending the game to overtime after Shane Larkin took charge of Efes’ final drive with 21 seconds left, but missed a three-point attempt and failed to convert 74 could -74 (40′).

The hosts showed more variety and composure in the next five minutes and finally achieved a difficult victory.

THE REFEREES: Perez, Cortes, Giuras

THE DECADES: 13-14, 38-26, 51-46, 74-74 (ff), 86-82

EFFECTS (January): Larkin 14 (2/6 3-pointers, 5 assists), Beaubois 5 (1/5 3-pointers), Clyburn 20 (6/10 2-pointers, 2/4 3- Points-points, 2/4 shots, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Thompson 17 (3/6 2-pointers, 2/3 3-pointers, 5/6 shots, 2 rebounds, 5 assists), Holaj, Osmani, Yilmaz 2 (3 rebounds), Willis 11 (3/6 3-pointers, 10 rebounds), Zizic 6 (4 rebounds), Jones 11 (6 rebounds)

ZALGIRIS (Maxvitis): Evans 20 (4/6 2-points, 3/6 3-points, 3/4 3-points, 4 assists), Mitrou-Long, Lekavicius, Hayes 13 (6 rebounds), Gentraitis 3 (1/ 4 three-pointers, Schmitz 16 (2/5 three-pointers, 7 rebounds, 3 assists), Biroutis 2, Dimsa 15 (3/5 three-pointers, 5 rebounds), Manek 6 (2), Butkevicius 3 (1), Ulanovas 4 (6 rebounds , 6 assists)

Efes team statistics: 21/41 2-pointers, 10/25 3-pointers, 14/17 shots, 38 rebounds (9 offensive – 29 defensive), 13 assists, 7 steals, 11 fouls, 4 blocks

Zalgiris team statistics: 21/41 2-pointers, 12/31 3-pointers, 4/5 shots, 34 rebounds (9 offensive – 25 defensive), 18 assists, 7 steals, 11 turnovers, 2 blocks

The next games of the two teams: On matchday 8, Efes plays away at Monaco (11/14, 8:00 p.m.) and Zalgiris meets Panathinaikos at OAKA (11/15, 9:15 p.m.).