Zenit – Anadolu Efes 76-67: Russian lead quartet with Poitres

With a breakout in the third quarter, Zenit got the better of Anadolu Efes 76-67 for his 23rd game EuroLeague, leveled 2/2 against Turkey and took a strong lead for the foursome of the tournament. Pascual’s players showed a different face to the visitors, who were without Shane Larkin, a week after losing to Monaco. Poithres was pleasant and almost infallible in attack when Mickey complemented him.

From the second half of the game, the guests lost touch with the score and lost ground in the fight for the best position in the octave. Their odds on the threes were very low (they only had 4/25 on goal), which has led to Zenit winning 4-0 against Turkey in the last two seasons and Pascual leading 12-1 in games went against Ergin Ataman.

The first scorer for the hosts was Poithres with 21 points, Miki completed 15, while Mitsic had 22 for Efes and Simon 17. Now Zenit is 13-7 in the season and Efes fell to 10-11.

The race

In the tight and goalless first ten minutes, the hosts showed themselves to be very competitive and put Efes under a lot of pressure in defence. Lloyd and Mickey were Zenit’s main threats, while Mitsic and Simon were the only reliable solutions from the guests, who were behind in rebounds. Zenit’s missed chances in the second period allowed Efes to overtake and take the lead while Moerman stepped up in attack. Mickey was in great form, very effective from the periphery and completing the first half of the game to put the hosts on point.

Zenit started the second half very dynamically, Poithres doing what he wanted in the racquet and securing the hosts a double-digit difference that lasted until the end of the quarter. The guests gradually lost contact and despite Mitsic’s attempt to reduce individual performances, the Russians kept the lead, did not allow their defense to equalize and clinched their 13th win of the season.

THE REFEREES: Garcia, Jovcic, Bisang

THE TEN MINUTES: 17-18, 37-36, 53-40, 76-67

ZENIT (Pascual): Lloyd 8 (8 assists), Sakharov, Karashev 6 (2), Kulagin 9 (2), Baron 13 (3), Pushkov, Kuzminskas, Zumbkov 4 (2/4 two points), Poithres 21 (9/ 11 two points, 9 rebounds), Ponitska, Mickey 15 (5/6 two points).

ΑΝΑΝΤΟΛΟΥ ΕΦΕΣ (Ataman): Bobua 7 (1), Singleton 4 (4/4 shots), Bryant, Gazi, Moerman 11 (4/5 two points, 6 rebounds), Tuncer, Plays 2, Mitsic 22 (7/11 two points, 6 rebounds), 7 errors), Dunston 4 (5 assists), Simon 17 (8/10 two points)

Group Stats – Zenith: 19/38 two points, 8/22 three points, 8/11 shots, 34 rebounds (24+10), 21 assists, 7 steals, 11 errors, 2 blocks.

Group Statistics – Efes: 24/40 two points, 4/25 three points, 7/8 shots, 33 rebounds (23 + 10), 15 assists, 9 steals, 14 errors, 6 blocks.

The following team games: In the 24th game of the EuroLeague, Efes meets CSKA Moscow away (2/2, 7:00 p.m.) and Zenit plays Baskonia in Vitoria (1/2, 9:30 p.m.).