Real Madrid beat Anadolu Efes 81-75 in Istanbul, marking their fifth consecutive win in the EuroLeague. Mario Hezonja shone with 22 points, while Usman Garuba excelled in defense without scoring. Sergio Scariolo's team overcame a tight game with a strong final push.
Real Madrid added their eighth EuroLeague win by defeating Anadolu Efes 81-75 in Istanbul, in a match characterized by tight competition and a decisive late surge from the Spanish side. The game, played after a short international break, saw the Madrid team overcome the demands of a packed schedule.
The first quarter ended tied at 17 points, with Efes dominating offensive rebounds through players like Ercan Osmani and Roland Smits. At halftime, the Turks led 41-37, aided by early fouls on Walter Tavares. In the second half, Chuma Okeke scored 10 straight points to tie it, and Mario Hezonja added 12 more to keep the balance.
Usman Garuba was pivotal in defense, with a spectacular block on Osmani and rebound dominance, despite scoring zero. Sergio Scariolo praised him: 'the best zero-point game I've seen.' Facundo Campazzo and Gabriel Deck sealed the win with crucial plays in the final minutes, including a basket by Deck with 20 seconds left.
Efes, hampered by injuries and led by interim coach Trifunovic, faded in the second half, scoring only 34 points. This victory marks Madrid's second straight away win in Europe, solidifying their strength in a key stretch of the season.