In a major showdown of the Turkish Super League 20th round, Anadolu Efes defeated Galatasaray with a score of 92-95 on the road.
It’s worth noting that Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn did not play in this match as key players for Anadolu Efes.
The players of the visiting team demonstrated excellent performance, with all starters scoring points within the first two minutes of the game, leading 10-4. Anadolu Efes consistently maintained their lead, reaching a double-digit advantage for the first time at 24-14, which remained the difference after the first ten minutes, 28-18.
The second quarter witnessed a direct duel between Elijah Bryant and Klemen Prepelic. Although the Slovenian international showcased excellent shooting, he lacked support from his teammates, resulting in Galatasaray struggling on offense. At one point, they managed a 6-0 run, reducing the deficit to just four points and having an open three-pointer to narrow the gap to one point. However, the miss cost them as Anadolu Efes led 48-41 heading into halftime.
At the start of the second half, Galatasaray closed the gap to just two points, but as it turned out, that was all they could manage in the third quarter. Darius Thompson and Tibor Pleiss were on target, with Thompson also orchestrating his teammates, quickly pushing their lead back to double digits. However, Jonah Radebaugh slammed to reduce the deficit to 74-66 heading into the final quarter.
Klemen Prepelic quickly added five more points, keeping Galatasaray within single digits. However, every time they had a chance to further chip away at the lead, his teammates missed open shots. When Derek Willis slammed for another ten-point lead, it seemed all but over, prompting Galatasaray to respond with an 8-0 run. They managed to narrow it down to 92-89 with 50 seconds left after three-pointers from Bugrahan Tuncer.
Derek Willis played a significant role in the final minutes, scoring six points in the last two minutes of the game, securing Anadolu Efes’ 17th win of the season, although it was a bit closer than expected.
Tibor Pleiss led the winning team with 22 points (4/6 from three-point range) and six rebounds. Elijah Bryant achieved a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Darius Thompson contributed 17 points and 12 assists. For Galatasaray, Klemen Prepelic performed excellently with 29 points and three assists (5/10 from three-point range), while Bugrahan Tuncer added 18 points.
After this game, Anadolu Efes continues to fight for the top position with a record of 17 wins and only three losses. On the other hand, Galatasaray sits below the playoff line with a negative record of 9-11, placing ninth.