• Classification: This is the Euroleague

A full-fledged exhibition by Shane Larkin (26 points, 35 valuation) was the great argument of an inadvertent Anadolu Efes to take the victory of Palau Blaugrana (82-86) and inflict Barça his fifth defeat in the Euroleague, the second consecutive after the set against Baskonia last week. In an evening in which Nikola Mirotic was somewhat alerted during much of the game and in which Cory Higgins almost did not appear on the court, the whole of Svetislav Pesic survived thanks to the punctual arrangements of Malcolm Delaney, Brandon Davies and Kyle Kuric . In the end, the bad defensive decisions taken throughout the duel and their inability to find good shooting solutions at decisive moments would eventually turn the Turkish team into a more than just winner. [Narration and statistics]

The Anadolu Efes, of course, arrived at the Palau with a desire for revenge for the defeat at home on the first day of the Euroleague. With this premise, he signed a brilliant start-up match, in which a Shane Larkin shone with his own light shone capable of guiding his own to a maximum advantage of 10 points (12-22) before a Barça that had not just been all fine in defensive work. Those of Pesic, however, found a first reaction that helped them to leave at the end of the first period with some damage control (19-24) thanks, above all, to the success from beyond the three-point line of a Malcolm Delaney who would be even more vital for the Catalans in the second period.

Mirotic and Peters, during the match.

The Baltimore, with a series of three consecutive three-pointers, was able to put the locals on the scoreboard for the first time (32-31) just under four and a half minutes by the end of a period that showed a duel of very even forces. Although the Catalans had been at times virtually unable to find good shooting situations before an Efes very toned in defense, and with Larkin maintaining his particular exhibition on the parquet, Barça managed to leave the rest still behind on the scoreboard, although with a difference more than affordable with a view to the second part (42-45).

Irregular Mirotic

The Turkish team, however, knew how to endure perfectly the other side of the club's timid arreones to stay ahead on the scoreboard in the third period. As much as Brandon Davies stood out as a great argument for the Catalans, it was missing that any more of his teammates joined his fight . Very especially, a Mirotic that was still far from its best afternoon, showing flashes of its quality only in bursts. Something that, together with the refined aim of the Turkish team in the triples, allowed the team that trains Ergin Ataman to leave the last and final period with everything in favor to take the victory (58-66).

Those of Pesic, however, seemed, at least for a moment, capable of waking up in time. In this case, by the hand of a Kyle Kuric who, with three consecutive triples, was erected as the great architect of a 14-0 run that allowed his team to place themselves with a six-point lead on the scoreboard (72- 66) just over five minutes to the end of the game. The deranged Anadolu Efes coach ended up eliminated by two techniques at the most inopportune moment for the Turkish team. The Palau roared loudly. And even Mirotic seemed to finally find his best moments on the track. It matters little that the Montenegrin Hispanic seems gone. In nothing, it is able to sign statistics that, of course, would shine in the hands of others, but that in theirs seem almost testimonial.

At the decisive moment, despite everything, it was the Anadolu Efes who knew how to keep a cool head and finally take the cat to the water in a final exchange of simply brutal blows. Larkin, of course, was in charge of putting the final lace to a high-voltage game in which the Catalans showed their worst arguments at the defensive level and in which, despite touching the comeback with their fingers , they ended up inflating the knee on the ground (82-86).

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