Euroleague Top 16: Round 3 wraps
Round 3 of the Euroleague Top 16 wrapped on Friday with four contests completing the picture in Europe’s elite club competition for another week. A single game was played in Group E, but it was one to remember as Anadolu Efes and Darussafak Dogus met in an Istanbul derby that was won by Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
In Group F, Real Madrid continued to toil but picked up a home win over Zalgiris Kaunas, while Khimki Moscow Region had too much for Laboral Kutxa Vitoria in Russia. The story of the night came in Piraeus, Greece, where Euroleague juggernaut Olympiacos was undone on home hardwood by Brose Baskets Bamberg.
Group E
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul, 84-71
Round 3 of the Euroleague Top 16 threw up an exciting Istanbul derby that saw Anadolu Efes defeat Darussafaka Istanbul at home. In a hot contest at the Abdi Ipekci Arena, there was little to separate the teams throughout, but the hosts managed to edge it by the closing buzzer. Anadolu Efes opened a 36-27 halftime lead after a nervy first half, but in the second half the game opened up and the buckets fell. A 25-24 third act extended the home teams’ lead and in the fourth Anadolu outpaced their opponents to claim the victory.
Jayson Granger with 15 points and 8 assists, while Derrick Brown added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Cedi Osman added 12 points and Jon Diebler managed 11 points. Thomas Huertal connected with 10 scoring passes.
Scottie Wilbekin was the pick of the scorers with 20 points, followed by Ender Arslan’s 14 points for Darussafaka.
Group F
Khimki Moscow Region vs. Laboral Kutxa Vitoria, 76-68
Khimki bounced back after defeat last week to down Laboral Kutxa Vitoria in Russia on Friday. In a group with Euroleague giants and stalwart title contenders CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Olympiacos, the rest of the teams will know every win is vital, so the Khimki players will be delighted. It was a close run thing though, especially as the Spanish visitors from Vitoria locked the first half 39-39. The third quarter decided as Khimki put together a 13-0 charge that made it a cruise through the fourth period.
Alexey Shved topped the winners with 24 points, while James Augustine plundered 22 points.
Real Madrid vs. Zalgiris Kaunas, 92-86
Current Euroleague champions Real Madrid is continuing to make hard work of its 2015/2016 campaign, but in the Spanish capital the club had a little too much for visiting Zalgiris Kaunas. After a 26-18 opening frame the hosts let Zalgiris back into the game in the second but still led 45-42 through the long break. A 20-11 winning third act fuelled Madrid’s success, but Los Blancos almost threw it away by letting the guests back into contention through the fourth quarter before seeing it out and claiming the win. Kaunas’ 33 points in the fourth rocked the contest, but the Lithuanian club fell short at the final buzzer.
Felipe Reyes hit a scoring vein with 24 points, while Gustavo Ayon impressed with a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds. K.C. Rivers added 14 points in the success.
Renaldas Seibutis led Zalgiris with 13 points, while Siim-Sander Vene, Brock Motum, Olivier Hanlan, and Edgaras Ulanovas all scored 10 points.
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Brose Baskets Bamberg, 72-77
Olympiacos suffered its first Euroleague Top 16 loss of the season as Bamberg traveled to Piraeus and stunned the three time champions. The visitors raced into the lead with a 10-18 first quarter and built to a 26-39 lead heading into the locker room at halftime. That 13 point advantage was put to the test by an improved Olympiacos effort, the Greek giant winning the second quarter 25-18 to make it very interesting in the closing minutes. The German club held on at the end to claim a famous win.
Darius Miller led the success with 23 points, followed by Janis Strelnieks with 15 points and Leon Radosevic with 14 points. Nicolo Melli had a solid all-round game with 7 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists.
D.J. Strawberry topped Olympiacos with 15 points.