Turkish Airlines EuroLeague: Thursday three
Round 20 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague tipped off on Thursday with three big games before the round is completed with five contests on Friday. We are two thirds through the Regular Season and with 10 games to play, the standings continue to be hotly fought. However, CSKA Moscow continues to set the pace, but the chasing pack is keeping the heat on the Russian giant.
Panathinaikos Athens vs. Zalgiris Kaunas, 94-93
A mini Turkish Airlines EuroLeague classic this one. Panathinaikos bounced back from two straight losses, but it was closely fought against high-flying Zalgiris. The win lifts Panathinaikos to fifth place with a 13-7 record, while Zalgiris Kaunas slips to 12-8 in sixth place. As the score suggests, this game went to the wire and was decided at the final buzzer of an overtime period. The teams were locked at 83 points apiece through regulation and were tight through the added frame. Nick Calathes nailed a score with just 4.7 seconds left and that was enough to decide the game.
Real Madrid vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul, 87-68
Real Madrid got back to winning ways with a thumping home win over an Anadolu Efes team increasingly looking like cannon fodder this Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. This win lifts Los Blancos to fourth place on 13-7, while Efes is looking outclassed each week and sits bottom with a 5-15 showing. Madrid took a while to get cooking, but still led 30-39 through the long break. In the second half, the hosts moved through the gears, including a 27-21 fourth act. Real Madrid was efficient and in control throughout and eased to victory.
Unicaja Malaga vs. Baskonia Vitoria, 83-85
In another close contest, Baskonia took out EuroCup champ Malaga on the road. The visitors edged this game to move to 9-11 in mid-table. As for Malaga, the club won last week’s all-Spanish clash with Real Madrid but failed here against fellow Spanish club Baskonia. The loss means the team slides further, now with an 8-12 record. The game was tied 83-83 with just 2.2 seconds to play, but Janis Timma stepped in and offered a game-winning lay-up for the visitors.