Anadolu Efes defeated Olympiakos of Greece 77-74 in the first game of the Basketball THY Europa League Final Four and advanced to the final.
Olympiakos, which started the game effectively at Stark Arena, grabbed a 7-point lead in the 6th minute with baskets from Walkup and Fall: 12-5. Anadolu Efes, who recovered with baskets from Dunston and Larkin after the break, took the lead in the 9th minute with Bryant’s accurate outside shot: 14-16. Olympiakos responded to Micic’s basket with Papanikolaou’s points for the remainder of the half and finished the first quarter with a 21-18 lead.
Olympiakos, who used the basket gold very effectively with Martin in the second period, increased the gap to 7 points again in the 17th minute: 39-32. Anadolu Efes took the lead in the 19th minute with consecutive baskets by Micic from behind the 3-point line: 41-42. The Greek team took a 43-42 lead into the locker room on McKissic’s winning with 46 seconds left in the period.
Anadolu Efes, who started the third quarter fast, increased the difference to double digits in the 26th minute with Bryant’s scoring game: 48-59. Olympiakos, who recovered quickly, reduced the gap to 3 with 4 seconds left in the end with Dorsey’s basket from behind the 3-point line, but Anadolu Efes entered the final period with a 66-63 lead.
The last part of the fourth quarter was the scene of great excitement. Olympiacos evened the score at 74-74 with 19.5 seconds left on Martin’s basket from under the basket. Anadolu Efes won 77-74 with Micic’s 3-point basket in the last second and wrote its name in the final.
