Anadolu Efes built a 15-point lead in Barcelona but let it slip, losing 89-82 after a rough finish. Missed shots and shaky teamwork opened the door for Barcelona to steal the win in the closing minutes.
Three minutes left. The score was tied at 77. Anadolu Efes stood on the edge of a big win in Barcelona. Then it all unraveled. A string of mistakes and lost teamwork handed Barcelona an 89-82 win. Efes left the court frustrated. The night started with hope. It ended with regret.
Efes came out firing. They attacked the basket and jumped to a 19-4 lead in under four minutes. Ball movement and hard drives set the tone. Barcelona looked rattled. By the end of the first quarter, Efes led 25-16. The visitors looked ready to take advantage of a Barcelona team still trying to find its rhythm after a full roster shakeup.
This match marked Anadolu Efes's 666th appearance in the EuroLeague since their debut in the 2001/02 season.
The game flipped fast. Efes drifted from team play and started forcing isolation shots. Their offense stalled. Barcelona chipped away with timely threes. The gap shrank. By halftime, Barcelona trailed by just two. Dario Brizuela hit a late three to give Barcelona their first lead, 45-44, heading into the break. That stung. Efes looked shaken.
The numbers told the story. Efes hit only 4 of 19 from deep. Barcelona made 6 of 15 threes in the first half alone. Efes struggled from outside and slipped on defense. Barcelona clawed back. In the third quarter, Efes briefly took control again. Mike James pushed them ahead 61-58. Ercan Osmani grabbed a tough rebound and scored. Efes led 67-63 after three. The lead felt shaky.
Pressure mounted. Efes cracked. Mike James finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, but he started forcing shots. The team’s rhythm broke down. Defensive lapses left Efes exposed. Kai Jones tried to hold the paint, but it wasn’t enough. With the game on the line, James committed a backcourt violation. A missed call on a late turnover hurt. Justin Robinson drilled a three with 49 seconds left. Barcelona led 86-82. That was the dagger. Efes had no answer.
According to Sofascore, Barcelona shot 51.6% from the field compared to Efes's 45.9%, and while Efes narrowly won the rebounding battle 33 to 31, Barcelona's efficiency and a 26-15 run in the fourth quarter proved decisive.
Dario Brizuela led Barcelona with 20 points. Kevin Punter added 19. For Efes, Dario Saric scored 17 with 5 rebounds. Matthew Strazel chipped in 12 points and 3 assists. The loss stings. Efes let a big lead slip against a Barcelona team still finding its feet.
This game showed how fragile Efes is right now. When they share the ball and attack together, they look strong. When they go solo, the offense stalls. Defense falls apart. Top European teams punish those mistakes. Efes couldn’t close out a winnable game. That’s a warning. If they don’t find their discipline, more nights like this are coming.
