Euroleague recap, Round 4

EuroleagueWhile Real Madrid opened this week’s Euroleague action with a win on Wednesday, it was Thursday evening when the round really took flight with a further five games. Barcelona remained perfect in the competition, while there were big wins for PGE Turow, Zalgiris Kaunas, and Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Group A

Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Unics Kazan, 77-71
Zalgiris Kaunas stayed right on Madrid’s tail with a 3-1 record after defeating Unics Kazan in Lithuania. A hard fought first quarter saw the teams go for basket for basket to tie the game 17-17 after 10 minutes on the floor. In the second frame the hosts started to carve out a lead, winning the stanza 23-20 to have a 40-37 advantage at halftime. Kaunas extended its lead through the third quarter and after 30 minutes looked good at 62-55. Kazan hit back in the fourth, but still fell short of victory.

James Anderson led the way with a huge double-double, claiming 27 points and 11 boards for Zalgiris.

Keith Langford was in typically good touch for Unics, netting 24 point through the game.

Nizhny Novgorod vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul, 66-76
Efes Istanbul continued its solid start to the Euroleague season by travelling to Russia and gunning down Nizhny Novgorod. The Turkish club led the way through the first quarter and at the first buzzer break held possession of the lead at 15-21. A big 9-21 push in the second frame gave Efes control of the game, as well as big a 24-42 lead at the midway point. The win was all but sealed in the third quarter, but Nizhny did threaten through the last frame, ultimately to no avail.

Dario Saric was the standout scorer for the winning team with 18 points, while Milko Bjelica nailed 14 points.

Taylor Rochestie paced Nizhny with 19 points and Semen Antonov scored 16 points. Trey Thompkins doubled up with 14 points and 10 boards.

Group C

PGE Turow Zgorzelec vs. Bayern Munich, 89-78
Polish team PGE Turow surprised German giant Bayern Munich at home to register its first win of the Euroleague season and consign Munich to the bottom of Group C. The German champs are having a tough season on the continent, but they managed to outpace the Polish champions through the first frame, taking a 17-22 lead into Q2. During the second quarter the home team turned the game with a 25-17 run, making it 42-39 at the long break. A big 28-20 streak in the third stint gave PGE Turow control of the game, not to mention a 70-59 lead through half hour. The hosts closed out the game with ease as they maintained their advantage through the final act.

Damian Kulig set the pace with 22 points and 6 rebounds for Zgorzelec, followed by Tony Taylor with 15 points, and Nemanja Jaramaz with 14 points.

Bayern Munich looked to Nihad Djedovic’s 16 points to lead the way, while Robin Benzing and Dusko Savanovic hit 12 each.

Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul vs. Barcelona, 78-80
FC Barcelona fell domestically on the weekend but recovered on the road in the Euroleague by defeating Turkish hosts Fenerbahce in a clash of the giants. The home team had the better of the early exchanges and after 10 minutes led 21-19, but Barcelona reversed with a 20-22 second quarter run to tie the game at 41-41 as the players headed to the locker room. Barca used a 0-11 run in the third to take a 19-23 period (60-64), before they held on against a late Fenerbahce effort.

Brad Oleson set a rhythm for Barcelona with 16 points, with Ante Tomic and Justin Doellman tabbing 12 apiece.

Luka Zoric scored 18 points and claimed 10 rebounds to take a double-double for Fenerbahce, while Andrew Goudelock offered 16 points.

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