Turkish Airlines EuroLeague: big wins galore
This week is another busy one in the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the second double-round-week of November. Round 7 and Round 8 will be decided this week as we pass the midway mark of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season. The double week also helps to accommodate FIBA’s international qualifying games, that has been moved to November and February this season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul, 72-92
Anadolu Efes obviously enjoyed picking up its first win of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season last week, so decided to make it two wins. The Turkish team (2-5) snapped Tel Aviv’s (4-3) three-game winning run in the process. The teams were tied 19-19 after the first quarter, but Efes blew the game open with a 16-28 second that handed the visitors a 35-47 lead at halftime. From there, the Turkish club extended to victory through the second half.
Errick McCollum topped the scoring with 31 points for Efes, while Vladimir Stimac provided a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Pierre Jackson paced Maccabi Tel Aviv with 20 points in the losing effort.
Panathinaikos Athens vs. Khimki Moscow Region, 93-65
Panathinaikos (4-3) may not be good enough for the title this season, but the former champ has proven it can beat any team on its day. After passing Olympiacos last week, the Greek giant dismantled Khimki Moscow Region (5-2) this week. Khimki is one of the form teams this season, but the Russian club was put to the sword in the Greek capital. Consistency in attack propelled the hosts to victory, especially 26 points in the second and fourth quarters.
Marcus Denmon secured 24 points in the win, followed James Gist with 12 points.
Alexey Shved dropped 17 points in the loss.
Baskonia Vitoria vs. Real Madrid, 105-75
What’s happened to Real Madrid (4-3)? The team is flying domestically, but the wheels have come off in the EuroLeague. It was only two weeks ago Los Blancos was unbeaten at 4-0, but a first defeat of the season opened the flood gates on the continent. Baskonia (2-5) tore apart the former champs in a thrilling display. 64 points in the first half meant Baskonia could cruise through the second half, while also inflicting Real Madrid’s worse ever defeat in EuroLeague history.
Rodrigue Beaubois nailed 15 points in the win, followed by Marcelinho Huertas with 13 points.
Luka Doncic was typically excellent with 18 points for Real Madrid, but he was propping the team up in this game.