MADRID – Real Madrid secured a comfortable 82-71 victory over Anadolu Efes at the Movistar Arena on Wednesday, bolstering their position in the EuroLeague standings and setting the stage for a crucial stretch run to the playoffs. The win, Madrid’s 17th in 18 home games, came as expected against a depleted Efes side, and positions them well to potentially claim second place in the league as the regular season nears its conclusion. The team now faces a challenging three-game road trip, beginning with a Friday matchup against Baskonia in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
The atmosphere at the Movistar Arena was particularly poignant as it marked the fifth return of former Real Madrid coach Pablo Laso, who received a warm reception from the home crowd. Players, including Poirier in the opening minutes, appeared to make a concerted effort to acknowledge their former mentor, though it didn’t prevent a slow start for the home side. Anadolu Efes jumped out to an early 0-12 lead, fueled by five points from Loyd, forcing Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo to call an early timeout.
Real Madrid struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the first quarter, hampered by the aggressive defense of Anadolu Efes and the presence of Poirier and Jones, who combined for three blocked shots. It took nearly five minutes for the home side to register their first field goal, courtesy of Hezonja. The first ten minutes ended with Real Madrid trailing 11-21.
The turning point came in the second quarter, as Real Madrid dramatically shifted their approach, focusing on defensive intensity and a more fluid offensive attack. Garuba’s commitment on defense sparked a turnaround, disrupting Anadolu Efes’s offensive flow. Madrid capitalized with a 31-12 run, fueled by a barrage of three-pointers from Lyles and Llull. Lyles and Llull combined for 5 of 5 from beyond the arc, igniting the crowd and overwhelming the Turkish side. Anadolu Efes struggled to handle the increased pressure, committing turnovers and finding themselves unable to respond. A late three-pointer by Weiler-Babb prevented a complete collapse before halftime, leaving the score at 42-33.
Despite establishing a comfortable lead, Real Madrid appeared to ease off in the third quarter, allowing Anadolu Efes to close the gap. Laso utilized Hazer to inject some life into his team’s attack, and the visitors managed to reduce the deficit to just three points early in the fourth quarter. However, Real Madrid responded with a decisive 7-0 run, led by key contributions from Llull, Deck, and Lyles, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a comeback for Anadolu Efes.
The final score reflected Real Madrid’s dominance, 82-71. Key performers for Real Madrid included Campazzo with 10 points, Hezonja with 12, Tavares with 10 points and 9 rebounds, Deck with 11 points, and Lyles leading the scoring with 14 points. For Anadolu Efes, Loyd led all scorers with 21 points, while Dozier added 11 and Poirier contributed 8.
Box Score:
Real Madrid (11+31+18+22): Campazzo (10), Abalde (0), Hezonja (12), Okeke (4), Tavares (10); Maledon (2), Deck (11), Feliz (2), Lyles (14), Garuba (9), Llull (8).
Anadolu Efes (21+12+20+18): Weiler-Babb (3), Dozier (11), Loyd (21), Osmani (10), Poirier (8); Jones (2), Smits (2), Lee (4), Cordinier (6), Beaubois (2), Hazer (2).
Officials: Difallah (FRA), Shemmesh (ISR), Radojkovic (CRO). Dozier and the Real Madrid bench received technical fouls.
Attendance: 8,124 at the Movistar Arena.
The victory improves Real Madrid’s record to 22-12, tied with Olympiacos for second place in the EuroLeague standings. Fenerbahçe currently leads the league with a record of 23-10. Valencia Basket (21-12) and Hapoel Tel Aviv (20-12) follow closely behind. The upcoming road trip – beginning with a Friday contest against Baskonia, followed by games against Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe – will be a significant test for Mateo’s squad as they aim to secure a favorable playoff seeding. The regular season concludes with a home game against Estrella Roja.
This win extends Real Madrid’s impressive home record to 17-1, demonstrating their dominance at the Movistar Arena. The team’s ability to overcome a slow start and impose their will on the game highlights their resilience and championship aspirations. The return of Pablo Laso to the arena added an emotional layer to the contest, but Real Madrid’s focus remained on securing a crucial victory in their pursuit of EuroLeague glory.
Next up for Real Madrid is a challenging road game against Baskonia on Friday, March 27th (18:30 CET / 12:30 PM EST). Fans can follow the game live on Movistar+.
