Larkin’s 31 Lifts Anadolu Efes to 102-93 Win; Series Cut to 2-1
Game recap
Anadolu Efes kept its season alive with a 102-93 home victory over Fenerbahce in Game 3, avoiding a sweep and trimming the series deficit to 2-1. The winner of this semifinal will meet the victor of the Besiktas vs Bahcesehir series, which is currently level at 1-1.
This game began differently to the first two: Fenerbahce jumped out early as Tarik Biberovic hit three straight triples and quieted the crowd. Efes quickly answered, though, with Shane Larkin and PJ Dozier attacking from the opening possession and erasing that momentum.
It turned into a tense, physical contest with frequent complaints to the officials and an animated sideline exchange between the coaches. The visiting coach was assessed a technical foul, and Efes led 29-26 after the first quarter.
The second quarter was foul-heavy and featured many trips to the free-throw line for both teams. That disruption kept the scoring rhythm choppy, and Fenerbahce held a slim 50-49 advantage at halftime.
The third quarter belonged to Efes. After falling in the first two games, Pablo Laso’s squad again showed stretches of superior play — led by a red-hot Shane Larkin and solid support from PJ Dozier — and built a 76-67 lead going into the final period.
The fourth quarter remained stop-and-start because of fouls, but Efes managed the clock and the free throws better down the stretch. Biberovic continued to splash threes for Fenerbahce, but Jordan Loyd and Larkin answered when it mattered, and late offensive foul calls against Fenerbahce helped seal the outcome.
Standouts and key numbers
Shane Larkin paced the winners with 31 points, while Jordan Loyd added 23. For Fenerbahce, Tarik Biberovic poured in 29 points, going 7-for-8 from beyond the arc, and Wade Baldwin finished with 24.
Free-throw shooting was a major factor: the home side attempted 40 free throws and made 35, while the visitors went to the line 43 times and converted 34. Those trips helped keep the finish tight, but Efes made the crucial ones late to secure the win.
