By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In a late-thriller in Krasnodar, Ryan Broekhoff’s three-pointer, with 21 seconds to go, let Lokomotiv Kuban beat Anadolu Efes 78-77. This was the second victory for the Russians in group E (2-0), whereas the Turks suffered their first defeat (1-1).
For the winners, Malcolm Delaney made another tremendous performance with 25 points, with Anthony Randolph adding 12 points and nine rebounds. On the other hand, Thomas Heurtel had 25 points and six assists for the losing squad, as Derrick Brown and Cedi Osman scored 15 and 11 points, respectively.
In the beginning, no team could take a significant advantage (2-6, 8-6), however the visitors quickly took control of the game (8-13, 10-16) and closed the first quarter in front by five (16-21), playing better on both ends of the floor. Later, things didn’t change much. The hosts continued to play mediocre both offensively and defensively and, consequently, the Turks were easily retaining a double-digit advantage (21-31, 31-43). The Russians, though, responded and went on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to six points, after 20 minutes in the game (37-43).
In the second half, Lokomotiv Kuban enhanced its overall performance and went on a 13-7 run to tie the game (50-50), with five minutes to go in the third quarter. However, Dusan Ivkovic’s players stood tall, made a 3-9 run of their own and regained the lead, after 30 minutes in the game (53-59). In the last quarter, Anadolu Efes extended its lead to nine points (55-64), however the hosts came back again and regained their advantage (70-69), behind a 15-5 run. In the remaining minutes, the situation remained the same (75-75), however it was Broekhoff’s three-pointer, with 21 seconds to go, that gave Giorgos Bartzokas’ team the big victory, as Derrick Brown missed the three-pointer at the buzzer.