The Turkish side secured a postseason berth with this victory
Efes rallies to edge past Maccabi in dramatic finale, 90-88
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 32 of 34
Group Regular Season
w
w
w
w
w
l
l
w
w
w
Anadolu Efes Istanbul rallied from a double-digit third-quarter deficit to pull out a dramatic 90-88 win over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Riga, Latvia. It’s the sixth straight win for Efes, which improved to 18-14 and is sure of playing postseason basketball once again this season. Maccabi, meanwhile, dropped to a 10-22 record.
Maccabi used a 0-12 run to open a 53-63 lead in the third quarter, but Elijah Bryant scored 16 points bridging the third and fourth quarters to restore Efes’s lead. The two teams kept trading blows as the game went down to the wire, all the way to Bryant becoming the difference-maker on the defensive end, knocking out the ball from the hands of Rokas Jokubaitis in the waning seconds to secure the win.
Bryant finished with 25 points, Dan Oturu had 15 points and Shane Larkin poured in 11, while Vincent Poirier scored all of his 10 points in the first quarter. Roman Sorkin paced Maccabi with 22 points, Jokubaitis had 19, and Jake Cohen and Levi Randolph scored 10 apiece in the loss.
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d609197f-c83a-4032-ac31-e10863a4c457.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9b1372f7-1126-4a53-9824-2219ca5d179b.jpg?crop=1294%3A728%3Anowe%3A0%3A74]()
Thompson to Poirier alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef5799c3-50b4-4c70-b294-33bf62ebb034.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/CKyFT0RrQ08EH0pL46rz5URc75xCt0N3-1743025105690.jpg]()
Shane Larkin breaking ankles! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/ncgaNO3XPDpfrCWGdJpVzKoaktciWAQr-1743019011423.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'To catch our rhythm at the right time is perfect'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1b30c0c0-b546-4c20-a562-c140663c88f9.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1849ca30-8e30-4f6b-bf57-a39d5d49d680.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A61%3A81]()
Jordan Nwora denies his opponent! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57539679-5394-420e-b104-0b7a93f5b449.jpg?crop=1282%3A722%3Anowe%3A44%3A73]()
Bryant sets up Poirier for an alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ca95eef5-81fa-4f87-ac35-57a55afc61d6.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast gang reunites for the double week
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/21/BEHrPoM5NhA5860LguXEnWNzHU2mpEjY-1742597326494.jpg]()
Elijah Bryant: 'Maybe I'll have some ice cream to celebrate'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1e29304b-abd7-4650-85b0-12746ef3a04f.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/60743b98-167c-46e3-b352-6819d6292c7c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A161%3A77]()
Oturu with a incredible play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/20/I0InDLESANSOQCTKX6xT5kJX1FrsbBvh-1742506746633.jpg]()
Rokas Jokubaitis: 'We play for pride and are doing an amazing job'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2c426c46-4a59-4d27-92e2-3af7d1149ca7.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bda621c7-25cc-4c27-8184-ef3296b1e99f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A68%3A83]()
Jimmy Clark we have take-off! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/tHqpRVU6VVs/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/14/YCQTdS296Lon0Q4niGHTzgN3MIMGO3Pa-1741990038659.jpg]()
Oturu's alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:21
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/14/6UVHnj7jbET7UhW8CGswHy04ydc6F92B-1741991017499.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We're in playoff mode right now'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1d698d65-16a1-4c8d-b1aa-b39d52c352b3.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/179bb012-8d05-4ef2-a6b7-4f0404fa7c4f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A9]()
Poirier's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/13/f91Cubn6nMbhEupPtMyAJXe7HlcRSCtQ-1741903307623.jpg]()
Trevion Williams: 'We just want to keep our foot on the gas'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e0b1340-2909-42b9-86d4-dccc40a67987.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-AS Monaco | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1a1efabe-44e0-4250-a23d-86dcce4fac53.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A154%3A33]()
Williams dunks off a Clark dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6f9898d-76c4-4898-a009-6d33b9908b21.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A135%3A51]()
Williams opens the game in style! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:19
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/07/qaaFeGfBPoJGtETf34mEc8hqvHfnSOHu-1741389912495.jpg]()
Levi Randolph: 'It's a testament to the team and our character'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b689ab33-691c-4f5c-a802-32a68089b382.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:22
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/07/WtJTZR1vRRE3d6kx6fi3WuBb0J5f7XIK-1741390113239.jpg]()
Elijah Bryant: 'Today, we got better'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7c3bd048-2f52-4289-a21d-23930dd5e839.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3313994-aad3-4e1c-8f16-27c1a0e247b7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A33%3A11]()
Clark does a steal & dunk play again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3313994-aad3-4e1c-8f16-27c1a0e247b7.jpg?crop=454%3A256%3Anowe%3A523%3A67]()
Clark from deep to beat the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a69cd946-a71a-4f3d-9a48-bf1c1c97a550.jpg?crop=1289%3A725%3Anowe%3A0%3A80]()
Bryant beats the halftime buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/179bb012-8d05-4ef2-a6b7-4f0404fa7c4f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A144%3A0]()
Poirier’s alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/28/LIZ84AtQa1fcRTD8Sc3DFxx7kNDTtCiz-1740781597008.jpg]()
Smits skies for a poster-dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 02:04
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/28/Ee0njwASVS3Z0SFRCEh05B0wfKm0cP8f-1740777885031.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'We helped each other on the court'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/93df1fc9-4464-4101-9813-ba10857525aa.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4242a86f-f6ba-4470-a26b-03e5abd93ea1.jpg?crop=718%3A404%3Anowe%3A467%3A179]()
Smits skies for a poster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/49da6b4a-501a-4286-bb8a-40f12e1f78dc.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A65%3A35]()
Nwora beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8d60cc90-b061-4bb2-8e5a-abda058af8c1.jpg?crop=1334%3A751%3Anowe%3A8%3A3]()
Larkin feeds Poirer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:53
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/27/jH2zgcHe18aoJY8R1X1jBffbWiOL8wKe-1740697746416.jpg]()
Roman Sorkin: 'A lot of guys stepped up'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7e2b405e-507e-4a09-8f81-60748611aeff.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c6f9898d-76c4-4898-a009-6d33b9908b21.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A119%3A49]()
What a pass by Williams! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/efd01697-3c47-4752-b427-b0a1f4471a8d.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A4%3A228]()
Sorkin beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1d676b59-744d-48dc-ae71-0e096b42e7a8.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
EuroLeague & Friends returns with Rokas Jokubaitis as guest
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/19241d10-486b-47f8-b443-36baaf7bae53.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4b2eeab3-4ae3-45bb-9fe9-67e774ce86ca.jpg?crop=1269%3A713%3Anowe%3A16%3A55]()
Rivero rejects Sedekerskis! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2485a69a-ab2b-402c-a19f-ad441b4ba997.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eca4432b-ae0d-4948-b3ee-448d4d9aa7f4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A106%3A114]()
Dozier and Oturu at it again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d96c8ee1-aa80-48fa-a11e-030dd85073da.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A151%3A63]()
Oturu with a vicious two-hander! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b006c14a-7650-49bd-bd50-80b3504b8efc.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/135a79a9-f936-43b3-b1fd-6bf70257d231.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A118%3A88]()
Williams finds Sorkin! Motorola Magic Moment
Poirier dominated inside in the early going, scoring eight of Efes’s first 12 points. Sorkin got himself going early and Jokubaitis banked a pair of tough runners before nailing a triple to make it 16-17. But Rolands Smits answered with a corner triple, then five points from Bryant, including a three-point play, opened a 26-17 lead. Rafi Menco ended a 10-0 drought with a corner three, and Cohen’s layup made it 26-22 after 10 minutes.
Efes kept using its size and muscle, now with Oturu scoring inside, but Sorkin continued to torch Efes, tying the game at 28-28. Larkin hit his first triple, then Darius Thompson nailed one to open a 38-32 advantage, but Sorkin scored five more points – a triple and a monster dunk – to get Maccabi within a single point. Back-to-back threes from Larkin and PJ Dozier helped Efes restore a 46-39 edge. Jake Cohen made one from long range and Levi Randolph from close range, but Larkin and Osmani ensured that Efes took a 50-46 lead into halftime.
Jokubaitis opened the second half with a three-pointer, and after Smits and Tamir Blatt traded triples, Jokubaitis took it to the rim to make it 53-56. After a timeout, back-to-back fast-break layups from Randolph and Jokubaitis, followed by a triple from Sorkin, extended the margin to 53-63, forcing another Efes timeout. Bryant’s three-pointer snapped a 0-12 run, then he added a tough jumper before Oturu fought inside for a three-point play and a layup cut it to 63-65. Bryant finished the quarter in style, sinking a last-second three-pointer to send Efes into the fourth quarter with a 66-65 lead.
Bryant hit two more threes to start the fourth, but each was answered by Maccabi, first Menco, then Cohen and John DiBartolomeo nailed one, too. Maccabi went ahead 74-76, only for back-to-back threes from Ercan Osmani and Thompson to put Efes in front, 82-78. DiBartolomeo hit another triple, but Oturu had a pair of dunks, followed by a jumper from Thompson to make it 88-84. However, Sorkin and Jokubaitis made all four free throws to tie at 88-88. Beaubois split his foul shots, making it 89-88 and giving Maccabi 10 seconds to win it. The ball went into the hands of Jokubaitis, but Bryant made the game-altering defensive play as Efes celebrated another win.
