The Turkish team’s playmaker showed the credentials of a double EuroLeague winner against the reigning champs
Larkin got one over former mentor Ataman as Efes ran riot
Article
3 Mins read
Anadolu Efes Istanbul bounced back superbly from a tough loss to Turkish Airlines EuroLeague holder Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in Game 1, leveling the quarterfinal playoff series after a comeback 76-79 victory in Game 2.
The fascinating matchup now moves to Istanbul, where Efes will head into another doubleheader brimming with confidence after defying the odds to get back on an even keel following an 87-83 reverse in Game 1.
Having trailed by as many as 15 points on Thursday night, Efes turned the tide largely thanks to a majestic performance from stalwart Shane Larkin, who shined in the fourth quarter as the visitors roared back to silence the fervent home crowd in the OAKA Arena.
Larkin showed the makings of a champion who guided Efes to successive titles in 2021 and 2022 under present Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman, handing his former boss a painful defeat, which threatens to derail the Greek club’s title defense.
Larkin was lethal when the chips were down, nailing a lay-up, a clutch spot-up three and finally a pair of free throws to seal Efes’s epic comeback in a raucous atmosphere, with P.J. Dozier also excelling down the stretch.
Humble as ever, Larkin played down the significance of his fourth-quarter heroics while crediting his teammates for a selfless and concerted effort, which forced the Greens into submission.
“We just had to stay together against this team of great players and coaches,” Larkin said in his postgame comments. “We have a young team but we had to stay poised as these fans here will try to get under your skin. When we are able to run our game we have a chance of beating anybody.”
Game Videos
- 02:40
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Masterpiece on the Mediterranean
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Follow the Panathinaikos-Efes Game 2 post-game press conference
- 01:34
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Shane Larkin: 'We just had to stay poised'
- 01:01
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Vincent Poirier: 'We finished until the end'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
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Larkin taking the lead for good! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:12
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Kostas Sloukas with a crazy buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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Oturu with a mighty dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
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Oturu with the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Jerian Grant shows big hustle! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Poirier with the put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
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Poirier with a fierce small-dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:57
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Juancho Hernangomez: 'We have a lot of talent, everybody can step up'
- 00:44
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Jerian Grant: 'That's what championship teams do'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
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Yurtseven at it again! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:11
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Grant seals the win! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
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Juancho flies to the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
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Larkin and Dozier conjure some magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
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Oturu with a strong dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
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Poirier rips the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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Yurtseven on the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
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Kendrick NUNN Got MIC’D UP and SCORED BIG | AS Monaco - Panathinaikos
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The 7th Star - Trailer
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Kendrick Nunn: 'The one I'm most proud of is the 10 assists'
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
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Poirier with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 02:30
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Shane Larkin: 'We've had to win every single game to get here'
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Nwora with a massive dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
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EuroLeague 25 Moments: When Panathinaikos took Virtus’s crown in 2002
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Vincent Poirier: 'Really proud of the team and what we've accomplished so far'
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Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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A sublime alley oop from Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
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A ferocious dunk from Thompson! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:41
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Kendrick Nunn: 'We came here with one job: to win'
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AS Monaco-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
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Title hereGabriel attacks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
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Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Paris Basketball | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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Thompson to Poirier alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:24
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Juancho Hernangomez: 'Great teams keep fighting until the end'
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
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Shane Larkin breaking ankles! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:22
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Gabriel dominates on both ends! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:31
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Shane Larkin: 'To catch our rhythm at the right time is perfect'
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
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Nunn rejects Clark! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
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Jordan Nwora denies his opponent! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Bryant sets up Poirier for an alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
Reflecting on the crunch triple that gave Efes a decisive 73-76 lead, Larkin said the contribution of each and every Efes player who stepped out on the court should be in the spotlight.
“It was a big play and a big shot and that’s what everybody is going to point to but it’s not what won the game,” he said. “All the energy plays that Vince (Poirier) and Derek Willis made, guys like Erkan Ylimaz coming off the bench and giving us great minutes, those are the kinds of things that win games. Now we have to refocus as they will try to get us in Istanbul.”
Poirier added: “In the second half, we shared the ball and played great defense, we were aggressive and unlike in Game 1, we had a strong finish. That’s the mentality we’ve got to bring to the next two games at home.”
Efes head coach Luca Banchi acknowledged that his team looked sharper and more determined to come out on top than it did in the opening game, when Panathinaikos prevailed on the back of a fourth-quarter onslaught.
“We just tried to make our basketball simple and draw energy from our defense,” the Italian tactician said. “Both teams have players with the potential to win the game and in the end, we were pretty sharp and took the win to extend the series. We’re going to Istanbul in a good mood and with a good level of confidence,” he added.
Ataman was understandably unhappy with his team’s failure to seal the game in the fourth quarter, as victory would have given Panathinaikos a massive 2-0 lead ahead of the trip to Istanbul. His team now faces the daunting task of winning at least once in the Turkish capital to avoid elimination, but a stone-faced Ataman graciously praised his former protégé Larkin while criticizing his own outfit.
“We missed open shots and didn’t play good defense on Larkin in the fourth quarter while they hit some really tough shots,” he said. “Dozier and Larkin played great offense in the final period and it’s 1-1 now.”