Pleiss, Singleton to the rescue for Efes
Anadolu Efes Istanbul entered its Round 24 postponed game against Real Madrid without Rodrigue Beaubois and Ante Zizic, who was questionable and did not step onto the court. Yet, Efes found answers from its starting frontcourt, with Tibor Pleiss and Chris Singleton playing crucial roles as the two-time champion beat Real 90-89 to improve to 14-14 in the standings, a win that could prove crucial as it attempts to reach the playoffs.
Singleton had struggled in recent games, playing less than 10 minutes in Round 27 against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and a little less than four minutes in Round 28 against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. He went scoreless and didn't even shoot in those games, combining for a PIR of -1, as Efes registered back-to-back losses.
In Tuesday's game against Real, however, the 33-year-old was far more active, playing a season-high 32 minutes and 27 seconds. Singleton found his rhythm late in the first half, hitting a three-pointer and getting an assist in an 11-0 run which allowed Efes to take a 42-39 edge at the break. He struck twice more from beyond the arc in a third quarter, before igniting the crowd with a fastbreak slam in the fourth quarter.
By the end of the contest, Singleton ended up getting a season-high 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a PIR of 13. Before this game, Singleton was averaging 2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and a PIR of 2.9.
With little to separate the two teams at the interval, with the hosts up 42-39, Efes went on to tie a club record with 35 third-quarter points and take a 17-point lead, 77-60, after 30 minutes. Real did not lay down and instead used a 6-24 run to take the lead, 83-84, in the penultimate minute of the game. Then, Shane Larkin buried a three-pointer for an 86-84 Efes advantage. In the final 45 seconds, Real's Guerschon Yabusele missed from beyond the arc and Efes needed someone to step up, at which point Pleiss dunked before recording a big block on Gabriel Deck off the glass, which allowed Will Clyburn to seal the outcome from the foul line.
Efes led 90-84 with 15 seconds left and Real's comeback proved to be too little, too late. Pleiss also had solid numbers, finishing the game with 11 points, 4 rebounds, a block and a PIR of 8. Pleiss and Singleton had similar statistics in the box score, but they proved to head coach Ergin Ataman that they can be counted on in any tough game down the stretch.
Singleton bounced back in a rematch of last season's EuroLeague Championship Game, and Pleiss made the difference against Real once again, following his heroics that helped Efes become the back-to-back champion last May in Belgrade. Now, both players will look to continue their momentum in Efes's next game on the road at ALBA Berlin on Thursday, as the Turkish side tries to go from 10th place back into the playoff places.
Game Videos
- 01:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/13/zLY71NqDJGHSBQRx4f5bngpjT8psfu5C-1734119154037.jpg]()
Rodrigue Beaubois: 'When we play like this, we're very difficult to beat'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/66cd8665-3775-41cf-b901-f70822433973.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:31
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a969d3d4-8ae1-426d-bbc4-8dc5e76bef91.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A47%3A44]()
Oturu dunks over Lessort! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8d60cc90-b061-4bb2-8e5a-abda058af8c1.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A138%3A116]()
Poirier posterizes two defenders! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/888bbe89-53c1-48f5-b6b7-1ce84fd820fe.jpg?crop=969%3A544%3Anowe%3A331%3A62]()
Thompson's half-ending block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cb51b927-3088-4142-8b2c-91cf3d68fe39.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 15 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4591db20-39e6-4fc2-9e70-2957477f030e.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A103%3A38]()
Tavares's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56086f0e-5438-4076-a0b9-096cfdfc1188.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0ff530da-db2f-4dea-b72e-3f1aeb202f4f.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:08
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/03/SpbHF4HY1DPXok9DVX6Qqf2UJSaF1rKt-1733265615701.jpg]()
Darius Thompson: 'Whoever came in competed'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/E8gQK5Aon-s/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Real Madrid | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/FJpaXHEPEzc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
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Gabriel Deck with a fine dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b0b54eee-4e11-4843-9f1b-adc96077decc.jpg?crop=1246%3A701%3Anowe%3A0%3A53]()
Nwora's huge slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:27
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/83d8db43-3bd1-414f-986e-1f896e0789bd.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A100%3A62]()
Bryant beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/2bb79a05-6b2b-48cb-81e0-3ba4a2ec697b.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/897c988b-5c64-4a7a-a453-904a3935743a.jpg?crop=893%3A503%3Anowe%3A113%3A41]()
Bryant bullet-pass feed for Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/cbb07da4-47ee-4be4-afa1-0475e093ac96.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Real Madrid | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d43e7ffa-6a22-4c92-8c33-9dba3f8bfdff.jpg?crop=1150%3A647%3Anowe%3A138%3A82]()
Tavares blocks with authority! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/acf76a16-eb28-4607-b086-00fe38095831.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A100%3A62]()
Hezonja with the up and under! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/14e84602-4514-48db-9271-e9531900558a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A144%3A76]()
Campazzo magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:07
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/21/4x4ZMJD3kGTTfrJkScIZoCiByqzaZA1y-1732230979539.jpg]()
Facu Campazzo: 'When we play good defense, on offense we are really good'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/61_c3OfBC74/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/682d4129-3f07-4c67-a998-91e30a90a6b0.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Paris Basketball | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3599f7fc-5479-4165-be1d-4eb7c0d87c97.jpg?crop=1262%3A710%3Anowe%3A44%3A44]()
Willis throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/14/NRaBSMw7tbply1Q42qdCuirlaswOckxW-1731628448414.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'We made the right play at the right moment'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/v2UN5hWpeio/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/14/WCVSyp7UORCo5j9QhdtI8Fex8zJwzXIr-1731624027511.jpg]()
Unbelievable block by Thompson! | Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e1f211cb-36be-4c8d-8a31-94fe30fb058b.jpg?crop=635%3A357%3Anowe%3A326%3A72]()
Hezonja dunks over the entire defense! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ab4fc6c5-033c-4e28-b9de-6556d0682e82.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A107%3A62]()
Poirier says no! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/69b70a4b-a874-4ab3-bdd0-eeda2ff52cb0.jpg?crop=1350%3A760%3Anowe%3A0%3A55]()
Poirier’s putback with interest! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/51bc2d2d-ea86-424e-802b-1cc3841084cf.jpg?crop=808%3A454%3Anowe%3A270%3A56]()
Darius Thompson’s huge steal and slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/YGqamKGqOJ1CZyARgCi40atgCbx6ADwD-1731450518806.jpg]()
Mario Hezonja: 'We started to take care of business'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/sSNxEq5naNc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:54
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/Kv54mFs1WEo4y8f53in26tSb4bkiNPnI-1731450732845.jpg]()
Rodrigue Beaubois: 'We have so much talent'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/31b1b3bf-f957-4bae-9fac-d4480dd4fdfc.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b6019cfa-5fb5-4733-8e69-909122e68393.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A109%3A32]()
Tavares says no! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d42e45cb-c38c-4f0e-8ce3-f98efcdf4f99.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A94]()
Oturu rejects Diop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5162b243-df0d-4adf-9aee-58c318e8f6a1.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-AS Monaco | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dc7da48a-08b4-41be-b57c-6cce87b46924.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A145%3A0]()
Thompson finds Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/888bbe89-53c1-48f5-b6b7-1ce84fd820fe.jpg?crop=1025%3A577%3Anowe%3A260%3A54]()
Thompson throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fba8d3f6-eeb2-4f9a-914f-1a8c4be416a7.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Real Madrid | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e0fc1c74-aa16-4e93-9f49-c3a0285b4074.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A112%3A93]()
Hezonja takes it all the way! Magic Moment
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/31/u2NVABvK25HdqnSGda2EL8j57ALc8qBn-1730416056660.jpg]()
Darius Thompson: 'We've got a lot of talent on this team'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/OxaAy3jW76I/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Real Madrid | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/tuVIHjEiYPQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/67c3bc64-2078-40e4-a741-c4ebd53fc7e2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A115%3A97]()
Real's ultimate team play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ab4fc6c5-033c-4e28-b9de-6556d0682e82.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A77%3A68]()
Poirier rejects Olinde dunk attempt! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/54bb91ae-a7f7-4961-908f-c0d02e999ea0.jpg?crop=1236%3A695%3Anowe%3A61%3A41]()
Hezonja beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c707c871-ddf5-4b4b-ab16-db7be93b74b4.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
