With a couple of players stepping up early, the former champs ended the double-round week by putting their losing streak in the rear-view mirror.
Thompson, Bryant shined during Efes's outstanding first half
Stats
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 21 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul stopped a seven-game losing streak by thrashing Virtus Segafredo Bologna 99-75 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. Its outstanding hustle before the break made the difference for Efes in the victory.
Efes simply wanted it more than Virtus in the first half, when it built a 50-29 lead which pretty much was the key to the game. Efes already led 26-15 at the end of the first quarter which, if you look back at what happened this season, was already a pretty good sign. Efes is 5-0 this season when leading after the first quarter, and 1-10 when it trails after 10 minutes.
Everything had to do with Efes's outstanding hustle. The hosts out-rebounded Virtus 19-13 in the first half, and did not allow their opponents even a single offensive rebound. Efes also grabbed 8 offensive boards against Virtus's 13 defensive boards, so 100% of the rebounds available under its own rim and 38.1% of under Virtus's.
There was more. Efes finished the first half with 8 steals and just 1 turnover. On the other hand, Virtus had 0 steals and as many as 12 turnovers, which is very rare in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game.
Efes found several go-to guys during the first half. Darius Thompson had 10 first-quarter points, then Elijah Bryant scored 8 points in the first 7 minutes of the second quarter. Thompson finished the game with 26 points and Bryant added 21 off the bench. Both players combined for a PIR of 58.
Virtus finished with 18 turnovers, one shy of its worst mark this season. Efes ended up out-rebounding Virtus by 33-28 and its 12 steals tied for ninth-highest total in the EuroLeague this season. Efes previously had 16 steals in a 100-94 home victory in Round 10 against Partizan Mozzart Bet, which is the most this season by any team, tied with Virtus, which had just 6 on Friday. Thompson had 5 steals himself, which matched the most by any player in the EuroLeague this season.
So you see, it was all about the hustle as Efes dominated almost from start to finish and returned to winning ways in style.
Game Videos
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/_AHQFNY7GeU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d97c0f1a-1eb4-4a5d-809f-d6c556a42aa5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A132%3A24]()
Clyburn and Cordinier combine for the perfect play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f2facf28-8946-41f7-8741-ff953f6bc2a5.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A164%3A27]()
Polonara denies Daum! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a7338539-b552-4291-be32-4ae0cc61e82b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A161%3A52]()
Shengelia and Cordinier sweet combination! Motorola Magic Moment
![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
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/wgCfGu2ABpo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ceb1ce8d-3d89-4ad0-a089-a32265fcc825.jpg?crop=1219%3A686%3Anowe%3A41%3A93]()
Clyburn throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d18ebad5-3a42-48fd-9a22-89e0c5615b0d.jpg?crop=1179%3A663%3Anowe%3A86%3A108]()
Shengelia's double block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 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/FJpaXHEPEzc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 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://img.youtube.com/vi/rqHknWewwgU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/a0d9bb97-958d-4ea9-b7f0-40741513c594.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A97%3A32]()
Ante Zizic with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![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
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hK0SFuRquE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/00b75cd0-79a5-41f5-8275-cb3ba273994a.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb96d3f6-1448-45a3-8519-5cbfbd81ec17.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A270%3A25]()
Clyburn beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9d22acee-dcf3-40d2-b30e-b53962988c92.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A131%3A0]()
Huge put-back by Polonara! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4233ab3e-dfd5-48e7-87ee-6a9a577dd1bd.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A189%3A0]()
Clyburn goes coast-to-coast! 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
- 00:09
![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
![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
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d42e45cb-c38c-4f0e-8ce3-f98efcdf4f99.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A94]()
Oturu rejects Diop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/f9ce026e-afad-4722-a730-24ec7f557292.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A129%3A30]()
Pajola's magic assist! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:37
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/NRWiMZQjN62Ub3EqupLu1lby2B0J87Uv-1731106233456.jpg]()
Toko Shengelia: 'The whole team should be standing here'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6ba17594-c852-416a-9cdd-d187cec4b294.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d4508ddd-4618-4ca8-b278-e1337cd04e29.jpg?crop=1132%3A637%3Anowe%3A45%3A59]()
Zizic with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e0620269-6db0-4d9e-a940-8adae419938f.jpg?crop=941%3A529%3Anowe%3A112%3A14]()
What a solo effort by Cordinier! 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
- 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://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/24b272d4-aa46-4393-9565-51b3fe8b3e91.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | 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
- 00:12
![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
- 00:07
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dce2f361-531c-470d-bf34-8ca9a51b9638.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A106%3A25]()
Big dunk by Isaia Cordinier! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/CWQReNwRrsA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bc9e9d81-2777-41db-9038-42d4ee3a75d7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A126%3A85]()
Clyburn's wild put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/neOmgQK0WwA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-FC Barcelona | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8b56a32c-d9b6-4a01-9f90-b1499b372185.jpg?crop=1247%3A701%3Anowe%3A49%3A68]()
Poirier's huge alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment
