Efes beat Real Madrid and center Vincent Poirier played a key role against his former team
Vincent Poirier sent message in home win over Real Madrid
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Real Madrid arrived to the Basketball Development Center with two new players, Dennis Smith and Bruno Fernando, who had already made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague last week. This game was Anadolu Efes Istanbul center Vincent Poirier's first home game against his former team since he left Los Blancos last summer, and he made sure he brought his A-game in this important showdown.
Fernando started instead of Walter Tavares and Poirier got off to a strong start, getting two alley-oop dunks in an opening 8-0 run. He stayed solid throughout the game and stepped up when it was time to deliver, first with a wild put-back slam in traffic and then with an alley-oop dunk that stopped Real's one-man fourth-quarter comeback. Mario Hezonja scored all of his team's 12 points in the fourth quarter but Poirier and Elijah Bryant stepped up at the right time to make sure Efes added its 12th win of the season.
When the dust settled, Poirier had played a critical role, finishing the game with 15 points on 7-of-8 two-point shooting, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks for a PIR of 19. Bryant stepped up in Shane Larkin's absence due to injury, leading Efes with an all-around performance: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 8 fouls drawn.
Poirier helped Efes outrebound Real, 39-36, in one of the keys to this game. PJ Dozier put the exclamation mark with a huge poster dunk on Tavares. He ended up with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
After the game, Poirier spoke about his team's fourth-quarter defense.
"More than the win, I think it is the way that we won and competed tonight. That was one of the best games we had so far, offensively and defensively," Poirier said. "I think we showed we have pride and that is the best thing we can take from this game. The way we played is good for the rest of the season. We had the ability to grab offensive rebounds and get second chances."