Real Madrid fought him, but Larkin doesn’t let him lift his head

The Real Madrid consumed his fourth consecutive defeat – third in the Euroleague– and he did it in a very brave game against him Anadolu Efes (75-80), led by the star Shane Larkin (32 points), in the day 20 of the maximum competition continental. Pablo Laso and his pupils were in tow almost the entire crash and ended up giving in to the Turkish team to stay three wins from them, the leaders.

The Madrid fell in 'Palace'for the first time in the Euroleague from the April 4 of last year (Zalgiris) and did it against those of Ergin Ataman, which has the most decisive player in Europe. Larkin, MVP of the Euroleague in the last three days, he showed that right now there is no one like him in the Old continent. The American star (5/8 in shots of two, 5/6 in triples and 7/7 from the personnel line) it was lethal and ni Campazzo, neither Taylor, nor Causeur, nor Laprovittola They managed to stop all their offensive resources.

In front, the whites, with the anxiety of the last three defeats, gave war until the end with Thompkins (15 points), the final arreón of Llull (13) and bullying under T boardsAvatars (6 points, 12 rebounds and 3 caps for 20 valuation credits). Rudy He returned after his injury –Randolph, one of the best in Madrid this season, is the only one still in the infirmary – and he was serious, Carroll (1/7 in shots and -7 valuation, his worst record in the Euroleague) It is far from its best level. The Madrid danced with the ugliest, the Larkin's Anadolu, and ended up giving in the final stretch.

At least from the beginning, the white team learned the lesson from the last matches. The white set, with Campazzo leading in the direction and in defense over Larkin, came out more intense, more recognizable and successful with the Argentine base and the ‘giant’ Tavares imposing its law under boards (14-5, minute 5). The advantage didn't last long because Larkin, from the free throw, and the emergence of Pleiss they were scratching it to match the score at the end of the first quarter20-20).

The real war began in the second quarter. The Madrid, with very good minutes of Llull and Mickey; and the Anadolu they signed an exchange of good-level baskets with the premises with small advantages (32-25, 14 minutes), that quickly found answers in the visitors. The whites were lowering the revolutions and the Turks, with the former Barcelona Moerman as a stiletto and the constant punishment of Larkin, took advantage of it to sign a partial of 0-7 to finish the second quarter and get ahead of rest (40-43).

Those of Laso they came out more whole after the break, but some doubtful arbitration decisions – the ‘Palace' It was boiling – and the rival American star did not allow him to finish flipping the scoreboard (53-53, 24th minute). Thompkins followed hers to keep him Madrid, who was still alive facing the last quarter (55-59).

Madrid did not lose the leader's face with Llull and Tavares in the lead

The Anadolu wanted to solve the duel by the fast track and supported, rightly, in Larkin to keep hurting (55-64, minute 33), but Llull He hadn't said his last word. The 'Amazing' signed two consecutive triples to put yours to three in the absence of six minutes, but the pylon hammer that was the American base took off again to the Turks with a +6 to four minutes from the end.

And when everything was already lost, a basket of Rudy, three ‘taponazos’ of Tavares and a triple of Campazzo in a minute they squeezed everything again in a madridista arreón (72-73, minute 38). Pleiss, from the perimeter at the end of the possession, stifled the local rebellion and Larkin, with four consecutive points after two inaccuracies of the Argentine base in attack, he sentenced with a +8 than his own Campazzo reduced with a triple at the end of the game (75-80).

Fourth consecutive defeat of Madrid, third in Euroleague, that leaves to three triumphs of Anadolu before visiting next week at Maccabi, undefeated at home in the maximum continental competition after 10 games. Those of Laso they must win over the Israeli set – they will be measured before Baxi Manresa in the Endesa League– Because he is fifth, he no longer has a field advantage in the quarterfinals.

DATA SHEET.

75. REAL MADRID: Campazzo (10), Carroll (3), Deck (6), Taylor (-) and Tavares (6) – initial quintet–; Llull (13), Mickey (8), Thompkins (15), Rudy Fernández (8), Causeur (4), Laprovittola (-) and Reyes (2).

80. ANADOLU EFES: Larkin (32), Beaubois (7), Simon (2), Singleton (7) and Pleiss (13) – initial quintet–; Balbay (5), Moerman (5), Anderson (3), Sanli (-), Peters (3) and Tuncer (3).

PARTIALS: 20-20, 20-23 (40-43, aldescanso), 15-16 and 20-21.
REFEREES: Belosevic, Radovic and Vilius. Without eliminated.

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