Efes Outlasts Madrid in EuroLeague Opener
Anadolu Efes kicked off their EuroLeague campaign with a 94-84 victory over Madrid, leveraging a balanced team effort to secure the win. Efes established a commanding 12-point lead by halftime (53-41) and never relinquished control, entering the final period up by seven (72-65) before extending their advantage late. The home side shot an efficient 46% from the field, including 10-of-25 from three-point range, while Madrid's 21 turnovers proved costly, fueling Efes' transition game which was bolstered by 11 steals. Despite Madrid's bench outscoring Efes' 44-32, they couldn't overcome the deficit. Pj Dozier led Efes with 18 points and 3 assists, complemented by Mike James' 12 points and 4 assists, while Jordan Loyd provided a spark with 12 points off the bench. For Madrid, Facundo Campazzo was the top scorer with 16 points, but it wasn't enough to counter Efes' sustained performance in this regular-season contest.