EuroLeague: Anadolu Efes thrash Barcelona in playoffs

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Istanbul-based basketball club Anadolu Efes hammered Spanish opponents Barcelona Lassa 102-68 to lead the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague quarterfinal playoffs late Wednesday.

Beating Barcelona Lassa heavily in the thirds game held at the Palau Blaugrana arena in Spain, Anadolu Efes took the 2-1 lead in the best-of-five playoff series.

Anadolu Efes' US point guard Shane Larkin was the key player for the Turkish victory, scoring 30 points.

Anadolu Efes' German center Tibor Pleiss tallied 14 points and six rebounds. In addition, visitors' Serbian guard Vasilije Micic racked up 14 points and made eight assists.

Bryant Dunston, Anadolu Efes US center, made a double-double, scoring 10 points and having 10 rebounds.

Barcelona Lassa's Hungarian forward Adam Hanga was his team's top scorer, producing 13 points.

Kyle Kuric, Spanish team's Slovakian forward, scored 12 points against the rival team, while Croatian center Ante Tomic gained 11 points for Barcelona Lassa.

These three were the only Barcelona Lassa players tallying double digits in points against Anadolu Efes.

The next game of the series will be played in Barcelona on Friday.

The winners of the playoffs will advance to the Final Four to be played between May 17-19 at Fernando Buesa Arena in the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in single elimination matchups.

- Here is the results of Wednesday's matches:

Barcelona Lassa - Anadolu Efes: 68-102

Kirolbet Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz - CSKA Moscow: 77-84

- EuroLeague playoffs after third games:

Fenerbahce Beko - Zalgiris Kaunas: 2-1

Anadolu Efes - Barcelona Lassa: 2-1

CSKA Moscow - Kirolbet Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz: 2-1

Real Madrid - Panathinaikos OPAP: 3-0 (Real Madrid advance to Final Four)