The former champs ground out a dramatic overtime victory to keep alive their top-six challenge
Efes beats Crvena Zvezda, 96-97, to boost playoff hopes
Game Report
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 33 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul stretched its hot streak to seven successive wins with a thrilling 96-97 overtime road defeat of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, making a big step towards securing a top-six finish and an automatic playoff berth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Despite the loss, Zvezda was able to secure a play-in spot thanks to another result going its way, as EA7 Emporio Armani Milan lost any chance of overhauling the Serbian team after a 90-70 debacle at the hands of Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the Italian derby.
Efes improved to 19-14 ahead of the final round of games in the regular season while Zvezda slipped to 18-15 after a rip-roaring encounter at Belgrade Arena, with big man Vincent Poirier claiming the player of the game accolade on the back of 14 points, 3 boards and 4 assists.
Elijah Bryant paced Efes with 17 points and 8 rebounds, PJ Dozier added 13 points while Ercan Osmani netted 11 to go with 7 boards. Rodrigue Beaubois and Rolands Smits chipped in with 10 points each to underline a smooth team effort from Efes, as the Turkish side rallied from a 51-44 first-half deficit.
At the other end, Filip Petrusev scored 23 points and Isaiah Canaan netted 21 as Zvezda’s dynamic duo shined throughout, with Codi Miller-McIntyre and Nikola Kalinic both amassing 15 each for the Serbian outfit.
Game Videos
- 02:40
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Masterpiece on the Mediterranean
- 01:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/AsiaypPBbOgg7sMsp3KAb1T9reRsG3yQ-1745527699985.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We just had to stay poised'
- 01:01
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/64wD0jgGc7NPAmWG3JMdAg3NR9sEmpMn-1745527727057.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'We finished until the end'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e17354f8-b7ce-452d-9a15-d80d4de50cf7.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/24/89uMelBfYzsomRVjNdLrTJBY4gVLTi72-1745528400912.jpg]()
Larkin taking the lead for good! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c8e42709-1c33-48de-8b0d-e520b79f6d2b.jpg?crop=826%3A465%3Anowe%3A118%3A59]()
Oturu with a mighty dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/117e75dd-713a-475a-a750-11816a23f986.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A128%3A76]()
Oturu with the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7073f6c2-ad4c-4a7d-863b-51aeffb839fc.jpg?crop=1275%3A717%3Anowe%3A0%3A33]()
Poirier with the put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/cec6a741-9037-48e2-906f-315b14c7caf0.jpg?crop=1258%3A708%3Anowe%3A46%3A46]()
Poirier with a fierce small-dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d9020bd2-42d4-4eaf-89e5-aaea0842cf2e.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/bbf9f2a0-f2f9-4ed7-942c-5e4713479b38.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A134%3A34]()
Larkin and Dozier conjure some magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b34c15d6-1cd9-4a42-8f8b-d58c18a37979.jpg?crop=1238%3A697%3Anowe%3A56%3A57]()
Oturu with a strong dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/45829618-26f0-4e3f-9d81-44256e7d5a23.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A92]()
Poirier rips the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/1_Qk0wxpo9c/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
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Petrusev with a ferocious dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/d2db2da2-5747-4a2c-85d5-6c3fce493ffc.jpg]()
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/MXcx4LkFEnOKhPmsO0LXp0aXi26avpvx-1744410398344.jpg]()
Poirier with a big dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 02:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/3D1fS9AhhfucshuEtg1t2CcfNC6p4lyR-1744402127807.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We've had to win every single game to get here'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/ba942191-98e0-4bac-a768-97dba111b91c.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/be488eb7-2d92-4c1f-b820-64c286bde8d5.jpg?crop=1272%3A716%3Anowe%3A39%3A38]()
Nwora with a massive dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/05/i0HFkioIF819oZ650F0w0quDBsDi2rno-1743811398064.jpg]()
Vincent Poirier: 'Really proud of the team and what we've accomplished so far'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6183de28-f75a-4657-9218-b3ef7593c469.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/74e28ff0-dfaa-456c-9394-2979296d10f4.jpg?crop=1156%3A650%3Anowe%3A84%3A38]()
A sublime alley oop from Poirier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c45030af-08dc-4106-8d02-ce3f5a34ee69.jpg?crop=1172%3A659%3Anowe%3A103%3A62]()
A ferocious dunk from Thompson! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:26
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d355f318-55e9-452c-adbe-7584093bec58.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A147]()
An audacious three-pointer from Yago! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/041f0c0d-cade-4273-89dc-df4e12877a44.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A270%3A257]()
Petrusev with a sublime alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/stpSs3dioYo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
EuroLeague & Friends: Hayes-Davis's role as a star player, TJ Shorts vs. Kendrick Nunn...
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/14b75b22-639a-46a8-9df5-9f6b5eab54fc.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast presents: The Barcelona dilemma
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c2eb8757-5c14-4166-8495-23fb6c979f50.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Real Madrid | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d609197f-c83a-4032-ac31-e10863a4c457.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9b1372f7-1126-4a53-9824-2219ca5d179b.jpg?crop=1294%3A728%3Anowe%3A0%3A74]()
Thompson to Poirier alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:10
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/NYiJRPm8Nh7tnFnAIzyOfan0mEwP8a6e-1743024108602.jpg]()
Filip Petrusev: 'We had great energy all game'
- 00:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/CKyFT0RrQ08EH0pL46rz5URc75xCt0N3-1743025105690.jpg]()
Shane Larkin breaking ankles! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9238fe42-4c6e-40c6-b57e-646ef163709f.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bac1f674-abce-4ae8-9f55-1739e8f1523b.jpg?crop=1156%3A650%3Anowe%3A58%3A142]()
Miller-McIntyre steals and dunks! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/26/ncgaNO3XPDpfrCWGdJpVzKoaktciWAQr-1743019011423.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'To catch our rhythm at the right time is perfect'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1b30c0c0-b546-4c20-a562-c140663c88f9.jpg]()
Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1849ca30-8e30-4f6b-bf57-a39d5d49d680.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A61%3A81]()
Jordan Nwora denies his opponent! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/57539679-5394-420e-b104-0b7a93f5b449.jpg?crop=1282%3A722%3Anowe%3A44%3A73]()
Bryant sets up Poirier for an alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/21/BEHrPoM5NhA5860LguXEnWNzHU2mpEjY-1742597326494.jpg]()
Elijah Bryant: 'Maybe I'll have some ice cream to celebrate'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1e29304b-abd7-4650-85b0-12746ef3a04f.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/60743b98-167c-46e3-b352-6819d6292c7c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A161%3A77]()
Oturu with a incredible play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:41
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/20/mCp4HpqBHc8CrD1WYhDzg7ZntUIKyGvq-1742501226435.jpg]()
Rokas Giedraitis: 'We fought all game and that was the key'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4fd3ed4b-eef6-4df8-9eb3-10155baf9ac2.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9506af53-73c2-4d73-b91a-a9650e14caf2.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A158%3A44]()
Kalinic rejects Fournier! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/14/YCQTdS296Lon0Q4niGHTzgN3MIMGO3Pa-1741990038659.jpg]()
Oturu's alley-oop slam! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:21
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/03/14/6UVHnj7jbET7UhW8CGswHy04ydc6F92B-1741991017499.jpg]()
Shane Larkin: 'We're in playoff mode right now'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1d698d65-16a1-4c8d-b1aa-b39d52c352b3.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:08
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/179bb012-8d05-4ef2-a6b7-4f0404fa7c4f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A9]()
Poirier's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/de04a8a0-1263-40b3-88c7-ae640b9a833d.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Miller-McIntyre generated Zvezda’s fast-paced start as he scored his team’s opening eight points which propelled the hosts into a 15-12 lead and Petrusev followed in his footsteps with a flurry of his own. Zvezda carved out a 24-16 advantage at the end of the first quarter as Petrusev sank 11 points and the high-scoring contest kept fans on their feet in the second, as both teams fired on all cylinders offensively.
Efes was able to turn the tide and nose ahead 36-40 midway through the second period but Canaan hit back with nine straight points, instigating an 11-0 run which enabled Zvezda to jump back into the driving seat at the interval.
The rollercoaster action continued in the third quarter as Rodrigue Beaubois took center stage for Efes, sinking 10 points to mastermind yet another change of momentum as the visitors went on a 4-20 run and took a commanding 55-64 lead. Zvezda replied with its own 9-2 streak, slashing the deficit ahead of the fourth quarter.
Efes appeared to be in for plain sailing when it surged ahead 66-78 and was still firmly in control after Bryant hit a mid-range jumper to make it 78-85, but Zvezda had other ideas. Three-pointers from Kalinic and Canaan, who was unstoppable in the home stretch, had the hosts breathing down the visitors’ necks again and Yago dos Santos then forced overtime with an audacious coast-to-coast drive to the basket.
A Petrusev dunk gave Zvezda the lead at the start of overtime, 90-88, but Shane Larkin and particularly Vincent Poirier came back with a vengeance to turn the tables once again, as Efes carried a 93-97 advantage into the final minute of the absorbing clash.
There was still time for late drama, though, as Canaan hit another triple to haul Zvezda back and after Efes squandered its final possession, Miller-McIntyre came up short with a tough mid-range shot on the buzzer as the hosts failed to force a final twist.
