The night of January 5, 2024 will be always remembered in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will always be remembered because it was the night in which the longest game, up to that point, was played.
Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid: 'It was really special'
It all happened in Madrid, Spain, in one of the most magical nights of the year for the kids living in that country, since it is the night during which the Three Wise Men visit all homes at night and deliver gifts. But this time, one of the most dramatic gifts would be delivered a few hours earlier, when Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes Istanbul faced off in an instant classic that ended after four overtimes with a 130-126 win for the hosts.
"Before the game there was something special in the air," Real Madrid player Dzanan Musa recalls. "Efes had just lost five games in a row, and we had to come up with all the energy that we had."
Musa would end the game with 40 points and 8 assists.
Despite a bad start to the game, Los Blancos managed to get back in the game and in the final back and forth it was all up to the last play, in which two free throws by Musa tied it at 81-81. After the first extra session, Mario Hezonja had the winning shot in his hands, but the ball would not go in.
"It's not possible that we are going to another overtime," Musa remembers.
It was Hezonja again who, five minutes later, would deliver a reverse layup that would be forcing the third overtime, 102-102.
"It's basketball." Hezonja assures. "It's beautiful."
At this point, history was already being written because never a EuroLeague game had needed to go to the third extra session to be solved. But little did everyone know, that Real and Efes were far from done.
"When fans start encouraging us, everything gets different." coach Chus Mateo says. "It's somewhat like magic."
After five more minutes, the score was 111-111 and Efes hotshot Shane Larkin drove to the basket to solve the deal but, again, the ball would have none of that.
Finally, after grinding a little bit extra in all the plays, Real managed to come out on top, 130-126.
"I was exhausted," Musa remembers. "I had plans for dinner, but I had to cancel it all because it was like, already 12 o'clock!"
"Both teams fought like lions." Mateo concludes.