After 5,710 games played in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this century, and 18 that went in to double-overtime, Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes Istanbul took it – two steps further. The last two EuroLeague champions battled it out for full 60 minutes with Real eventually coming out on top 130-126.
A game that tipped off at 20:45 CET, finished 3 hours and 3 minutes later, about 12 minutes before midnight local time. It was an epic that set more than dozen different all-time records, some competition, some club and some individual.
Naturally, there was loads of drama, and it couldn't be any other way when four different periods – fourth quarter and three ensuing overtimes – finish with the score tied.
Fourth quarter: Larkin misses for the win
Efes led l74-79 with 2:52 to go after Shane Larkin's fourth three-pointer for Efes. But Real's Dzanan Musa finished at the rim with Tyrique Jones almost blocking his attempt, then nailed a three-pointer that got his personal tally to 30 points.
Players from both teams were diving after loose balls, but it was free throws, a pair each from Larkin on one end and Musa on the other that made it 81-81.
Coach Erdem Can decided not to call a timeout after Musa's free throws with 27 seconds left. The ball went to Larkin on an isolation play against Causeur. Larkin milked the shot-clock all the way, worrying not to leave too much time for Real to go the other way. Efes superstar guard went to his right for a tough off-balanced triple, but was way off. There were only a couple of seconds left on the clock, and all Real's Facundo Campazzo could do was miss a long heave at the buzzer. We headed to overtime!