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Anadolu Efes Istanbul withstood a fierce fourth-quarter comeback from FC Bayern Munich to claim a 74-72 victory in Week 11 of the EuroLeague on Friday, moving to four wins in the continental competition.
Isaia Cordinier led the Turkish side with 26 points as Efes maintained control for most of the contest before Bayern nearly erased a 13-point deficit in the final period. The narrow victory kept Efes's European campaign on track while Bayern dropped to their sixth loss of the season.
The home side stumbled out of the gate, falling behind 5-0 after a series of turnovers left them unable to find scoring opportunities. Shane Larkin then orchestrated a complete turnaround, directing Efes to a 16-0 run that gave the Istanbul club command of the opening quarter. However, Larkin suffered an injury that forced him out of the game, creating uncertainty for Efes as they took a 19-14 advantage into the second period.
The second quarter featured balanced scoring from both teams, with Bayern finding success in the paint while Efes continued to struggle with ball security. Bayern briefly pulled ahead 27-26 midway through the period before contributions from Cordinier and Sehmus Hazer restored Efes's advantage. The hosts carried a 42-34 lead into halftime.
Brice Dessert and Ercan Osmani sparked an effective third quarter for Anadolu Efes, which converted Bayern turnovers into fast-break opportunities. Cordinier remained productive from beyond the arc as Efes stretched their cushion to 60-47 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter delivered high drama as Bayern mounted a serious challenge. Oscar da Silva scored consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to six points at 62-56 with eight minutes remaining. Both teams traded three-pointers and free throws down the stretch, with Efes clinging to a two-point edge in the final 30 seconds. Bayern's last-second attempt missed the mark, allowing Anadolu Efes to escape with the victory.
Rolands Smits added 15 points for Efes, while Jordan Loyd and Ercan Osmani each contributed nine. For Bayern, Isiaha Mike scored 15 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added 11 in the losing effort.
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