Anadolu Efes outlasts Barcelona in Game of the Week thriller

Anadolu Efes Istanbul survived a late comeback from FC Barcelona Lassa and pulled out a 72-68 victory on Friday in the Game of the Week at Abdi Ipekci Arena. Bryant Dunston tied it at 68-68 with a basket –plus-foul with 15.2 seconds left and when he missed the resulting free throw, Tyler Honeycutt was there with the go-ahead tip to give Efes its third straight win and boost its record to 6-5. Barcelona lost for the fourth time in its last five games as its record fell to 5-6. Jayson Granger scored 16 points and dished 5 assists and backcourt mate Thomas Heurtel added 14 to lead the winners. Tyrese Rice led the Barcelona attack with 22 points and 7 assists. Efes led throughout the first three and a half quarter with its advantage reaching as high as 16 in the third quarter. Barcelona rallied with a 0-13 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters and then used a flurry of late threes to take the lead before Dunston and Honeycutt came through.