Anadolu Efes vs Barcelona Basketball Tickets

Barcelona faces Anadolu Efes in a must-win game

Barcelona will face Anadolu Efes on Thursday in a must-win game for both teams. The Catalans are currently in second place in the EuroLeague standings, but they are only one game ahead of third-place Efes.

Barcelona is coming off a four-game winning streak, but Efes has won its last two games. The Turkish side is also looking to get back into the play-in race.

The game will be played in Istanbul, and the atmosphere is expected to be electric. Barcelona will need to play its best basketball to come away with a victory.

Here are some key matchups to watch:

• Nikola Mirotic vs. Shane Larkin: Mirotic is the leading scorer for Barcelona, while Larkin is the leading scorer for Efes. This will be a battle of two of the best scorers in the EuroLeague.
• Nick Calathes vs. Vasilije Micic: Calathes is the point guard for Barcelona, while Micic is the point guard for Efes. This will be a battle of two of the best playmakers in the EuroLeague.
• Rolands Smits vs. Tibor Pleiss: Smits is the center for Barcelona, while Pleiss is the center for Efes. This will be a battle of two of the best centers in the EuroLeague.

Barcelona needs to win this game to keep its position in the EuroLeague standings. Efes also needs to win this game to get back into the play-in race. It should be a close and exciting game.

• The Catalans will need to be careful of Darius Thompson. The American guard had a breakout game against Virtus Bologna, scoring 31 points.
• Barcelona will also need to slow down Elijah Bryant. The American guard is another dangerous scorer for Efes.
• The Catalans will need to get a good start in the game. They have been very good at coming out of the gates quickly this season.

If Barcelona can play its best basketball, it should be able to come away with a victory. However, Efes is a tough team, and the game will not be easy.

Statistics:

• Head-to-head: Barcelona leads the all-time series against Efes 14-8. However, Efes won the last meeting between the two teams, 95-78, on October 26th, 2023.
   
• Barcelona:
  • Mirotic averages 20.1 points per game (PPG), 4.8 rebounds per game (RPG), and 3.6 assists per game (APG).
  • Calathes averages 5.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 7.7 APG.
  • Smits averages 12.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 1.2 blocks per game (BPG).
• Anadolu Efes:
  • Larkin averages 24.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 4.6 APG.
  • Micic averages 15.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 5.4 APG.
  • Bryant averages 15.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.0 steals per game (SPG).

News:

• Barcelona's Brandon Davies is listed as questionable for the game due to a hip injury.
• Efes' Chris Singleton is out for the season with a knee injury.
• This will be the first time Efes head coach Ergin Ataman has faced Barcelona since leaving the team in 2020.
• Barcelona is undefeated at home this season in the EuroLeague (6-0).
• Efes is 5-3 on the road this season in the EuroLeague.