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sep 29 2026Two games, two losses. Real Madrid fell 94-84 in Istanbul in their worst performance of the season, hampered by 21 turnovers that Anadolu Efes converted into 30 points.
A second quarter that decided it
The start belonged to Istanbul. With PJ Dozier and Mike James leading the way, Efes punished Madrid in halfcourt sets and went up 12-8. Madrid's second unit, featuring Theo Maledon, Mikael Jantunen and Chuma Okeke, brought fluidity to a very stagnant offense and allowed them to tie it up (27-29). The first quarter ended with just a two-point difference.
The collapse came after. Madrid scored just 12 points in the entire second quarter, conceded a 23-12 run and went into halftime down 12, having already committed 14 turnovers that the Turks capitalized on for 23 points, 17 of them in transition.
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A comeback that never materialized
Madrid improved defensively after halftime and found more confidence from three-point range, but every Efes possession ended in points (67-56). Damian Jones made an impact in a nearly non-existent local paint, and whenever the whites got close, poor decisions gave the Turkish side the advantage back. The third quarter closed at 72-65.
In the final period, Maledon and Okeke brought the team to 82-78, and it could have been a one-point game if a subsequent three-pointer from the power forward had fallen. It didn't. And the closing stretch was marked by more inaccuracy.
The numbers
Facundo Campazzo was Madrid's best player with 16 points and a rating of 16, though he turned the ball over a couple of times down the stretch. Okeke added 11 points on 3-of-5 from three-point range.
The team finished 9-of-26 from beyond the arc.
For Efes, Dozier was named Player of the Game with 18 points. Matthew Strazel posted 14 points, three rebounds and four assists, Mike James and Jordan Loyd each had 12 and Dario Saric 10.
Nick Smith Jr.'s debut
The best news for Madrid was the shooting guard's debut, who started and scored the team's first point. He finished with 10 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 13 minutes, shooting 2-of-3 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
He looked somewhat out of position on defense and picked up fouls, including a flagrant. European officiating will be his first adjustment to make. Despite his reputation as a scorer, he attempted just three field goals.
Luwawu-Cabarrot's night to forget
On the other side, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot had an afternoon to forget: 0-of-5 from the field, two turnovers, three fouls and a minus-10 rating. A performance unworthy of one of the competition's best scorers last season and Madrid's standout player throughout the preseason.
