Anadolu Efes Istanbul delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Thursday, defeating Virtus Bologna 91-60 at Turkcell Basketball Development Center to extend its winning streak to three games in EuroLeague Round 28.
After a nine-game slide earlier in the campaign, the Istanbul side showed improved structure on both ends, combining efficient spacing with aggressive interior defense to control the tempo from the second quarter onward.
Head coach Pablo Laso leaned heavily on his power forwards, and the adjustment paid off as Ercan Osmani set an early tone with physical rebounding and interior scoring before the offense opened up from deep.
Cole Swider changed the rhythm late in the first half, knocking down four three-pointers before the break and finishing 6-of-7 from beyond the arc for a career-high 22 points and a 27 PIR.
Efes created separation in the third quarter behind Osmani’s nine points and a defensive stretch that limited Virtus to just 10 points on 2-of-13 shooting while forcing five turnovers.
The hosts finished with 22 assists and only six turnovers, continuing a trend during their current run as ball movement and decision-making have improved within Laso’s half-court system.
Saben Lee added 18 points and controlled the pace in transition, while Nick Weiler-Babb recorded nine assists without a turnover, highlighting the team’s emphasis on clean execution.
Inside presence also proved decisive as Vincent Poirier returned to form with six rebounds and two blocks, while Kai Jones provided athletic rim protection and transition energy.
Virtus struggled to find offensive rhythm, shooting just 19.2 percent from three-point range and committing 12 turnovers, which allowed Efes to convert stops into fast-break opportunities.
Alen Smailagic and Matthew Morgan led the Italian club with 12 points each. Carsen Edwards made just one field goal of eight attempts, finishing with eight points.
The victory lifted the Turkish club to 9-19 in the EuroLeague standings, offering renewed momentum as the regular season approaches its final stretch.
Anadolu Efes next visits Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on Feb. 25, while Virtus Bologna hosts FC Barcelona on the same day.
