Anadolu Efes Istanbul ended its three-game losing streak in the EuroLeague with a convincing 85-70 road victory over Zalgiris Kaunas on Friday, October 16, earning its first away win of the 2026-27 season.
Matthew Strazel led Efes with 19 points and four assists, while Cam Payne added 16 points and four assists. Dario Saric contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds as Pablo Laso’s team improved to 2-4 after opening October with three consecutive defeats.
Efes entered the game looking for a response after losing star signing Mike James to a long-term injury and falling to 1-4 in the standings. The visitors showed greater offensive efficiency from the opening quarter, taking a 21-12 lead before extending the advantage to 42-36 at halftime.
Zalgiris fought back after the break, cutting the deficit to three points at 43-46 early in the third quarter. Efes then answered with a 14-5 run to restore a double-digit cushion and take control of the contest.
The visitors continued to pull away in the fourth quarter, eventually opening a 20-point lead as Zalgiris struggled to generate consistent offense. Efes shot 61% from two-point range, making 25 of 41 attempts, and finished with 38 rebounds compared with Zalgiris’ 35.
Strazel delivered an efficient performance in the backcourt, recording 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and making seven of his eight free throws. He also committed just one turnover in 24 minutes of action.
Payne provided another scoring option, particularly during the third-quarter rally. The guard scored eight points in less than three minutes as Efes responded to Zalgiris’ push, finishing with 16 points and four assists. He has now scored in double figures in every game since joining the team as a replacement for James.
MORE FOR YOU
PJ Dozier’s injury added to Efes’ concerns shortly after halftime, but the visitors maintained their advantage despite losing another guard during the game.
Zalgiris struggled offensively, shooting 38.9% on two-point attempts and committing 14 turnovers. Carsen Edwards led the hosts with 16 points. Zalgiris coach Tomas Masiulis took responsibility for the performance.
The result left Efes at 2-4 and Zalgiris also at 2-4 after six EuroLeague games. Efes will host Besiktas in an Istanbul derby next Thursday, while Zalgiris welcomes ASVEL on Friday.
