Zalgiris have improved to 5-0 in Group C after a 77-64 win in Istanbul over Anadolu Efes.
Marko Popovic hit seven three-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points as the Lithuanian champions used a 23-14 third period to ease their way to victory over a tough Anadolu Efes side. Tremell Darden had 16 points, four rebounds and two assists for Zalgiris.
“It was really very important for us to win here in Istanbul,” Zalgiris coach Joan Plaza said afterwards.
“There’s an incredible progress of basketball in the country. For that reason, it was really important to beat a Turkish team.”
Anadolu Efes were led by Semih Erden’s 20 points and six rrebounds, but the Istanbul-based side drop to 3-2 in the group, level with Olympiacos for second.
At the 19,000-seat OAKA in Athens, just 2,500 turned up to watch Panathinaikos lose 79-67 to BC Khimki as the Russian side improved their chances of advancing to the Top 16.
With the game tied at 58-58, going into the final quarter, the Greens fell apart as Khimki went on a 16-1 run to seal the win. The Russian side go to 3-2 in Group A while Panathinaikos fall to 2-3, which is unfamilar territory for them.
Zoran Planinic, who inspired the 16-1 spurt led Khimki with 18 points with Kresimir Loncar adding 14. Roko Ukic Led Panathiniakos with 13 points.
Real Madrid have claimed top spot in Group A after an 89-76 win in Ljubljana over Union Olimpija.
Rudy Fernandez paced five Madrid players in double-digit figures with 18 points as the Liga Endesa side move to 4-1 while Dylan Page led all scorers in vain for Union Oimpija with 22 as they slump to their fourth straight loss.
Cedevita Zagreb got their first win of the Euroleague season at the fifth attempt by upsetting Caja Laboral 76-69 in the Croatian capital.
Miro Bilan led the victors with 16 points and five rebounds and he was supported by 14 points from Bracey Wright.
Fernando San Emeterio led Caja Laboral with 15 points as they slide to 1-4 as they now share fifth spot with the Croatian side.
“My players played collectively,” Zagreb coach Bozidar Maljkovic said. “We had a lot of periods of two to three minutes when we didn’t allow Caja Laboral to score.”
Brose Baskets grabbed a vital 77-72 road over winless Partizan to give them a fighting chance of qualification to the Top 16.
Bostjan Nachbar led the German champions with 19 points and six rebounds to improve their record in Group D to 2-3. Partizan were led by Vladimir Lucic and Djordje Gagic, who both got 17.
Montepaschi Siena went to 2-3 in Group B after crushing Asseco Prokom 101-66 in Poland.
Bobby Brown led the Italian champions with 25 points and seven assists while Asseco Prokom, who fall to 1-4 were led by Alex Acker’s 15 points.
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