The postseason is on the horizon and Shane Larkin can sense it.
In the penultimate game of the 2020-21 EuroLeague regular season, Shane went off, scoring a season-best 30 points on 10-of-16 from the field, including six threes, as Efes won an overtime shootout in Spain, 111-101 over TD Systems Baskonia at Buesa Arena on Thursday.
In a hotly contested game, Shane caught fire in the second half to keep Efes afloat. His three with just under a minute remaining gave the visitors a one-point lead. The teams then traded buckets, forcing Baskonia to foul with less than 10 seconds to go. Vasilije Micic made his free throws to make it a three-point game, but Luca Vildoza came up clutch with a game-tying three, and a buzzer-beater heave by Krunoslav Simon was off the mark, sending the game to overtime.
There, it was the Shane show. He scored eight of his 30 in the extra five minutes, including a three just 15 seconds into overtime on which he also drew a foul to put Efes back in control leading by four. They led the rest of the way, and although Baskonia briefly pulled within two, Shane answered with a bucket that jumpstarted an 11-0 run to close out the victory.
Efes closes out the regular season next Friday in Italy where they face Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan. Tip-off is slated for 2:45 p.m. ET.
Leave A Comment