Real Madrid defeats Efes to claim second place in EuroLeague standings

Real Madrid bounced back from a difficult opening to defeat Anadolu Efes 82-71 at the Palacio de los Deportes, positioning themselves just one victory behind league leaders Fenerbahce. Sergio Scariolo‘s team completed a perfect week with two wins, having also beaten Hapoel Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

The victory marks Real Madrid’s 17th home win at the Palacio de los Deportes this season. If they defeat Red Star in their next home game, they would set a historic record for home victories in a single EuroLeague campaign.

Spectacular second quarter turns the tide

After a sluggish start that saw them trail by 12 points in the first quarter, Real Madrid exploded in the second period with a dominant 31-12 run. The team struggled offensively early on, shooting just 4/17 from the field in the opening minutes and falling behind 11-21 after the first quarter.

Usman Garuba sparked the comeback at the start of the second quarter, while Trey Lyles provided crucial scoring with his third consecutive 3-point shot to give Madrid their first lead of the game. Sergio Llull extended the advantage with two more 3-pointers, completing a remarkable 23-5 run that transformed a 0-12 deficit into a 34-14 lead.

🍊 @23Llull pic.twitter.com/5Oq0pltC3B

— Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) March 26, 2026

Balanced scoring effort secures victory

Six Real Madrid players recorded double-digit efficiency ratings in a well-balanced team performance. Trey Lyles led the scoring with 14 points, shooting an impressive 4/5 from beyond the arc in just 20 minutes of action. Gaby Deck proved decisive in the final quarter with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists for an efficiency rating of 21.

Edy Tavares contributed a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds, while Facu Campazzo added 10 points and 7 assists. Mario Hezonja chipped in with 12 points and 4 rebounds, and Llull finished with 8 points and 5 assists.

For Anadolu Efes, Jordan Loyd was the standout performer with 21 points, 4 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists for an efficiency rating of 35. The guard scored 10 points in the final quarter to narrow the final margin, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his team’s defeat.

Real Madrid now shares second place with Olympiacos, whom they will face in the third-to-last game of the regular season. The victory demonstrates that Scariolo’s team can secure convincing wins even without playing at their absolute best, as they prepare for upcoming away games in Vitoria, Istanbul, and Athens.