Anadolu Efes wasn't the perfect host when CSKA arrived in Istanbul. The home team demolished the Russian side 100-70 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall on Thursday. From the very beginning, Efes showed who is the boss. They struggled CSKA allowing them just 13 points in the first quarter, while they were on fire scoring 31 points in the same period. Vasilije Micic helped Efes win their sixth straight win with his 21 points, while Chris Singleton had 12 and Shane Larkin, Rodrigue Beaubois, and Krunoslav Simon offered their team 11. It was just the second Efes win in the last 13 matchups with CSKA - including the 2019 championship game.

Efes is on fire these last weeks. The hosts have the second-best offense in the league and also the best in the last three games (101.7 ppg.). And in order to continue their winning streak, they must keep their rhythm and beat one of the Euroleague's most reliable defenses. And of course prevent the Lithuanian shooting from outside the arc, their main threat.

Zalgiris Kaunas hosted Olimpia Milano last week and didn't make it. They lost 64-69 in a tight game. The Italian side managed to have more solutions in the end and so they stopped Zalgiris' seven-game home win streak. Grigonis and Lekavicius brought Zalgiris within 62-64 but Punter downed a jumper and Shields added 3-of-4 free throws to seal the victory. Marius Grigonis was for yet another day the man of the match for Zalgiris with his 17 points. Joffrey Lauvergne added 15 while Lukas Lekavicius had 11 for the hosts.

Zalgiris has the most difficult task in this round, as they travel to Istanbul to face the league's hottest team, Efes.  Zalgiris still has the second-best numbers from beyond the arc in the league (41.8%) and if they have one chance to take the win tonight is to shoot even better than every match before. And keep their tight defense.

The overall record in Euroleague since 2000, is Anadolu Efes - Zalgiris 7 - 10. 

Let's take a look at main and special odds markets offered at bet365 website :

• FullTime Result : 1.20 (Anadolu Efes) - 4.75 (Zalgiris)
• Over/Under 160.5 points : 1.90 (Over) - 1.90 (Under)
• Race to 20 points: 1.43 (Anadolu Efes) - 2.65 (Zalgiris)

*bet365 odds are correct at time of publishing (12/03, 15:00 CET) and are subject to change | 18+, T&Cs Apply, BeGambleAware.org

Shane Larkin is not just another star that his only concern is to score. Especially in this season, he is helping Efes literally in every way he can.  Until now he has averaged 14.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals and he has been one of the main catalysts in the Efes explosion of the last weeks. On the other side for Zalgiris, Walkup this season is averaging 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals even though he was held scoreless last week. It goes without saying that those two are expected to give a great boost to their teams.