As a thrilling NBA Finals series nears its conclusion here in the U.S., things are just heating up with their Turkish equivalent. Dario Saric’s Anadolu Efes trails Pinar Karsiyaka 2-1 in a best-of-seven TBL Finals series, and with center Nenad Krstic now out with a torn ACL the 21-year-old forward figures to see his already substantial role with the veteran team increase even more.

Through three Finals games, Saric has led Efes in scoring (12.7 PPG), rebounding (10.3 RPG), and minutes played (30.7 MPG) and ranks second on the team in assists per game (3.3); in the series, he’s shooting 44.8% from the floor, 45.5% from beyond the arc, and 87.5% from the free-throw line.

In Sunday’s 71-65 loss, Saric finished with 13 points (4/10 FG, 1/4 3P, 4/4 FT), 11 rebounds, and four assists, all of which were team highs. His 34 minutes of action tied a season high and came largely as a result of a devastating knee injury suffered by fellow big man Nenad Krstic early in the game. But even in the weeks before losing Krstic, Efes’ leading scorer during the regular season, the team had given Saric more and more responsibility on the offensive end of the floor.

After scoring in double figures just 13 times in 33 games over the first five months of the season, the 21-year-old has done so 22 times in 30 games since, including in 12 of his last 13 games. Without the veteran Krstic, the team will lean upon Saric even more heavily as they look to even the series at 2-2 with a win in Game Four Tuesday at 1pm (EST).

Perhaps more impressive than Saric’s uptick in scoring over the second half of Efes’ season has been the consistency he’s found with his perimeter shot, one of the biggest question marks surrounding his game entering the draft last year.

Coming off a 2013-14 campaign in which he shot just 31.8% from range with Cibona Zagreb of the Adriatic League, Saric opened his first season with Anadolu Efes a paltry 11-for-51 (21.6%) from long range over the first 23 games of the season. But in the 40 games since, he’s converted 41 of his 104 attempts from beyond the arc, good for a 39.4% conversion rate. During the postseason, he’s made 14 of the 34 threes he’s attempted (41.2%) and has shot 50.6% from the field and 75.0% from the stripe.

Check back in the coming days for more on Saric’s pursuit of a Turkish League Championship with Efes.