Besiktas, Anadolu Efes suffer defeats in EuroLeague basketball

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish basketball clubs Besiktas and Anadolu Efes suffered defeats Wednesday in the eighth round of the EuroLeague, losing to Olympiacos and Hapoel Tel Aviv, respectively.

Besiktas fell 81-73 to Greek side Olympiacos at home, while Anadolu Efes suffered a 118-88 defeat against Hapoel Tel Aviv in Bulgaria.

- Besiktas lose to Olympiacos at home

Besiktas made a strong start, taking a 6-0 lead inside the opening minute, but Olympiacos responded with a 15-0 run to move 15-6 ahead.

The hosts fought back with support from the home crowd, reducing the deficit to two points at 25-23 by the end of the first quarter.

Besiktas briefly leveled the score at 25-25 early in the second quarter through a three-pointer from Scottie Wilbekin before taking a 28-27 lead.

The lead changed hands several times before Olympiacos finished the half strongly to take a 42-36 advantage into the break.

Besiktas struggled defensively after halftime as Olympiacos extended its lead to 50-39 in the 24th minute.

The hosts responded through Johnathan Morgan, cutting the deficit to five points at 58-53.

Efe Omoruyi then made three free throws with one second remaining in the third quarter to narrow the gap to 61-58.

Besiktas regained the lead in the final quarter when Kelan Martin's basket put the hosts ahead 68-66 in the 34th minute.

However, two consecutive turnovers allowed Olympiacos to regain control, and the visitors secured an eight-point victory.

Jordan Usher led Besiktas with 15 points, while Morgan scored 11 and Metecan Birsen added 10.

Sasha Vezenkov paced Olympiacos with 16 points, followed by Tyler Dorsey with 15 and Nigel Williams-Goss with 14.

The defeat was Besiktas' fifth in eight EuroLeague games this season.

The Istanbul club, competing in Europe's premier club basketball competition for only the second time, will visit Italian side Virtus Bologna on Friday, Oct. 30.

Defending champions Olympiacos recorded their sixth victory of the campaign.

- Anadolu Efes suffer heavy defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv

Anadolu Efes suffered a 118-88 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the eighth round of the EuroLeague at Arena Botevgrad in Bulgaria.

Hapoel took a 27-21 lead after the opening quarter before extending its advantage to 60-41 at halftime.

Anadolu Efes struggled to respond after the break as Hapoel widened the gap to 90-59 by the end of the third quarter.

The Israeli side maintained control in the final period to complete a 30-point victory.

The result marked Anadolu Efes' fifth defeat of the season, while Hapoel Tel Aviv recorded its sixth win.

Efe Özkan