Fenerbahce continued their dominant march toward the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, defeating Paris Basketball 89-72 in Game 2 of their best-of-five series on Thursday. With a commanding 2-0 series lead, Fenerbahce is now just one win away from advancing, while Paris faces a must-win scenario as they head back home for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Tarik Biberovic was the standout performer for Fenerbahce, setting a new career-high with 20 points. Nigel Hayes-Davis added 16 points, and Marko Guduric contributed 13 points to the team’s winning effort. Wade Baldwin chipped in with 11 points. For Paris, TJ Shorts led the charge with 18 points, while Nadir Hifi and Tyson Ward added 15 and 10 points, respectively.
The game began with a quick start from Shorts, who scored just 19 seconds into the match. However, Fenerbahce quickly responded, with Guduric hitting a three-pointer and Bonzie Colson delivering a key basket in transition. A 10-0 run, highlighted by Hayes-Davis and Yakuba Ouattara’s outside shooting, gave Fenerbahce a 12-6 lead. Paris struggled to match Fenerbahce’s intensity, as the home team increased their advantage, closing the first quarter with a 29-20 lead.
In the second quarter, Fenerbahce maintained their momentum. Baldwin hit a three-pointer, and Biberovic continued his hot shooting, including a key three-pointer that helped push the lead to double digits. By halftime, Fenerbahce had opened up a commanding 61-38 lead. The visitors from Paris never truly found a way to respond, as Fenerbahce’s defense and efficient scoring proved too much to handle.
The third quarter saw Fenerbahce extend their lead further, with Biberovic and Baldwin contributing to an impressive 15-1 run early in the period. Despite Shorts’ efforts to keep Paris alive with an up-and-under layup and a few timely baskets from Hifi, Fenerbahce’s shooting and overall execution kept them firmly in control. By the end of the third, Fenerbahce held a dominant 76-57 lead.
In the final quarter, Paris’ attempts to rally fell short. Guduric’s reverse layup and Hayes-Davis’ dunk all but sealed the game for Fenerbahce. Paris kept fighting, but it was clear that the game had already slipped away. Fenerbahce secured an 89-72 victory, putting them in a prime position to close out the series in Game 3.
With the series now shifting to Paris, Fenerbahce will look to complete their sweep and secure their spot in the EuroLeague Final Four. Paris, on the other hand, has no room for error and must come up with a statement performance on Tuesday to keep their hopes alive.
