Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul improved to 3–3 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after earning a 79–69 road victory over local rival Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Friday night.
The reigning champions relied on defensive intensity and timely shot-making to recover from a sluggish first quarter in which Efes led 24–18. Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team gradually established control, outscoring the hosts 26–19 in the second frame and finishing strong with a decisive 21–11 final period.
Offseason additions Talen Horton-Tucker and Armando Bacot made their returns from early-season injuries, each contributing to Fenerbahce’s balanced effort. Horton-Tucker, who started and logged 18 minutes, finished with 5 points and 3 turnovers while serving an important role in perimeter defense. Bacot added efficiency off the bench with 9 points on 3-of-4 shooting and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
Scottie Wilbekin delivered his strongest performance since returning from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for nearly a year. The veteran guard played over 20 minutes, knocking down 4 of his 5 three-point attempts, including two critical shots in the fourth quarter that sealed the result.
Wilbekin’s long-range accuracy brought him to 617 career EuroLeague triples, trailing only Mike James, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Sergio Llull on the all-time list. At his current pace, he is expected to move up the rankings within weeks.
Wade Baldwin IV and Devon Hall each scored 12 points for Fenerbahce, while Bonzie Colson and Bacot added 10 and 9 respectively.
For Efes, Nigel Weiler-Babb led the scoring with 17 points, followed by Shane Larkin with 13. The team dropped to 2–4 despite a strong opening half, undone by turnovers and missed free throws down the stretch.
Fenerbahce will next travel to Spain to face Valencia Basket, while Anadolu Efes heads to France to meet Paris Basketball in Round 7.
