Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul bounced back from a frustrating stretch with a decisive 81-67 victory over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in EuroLeague Round 9 on Thursday night.
Wade Baldwin led the response, scoring 14 points along with 4 rebounds and 7 assists, as the defending champions improved to 4-5 on the season. Afterward, the American guard didn’t shy away from addressing his team’s struggles from the previous week.
Fenerbahce’s renewed focus on possession paid off. Sarunas Jasikevicius’s side, which had averaged 14.5 turnovers per game entering the contest, committed only five. That discipline proved key in overcoming a slow offensive start that saw both teams combine for just four points through the first three minutes.
Nicolo Melli added 12 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. Three other players finished in double figures, helping the hosts maintain control after building an early first-quarter lead. Despite shooting just 40.9 percent from inside the arc, Fenerbahce compensated with efficient perimeter accuracy, converting 11-of-26 from three-point range.
ASVEL, missing several key contributors like Nando de Colo, was led by Armel Traore, who tallied 18 points on a near-perfect night inside the paint. The French side fell to 2-7 after its fourth consecutive defeat.
Fenerbahce’s defense established the tone early, limiting ASVEL to 10 points in the opening period and forcing 10 turnovers over the course of the game. One of the highlights came from guard Devon Hall, who punctuated the second quarter with a powerful dunk that energized the Ulker Sports and Event Hall crowd.
Fenerbahce now shifts its attention to a double-game week, starting with a home clash against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Tuesday. ASVEL travels to Milan to face EA7 Emporio Armani next Wednesday, looking to end its slide.
