Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul moved within one win of the Final Four after securing an 86-74 victory over Zalgiris Kaunas in Game 2 on Thursday at Ulker Sports and Event Hall.
The Turkish side now leads the best-of-five series 2-0 after replicating its Game 1 formula with another physical and controlled performance.
Nicolo Melli set the tone with 17 points and 4 rebounds, anchoring both ends of the floor as the hosts dictated tempo early.
Fenerbahce established control with a decisive 17-2 run after conceding the opening basket, turning defensive stops into efficient offense.
The home team’s edge on the glass proved critical, finishing with 17 offensive rebounds and a 37-24 advantage overall.
Tarik Biberovic provided early scoring with 15 points, including 10 in the first half, helping Fenerbahce build a 51-33 lead at the break.
Zalgiris struggled to generate quality perimeter looks, missing its first 13 three-point attempts and finishing 5-of-23 from deep.
That shooting inefficiency allowed the hosts to stay compact defensively while controlling second-chance opportunities.
Nando De Colo shifted momentum further in the third quarter, scoring all 16 of his points after halftime while shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
His shot-making stretched the defense and helped extend the lead to 66-43 midway through the third period.
Mikael Jantunen added 13 points on perfect shooting and recorded a career-high performance index rating of 23, highlighting efficient ball movement.
Wade Baldwin IV contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds, adding balance to a lineup that consistently won individual matchups.
Fenerbahce shot 48.1% from three-point range compared to Zalgiris’ 21.7%, creating a significant spacing advantage.
Zalgiris received 16 points each from Moses Wright and Azoulas Tubelis, but struggled to sustain offensive rhythm against aggressive coverage.
With the series shifting to Kaunas, the Lithuanian club faces elimination pressure in Game 3.
Fenerbahce, meanwhile, enters the road leg with momentum and a clear blueprint built on defense, rebounding, and shot efficiency.
