Anadolu Efes Istanbul defeated Besiktas Istanbul 89-80 in the first Istanbul derby of the 2026-27 EuroLeague season on Thursday, October 22, at Turkcell Basketball Development Center, overcoming a third-quarter comeback behind Cam Payne’s career-high 22 points.
Payne scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, including three three-pointers in a two-and-a-half-minute stretch, as Efes restored control after surrendering most of a 21-point halftime advantage. Collin Malcolm added 15 points, Dario Saric scored 14 and Santi Yusta contributed a career-high 13.
Efes, coached by Pablo Laso, established its advantage by attacking the basket and drawing fouls early. Devon Dotson and Conor Morgan each picked up two fouls within the opening five minutes, while all five Efes starters had scored as the hosts moved ahead 18-9.
Efes extended its lead throughout the first half, outscoring Besiktas 29-17 in the opening quarter and 28-19 in the second to take a 57-36 advantage into halftime.
Besiktas responded after the break, scoring the first 10 points of the third quarter and cutting the deficit to 65-58. Dusan Alimpijevic’s team won the period 24-11, bringing the game back within reach before Payne’s fourth-quarter shooting swing shifted the momentum again.
Eugene Omoruyi led Besiktas with 16 points, while Jaylen Nowell added 14. Besiktas shot 7-for-26 from three-point range, compared with Efes’ 8-for-20, and committed 12 turnovers to Efes’ 18.
The result left both Istanbul teams with 3-4 records after seven EuroLeague games. Efes ranked 12th in the supplied standings, one place above 13th-placed Besiktas.
Anadolu Efes will visit Hapoel Tel Aviv on Wednesday, October 28, while Besiktas will host Olympiacos on the same day.
