Fenerbahçe beat Virtus in EuroLeague opener — Anadolu Agency

In Türkiye, Fenerbahçe defeated Italy’s Virtus Bologna 78-68 in the opening EuroLeague game. In another match, Turkish side Beşiktaş, which returned to the tournament after a 13-year break, lost to Spain’s Valencia 94-96, Anadolu Agency reports.

Fenerbahçe rallied after Virtus' run

Fenerbahçe finished the first quarter with a 23-17 advantage and retained a narrow 39-38 lead at halftime. After the break, Virtus went ahead 51-46, but the Turkish team responded with an 11-2 run and led 59-55 before the final quarter.

The Italian club tied the score at 60-60, but Fenerbahçe regained the initiative. With less than five minutes remaining, the hosts took a 69-64 lead and eventually won by 10 points. Talen Horton-Tucker was the top scorer for the winners with 13 points. Wade Baldwin scored 12 points, while Braxton Key recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Carr scored 12 points for Virtus.

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Beşiktaş failed to hold onto its lead

Beşiktaş led 27-19 late in the first quarter, but Valencia scored 11 consecutive points and finished the opening period ahead, 28-27. By halftime, the Spanish team had extended its lead to 54-51, and at the start of the third quarter it went on a 9-1 run. Valencia led 81-71 before the final period.

Beşiktaş cut the deficit with a 9-2 run and tied the score at 86-86 with 6 minutes and 35 seconds remaining. Scottie Wilbekin's three-pointer put the hosts ahead 91-86, but Cameron Taylor tied the score at 94-94. With the score at 96-94, Eugene Omoruyi and Taylor each missed two free throws, while Jalen Nowell missed a three-pointer that could have won the game for Beşiktaş. T.J. Shorts scored 26 points for Valencia, while Nikola Mirotić had 13. Omoruyi and Nowell scored 17 points each for Beşiktaş.