Kris Bankston and Kyle Alexander dominated the paint to secure a road win
Turk Telekom rides strong frontcourt play to victory in London
Spielbericht
3 Lesezeit
Regular Season
Round 5 of 18
Regular Season
group b
London LionsLDN
7789
Turk Telekom AnkaraTTA
group b
Overview
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Turk Telekom Ankara traveled to the English capital to face the London Lions in Round 5 of the EuroCup at the Copper Box Arena on Wednesday night. A spirited crowd of Turkish fans filled the stands, adding to the energy of the night. The game also coincided with Republic Day in Turkiye, marking the founding of the republic in 1923. The festive atmosphere set the stage for an exciting contest.
By the final buzzer, Turk Telekom emerged victorious with a 77–89 win, fueled by key second-half adjustments and dominant play inside. The first half was tightly contested. Both teams played aggressively, battling for every rebound. London grabbed 10 offensive boards, limiting Turk Telekom to just 11 defensive rebounds (52.4%).
On the other side, the visitors pulled down 8 offensive rebounds, while London managed only 9 defensive rebounds (52.9%). At halftime, it was clear that whichever team controlled the paint after the break would likely take control.
Turk Telekom wasted no time doing exactly that. It focused its attack inside, feeding the ball to big men Kyle Alexander and Kris Bankston. The change in strategy paid off immediately.
Despite playing their third straight road game, both players looked fresh. Bankston delivered several highlight moments – a powerful dunk in traffic, a huge block that sent the ball out of bounds, and a thunderous put-back slam that brought fans to their feet.
Alexander was equally impressive. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
After hitting 54.5% of its two-pointers in the first half (12-of-22), Turk Telekom improved to a blistering 75% (12-of-16) inside the arc after the break — thanks largely to its frontcourt duo.
“We came out aggressive,” Alexander said afterward. “We knew we had to play better one-on-one defense and rebound better to start building a lead. Paint touches are something we emphasize as a team. When you get into the paint, everything opens up. Having aggressive guards who attack the lane means everything for us.”
That interior dominance also created space for Kyle Allman, who took full advantage. He poured in 22 points, dished 6 assists and committed just 1 turnover, finishing with a PIR of 34.
Turk Telekom also tightened up defensively. It allowed just 7 offensive rebounds in the second half while grabbing 12 defensive boards – securing 63.2% of the available rebounds on its end.
London struggled with 16 turnovers, a key factor in Turk Telekom’s third consecutive road win. Their traveling fans celebrated loudly as the team sealed the victory.
After the game, head coach Erden Can reflected on his team’s performance.
“We gave up 17 offensive rebounds, which wasn’t part of our plan,” he said. “We should’ve controlled the glass better. But we did force 15 turnovers, so at least we balanced the possession battle. We were more aggressive attacking the paint and drawing fouls. At the end of the day, it’s one win in a long season. Every game in the EuroCup is a tough one.”
Turk Telekom responded by focusing their offense inside, targeting big men Kyle Alexander and Kris Bankston—a strategy that paid off handsomely. Despite playing their third consecutive road game, both players showed no signs of fatigue. Bankston delivered several highlight-worthy moments, including a powerful dunk in traffic, a commanding block that sent the ball out of bounds, and a thunderous put-back slam.
Alexander delivered a rock-solid performance, finishing with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. After shooting 54.5% on two-pointers in the first half (12-of-22), Turk Telekom improved to a blistering 75% (12-of-16) inside the arc after the break, thanks in large part to the frontcourt duo.
“We came out aggressive. We knew we had to play better one-on-one defense and do a better job rebounding to start building a lead,” Alexander said, also crediting the team’s backcourt. “Paint touches are something we emphasize as a team. When you get into the paint, everything opens up. Having aggressive, talented guards who are willing to attack the lane means everything for us.”
As Alexander noted, the improved interior presence also created more space for Kyle Allman, who capitalized with 22 points, six assists, and just one turnover, earning a performance index rating (PIR) of 34. Turk Telekom also tightened up on the boards, allowing only seven offensive rebounds in the second half while grabbing 12 defensive rebounds—securing 63.2% of the available boards on their end. London committed 16 turnovers, a key factor in Turk Telekom’s third consecutive win, much to the delight of their traveling supporters.
“We gave up 17 offensive rebounds, which wasn’t part of our plan. We should’ve controlled our own glass better,” said head coach Erden Can postgame. “But we did force 15 turnovers, so at least we balanced the possession battle. We were more aggressive attacking the paint and drawing fouls. At the end of the day, it’s one win in a long season. Every game in the EuroCup is a tough one.”
