Fenerbahce was able to shake off the absences of several key players in Kaunas to claim another valuable win
Zagars, Guduric rose to the challenge for Fenerbahce
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 10 of 34
Group Regular Season
l
l
l
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
Despite missing three key backcourt players, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 65-72 to remain undefeated on the road this season.
Fenerbahce arrived to Zalgirio Arena with severe backcourt problems. Scottie Wilbekin was injured at the start of the season, the team has been without Wade Baldwin for some time and Devon Hall went down last week and is not expected to return soon. Fenerbahce also lost sharpshooter Tarik Biberovic to an ankle injury during the game.
"We are just trying to survive right now. I mean, really, literally. We are not even talking about improving or playing great basketball, honestly," Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius said after the game. "This is November and I cannot believe I'm speaking like this, but I believe that this is the honest truth."
Luckily for Fenerbahce, two of its healthy guards made the difference on Friday.
Many Latvian fans traveled to Kaunas to see playmaker Arturs Zagars in person. Zagars became a basketball icon in his country when he led the Latvian national team to a fifth-place finish at the 2023 Basketball World Cup with averages of 12.4 points and 7.4 assists. He then joined Fenerbahce, was loaned out to Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius and suffered a serious knee injury in October 2023. Zagars returned to Fenerbahce this season and is now finding his rhythm.
Against Zalgiris, Zagars hit the game-clinching free throws and finished the game with 10 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 5 fouls drawn for a PIR of 9.
Marko Guduric also stepped up with extended playing time due to his team's backcourt situation. In almost 30 minutes, Guduric had a season-high 17 points on 7-of-7 free-throw shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 5 fouls drawn.
Zagars and Guduric were relied on heavily as fellow guard Skylar Mays only played 6 minutes and team captain Melih Mahmutoglu just 20 seconds.
Game Videos
- 01:12
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/UI1w0QJJA8QkTKvwfuY1Ox1ZNVeS9zs6-1733441184985.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: 'Our defensive effort led our team'
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/KFH1qP9NFofQhKbBMS4Aa8WkNtDZr72G-1733440760265.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'I learned a valuable lesson'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56086f0e-5438-4076-a0b9-096cfdfc1188.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/05/h5N7RnfvbPHAzrzMehVRd3fQdAEJxgSu-1733436269493.jpg]()
FANS go CRAZY for this dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0ff530da-db2f-4dea-b72e-3f1aeb202f4f.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 14 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6abb4ce1-1563-438c-80be-9de8afc02eb6.jpg?crop=1334%3A750%3Anowe%3A8%3A33]()
Smailagic's put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/88abae27-2c2c-4415-aa7d-33c3305a3253.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A167%3A85]()
Birutis throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0adea31c-c01b-40d8-bb0d-8fe9a50d57e1.jpg?crop=1236%3A695%3Anowe%3A57%3A59]()
Smailagic's big block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4dfca9c9-6a24-41d8-84bc-974fffe64c54.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/7s7XqipWcA4/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 13 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/fd25e0fc-2355-4a22-9506-622a65137aed.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/92049d76-cbaf-455a-9562-a9286baa0b81.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | RS Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/iAKfgw3ba4w/maxresdefault.jpg]()
7-bet Lietkabelis-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9e20c9ca-a53a-40e5-8a3f-ee64af9b1b39.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A0%3A156]()
Kabengele dunks off a Simms alley-oop pass! Magic Moment
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/22/VFoyDhGC1NUeT53Nul9O5ICBYPeM6R2z-1732310134528.jpg]()
Lonnie’s lift-off!! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/GZzt0du0g6A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/22/AbDlhRWgrfgb0AD6HTcm1Yt3P7lKg57J-1732307196906.jpg]()
Lonnie Walker: ‘I love the team, I love the organization’
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/93468087-bce0-4611-a5fb-27e37ef6805c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A115%3A123]()
Francisco hustles back for the block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/355e7bd7-410c-46ca-afa6-459d66d5f51c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A109%3A94]()
Lonnie’s lift-off!! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hK0SFuRquE/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 11 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/20/acjN4NgdXh6GzxD3gpUvain5LMdr0on4-1732141420504.jpg]()
Marko Guduric: 'I don’t know how we pulled this one out'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/s-yVNftwng0/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 10 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:27
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/15/anyqw83FrIREeIaSsPODvPD5n6jBFnU9-1731702533577.jpg]()
Marko Guduric: 'Since 2019, we hadn't won here!'
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/045bfcd0-d6f4-4532-a244-be6510268371.jpg?crop=701%3A395%3Anowe%3A0%3A47]()
Colson stops Mitchell! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/09b2f098-2936-48a4-9d2a-6e8d66374eb5.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A125%3A40]()
Zagars's acrobatic layup! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/86b0777d-c4eb-47a5-8f92-55f2634799e5.jpg]()
Paris Basketball-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:25
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/12/j3ccOkzQyBrinzSMWQcrC9HMXhEQb3W1-1731443574096.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: 'His negativity is what fuels me'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/bKu2tX_sBVc/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-FC Bayern Munich| RS Round 9 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:07
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/08/aJBOkbLeRqexHJoeccFW09ihk1NfpVkN-1731106475074.jpg]()
Saras Jasikevicius: 'We have a great group of guys'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/WUp1NWm2hxU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/uFE3aBQ4Eq8/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Bayern Munich-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 8 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/zCbK-dBI8zI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:09
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/SwwTq52wSuS6K1uYSaQ2m4ysjib23Q0j-1730494302912.jpg]()
Arnas Butkevicius: 'When you work hard, luck is on your side'
- 01:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/11/01/3tQ1yDjFInebhskfuM5bgiyclybBPC01-1730494080286.jpg]()
Nigel Hayes-Davis: ‘We have to be consistent on both ends, starting with me’
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/LqahQ4LBt5g/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-AS Monaco | RS Round 7 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c9bf1a55-9e58-4ca6-bb6f-0baed2167bc2.jpg?crop=1220%3A686%3Anowe%3A90%3A71]()
Smailagic rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3a509e06-553e-41fb-904b-423e9b802b24.jpg?crop=1282%3A721%3Anowe%3A28%3A51]()
Ulanovas beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/1ee7e731-2ab5-448a-82fd-2a739069889e.jpg?crop=688%3A386%3Anowe%3A10%3A40]()
Birutis dunks in traffic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/40043d1f-a1ff-4026-9f10-9edebe01c62a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A97%3A80]()
Showtime basketball by Fenerbahce! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/30/BfF24KSK6urST0PkXw0dTA3AJEwWgpqu-1730323466677.jpg]()
Dunston wins it! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:06
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/30/r2Klq8EieUG2qN3sO3pC2CA8YwHLwxOl-1730322927175.jpg]()
Bryant Dunston: 'Luckily it went in'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/28dc9adb-1b5b-4d6d-bdcd-186827c0da73.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9be16b2f-5af3-49c1-a169-f57532ce0f66.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A56%3A33]()
Francisco to Birutis for the dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b0ad83cf-78af-4183-9e7b-a436a7ab908f.jpg?crop=1536%3A864%3Anowe%3A192%3A108]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 6 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/No2Nx24QppM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/24/4wEuJ2td7ZNsMy7R7S7FnJEj2g5jcsfE-1729801825953.jpg]()
Edgaras Ulanovas dedicates win to late grandfather
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Fcwckn5wmA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/eea7d014-f655-4c9c-9ba6-010c7243106e.jpg?crop=821%3A462%3Anowe%3A205%3A132]()
Sorkin didn’t see Dunston coming! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:40
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/17/3RPADN5w1inrRenv8i32AK4TyRTRnYOx-1729202941132.jpg]()
Andrea Trinchieri: 'I believe in my players and this is the reward'
- 01:05
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/10/17/lhNRO5ugdPXy0tdn2uU3xN2lvzTHFgFU-1729202604209.jpg]()
Nicolo Melli: 'We go back to Istanbul happy'
"It's not easy. I mean, now we have, what, three guards [available]? Only now, Tarik [Biberovic] is hurt. Let's see, let's follow his situation," Guduric said after the game. "We all tried to help, Nigel [Hayes-Davis] bringing the ball up, Nicolo [Melli], DyShawn [Pierre] stepped up today, so it was a team effort. A great team effort."
Zagars now faces another challenge: going against his national team coach Luca Banchi when Fenerbahce visits Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 11 on November 20.