Name: Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Round 16 sees seven games take place on Tuesday night and two on Wednesday night in the first half of this latest EuroLeague double-round week.

Game Center: Several mouth-watering games in Round 16

## Wednesday, December 18

### [Anadolu Efes Istanbul 89-67 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/anadolu-efes-istanbul-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2024/142/)

Efes outlasted Zvezda to take a valuable home win thanks to a strong second half. Efes improved to 9-7, while Zvezda dropped to 8-8. Zvezda dominated the opening quarter to take a double-digit lead, but Efes fought back and it was 36-42 at the break. The hosts continued their recovery to go ahead in the third quarter and a 12-0 run early in the fourth sealed the win. Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu paced Efes with 17 points apiece and Shane Larkin dished 12 assists. Filip Petrusev top scored for Zvezda with 15 points.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">💪 On to the next one! <br>Anadolu Efes 89 - 67 Kızılyıldız | Maç Sonucu<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/CE7hbRw9xL">pic.twitter.com/CE7hbRw9xL</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1869464680546312476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Olympiacos Piraeus 87-77 Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/olympiacos-piraeus-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2024/143/#boxscore)

Olympiacos improved to 10-6 with a workmanlike 87-77 home win over Virtus Segafredo Bologna (3-13), ramping up its defense in the second half after spilling an 18-point lead in the first. Sasha Vezenkov capped a fine individual performance with a game-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for an impressive double-double, while Evan Fournier added 20 points, 7 assists and 5 boards for the home team. Alec Peters chipped in with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Marco Belinelli paced Virtus on 20 points and Matt Morgan added 15 for the visitors, who staged a brief second-quarter comeback to turn a 25-7 deficit into a 43-46 lead at halftime, but were unable to keep up their momentum after the interval.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">FINAL 🏀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> - Virtus Segafredo Bologna 87-77 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OLYVIR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OLYVIR</a> <a href="https://t.co/vQcBHVz4KD">pic.twitter.com/vQcBHVz4KD</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1869488575852798362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Tuesday, December 17

### [AS Monaco 93-74 FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/as-monaco-fc-bayern-munich/E2024/136/)

Monaco overcame a double-digit first-half deficit and then used a big third quarter en route to a 93-74 win against the visiting Bayern. Monaco won its third straight game and improved to 11-5. For Bayern, which dropped to 10-6, this is its fourth consecutive road loss. Bayern led by 11 points at the start of the second quarter, but Monaco turned the game around in the second, then used a 20-5 run in the third to pull away for good. Georgios Papagiannis paced Monaco with 14 points. Mike James scored 13, Matthew Strazel and Jordan Loyd had 11 apiece, and Elie Okobo netted 10 points in the win. Carsen Edwards had 17 points for the visitors, Johannes Voigtmann posted 13 and Danko Brankovic scored 11 points in a losing effort.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">💪 Victoire autoritaire de la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> devant son public, ➕️1️⃣9️⃣ face au Bayern Munich ! ♨️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/CmLoVhrK3S">pic.twitter.com/CmLoVhrK3S</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1869109716271743280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 85-95 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2024/141/)

Baskonia used a 0-10 run to close the first quarter and never looked back en route to victory over Maccabi on Tuesday night at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade. The winners outrebounded Maccabi 25-40 and shot 12 for 26 from downtown (46.2%) in two of the keys to the victory that lifted Baskonia’s record to 7-9, while dropping Maccabi to 4-12. Markus Howard led the way with 28 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting and Chima Moneke tallied 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists to lead Baskonia. Rokas Jokubaitis paced Maccabi with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Roman Sorkin also scored 22.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔥🔥🔥 ¡VAMOOOSSSS! 💪💪💪<br><br>Sumamos la 7⃣ victoria en <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/GfKdFhL4Sq">pic.twitter.com/GfKdFhL4Sq</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1869124640205078684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 103-74 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/E2024/137/)

Panathinaikos left no doubt about its quality by thrashing Milan 103-74 at OAKA in Round 16 on Tuesday. Both teams now have a 9-7 record in the standings, with Panathinaikos stopping Milan's six-game winning streak. Kendrick Nunn paced the winners with a career-high and EuroLeague season-high 39 points. He set an all-time EuroLeague record with 7 three-pointers in the first quarter. Jerian Grant added 12 points for Panathinaikos. Nikola Mirotic led Milan with 16 points. Neno Dimitrijevic added 15 while Nico Mannion and Shavon Shields each had 11 for the guests.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final Score ☘️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> 103-74 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneClubOneApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneClubOneApp</a> <a href="https://t.co/nCCy5Adjbo">pic.twitter.com/nCCy5Adjbo</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1869129521993285801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

### [FC Barcelona 90-63 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fc-barcelona-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2024/138/)

Barcelona gave its under-pressure head coach Joan Penarroya some breathing space and improved to 9-7 in the EuroLeague with a 90-63 home drubbing of Fenerbahce (10-6) on the back of a game-high 25 points from Kevin Punter. Justin Anderson was perfect from the floor and the foul line as he added 18 points for the home team while Jabari Parker chipped in with 15 points and 7 boards.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">AIXÍ SÍ, BARÇAAAAA!!!!! <a href="https://t.co/Hhunzf24Xp">pic.twitter.com/Hhunzf24Xp</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1869130024407961791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Paris Basketball 85-96 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/paris-basketball-real-madrid/E2024/139/)

Real Madrid ended its three-game losing streak by beating Paris 85-96 on Tuesday night at Adidas Arena. With their top scorer and best assist provider TJ Shorts missing out due to illness, the hosts saw Real Madrid lead for the final 32 minutes of the duel despite Maodo Lo stepping up big time in his teammate's absence. With this win, *Los Blancos* improved its record to 7-9, with Paris dropping to 11-5. Facundo Campazzo paced Real Madrid with 19 points, Mario Hezonja scored 17, Dzanan Musa had 12 and Gabriel Deck added 11. Alberto Abalde and Walter Tavares netted 10 points each, with the latter completing a double-double by recording 14 rebounds. Lo led all scorers with a season-high 30 points, but it wasn’t enough. Nadir Hifi scored 21 points and Collin Malcolm had 11 in a losing effort.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🏁 FP: <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a> 85 - 96 <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/0yYO3JP9Oq">pic.twitter.com/0yYO3JP9Oq</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1869133036656451884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [ALBA Berlin 66-86 Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/alba-berlin-zalgiris-kaunas/E2024/140/)

Zalgiris extended its winning streak to three games as it defeated ALBA 66-86 on the road. Zalgiris took control of the game with a 2-22 run spanning the first two quarters to improve to 10-6, including 4-4 away from home. Sylvain Francisco paced the Lithuanian side with 16 points while Lonnie Walker picked up 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Zalgiris, which has won two straight road games after a previous three-game road losing skid. ALBA has now lost three in a row and six of its last seven from 3-13 record. David McCormack scored a career-high 19 points and Yanni Wetzell added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the loss.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big win in Berlin. 😤<br><br>(Presented by: Go3). <a href="https://t.co/VPB9i8hkUt">pic.twitter.com/VPB9i8hkUt</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1869136538447307236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 66-86 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/E2024/144/)

\--

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">VICTOIRE XXL À BELGRADE ! 🔥🔥🔥<br><br>Cette équipe est décidément spéciale, premiere win de l&#39;année à l&#39;extérieur en Euroleague et sur le parquet du Partizan s&#39;il vous plait ! 💪<br><br>Un grand bravo à l&#39;ensemble des joueurs et du staff, prochaine étape : déplacement à Kaunas. Let&#39;s go !… <a href="https://t.co/5y070Ygdrg">pic.twitter.com/5y070Ygdrg</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1869137778312655304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is the final double-round week before the holidays 

Game Center: Efes, Olympiacos wrap Round 16 with wins

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-12-17T19:45:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-12-18T19:15:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2024-12-18T17:30:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Zalgiris Kaunas (2024-12-17T19:45:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Real Madrid (2024-12-17T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-12-17T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2024-12-17T19:15:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-12-17T19:05:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Bayern Munich (2024-12-17T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2024-12-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Kabengele drives to the basket and throws down a monster slam – and one!

 Kabengele explodes to the rim! Magic Moment 

 Kabengele drives to the basket and throws down a monster slam – and one!

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Umana Reyer Venice (2024-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI needed 45 minutes to beat Dolomiti Energia Trento in a 110-108 overtime thriller in Round 12.

Buducnost holds off Trento in an OT thriller, 110-108

It took 45 minutes, but Buducnost VOLI Podgorica managed to secure its fifth win of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by downing Dolomiti Energia Trento 110-108 in overtime on Wednesday night. Both teams came into Round 12 with an identical 4-7 record, yet this result means Buducnost improved to 5-7 while Trento fell to 4-8.

Kenan Kamenjas was Buducnost’s star performer with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Rasheed Sulaimon netted a team-high 19 points, Juwan Morgan had 15, Fletcher Magee finished with 13, McKinley Wright poured in 12, and Yogi Ferrell chipped in with 11. For Trento, Jordan Ford had a game-high 20 points, Myles Cane scored 19, Eigirdas Zukauskas netted 17, Anthony Lamb added 16, and Andrea Pecchia had 10.

Game Videos

Kamenjas got Buducnost going by scoring 4 points to put the hosts 4-2 ahead, and Nikola Tanaskovic scored 5 straight points soon after to make it 12-10. Trento kept putting points on the board through Lamb, Pecchia and Zukauskas. The two teams kept going back and forth, but Quinn Ellis’s deep two in the final three seconds of the period saw Trento take a 24-25 lead after 10 minutes.

Lamb scored Trento’s first 4 points of the quarter, and Zukauskas hit back-to-back threes, but the visitors only led by two points, 33-35. Buducnost took advantage of three-pointers and three-point plays to stay close, but Cale’s deep two off a third-effort play by Trento saw the Italian side hold a 47-49 advantage at the break.

Game News

Kamenjas picked up the baton for Buducnost in the third by netting 7 of his team’s first 12 points of the third, with the hosts up 59-55. Three-pointers were once again important for both sides, with Sulaimon and Ferrell hitting a three apiece before Magee scored a tough fadeaway to make it a double-digit ballgame for the first time, 67-57. When Zukauskas’s layup bounced in with the final act of the third period, it was 77-71 in favor of Buducnost.

Trento did a good job of managing to stay alive in the fourth, with Pecchia draining a wing three and Ellis scoring a fast-break layup halfway through the quarter to make it a three-point game, 84-81. Even though Buducnost had a response for Trento every time, leading 95-89 with 19 seconds to go, Ford hit a three after a steal and assist by Ellis with 5.5 seconds to go, then Sulaimon went 0 for 2 from the line, and at the end-of-regulation buzzer Ford struck from deep to force overtime, with the score 95-95.

Cale scored Trento’s first 5 points in the extra session to put the visitors 97-100 up, but Buducnost soon wrestled back control thanks to Morgan, Ferrell and Kamenjas, who combined as part of a 7-0 run. When Ford turned the ball over, Sulaimon’s fast-break dunk gave Buducnost a six-point advantage at 106-100. There was still life in Trento, though, as the visitors got within 108-105, but a pair of missed free throws by Zukauskas – and the resulting defensive rebound by Morgan – all but wrapped up the result, with Morgan going 2 for 2. Zukaukas struck from three with the final act of the game, as the score finished 110-108.

Both teams set new club records in scoring

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-12-18T17:30:00.000Z)

Kabengele missed the jumper, but Parks appeared out of nowhere for a put-back dunk!

Parks rises for a put-back slam! Magic Moment

 Kabengele missed the jumper, but Parks appeared out of nowhere for a put-back dunk!

Chris Jones sends it in the air and Amida Brimah detonates the huge alley-oop slam!

 Brimah's alley-oop dunk! Magic Moment 

 Chris Jones sends it in the air and Amida Brimah detonates the huge alley-oop slam!

Valencia Basket v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)

It’s fair to say that it took a while for Anadolu Efes Istanbul to find its offensive rhythm in Wednesday’s home meeting with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Better late than never for Efes

It’s fair to say that it took a while for [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) to find its offensive rhythm in Wednesday’s home meeting with [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/).

The Turkish team was misfiring all over the court in the early stages, failing to convert any of its first 5 field goal attempts and committing 3 turnovers in the process. [Ercan Osmani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ercan-osmani/012710/) finally got Efes on the scoreboard with more than 4 minutes played, but that certainly didn’t lead to an instant improvement as [Tomislav Mijatovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/mijatovic-tomislav/?season=E2024)’s men could only score 36 points in the first half – by which time it had also committed a startling 13 turnovers.

The second half, however, was a totally different matter.

The initial spark came from [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/), who followed consecutive baskets with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer – 9 points in the space of 3 minutes, which were enough to give Efes its first lead, 50-49. [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/) then took over with 7 points early in the fourth quarter, before [Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/) returned off the bench to score 6 late points and seal the deal.

The [final scoreline of 89-67](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-fights-back-to-blast-zvezda-89-67/) in no way reflected how tough the game had been for Efes. But the fact that the hosts won the rest of the game 39-18 shows just how much the Turkish team dominated the last 15 minutes and Mijatovic was delighted with the way that his players stuck to their task despite their poor start.

“It’s important to play 40 minutes,” the coach said. “Our guys understand that and credit to them. They knew that to beat a great team you’ve got to break them, break them, break them, before you actually break them. So in the fourth quarter we continued with that pressure, continued with active hands, stealing the basketball for easy unanswered points in transition.”

Bryant, who jointly led the scoring alongside Oturu with 17 points, agreed with his coach that the pressure exerted on Zvezda – which eventually led the Serbian team to commit 21 turnovers – was the decisive factor, saying: “It starts with deflections on defense. Roddy \[Beaubois\] helped us out a lot there. When one guy starts getting deflections it motivates the other guys. It always starts on the defensive end, and then our defense will lead to offense.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">👊 Keep rollin!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFa50O8pvd">pic.twitter.com/rFa50O8pvd</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1869479282755751970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oturu highlighted the other side of the same coin, pointing out that Efes improved drastically from committing 13 turnovers in the first half to just 7 after the break.

“\[In the second half\] we were taking care of the ball and valuing possession,” he explained. “When you turn the ball over it allows the other team to get out and get easy shots, fast-break points, so taking care of the ball and trying to get good shots on offense allows us to get back and play tough defense.”

That combination of swarming defense and far more effective offense was enough for Efes to more than double the points tally of Zvezda in the second half, 53-25, and leaves Mijatovic’s men nicely poised just outside the all-important top six ahead of Friday’s visit from the other Belgrade team, Partizan.

The Turkish team overcame a slow start to find its form at both ends in the second half against Zvezda

Milutinov bends the rim after a pick & roll with Fournier !

 Milutinov with a huge dunk! Motorola Magic Moment 

Milutinov bends the rim after a pick & roll with Fournier ! 

Anadolu Efes Istanbul outlasted Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, 89-67, to take a valuable home win thanks to a strong second half. 

Efes fights back to blast Zvezda, 89-67

Anadolu Efes Istanbul outlasted Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, 89-67, to take a valuable home win thanks to a strong second half. Efes improved to 9-7, while Zvezda dropped to 8-8.

Zvezda dominated the opening quarter to take a double-digit lead, but Efes fought back and it was 36-42 at the break. The hosts continued their recovery to go ahead in the third quarter and a 12-0 run early in the fourth sealed the win.

Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu paced Efes with 17 points apiece, while Ercan Osmani scored 13, Rolands Smits had 12, Rodrigue Beaubois netted 11, and Shane Larkin only scored 4 points but dished 12 assists. Filip Petrusev top-scored for Zvezda with 15 points, and Codi Miller-McIntyre netted 10.

Miller-McIntyre’s triple opened the scoring in an otherwise slow start, before Ognjen Dobric netted a three and Petrusev powered a layup for a 0-8 lead. Ercan Osmani finally got Efes on the scoreboard and Bryant struck from deep, but Petrusev scored twice and Dobric netted a putback to make it 5-14. Bryant hit another triple and Osmani scored from close-range before Miller-McIntyre kept Zvezda moving from deep. Oturu and Darius Thompson scored at the rim, but Nikola Kalinic drilled a triple to end the first quarter, 14-25.

Bryant’s layup and Smits’ triple pulled Efes closer, before Luka Mitrovic and Beaubois traded close-range finishes. Oturu scored 5 fast points and Smits added a slam, pulling Efes back to 28-33. Oturu’s tip-in completed a 7-0 run, which Yago Dos Santos ended with a driving layup. Beaubois’s mid-range jumper and Stanley Johnson’s transition score were answered by Joel Bolomboy’s jumper, keeping Zvezda ahead at 34-37. Oturu and Dobric both netted at the rim, before Bolomboy struck again for a 36-42 interval score.

Petrusev struck from deep to start the second half, but Bryant scored consecutive baskets to keep Efes close and Jordan Nwora hit a three to bring Efes back, 45-47. Miller-McIntyre scored in transition, but Bryant scored 5 points in a row for the home team’s first lead, 50-49. Nemanja Nedovic from close-range and Dos Santos from deep restored Zvezda’s lead, but Osmani’s free throws sent Efes back ahead, 56-54. Petrusev’s layup was bettered by Osmani from deep at the end of the third, 59-57.

Neither team could score as turnovers flew freely early in the final period before finally Beaubois netted a mid-range jumper and Smits added a triple for a 64-57 lead. Beaubois netted consecutive identical steals and scores for a double-digit advantage after a 14-0 run, before Kalinic finally ended Zvezda’s 5-minute drought from the foul line. Vincent Poirier’s alley-oop and a pair of scores from Darius Thompson stretched Efes’s lead, 78-61, and Oturu’s mid-range finish removed any lingering doubt as Zvezda struggled until the end.

The Turkish team overturned an early double-digit advantage to claim an ultimately comfortable win.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-Dolomiti Energia Trento | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

ratiopharm Ulm continued to apply pressure on the top teams in Group A by setting a club scoring record in a 114-91 victory over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius to extend its winning streak to four games

Ulm sets club scoring record in 114-91 victory over Wolves 

ratiopharm Ulm continued to apply pressure on the top teams in Group A by setting a club scoring record in a 114-91 victory over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius to extend its winning streak to four games. Ulm saw its 25-point lead drop to 8 points early in the second half and then went on a 22-2 run to decide the game.

The 114 points eclipsed the club’s single-game record of 110 points scored in a 110-98 home win over JL Bourg en Bresse nearly exactly two years ago. It was the first time Ulm managed four straight EuroCup wins since Rounds 16 to 18 plus the Eighthfinals in March and April 2023. Ulm improved to 8-4 in the group including 4-1 at home.

Marcio Santos led Ulm with 20 points while Alfonso Plummer scored 15 points, Nelson Weidemann had 14, Isaiah Roby collected 13 points and 8 rebounds, Noa Essengue tallied 12 points on his 18th birthday and Justinian Jessup chipped in 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Wolves have now lost three of the last four games for a 6-6 record. Anthony Cowan was Wolves’ top scorer with 15 points and Marek Blazevic added 14 points. 

Wolves opened the scoring for Wolves but the visitors had real problems handling the ball with 5 turnovers inside the first 4 minutes with Santos scoring 7 points and Karim Jallow 5 points for a 16-6 lead. Santos made a second triple and the home side led 19-9. Weidemann added 2 three-pointers and a dunk and Ulm led 32-16 after 10 minutes. 

Ulm scored the first 4 points of the second quarter for a 20-point cushion. A Plummer four-point play made it 45-20 just 3 minutes into the second quarter. Cowan tried to make sure Ulm did not get further away with 9 points for Wolves and he added 2 more three-pointers to highlight a 2-13 spurt to get within 56-45 at the break. 

Jallow opened the second half with a three-pointer for Ulm, but the visitors continued their momentum with the next 6 points and it was a single-digit, game 59-51. Roby punched back with a three-pointer and then layup in a 14-0 run over the next 3 minutes to regain control at 73-51. After a Wolves score, Jessup netted 6 points as the advantage grew to 81-53 and Weidemann drained a buzzer-beating three. Ulm was up 88-62 after three quarters. 

The game was decided already in the fourth quarter and the only remaining questions were how close could Wolves make it and if Ulm could set a new club record. The Lithuanian side twice got within 22 points and Ulm finally passed the record on a Plummer three-pointer with 1:15 minutes to go.

ratiopharm Ulm wins four straight games for first time since April 2023 

ratiopharm Ulm v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2024-12-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Courby gets the steal and finishes with a slam on the break!

Courby goes from defense to offense! Magic Moment

 Courby gets the steal and finishes with a slam on the break!

Anadolu Efes center Dan Oturu spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat KK Crvena zvezda in Round 16 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Dan Oturu: 'I'm thankful to be on a team like this'

Anadolu Efes Istanbul center Dan Oturu spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in Round 16 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Clyburn gives the visitors their first lead of the night with an audacious triple off the glass!

Clyburn beats the halftime buzzer from deep! Motorola Magic Moment

 Clyburn gives the visitors their first lead of the night with an audacious triple off the glass!

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-Turk Telekom Ankara | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Turk Telekom Ankara (2024-12-18T17:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 16 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Zavier Simpson drives and somehow hits an off-balance shot!

 Simpson's circus shot! Magic Moment 

 Zavier Simpson drives and somehow hits an off-balance shot!

Castaneda fires an alley-oop pass for Pansa, who slams it home!

Pansa dunks off Castaneda’s alley-oop pass! Magic Moment

 Castaneda fires an alley-oop pass for Pansa, who slams it home!