One of this season's must-watch games will see top four-chasing Fenerbahce (20-12) look to maintain its stunning home form against Istanbul rival Efes (15-17), which has a play-in place within reach after winning three in a row.
Game Notes: Fenerbahce vs. Efes
The Istanbul Derby will see new single-game points record holder Nigel Hayes-Davis face the man he has just deposed, Shane Larkin, who was also in great form with 28 points in last week's key win at Baskonia. Fenerbahce has been unstoppable at home recently, winning eight in a row and surpassing 100 points in four of those. Head coach Saras Jasikevicius's team also has confidence from the knowledge it won this season's first Istanbul derby, triumphing 84-89 in December behind 24 points from the man of the moment, Hayes-Davis, plus 17 points and 8 assists from Nick Calathes, who faces a mouthwatering backcourt battle with Larkin.
- Fenerbahce and Efes will meet twice in one week with their Turkish League clash set three days after this game. Fenerbahce won their Round 17 game 84-89 and lifted the Turkish Cup by beating Efes in the finals 67-80. When they met in the Turkish League back in December, Efes pulled out an 81-80 home win.
- The last time Fenerbahce hosted Efes in the EuroLeague, it celebrated a 103-86 win in April of last season with Nigel Hayes-Davis scoring 26 points, and Dyshawn Pierre accumulating a career-best PIR of 27. Both players played the entire 40 minutes.
- In the 2019 Final Four semifinals, Shane Larkin shined with 30 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds in accumulating the highest performance index rating in a Final Four game this century with 43. Efes beat Fenerbahce 73-92 to reach the championship game.
- When it beat Efes 70-81 in October 2020, Fenerbahce tied a club record with 48 rebounds.
- Fenerbahce forward Nate Sestina was a teammate of Efes center Tyrique Jones and guard Ridvan Oncel at Turk Telekom Ankara last season. They reached the EuroCup Finals and Turkish League finals together.
- Fenerbahce center Sertac Sanli spent three seasons with Efes and helped the team win the 2021 EuroLeague championship.
- Sanli and Fenerbahce's Melih Mahmutoglu and Sehmus Hazer played alongside Efes guard Shane Larkin and forward Ercan Osmani on the Turkish national team at EuroBasket 2022.
- Sanli scored a career-high 24 points to lead FC Barcelona to a 93-95 overtime win over Efes at Sinan Erdem Dome in December 2021.
- Efes forward Will Clyburn was a teammate of Fenerbahce's Scottie Wilbekin at Darussafaka Istanbul during the 2016-17 season. They helped the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs.
- Efes guard Elijah Bryant and Fenerbahce's Scottie Wilbekin and Tyler Dorsey were also teammates at Maccabi Tel Aviv from 2019 to 2021.
- Efes's Darius Thompson and Fenerbahce's Johnathan Motley were teammates at Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar during the 2021-22 season.
- In Game 3 of the 2021 EuroLeague Playoffs, Will Clyburn posted his career-high in index rating with 38 in leading CSKA Moscow to a 68-85 series-clinching win against Fenerbahce. Clyburn scored a career-high 34 points, making a career-best 5 three-pointers and 11 free throws for CSKA to sweep the series.
- Fenerbahce point guard Nick Calathes set a career-high in PIR with 42 playing for Panathinaikos Athens in a thrilling 81-82 victory over Efes in Istanbul in Round 8 of the 2017-18 season. He tallied 29 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists in capturing MVP of the Round honors.
- In a loss against Efes in March of last season, Sehmus Hazer posted his career highs in PIR (15), points (13) and assists (5).