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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Anadolu Efes Istanbul defeated derby rivals Besiktas Istanbul, 89-80, on Thursday evening in the EuroLeague. The final score tells the story of a close game down the stretch, but the evening was largely decided by the margin built before halftime. Efes took control from the opening minutes, then withstood its rival’s comeback without letting the game slip away.
A first half that carried major weight
The first quarter ended 29-17, with the home team making better decisions and already showing greater aggression around the rim.
Efes immediately set the pace. The first quarter ended 29-17, with the home team making better decisions and already showing greater aggression around the rim. Besiktas then struggled to cut into the deficit: Efes won the second quarter 28-19 and went into the locker room with a 21-point lead, 57-36.
That margin was more than just a number. It allowed Pablo Laso’s players to play the second half without chasing the score. Cameron Payne was the game’s most productive player with 22 points. His efficiency gave Efes the baskets it needed whenever Besiktas sought to establish a stretch of pressure.
Collin Malcolm added 15 points, while Efes as a team recorded 17 assists. The team especially dominated the rebounding battle, 37-30, a detail that is rarely insignificant in a derby where every possession ultimately comes at a high cost.
Besiktas refused to disappear
The third quarter nevertheless changed the game’s temperature. Besiktas won it 24-11 and cut the deficit to eight points before the final period, 68-60. After struggling through the first half, the visitors finally found cleaner stretches, particularly by limiting their opponents’ opportunities and speeding up when an opening appeared.
Eugene Omoruyi embodied this revival with 16 points. Scottie Wilbekin also provided a threat from outside, but Besiktas failed to turn its momentum into a genuine comeback. Efes gave up ground without losing its composure. In the final minutes, the game remained tense, but the lead built before halftime served as a cushion.
The final quarter, won 21-20 by Efes, aptly sums up the end of the game: Besiktas kept pushing, while Efes responded without panic. No major surge, simply enough control to prevent the derby from becoming a lottery.
The numbers confirm the script
Efes shot better overall, making 31 baskets on 60 attempts, compared with Besiktas’ 31 on 67. The home team also made better use of the free-throw line, converting 19 of 22 attempts. Besiktas made up for it with more noticeable defensive activity, totaling ten steals, but that was not enough to erase the damage done in the first half.
Both teams recorded 17 assists, a sign that the derby never stopped being fiercely contested. The difference came from a more efficient shot selection on Efes’ side and its ability to shut down second chances. Whenever Besiktas had an opportunity to seriously cut the deficit, Efes found a basket, a free throw, or a rebound to close the door.
A victory that provides breathing room
The win gives Anadolu Efes its third European victory of the season. Besiktas, meanwhile, leaves with a fourth defeat despite a reaction that keeps the score from reflecting only the first half.
The future will show whether this derby serves as a turning point for Efes or remains a game won thanks to an almost perfect start. For Besiktas, the third quarter at least offers a foundation: over twenty minutes, the neighbor was too far behind; over the next twenty, it reminded everyone that a derby is never won comfortably.
