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The third round of the EuroLeague delivered two clear messages. Fenerbahçe contained Dubai 76-66 in Istanbul to remain unbeaten, while Panathinaïkos crushed Maccabi Tel-Aviv 90-67 in Athens. Two home wins, two different styles, but the same idea: the serious contenders did not wait until winter to show their teeth.
Fenerbahçe stays in control at the right moment
Against Dubai, Fenerbahçe started strongly, winning the first quarter 26-14.
Against Dubai, Fenerbahçe started strongly, winning the first quarter 26-14. That early lead mattered, because Dubai did not disappear. The visitors tightened the game before halftime, cutting the deficit to 42-39, then stayed close after three quarters, at 55-51. For Fenerbahçe, the evening was therefore no walk in the park, but rather a test of game management.
The response came in the final act. The Turks shut down access to the rim, controlled the pace better and won the part that often matters most in the EuroLeague: the final five minutes, when open shots become rarer and every turnover weighs two kilos more.
Marcus Bingham finished as Fenerbahçe’s leading scorer with 20 points. Wade Baldwin added 14 points, and Braxton Key 12. This trio provided enough options to prevent the offense from stalling when Dubai kept pressing. Fenerbahçe therefore made it three wins in three games, after Virtus Bologna and Bayern Munich. A clean start, a clear picture.
Dubai competitive, but not yet consistent enough
Dubai did not leave the evening with its image tarnished. Elie Okobo scored 18 points, McKinley Wright and Dwayne Bacon added 12 each, and Mamadi Diakite had 10. There was enough to keep the game close, and the visitors did so for a long time.
The problem lies elsewhere: against a team as established as Fenerbahçe, surviving a poor start is not always enough. Dubai had to chase the score for almost the entire evening. That requires playing more accurately, for longer, without any drop in precision. In a venue like the Ülker Sports and Event Hall, this kind of comeback effort often ends up costing dearly.
This defeat does not erase the team’s potential, but it highlights the demands of this competition. Dubai can trouble many opponents with its perimeter talent and individual players. To beat a contender on the road, it will need to add another layer of consistency.
Panathinaïkos quickly snuffs out the suspense
In Athens, Panathinaïkos was much more ruthless in the way it settled the matter. The first quarter, won 25-10, set the tone. At halftime, the gap was already 19 points, 43-24. Maccabi never truly recovered from that poor start.
The final score, 90-67, reflected collective dominance more than a simple hot streak. Sylvain Francisco and Lefteris Mantzoukas each scored 11 points, Isaac Bonga added 10, while Dinos Mitoglou contributed on the boards. The return of Nigel Hayes-Davis also gives depth to a group that is already rolling.
Panathinaïkos remains unbeaten after beating Paris, ASVEL and then Maccabi. Three home games, three wins, and an impression of solidity that goes beyond the numbers. They will obviously have to confirm it away from Athens, because the EuroLeague loves putting certainties on a plane with battered luggage. But on this evening, the Greeks sent the clearest message: their home court is already extremely difficult to take.