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Fenerbahce overcame a late push from Dubai Basketball to open the season with three straight EuroLeague victories, while Besiktas struggled to keep pace with Barcelona and dropped its second game.
The results moved Fenerbahce to 3-0 at the top of its start, while Dubai Basketball fell to 2-1 and Barcelona improved to 2-1. Besiktas dropped to 1-2 after three rounds.
Fenerbahce Tarfin hosted Dubai Basketball at Ulker Sports and Event Hall in Istanbul in a Round 3 matchup between two teams that had both won their opening two games.
The home side seized control early, taking a 14-10 lead midway through the first quarter before closing the period 26-14 ahead. Fenerbahce then pushed the gap to 35-20 in the second, but Dubai answered before halftime and trimmed the deficit to 42-39.
The visitors kept the pressure on after the break as both teams struggled to score. Fenerbahce held a 55-51 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Dubai eventually drew level at 61-61 with 4:45 remaining.
Fenerbahce responded at both ends of the court, tightening its defense and allowing only five more Dubai points on the way to a 76-66 victory. Marcus Bingham led Fenerbahce with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Elie Okobo scored 18 for Dubai.
Fenerbahce coach Sarunas Jasikevicius highlighted his team's composure in the final quarter after a game he described as physically and tactically difficult.
"The fourth quarter was great. We kept our calm, used the ball correctly, found matchup advantages, finished some positions with points and defended well," Jasikevicius said.
Dubai coach Xavi Pascual pointed to his team's late collapse, saying it "lost control of the game in the last 4 minutes."
Besiktas hosted Barcelona in Istanbul but could not overcome an early deficit, falling 95-82 and suffering its second defeat of the EuroLeague season.
Barcelona took a 14-8 lead after five minutes and extended it to 20-8 before finishing the opening quarter 25-17 ahead. Besiktas responded in the second period, cutting the gap to 25-22, but Barcelona restored its advantage and went into halftime up 52-40.
The Spanish side stayed in control after the break and entered the final quarter up 77-62. Besiktas reduced the deficit to 83-73 with five minutes remaining, but Barcelona held off the comeback and closed out the win.
Kevin Punter led Barcelona with 16 points, while Umoja Gibson added 15. Scottie Wilbekin posted a game-high 17 points for Besiktas.
Besiktas coach Dusan Alimpijevic focused on his team's defensive problems and the adjustment period following the arrival of 10 new players. "Today was another bad defensive night," Alimpijevic said, adding that the team needed time to put things together.
He also praised the Besiktas supporters for backing the team during a difficult stretch and noted that injuries and other factors had limited his options during a demanding double-game week.
Barcelona coach Aleksander Sekulic praised his team's response to the Istanbul atmosphere after the win. "We stayed together in this atmosphere and did everything we could on both ends of the court to win," Sekulic said.
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