By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Darussafaka had already punched its EuroCup playoff ticket prior to the game against Galatasaray but this match was far from indifferent.
Coach David Blatt’s players needed the victory to clinch first place in Group E, which they did after comfortably beating already eliminated Galatasaray 77 – 64.
James Bell scored 17 points, JaJuan Johnson added 16 while Furkan Aldemir posted a season-high 24 in PIR after 9 points and 14 rebounds.
EuroCup second top scorer Scottie Wilbekin was a bit “cold”, finishing with 9 points after 3/11 from the field but provided elsewhere with 9 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
DaJuan Summers dropped 18 points and Adas Juskevicius 16 for Galatasaray that lost all mathematical chances of qualifying to the playoffs after the victory of Gran Canaria over Alba Berlin last night. After leading 38 – 39 in the third period, the “Cimbom” suffered a 15 – 5 partial score and fell behind for the remainder of the match.
Group E Standings:
| GROUP E | W | L | PTS+ | PTS- | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DARUSSAFAKA ISTANBUL | 5 | 0 | 410 | 334 | 76 |
| HERBALIFE GRAN CANARIA | 3 | 2 | 429 | 414 | 15 |
| ALBA BERLIN | 1 | 4 | 384 | 398 | -14 |
| GALATASARAY ODEABANK ISTANBUL | 1 | 4 | 363 | 440 | -77 |