By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Former NBA player Mike Scott registered a new career-high in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with 26 points, however, two are better than one.
And Fenerbahce had Jonathan Motley (24 p.) and Scottie Wilbekin (17 p.) on a big night which ended with one more win for Sarunas Jasikevicius’ team.
The final score was 83-73 in favor of the Turkish side which has a 15-9 record, good enough at least for a tie between the fourth and the fifth spot of the standings, depending on the upcoming result of Panathinaikos against Milan.
Nick Calathes (photo) added eight points, eight assists, and two steals for Fenerbahce. “We were trying to do the right things in defense, rebounding and doing the little things”, said Wilbekin after the game.
On the other side, ASVEL with a 5-19 record remains on the bottom of the league standings.
Paris Lee had 16 points for the French, which are still missing Nando De Colo and Joffrey Lauvergne, while Fenerbahce is still without Nigel Hayes-Davies and Dyson Pierre.
The first half run of Scott was not enough for ASVEL
Behind 21 first-half points by Scott, ASVEL led even by 12 (41-29) with two minutes left in the first half.
“We gave a lot of offensive rebounds in the beginning, and if they get second opportunities they are going to score eventually”, said Motley after the game.
However, the reaction of Fenerbahce was swift, Wilbekin made two threes and the halftime score was 42-39 in favor of the hosts.
One more three by Wilbekin tied the game (42-42) and completed a 12-0 run to start the third period as everything started again from point zero.
“We just made sure they didn’t get any offensive rebounds and I think we did a good job in the second half”, added Motley.
With the momentum changed, Fenerbahce jumped to a 10-point lead (62-52) as Wilbekin was making shot after shot.
The guests entered the last quarter leading by 11 (67-56) and never looked back after that.
“I feel I am saying always the same thing in the interviews, it’s a tale of two halves”, joked Fenerbahce coach Sarunas Jasikevicius in his flash interview.“In the second half we were disciplined, we stepped up and we matched ASVEL’s physicality”.