By Bilal Baran Yardimci/ info@eurohoops.net
For the third time in the 2023-24 Regular Season, Fenerbahce Beko improved the all-time team record for the most points in a single game of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Plenty of help from Nigel Hayes-Davis. In turn, the 29-year-old forward was assisted by a visit from his trainer to Istanbul and practicing without lights.
“Fifteen minutes of our workout was in the dark. The lights went out but we were still shooting. We had a good workout,” he told Eurohoops about extending practice with his trainer beyond the lighting schedule in Ulker Sports Arena on Wednesday night, “I think that is why I felt so good.”
With illumination and the venue packed with fans on Thursday, the former Wisconsin standout produced 21 points behind 7/11 field goals, including four makes from beyond the arc as Fener overpowered Valencia. He is averaging 13.3 points per game so far in the continental campaign.
“It was great for muscle memory,” Hayes-Davis added on benefits from such unique conditions, “I found out last night. Muscle memory is real. I run around and I just catch, kind of feel the ball, and I think ‘this is where the rim should be’, and it goes in.”
Up to 18-11, Fenerbahce is tied with Greek giants Panathinaikos Aktor and Olympiacos between fourth and sixth on the EuroLeague standings. The top six teams advance directly to the 2024 Playoffs. The following four teams ending up between seventh and tenth will compete in the Play-Ins.