Beşiktaş dominates Fenerbahçe in Game 3, ignites finals comeback hopes

In a crucial Game 3 clash at Istanbul’s Basketball Development Center, Beşiktaş Fibabanka roared back into contention in the Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi Finals, securing a decisive 98-77 win against Fenerbahçe Beko. This vital victory reduces Fenerbahçe’s lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1, preventing Beşiktaş from falling into an insurmountable 3-0 deficit.

After a brief four-minute period trailing their rivals, Beşiktaş ignited a dominant 17-0 run and never relinquished their lead. The captain, Yiğit Arslan, was the standout performer, achieving a new personal best for the 2024-25 season with an impressive 22 points. Arslan's stellar shooting, hitting 7-of-10 from the field including five three-pointers, was complemented by seven rebounds and six assists, showcasing an all-around effort. Jonah Mathews led all scorers with a game-high 25 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Uroš Plavšić contributed significantly with 16 points.

Beşiktaş, under head coach Dušan Alimpijević, navigated some challenges, with Berk Uğurlu forced to exit early in the second half due to a right ankle injury after scoring seven points. Additionally, Kelan Martin remained sidelined.

For the reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions, Fenerbahçe Beko, Wade Baldwin IV and Devon Hall shared team-high honors with 14 points each, and Marko Gudurić added 13 points. However, Fenerbahçe was significantly hampered by the absence of several key players, including Jilson Bango, Bonzie Colson, Dyshawn Pierre, Sertaç Şanlı, Scottie Wilbekin, and Artūrs Žagars, which undoubtedly impacted their performance in this pivotal game.

Beşiktaş's dominant Game 3 performance not only secured a much-needed win but also injected new life into the Finals, promising an exciting continuation of the series.