Fenerbahce Stages Another 18-Point Comeback, Puts Anadolu Efes on the Brink

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is one win away from the Turkish league final after defeating Anadolu Efes 73-72 in another high-tension EuroLeague derby. Sarunas Jasikevicius's team leads the semifinal 2-0 and repeated an almost identical script to Game 1: trailing by 18 points, mounting a comeback, and winning by one.

Efes led by as much as 29-47 in the final minute of the second quarter, but Fenerbahce completely changed the pace after halftime. They first cut the deficit below ten points and then put together a 13-3 run that allowed them to enter the fourth quarter down just two, 56-58.

The finish was dramatic. With Fenerbahce leading 73-72, Efes had up to three chances to win. PJ Dozier missed a mid-range shot with 23 seconds remaining, and Jordan Loyd recovered the ball and drove toward the basket, but Talen Horton-Tucker appeared with a crucial block. On the final possession, Dozier took responsibility again, but his buzzer-beater also came up empty.

Tarik Biberovic led Fenerbahce with 20 points, joined by Horton-Tucker's 19 and Wade Baldwin's 14. For Efes, Jordan Loyd finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Dozier and Sehmus Hazer each added 12 points.

With this victory, Fenerbahce leaves Anadolu Efes against the wall and moves one win away from securing a spot in the Turkish championship final.