Besiktas arrived at Buesa Arena with the confidence of a team that knows how to win on the road. They opened with an 8-2 run and Devon Dotson extended the lead to 18-7 by the 6-minute mark. Kosner Baskonia could only rely on free throws: by the 8-minute mark they were 9 of 12 from the line while Besiktas hadn't attempted any.
Wilbekin made it 21-13 and the margin reached 11 points. The first quarter closed at 20-28, with the Turkish team comfortable and facing no resistance from beyond the arc.
Lawson and Faried Change the Script
The second quarter was a different game. An 8-0 run in just a minute and a half tied the score at 28. AJ Lawson and Kenneth Faried led the charge during that stretch. Anthony Brown answered with four straight points (28-32), but Besiktas chained turnovers and began accumulating fouls.
Alimpijevic received a technical for protesting a call. Baskonia lived at the free-throw line: in the first half they drew 29 free-throw attempts, a historic figure in the competition. With a 31-21 run in the quarter, the Vitoria team went into halftime ahead, 51-49.
The Three-Pointer That Never Came
After the break, the underlying problem returned: Baskonia couldn't hit from outside. Wenyen Gabriel made it 57-59 and shortly after committed his fourth foul. Wilbekin took advantage of the moment with a three-pointer that opened it up to 59-66 midway through the third quarter.
Buesa Arena pushed and their team cut into the deficit, though they never regained control. The third quarter ended 71-73.
Dotson and Nowell Seal It
The fourth quarter was decided in its first five minutes. Besiktas opened with a 6-0 run (71-77). Then came a four-point play from Dotson and a basket from Jaylen Nowell that made it 73-83 with five minutes remaining.
Baskonia, without outside shooting, struggled for every point and managed just 13 in the entire quarter. At 76-86 with three minutes left, the game was decided. Wilbekin, as expected, added the final basket for the 84-92 final score.
Duarte, Alone Against the Storm
Chris Duarte was Baskonia's only stable offensive weapon: 23 points, 5 rebounds, and a perfect 15 of 15 from the free-throw line. Faried finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Lawson added 10 points. The absence of Markus Howard, who was out of the roster, was felt on a team that finished with just three three-pointers made.
For Besiktas, Wilbekin (24 points, 6 of 13 from three) had solid support. Dotson added 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists; Gabriel, 14 points; and Nowell, 12 points and 5 rebounds. Eugene Omoruyi, in his return to Vitoria, had a quieter scoring night but contributed on the boards and in playmaking.
Also Read:
- Baskonia-Olympiacos (89-106): The champion strikes in Buesa's European debut
- EuroLeague 2026-27 Matchday 1 Recap
- Kenneth Faried, New Piece for Kosner Baskonia's Interior Game
1-3 Record and Liga Endesa Around the Corner
The loss leaves Kosner Baskonia with a 1-3 record, in the lower part of the standings. Besiktas improves to 2-2, with both victories coming on the road. Galbiati's team has no time to dwell: on Sunday at 5:00 PM they host Asisa Joventut in the third matchday of the Liga Endesa. In EuroLeague Matchday 5 they will play again at Buesa Arena, this time against Dubai.