Beşiktaş secured a 109-93 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, marking their first win of the EuroLeague season and crossing the 100-point threshold in the competition for the first time.
Dusan Alimpijevic’s squad rebounded from an opening-night loss to Valencia Basket, fueled by standout offensive performances from Anthony Brown and Scottie Wilbekin. The club last competed at this level during the 2012-2013 campaign, making this road result a significant milestone in their European return.
Offensive Fireworks in Belgrade
Beşiktaş set an aggressive tone from the opening tip, establishing a 27-19 lead by the end of the first quarter behind early baskets from Nowell, Morgan, and Zizic. The visiting side caught fire from beyond the arc in the first half, sinking 8 of 11 three-point attempts to build a 52-46 halftime advantage despite some defensive lapses that allowed Maccabi to narrow the gap before the break.
The third quarter reinforced the Turkish side’s control as Wilbekin orchestrated the offense to push the margin back to double digits at 61-50 by the 24th minute. Entering the final frame up 78-63, Beşiktaş poured in 31 points in the fourth quarter alone to coast to the 109-93 final scoreline.
Standout Performances From Brown and Wilbekin
American forward Anthony Brown earned MVP honors for the match, draining six of seven three-point attempts to finish with 20 points and a 24 efficiency rating. His perimeter shooting anchored an offense that kept Maccabi’s defense scrambling all evening.
Meanwhile, Scottie Wilbekin delivered a 20-point performance, signaling a strong return to form after a career heavily interrupted by successive injuries. Dotson also fueled the attack with 17 points, while Omoruyi and Furkan Korkmaz chipped in 11 points apiece to round out a balanced scoresheet.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Struggles on Neutral Ground
Maccabi Tel Aviv played their designated home fixture at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, continuing their arrangement of hosting matches outside Israel due to ongoing regional security concerns. Colson led the Israeli side with 17 points, while Clark added 15, but defensive breakdowns in the second half left Maccabi winless through two rounds following their earlier defeat to ASVEL.
Having broken through the century mark and secured their first win over an Israeli opponent in three EuroLeague meetings, Alimpijevic’s team now turns its attention to a quick turnaround against Spanish opposition.
Keep reading
