FC Barcelona secured an 95-82 victory against Beşiktaş at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center, driven by 47 points from the bench and a fast-paced transition attack deployed by head coach Aleksander Sekulic. The Catalan side maintained a double-digit advantage through much of the contest to claim their second win in the EuroLeague campaign.
Bench Production Powers Catalan Victory
The visiting side relied heavily on its second unit to build separation in Istanbul. Reserve players combined for 47 points, offsetting ongoing roster absences. Head coach Aleksander Sekulic managed the rotation without Josh Nebo, Tosan Evbuomwan, and Yoan Makoundou.
“Besiktas has demonstrated its quality, but our team has responded very well,” Sekulic said after the match. “We maintained intensity and concentration throughout the game to avoid repeating the mistakes we made in Dubai, where five minutes cost us the victory.”
Defensive Struggles Hamper Turkish Side
Beşiktaş struggled with shooting efficiency throughout the night, finishing 29 of 76 from the field. The home side missed 17 of their 22 attempts in the opening quarter alone, allowing Barcelona to carve out an early 10-22 advantage.
Scottie Wilbekin entered the rotation to spark a brief offensive uptick, helping the hosts narrow the gap to 17-25. However, poor shot selection proved costly as the game progressed. “It has not been our night,” Beşiktaş coach Alimpijevic said. “Our defense has been soft and we missed too many shots.”
Barcelona Maintains Control Through Perimeter Shooting
Both benches favored a high-speed transition game despite the heavy weekly schedule. Barcelona utilized superior perimeter shooting and contributions from Kevin Punter and Darío Brizuela to accumulate 52 points before halftime.
Beşiktaş attempted to close the gap through offensive rebounds and forced turnovers, trimming the deficit to 40-52 at the break. Yet, Barcelona maintained tactical discipline. Guard Umoja Gibson contributed 15 points and directed the floor operation efficiently.
“We played as a team and I was able to bring energy,” Gibson said.
Sekulic deployed a small-ball lineup featuring five perimeter players on the floor, with Olek Balcerowski serving as the lone traditional interior presence. The tactical shift preserved a 62-79 lead heading into the final quarter. While Beşiktaş mounted a late rally to narrow the final margin, Barcelona closed out the fixture comfortably at 82-95.
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