Fenerbahce makes it 10 in a row with rout at Buducnost
Fenerbahce BEKO Istanbul recorded its 10th consecutive victory by routing Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 65-89 at Moraca on Thursday night in the Montenegrin capital. The Turkish champs relied on star big man Jan Vesely, who shined with 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals in helping Fenerbahce improve to 13-1. Joffrey Lauvergne added 17 points and Kostas Sloukas added 11. Earl Clark paced Buducnost with 15 points, Petar Popovic scored 12 and Nemanja Gordic 11. The loss was the third in a row for Buducnost as it fell to 3-11 on the season.
The offenses were flowing early in the game with Clark standing out for the home team and Melih Mahmutoglu draining a pair of triples for the visitors, the second of which made it 13-18. Buducnost tied it on an Edwin Jackson triple, but Fenerbahce big men Vesely and Nikola Kalinic led a 0-8 run before Nemanja Gordic's layup made it 20-26 after 10 minutes. A three by Kalinic gave Fenerbahce its first double-digit lead, 20-31. Coty Clarke and Popovic led a 10-0 Buducnost run to get the hosts back in the game. Sloukas stopped the bleeding for Fenerbahce only to see Jackson tie it at 34-34 with a jumper. Popovic pushed Buducnost ahead with free throws and Clark's jumper made it 40-37. Sloukas's third three of the first half sent the teams into halftime tied at 40-40. Ali Muhammed hit a pair of threes and found Vesely inside as Fenerbahce looked to take control at 47-54. Erick Green drained a triple that stretched the lead to 51-63 and resulted in a Buducnost timeout. The difference stood at 12 (55-67) through three quarters. Buducnost held Fenerbahce to a single basket in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, but failed to take advantage on the offensive end. When Lauvergne connected on a triple, the visitors led 59-72. Fenerbahce continued to pile onto its lead with a 2-16 run that put the game on ice.
Telling stat
Fenerbahce used Buducnost's best weapon against it. The visitors made 15 three-pointer, which is the second-most in club history, and did so at a 55.6% success rate. Seven different players made threes for Fenerbahce – and six of them made multiple shots from downtown. Buducnost, which earlier this season set the EuroLeague record for triples in one game, was just 4 for 13 (30.8%) from behind the arc.
Telling stat II
Fenerbahce outrebounded Buducnost 21-34, including 3-13 in offensive rebounds. Jan Vesely alone outrebounded the opponents with his 4 boards on the offensive glass. It was the second time this season Buducnost only had 3 offensive rebounds.
Game-changing moments
It was 45-46 in the third quarter when Ali Muhammed stepped up with threes on consecutive possessions for Fenerbahce. He then assisted Jan Vesely for a pair of baskets as the lead swelled to 49-56 and Buducnost never threatened again.
Next game
Both teams return to action next Friday night. Fenerbahce hosts Real Madrid in a rematch from last season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game. Buducnost heads to Germany to take on FC Bayern Munich.

Thursday, December 20, 2018
Euroleague.net