2016/2017 Euroleague: Unics Kazan produces to beat Fenerbahce
After a busy week of action, the 2016/2017 Euroleague returns to normal this week as Round 5 gets underway. There were two contests on Tuesday to usher in the new week of elite action in Europe’s top club competition.
Fenerbahce welcomes Unics Kazan in great form, but managed to slip up in its own backyard against a club that was winless until tonight. Elsewhere, Barcelona overcame Maccabi Tel Aviv in a clash of the titans game between two former champs.
Fenerbahce Istanbul vs. Unics Kazan, 73-81
Unics Kazan pulled off the shock of the Regular Season so far. The Russians traveled to Istanbul and managed to outlast Fenerbahce on its own floor. As early-season results go, this is pretty seismic. Fenerbahce has been in blistering form, and was unbeaten before tonight, with only CSKA Moscow holding the same record.
The Turkish club was a finalist last season and looks very capable of going one better than runner up this term. That assessment does not really change after tonight, but a loss to Unics Kazan poses some interesting questions. At best it shows that any club can beat the other in the Euroleague, but at worst it suggests Fenerbahce can get complacent, a charge that has been considered over the last few seasons.
Regardless, Unics Kazan connected with its first victory of the season here and was a worthy winner. The visitors actually led for large parts of this contest, securing a 15-20 lead through the first quarter and holding on for 39-43 at halftime. Fenerbahce improved in the third act, drawing to a single point after thirty minutes on the floor (62-63). The momentum seemed to be with the hosts, but Unics Kazan found another gear in the fourth quarter and pulled away late on to win the game.
Keith Langford is in excellent form and produced a special performance with a double-double of 28 points and 10 rebounds, while also providing 4 assists. Artsiom Parakhouski was also in double-double touch with 20 points and 12 boards. Quino Colom netted 9 points and laid up 11 scoring passes for the winners.
Bobby Dixon paced a dejected Fenerbahce with 23 points and 5 assists. Jan Vesely added 17 points and Luigi Datome scored 12 and provided 8 assists.
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Barcelona, 69-79
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s recent resurgence was thwarted by Barcelona in Israel on Friday during Round 5 of the 2016/2016 Euroleague. Tel Aviv was on a two game streak that helped the club recover from a poor start to the season, but Barcelona was too strong here as it secured the win to stamp its own two game streak.
The Spanish team has also been in indifferent form at times this season, but produced here in a clash between two former Euroleague champions.
Consistency at the bucket was the name of the game for Barca. The visitors drained 20 points in the first act for a slender two point advantage, before adding another 20 points in the second quarter. Tel Aviv hit 34 first half points and trailed by six as the midway buzzer sounded. The hosts couldn’t break down the Barcelona defense consistently and only produced 13 points in Q3, while the Spaniards drained 18 for a commanding 47-58 lead through thirty minutes. Maccabi Tel Aviv edged the fourth 22-21, but Barca stayed solid at both ends to ensure a big road win.
Tyrese Rice topped the winners with 21 points, while Petteri Koponen added 14 points. Joey Dorsey had the only double-double of the game with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Andrew Goudelock continues to stand out for Maccabi Tel Aviv and scored 19 points here, followed by Devin Smith with 18 points and 6 rebounds for the losing effort.