Turkish Airlines EuroLeague: Playoffs take shape

Game 2 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoffs concluded on Friday with two more contests. Fenerbahce joined CSKA as unbeaten in this round by moving 2-0 ahead over Baskonia, just a single victory from qualifying. In the other series, Olympiacos evend the score at home against Zalgiris but faces a tricky double-header away from home.

Olympiacos Piraeus 79-68 Zalgiris Kaunas (1-1)

Olympiacos hit back against Zalgiris with a home win that tied this series 1-1. It was expected the Greek giant would come back at the Lithunian club and so it proved. However, Zalgiris has that vital away win in the bank heading to two consecutive games at home. If the club can turn it on in Kaunas then this could be over next week. Don’t write off Olympiacos, one of the best travelers in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. One thing is certain, this is an intriguing series. In this game, Olympiacos controlled much of the contest thanks to a 17-2 run that spanned the first and second quarters. Jamal McLean paced the win with 21 points, while Vassilis Spanoulis continued his hot playoffs with 17 points.

Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul 95-89 KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz (2-0)

Current Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champs Fenerbahce are on course for the next round after beating Baskonia for a 2-0 series lead. The Turkish giant is now in control of the series, although we now head to Vitoria for games 3 and 4. Baskonia can turn on the style at home and the Spanish team will need two wins just to force a decider. As reigning champ, Fener is enjoying a glorious run in the playoffs, with 11 successive wins spanning back to last season. In fact, the club was runner up in 2016, so has lost just a single playoff game in nearly three seasons. The hosts led for most of the game, but never by enough to relax. Still, Fenerbahce dictated the fourth quarter to ensure another home win.