Besiktas Dominates Maccabi in Belgrade Opener
Besiktas launched their EuroLeague campaign with a commanding 109-93 road victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall. The visitors seized control in the third quarter, outscoring Maccabi 26-17 to extend a slender six-point halftime lead (46-52) into a decisive 15-point advantage entering the final period (63-78). Besiktas' offensive efficiency was the story, as they shot a blistering 60% from the field, including a remarkable 17-of-30 from beyond the arc (57%).
While Maccabi's bench provided a solid 36 points, Besiktas' reserves outshone them with 44 points. Anthony Brown and Scottie Wilbekin spearheaded the attack with 20 points apiece, complemented by Devon Dotson's 17 points and four assists. For Maccabi, Bonzie Colson led the scoring with 17 points, and Jimmy Clark III added 15 points, five assists, and three steals. Despite Maccabi's respectable 53% field goal percentage, they couldn't contain Besiktas' potent offense, which also held advantages in rebounding (29-25) and assists (25-20). This dominant performance sets a strong early tone for Besiktas in the regular season.