Fenerbahce rides hot shooting to Game 1 win over Zalgiris in EuroLeague playoffs

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul opened its EuroLeague playoff series with an 89-78 win over Zalgiris Kaunas on Tuesday, April 28, at Ulker Sports and Event Hall. The Turkish side reversed recent struggles at the right time after dropping both regular-season meetings, including a 10-point home loss during a 2-7 stretch to close the campaign. Tarik Biberovic led the charge with 26 points, matching his career high while shooting 6-of-8 from three-point range and 4-of-5 inside the arc. Wade Baldwin added 17 points and five rebounds, while Nicolo Melli contributed 13 points and five boards, providing interior balance and defensive stability. Zalgiris started strong and held a 15-9 lead early, but Fenerbahce responded late in the first quarter when Biberovic drilled a buzzer-beating three to make it 22-20. That sequence shifted momentum, and the hosts extended the lead to 47-29 by halftime behind 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc while holding the visitors to 1-of-9. Biberovic had 17 points at the break and did not miss from long distance in the first half, setting the tone for spacing and ball movement. Zalgiris responded in the third quarter with a 12-0 run, cutting the deficit to 51-45 as Nigel Williams-Goss orchestrated the offense. Williams-Goss finished with a career-high 24 points, while Moses Wright added 19 points and five rebounds to keep the Lithuanian side within reach. Fenerbahce answered the run with another Biberovic three to restore a double-digit cushion, halting Zalgiris’ momentum. Sylvain Francisco scored 15 points but shot 3-of-12 from the field, reflecting inconsistent perimeter execution. Fenerbahce maintained control in the final quarter by limiting turnovers to nine and converting efficiently inside, finishing 26-of-41 on two-point attempts. Fenerbahce now holds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series, with Game 2 set to remain in Istanbul as the team looks to protect home court.