Basketball: A.Efes beat Fenerbahce in Euroleague

Anadolu Efes clinches playoffs with Istanbul derby win, Darussafaka Dogus battling for last spot

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Efes defeated Fenerbahce 80-77 late Thursday in Europe's biggest basketball club competition, Turkish Airlines Euroleague, to clinch the playoffs.

The Round 28 match in Abdi Ipekci Arena saw the hosts securing the playoff spot, holding off a late-charging Fenerbahce.

The win gave Anadolu Efes their 16th victory, while Fenerbahce, which had already advanced to the playoffs, fell to 17 wins and 11 losses.

Jayson Granger scored 13 points and made 5 assists for the home team, while Bryant Dunston and Derrick Brown each chipped in 10 points.

Bogdan Bogdanovic came off the bench to score 16 points for Fenerbahce, but they were unable to complete their comeback, though they erased a 17-point deficit.

- Another Istanbul derby on Friday

While the win secured Anadolu Efes the playoffs, another Turkish team, Darussafaka Dogus, must win against Galatasaray Odeabank on Friday evening to chase their playoff hopes.

Ninth-place Darussafaka has a record of 13 wins and 14 losses, and Serbian team Crvena Zvezda Belgrade currently hold the eighth and last playoff spot.

Already eliminated Galatasaray Odeabank got four impressive wins in their last six matches and will look to continue their late strong performance.

The match at Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul will start at 8.15 p.m. local time (1715 GMT).

Other results on Thursday:

Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv - Zalgiris Kaunas: 77-93

EA7 Emporio Armani Milano - Brose Bamberg: 76-84

Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz - Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens: 63-72

Friday schedule:

UNICS Kazan - CSKA Moscow

Darussafaka Dogus - Galatasaray Odeabank

Olympiacos - Real Madrid

Barcelona Lassa - Crvena Zvezda Belgrade

Standings as of Friday 11.00 local time (0800 GMT):

Group Regular Season	W	L	PTS+	PTS-	+/-
1. Real Madrid (qualified)	20	7	2348	2144	204
2. CSKA Moscow (qualified)	20	7	2360	2122	238
3. Olympiacos Piraeus (qualified)	19	8	2102	1975	127
4. Fenerbahce Istanbul (qualified)	17	11	2142	2114	28
5. Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens (qualified)	17	11	2109	2053	56
6. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (qualified)	16	12	2315	2301	14
7. Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz (qualified)	16	12	2263	2212	51
8. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade	15	12	2004	1986	18
9. Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul	13	14	2123	2140	-17
10. Zalgiris Kaunas	13	15	2182	2224	-42
11. Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul	10	17	2114	2220	-106
12. FC Barcelona Lassa	10	17	1933	2049	-116
13. Brose Bamberg	10	18	2206	2236	-30
14. Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv	10	18	2201	2336	-135
15. Unics Kazan	7	20	2058	2172	-114
16. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan	7	21	2255	2431	-176

Kaynak:

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