Basketball: Fenerbahce beat city rivals Besiktas

By Erkan Tiryaki

ISTANBUL (AA) - Fenerbahce defeated Istanbul rivals Besiktas Sompo Japan 75-69 on Friday evening to go 1-0 up in Turkey's Spor Toto Basketball Super Lig playoff finals.

In a hard-fought match played at the Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul, Fenerbahce managed to add to their remarkable 26-game winning streak and took the advantage in the best-of-seven series.

Point-guard Bobby Dixon was vital for Fenerbahce, scoring a team-record of 16 points as well as making a trio of three-pointers.

Center Ekpe Udoh chipped in 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the winning performance. Bogdan Bogdanovic also added 13 points.

For the losing side, Vladinir Stimac's 20-point, 11-rebound performance was enough for Besiktas, as the two teams will meet in the Ulker Sports Arena once again on Sunday at 6 p.m. local time (1500GMT).

Fenerbahce is currently undefeated in 2017, as they won every match in the league and went undefeated in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague playoffs to claim their first-ever title in the tournament.

The Yellow Canaries have won 12 consecutive times against Besiktas; the Black Eagles last defeated Fenerbahce in May 2012.