The Turkish side needs results to go its way on Wednesday night in order to reach the postseason.
Turk Telekom beats Slask 70-86 to keep playoff hopes alive
Turk Telekom Ankara defeated Slask Wroclaw 70-86 on the road in Round 18 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season on Tuesday night, so now it needs results to go its way on Wednesday in order to clinch a playoff spot. Slask started strong, but the guests gained control of the game in the last three quarters and finished it off with a 0-10 run in the fourth. By coming out on top, Turk Telekom improved to an 8-10 record, while Slask dropped to 2-16.
James Palmer led all scorers with 22 points, Tyrone Wallace had 17 and Steven Enoch added 15, while Yigitcan Saybir and Jarrod Jones recorded 12 each. For Slask, Dusan Miletic paired his 20 points with 11 rebounds. Jakub Niziol scored 14 points and Hassani Gravett added 13.
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A Palmer layup was followed by a Miletic dunk before Gravett and Enoch traded baskets in an early exchange of blows, 4-4. Marek Klassen registered 4 assists in the first 5 minutes and Miletic drilled a triple for an 11-6 Slask cushion. Then, the hosts went on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to 16-9, but Wallace netted one from deep and Palmer scored a reverse layup in transition to cut the difference to 2 points, 16-14. Wallace and Klassen swapped triples to make it 23-22, but a Saybir bucket from inside and a Palmer free throw allowed Turk Telekom to take a 26-27 lead into the second quarter.
Miletic netted a basket to take his tally to 11 points, but Wallace nailed back-to-back triples to give the guests a 28-33 cushion. Slask responded with a 5-0 surge, but Wallace scored his fifth three-pointer of the night to put Turk Telekom back in front, 33-36. A Niziol triple from distance was followed by a Jones basket before the latter knocked down a three-pointer to make it 38-43 for the visitors. The Turkish side extended its run to 0-12, with Jones and Enoch dominating in the paint to secure a 40-50 lead at halftime.
Enoch netted his sixth bucket of the night to open the third quarter before Gravett responded with a basket of his own, but a Palmer triple gave Turk Telekom a 42-55 cushion. Back-to-back makes from Miletic and Gravett were followed by a Palmer triple and a Saybir bucket, 46-60. Then, Jones rejected Miletic at one end and scored a basket at the other to maintain a double-digit lead, 52-65. Yet, the hosts ended the third quarter with a 5-0 run to trim the deficit to 57-65 heading into the fourth.
Mikolaj Adamczak and Palmer exchanged triples, before back-to-back baskets from Enoch and Ismail Cem Ulusoy extended Turk Telekom’s lead to 60-72. A couple of Palmer three-pointers, an Ulusoy layup and a Wallace basket in transition saw Turk Telekom grab a 65-84 cushion and practically put the game to bed with 3 minutes left on the clock.
Turk Telekom will clinch the last playoff spot in Group B if Dolomiti Energia Trento loses to Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday; or if Buducnost VOLI Podgorica beats Dreamland Gran Canaria on the same night. That said, the Turkish side will be eliminated if Trento wins and Buducnost loses.