Spectacular Vesely carries Fenerbahce over Zenit, extends their losing streak to three / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Viktoriya Lamzina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Viktoriya Lamzina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Zenit St. Petersburg's (8-6) losing skid was extended to three, as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (5-9) edged them out in Russia 80-86 (18-16, 23-24, 21-21, 18-25).

Zenit Saint Petersburg / Schedule

Zenit Saint Petersburg Crvena Zvezda Belgrade58-69 Zenit Saint Petersburg Fenerbahce Istanbul80-86 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne Zenit Saint PetersburgWed19:00

Devin Booker scored six straight points to complete an 8-0 run to put Fenerbahce up by five (69-64). Even though Kuzminskas helped Zenit regain an advantage (72-71), Fenerbahce responded with another spurt, capped off by de Colo's score (77-72).

Billy Baron's 3-pointer cut Zenit's deficit to two (77-79), but Dyshawn Pierre responded with a deep shot of his own (82-77). The visitors held firm to their lead, ending up with a six-point victory.

Jan Vesely started hot, scoring the first 15 points for Fenerbahce. Nando de Colo ended Vesely's streak by sinking a free throw with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter. However, Jordan Mickey closed the period with a 3-pointer, giving Zenit an early lead (18-16).

Mindaugas Kuzminskas got going in the second, scoring nine points in the quarter. He increased the hosts' lead to seven (41-33), but Fenerbahce finished the half with a 7-0 run, as Shamus Hazer cut their deficit to a single point with a buzzer-beating 2-pointer (40-41).

Fenerbahce gained their first lead since the first period after Devin Booker's 3-pointer (50-47). After going back and forth for the remaining time in the third period, Zenit regained a slight advantage after a last-second shot by Jordan Loyd (62-61).

Jan Vesely was spectacular tonight, leading Fenerbahce with 32 points (9/11 2PT, 2/3 3PT, 8/9 FT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, and 35 PIR.

"We just wanted to play our game, fight for every possession," Vesely said post-game. "I think that in the second half, we took care of their offensive rebounds and I think that was the key. I was open, I was feeling good, so I tried to help my team as much as possible."

"Right, we are just trying to be more focused on what we have to do better on the court because our start of the season is not the best one," de Colo commented after the game. "But we keep working and tonight, it is a great win for us. This game is for the team, for Marko [Guduric], who left us this morning."

Fenerbahce: Jan Vesely 35 (5 REB), Nando de Colo 18 (8 AST), Dyshawn Pierre 13, Devin Booker 10, Pierria Henry 7 (6 AST).

Zenit:Jordan Loyd 19, Mindaugas Kuzminskas 17, Billy Baron 8, Jordan Mickey 8 (5 REB), Andrey Zubkov 8, Arturas Gudaitis 7 (7 REB).

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