Istanbul-based basketball giants Fenerbahce Beko were beaten by Lithuanian opponents Zalgiris Kaunas 82-80 in Thursday's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague match as the playoff series tied 1-1. Fenerbahce Beko, home team of the game two, upset their fans over the critical loss against Zalgiris in the quarterfinal playoffs. Zalgiris forward Edgaras Ulanovas was the player of the game, scoring 20 points and having 7 rebounds. Fenerbahce Beko's Italian star Luigi Datome was on fire, racking up 17 points and having nine rebounds. "1-1, they played better than us for the biggest part of the game. Now we have to play better than them," Datome said on Twitter.
It was Fenerbahce Beko’s first home defeat in the EuroLeague this season.
Following the Thursday's win in Istanbul, Zalgiris have now the home court advantage in the playoffs as the upcoming two games will be held in Lithuania.
The third game of this series will be played at Zalgirio Arena on April 23.
The winners of the playoffs will advance to the Final Four phase to be played on May 17-19 at Fernando Buesa Arena in the Spanish city of Vitoria-Gasteiz in single-elimination matchups.