Fenerbahçe Tarfin handled Kauno Žalgiris 99-80 at Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul, closing EuroLeague Round 5 with a statement win. The hosts shot the lights out, moved the ball with purpose, and built a lead that held firm through the finish. It was their third-quarter burst that decided it, but the efficiency story ran all night.

If you want the full box score and play-by-play, the match page is live on Sofascore, while the wider context sits in the EuroLeague hub. Šarūnas Jasikevičius got balanced production from his rotation, and his team rarely let go of the wheel.

Shooting efficiency told the story

Fenerbahçe were ruthless from the field, hitting 37 of 64 shots for 58 percent. They carved up the mid-range and paint with 24 of 35 on two-pointers, a sharp 69 percent. The three-point touch was steady too, with 13 of 29 from deep for 45 percent. By comparison, Žalgiris shot 47 percent overall, landing 28 of 59 field goals. They managed 19 of 37 on twos for 51 percent and 9 of 22 from three for 41 percent. Those are respectable numbers, but not enough when the other side is above 58 percent.

Free throws were a minor subplot rather than a swing point. Fenerbahçe finished 12 of 14 at the line for 86 percent, while Žalgiris went 15 of 20 for 75 percent. The gap here added polish rather than punch to the scoreboard. The most telling piece was shot quality, driven by spacing and off-ball movement. When you shoot at that clip, every Žalgiris mistake is punished. Fenerbahçe did exactly that.

Creation and control of the ball

Ball movement was a clear separator. Fenerbahçe recorded 23 assists to Žalgiris’ 16, and the extra pass showed up in percentages and pace. Wade Baldwin directed traffic with seven assists off the bench, and Shane Larkin added three more in efficient minutes. Trent Forrest chipped in four, keeping the tempo tidy. Talen Horton-Tucker added three assists and got to the line, even on a cooler shooting night. The hosts spread touches smartly, which kept Žalgiris rotating and late to contests.

Turnovers also tilted to the home side. Fenerbahçe coughed it up only nine times, compared to 13 for Žalgiris. That four-possession swing matters when your opponent is converting at 58 percent. Fenerbahçe blocked three shots to Žalgiris’ zero, closing space at the rim. Steals finished level at five apiece, but the hosts made more of their live-ball chances. The numbers reflect a team in control of both the tempo and the terms.

The rebound battle and second chances

Žalgiris actually won the glass 32-28, with a notable 10-6 edge in offensive rebounds. Dustin Sleva battled to seven boards, four on the offensive end, and Jonas Valančiūnas grabbed 10 rebounds to anchor the paint. Those extra chances helped them stay within sight in the second and fourth quarters. But second-chance points only stretch so far when the first-shot defense is leaking. Fenerbahçe’s efficiency kept pressure on, which limited the impact of those extra boards.

Defensive rebounds finished level at 22-22, underscoring how often the first shot fell for the home side. Marcus Bingham and Nicolo Melli each chipped in timely boards for Fenerbahçe, while Braxton Key worked both ends. Žalgiris’ effort on the glass was there, but they needed a colder Fenerbahçe night to flip the outcome. With the hosts repeatedly finding clean looks, rebound margins lost headline power. This was a game where shot-making dwarfed second-chance math.

Standout performers and Sofascore Ratings

Shavon Shields led Fenerbahçe with 17 points on 6 of 9 shooting and a team-high PIR of 19, posting a Sofascore Rating of 7.7. Braxton Key added 15 points at 60 percent from the field, plus a block and a steal, for a 7.3 Sofascore Rating. William Clyburn hit three triples and finished with 14 points for a 6.9 Sofascore Rating, giving the bench a reliable scoring punch. Nicolo Melli was perfect from the field at 4 of 4, including two threes, for 10 points and a 7.0 Sofascore Rating. Wade Baldwin was flawless inside the arc, scored 6, and dished seven assists for a 7.6 Sofascore Rating. Shane Larkin added 5 points and 3 assists, and his 6.6 Sofascore Rating reflected steady two-way minutes.

For Žalgiris, Carsen Edwards was the top scorer with 20 points, drilling four threes and earning a 7.9 Sofascore Rating. Valančiūnas went for 8 points and 10 rebounds with a 6.8 Sofascore Rating, doing the usual heavy lifting in the paint. Deividas Sirvydis provided efficient perimeter scoring with 8 points and a 6.9 Sofascore Rating. Marius Grigonis also hit two threes for 8 points but had four turnovers, landing at a 6.4 Sofascore Rating. Sterling Brown chipped in 7 points and two steals for a 6.7 Sofascore Rating. The visitors had individual highlights, but the collective efficiency gap proved decisive.

How the game unfolded by quarters

Fenerbahçe set the tone early with a 27-14 first quarter. The ball zipped, threes dropped, and the hosts controlled the half-court. Žalgiris punched back in the second, winning it 29-23 behind Carsen Edwards’ shot-making and a few extra trips to the line. That cut the halftime margin to 50-43 and kept the game interesting. The reset was short-lived. Fenerbahçe responded with a commanding 28-13 third quarter.

That period featured the night’s biggest swings. The hosts built their largest lead at 23, and they spent 36 minutes and 36 seconds in front overall. The max scoring run read 15 straight for Fenerbahçe, versus 9 for Žalgiris. The fourth quarter went to the visitors 24-21, with Sterling Brown and Marius Grigonis finding late points. Johnny Juzang’s corner three at the horn capped the 99-80 final for the home side. By then, the damage was long done, and the numbers told a clean story.

For basketball fans tracking EuroLeague form, this was a sharp display of shot creation and decision-making. You can revisit every possession on the Sofascore match page and follow the season arc in the EuroLeague section. Fenerbahçe look comfortable when the ball pops. Žalgiris showed fight, but the home efficiency was a level too high on this night.