Valencia closed out an 86-78 victory over Fenerbahce in their latest EuroLeague encounter, a game decided less by shooting brilliance than by control of the glass and a decisive edge in efficiency from the field. The Spanish side finished with a higher score despite attempting fewer shots than their opponents, underlining a night where shot selection and second-chance opportunities told the story.
Valencia's scoring came from a balanced shooting line: 32 successful field goals from 75 attempts, six three-pointers from 23 tries, and a near-perfect 16 of 18 from the free-throw line. Fenerbahce, by contrast, converted 28 of 65 field goals, seven of 28 from beyond the arc, and 15 of 19 from the stripe. The visitors actually shot a slightly better percentage from the field, but Valencia's volume of attempts and their advantage on the offensive boards kept the scoreboard tilted in their favor throughout.
The decisive statistical gap came on the rebounds. Valencia pulled down 43 boards, including 16 on the offensive end, compared to Fenerbahce's 30 total and just nine offensive rebounds. That 13-rebound margin, and the seven extra second-chance possessions it created, translated directly into the final eight-point difference. Fenerbahce's ball movement was superior, with 18 assists against Valencia's eight, and their defense generated eight steals and four blocks, but those gains were undone by 24 personal fouls that sent Valencia to the line 18 times.
Fenerbahce's foul trouble was a recurring theme. With 24 team fouls, they repeatedly put Valencia in the bonus and allowed the hosts to convert 16 free throws, a significant chunk of their final total. Valencia committed 18 fouls of their own and turned the ball over 10 times, but their work on the offensive glass and their free-throw accuracy compensated for a modest six-of-23 night from three-point range. Fenerbahce's four blocks and eight steals show a defense that disrupted Valencia's rhythm, yet the rebounding deficit meant those stops rarely turned into clean, uncontested possessions at the other end.
The game flow reflected a contest where Valencia's tactics centered on attacking the paint and crashing the offensive boards, while Fenerbahce relied on ball movement and perimeter defense to stay within reach. Valencia's key players delivered in the areas that mattered most, particularly on the glass and at the free-throw line, where the game was ultimately settled. With no incidents recorded and no penalties in play, the outcome was shaped entirely by the statistical battle, and on this night Valencia's rebounding dominance and free-throw efficiency proved the difference in an eight-point win.
