Beşiktaş’s unbeaten streak ends

Erdemir beat Beşiktaş Milangaz 88-84 to end the latter’s five-match winning streak in the Beko Basketball League on Nov. 19.

Ray Wesson had 22 points and seven rebounds to lead both statistical categories, while guard Caner Ercan contributed with 20 points as the league’s surprise package, Erdemir, produced an upset win over the high-flying Black Eagles.

Beşiktaş Milangaz’s high-scoring duo, Deron Williams and Marcelus Kemp, who are second and third respectively in the points-per-game list, produced 30 points combined, but their influence was limited mostly due to their poor percentage.

Williams, who is among the biggest stars to have chosen to play overseas during the NBA lockout, was six-for-16 in field goals, while Kemp was only five-for-14.

Beşiktaş’s defeat left Anadolu Efes as the only remaining team without a loss in the division.

Earlier on Nov. 19, Fenerbahçe Ülker (4-2) barely beat Pınar Karşıyaka (2-4) 77-75 while Türk Telekom continued its good form (5-1) with an 88-82 win over Mersin BB (3-3).

Telekom’s league-topping scorer, Darius Washington, had 19 points for the Ankara side.

Meanwhile, Beşiktaş coach Ergin Ataman said the club was in the market for more NBA players, including Kevin Love, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng because of the continued lockout.

Speaking to daily Milliyet, Ataman was quoted as saying the club was “in talks with many NBA players” and confirmed that three players were on Beşiktaş’s shortlist.