Galatasaray vs Besiktas — Game 2 Preview & Prediction (28 May 2026)

Game preview

Besiktas opened the best-of-three quarterfinal series with a convincing 108-83 win on the road, leaving Galatasaray with a lot to fix before Game 2. That loss exposed major issues on both ends for the visitors: the defense looked out of sync and the offense struggled to find rhythm. Galatasaray allowed 56 points in the first half and 88 by the end of the third quarter, which let Besiktas build a comfortable lead early and never look back.

Offensively Besiktas were sharp — they knocked down a lot of threes, shared the ball well and forced turnovers, finishing with a strong assist-to-turnover performance. Several players stepped up: Brynton Lemar led the scoring, with Jonah Mathews and Conor Morgan also contributing important points. On Galatasaray’s side Errick McCollum and Muhsin Yasar were the bright spots, while James Palmer had an unusually quiet game.

Galatasaray did manage to match Besiktas on the glass, but that was about it. Head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco now faces the challenge of lifting his team’s intensity and tightening the defensive schemes if they hope to stay alive in the series. Besiktas, coming off an impressive regular season offensively, look determined to finish the job quickly and carry the momentum from that strong opener into Game 2.

Injuries: Galatasaray will be missing Will Cummings. Besiktas reported no injury worries ahead of Game 2.

Prediction

Given how one-sided the first game was, Besiktas look set to claim another victory unless Galatasaray can show a dramatic improvement in mentality and defensive execution. Expect the home side to control the tempo again and for their depth to make the difference.

Tip-off: Thursday, 28.05.2026 — 19:30 CET

Prediction: Besiktas to win Game 2.