T.J. Shorts played his first BKT EuroCup do-or-die game in style, delivering another outstanding individual performance and leading Paris Basketball to an 86-70 win over Joventut Badalona, all while earning another MVP of the Round honor. This is the fourth time Shorts has won this award this season, his first in the competition.

Quarterfinals MVP: TJ Shorts, Paris

[T.J. Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) played his first BKT EuroCup do-or-die game in style, delivering another outstanding individual performance and leading Paris Basketball to an 86-70 win over Joventut Badalona, all while earning another MVP of the Round honor. This is the fourth time Shorts has won this award this season, his first in the competition.

Shorts finished with a team-high 21 points, making 5-of-13 two-pointers and 3-of-5 threes, while dishing 9 assists without committing a turnover. Shorts also had 3 rebounds, 1 steal and drew 7 fouls. His 28 PIR was the highest among players on winning teams in the quarterfinals.

TJ Shorts | Quarterfinals MVP | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

The quarterfinals' highest PIR, 32, belongs to Will Cummings of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in an 89-94 losing effort against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul. Cummings had 28 points on 3 of 4 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, an assist, 2 steals and 7 fouls drawn.

D.J. Kennedy of Prometey Slobozanske had a PIR of 27 in his team's 95-82 road loss against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Kennedy led Prometey with 10 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and 4 fouls drawn.

Jonah Mathews of Besiktas, Jaylen Hoard of Hapoel and Ondrej Balvin of Prometey, each with a PIR of 26, complete the top individual performances in the quarterfinals.

Paris Basketball v Joventut Badalona (2024-03-14T19:45:00.000Z)

After a competition-best regular season record, 17-1, Paris Basketball faced uncharted territory, having the home-court advantage in the single-game quarterfinals. T.J. Shorts made sure his team got closer to the EuroCup title. 


T.J. Shorts confirmed his MVP credentials against Joventut

After a competition-best regular season 17-1 record, Paris Basketball faced uncharted waters with the home-court advantage in the single-game quarterfinals. And star guard T.J. Shorts made sure the Parisians took a step closer to the EuroCup title. 

It was a strong test for Paris against a more experienced opponent. It was also Paris's first EuroCup home game at the brand new Adidas Arena. All eyes were on Shorts, who led Paris throughout the season, and he didn't disappoint anyone. In fact, he showed why he is a leading candidate in the race to become the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup MVP.

Shorts had 8 first-quarter points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave Paris a significant lead, 24-17. He went on to cap a 13-0 run with another bomb from downtown late in the third quarter, putting Paris well on its way to win the game. Finally, Shorts had 6 points and 4 assists in the final 8 minutes, making sure Paris rejected any comeback attempt and kept a safe lead until the final buzzer.

His numbers proved his great consistency throughout the game. Shorts had 21 points on 3 of 5 three-point shooting, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 0 turnovers and 7 fouls drawn for a PIR of 28. He earned MVP of the Round honors for the fourth time this season, which is unprecedented in competition history.

Paris Basketball playmaker T.J. Shorts had 21 points on 3 of 5 three-pointers, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, no turnovers and 7 fouls drawn and a PIR of 28.

Shorts sends Paris to the semifinals.

"It took the whole unit. It wasn't one of us, it was the collective. This group is special and we are trying to do something special," Shorts said after the game. "I am just glad I was able to contribute to this win. It is a win that kept our season going. We knew it was a do-or-die game and I guess you could say this is the most important win. And now, the next one is going to be the next most important."

Paris head coach Tuomas Iisalo highlighted the fact that his team in general (and may I add, Shorts in particular) tries to keep things simple and effective. 

"We have one way of doing things and expect to do the right things on the floor, do them as well as possible, do them as hard as possible for 40 minutes," Coach Iisalo said. "It sounds very simple, but it is extremely difficult. But when the guys see and everyone sees that it pays off, it brings a lot more motivation to keep working."

Shorts has averaged 17.5 points, 7.7 assists and 1.5 steals for a league-best PIR average of 22.8. He dishes 5.2 assists per turnover, too. His teammate Sebastian Herrera, who didn't play today, has totaled 26 assists and one turnover this season. Unsurprisingly, Paris leads the competition with the fewest turnovers at just 10.3 per night.

All that will be tested again soon, as Paris is set to face the London Lions in the semifinals, where Shorts will have another opportunity to prove why he can be considered the best player in the competition.

Game News

The EuroCup leader in assists and PIR produced another sterling performance in the quarterfinals 

Congratulations to Simone Crippa, the quarterfinals winner in EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Simone' team, SURPRISE, posted a round-high score of 212.5 fantasy points.

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: quarterfinals winner

Congratulations to Simone Crippa, the quarterfinals winner in [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/)! Simone' team, SURPRISE, posted a round-high score of 212.5 fantasy points.

His squad featured the following players as starters: Isiaha Mike of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse as team captain, TJ Shorts of Paris Basketball, Ondrej Balvin of Prometey Slobohzanske, and a pair of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv players in Jaylen Hoard and Will Cummings. His sixth man was Andres Feliz of Joventut Badalona. The rest of his bench consisted of: Gabe Olaseni of London Lions, Joventut's Pep Busquets, Kerem Konan of Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul and Ivan Tkachenko of Prometey. Filip' head coach was Petar Bozic of London.

The prize for finishing first in the quarterfinals is a free subscription to EuroLeague TV for the 2024-25 season!

The overall leader after 20 rounds is Lukasz Lisowski whose Lisorze team is ahead of everyone with 3,645.75 fantasy points.

Trades are now open for the semifinals. From now on, unlimited trades are allowed before each round until the end of the season and, as always, you can also trade your head coach.

The first semifinals game is scheduled to tip off on Tuesday, March 26, and thus marks the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become EuroCup Fantasy Challenge's next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager, so get in the game and go for the gold!

Glory is getting closer as we enter the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals, with the four seeded teams hoping their extra week of rest and homecourt advantage pay off. Here's your guide to the games.

This week: The race for EuroCup glory continues

### Thursday, March 14

[Paris Basketball 86-70 Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-joventut-badalona/U2023/185/)

Paris grabbed its 18th win of the EuroCup season and will face the London Lions in the best-of-three semifinals. T.J. Shorts led the winners with 21 points and 9 assists. Nadir Hifi added 15 while Mikael Jantunen had 12 for Paris. Andrew Andrews paced Joventut with 25 points. Andres Feliz added 14 for the visitors, who were eliminated with the loss. It was a close game for 25 minutes before Paris used a 13-0 run to get full control of the game and cruise to a well-deserved victory.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">EN DEMI-FINALE POUR LA PREMIÈRE FOIS DE NOTRE HISTOIRE 💥😍🫡<br><br>ET UN, ET DEUX, ET TROIS ZÉRO 😤<br><br>100% de win contre Badalone et on rejoint le dernier carré pour la première fois. Job’s not finished. Déjà focus sur la suite 🔐 <a href="https://t.co/kQbKjznBrl">pic.twitter.com/kQbKjznBrl</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1768402493157822887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Wednesday, March 13

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca 79-91 London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/u-bt-cluj-napoca-london-lions/U2023/186/)

London overpowered Cluj, leading from the second minute onward to reach the semifinals for the first time. The margin reached 20 in the fourth quarter before a late rally by the Romanian champs. Sam Dekker scored a season-high 21 points to lead five London scorers in double figures and David Nwaba added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Bryce Jones scored a personal-best 23 points for Cluj in defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">INTO THE FINAL FOUR!! 🦁<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreLondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreLondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/YLdpWz80T4">pic.twitter.com/YLdpWz80T4</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1767995051739676716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 89-94 Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/188/)

Besiktas pulled off one of the most impressive comebacks in EuroCup history to beat Hapoel in the quarterfinal at the Avia Solutions Group Arena in Vilnius on Wednesday. The guests trailed by as many as 21 points in the second quarter and Hapoel took a 57-39 lead into the second half, but the Turkish side outscored its opponent 32-55 after the break to clinch a spot in the semifinals. Jonah Mathews paced Besiktas with 28 points and Matthew Mitchell netted 22. Will Cummings recorded a season-high 28 points in defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">BKT EuroCup&#39;ta YARI FİNALDEYİZ! 🖤🤍 <br><br>Litvanya&#39;da muhteşem bir geri dönüş! 👊🔥<br><br>Hapoel Tel Aviv 89-94 Beşiktaş Emlakjet | Maç Sonucu<br><br>🦅 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Be%C5%9Fikta%C5%9FEmlakjet?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeşiktaşEmlakjet</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Potan%C4%B1nKartallar%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PotanınKartalları</a> <a href="https://t.co/bO6YsUwl86">pic.twitter.com/bO6YsUwl86</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Emlakjet (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1768000228357963839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Tuesday, March 12

[JL Bourg en Bresse 95-82 Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bourg-shines-against-prometey-on-an-off-night-for-risacher-95-82/)

Bourg is the first team to book its place in the EuroCup Semifinals after defeating Prometey 95-82 at Ekinox on Tuesday night. The French side improved to 9-1 at home, with its only loss having come in Round 18 to ratiopharm Ulm, when it had already wrapped up top spot in Group B. Bourg will face the winner of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in a best-of-three series, in which Frederic Fauthoux's group have home-court advantage.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">LA JL EST EN DEMI-FINALES D&#39;EUROCUP 🔥🔥🔥🔥<br><br>JL Bourg 95 - 82 <a href="https://twitter.com/BcPrometey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BcPrometey</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadtoGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadtoGreatness</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/SSdklK5Hhg">pic.twitter.com/SSdklK5Hhg</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1767653674526859265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Follow all the action of the BKT EuroCup quarterfinals in the Game Center!

Game Center: Paris completes the semifinal lineup after ousting Joventut

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-03-13T17:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v London Lions (2024-03-13T17:00:00.000Z)

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Prometey Slobozhanske (2024-03-12T18:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball made club history on Thursday night, making it to the BKT EuroCup semifinals for the first time. It downed Joventut Badalona 86-70 in the single-game quarterfinals. 


Jantunen stepped up for Paris at the right time

Paris Basketball downed Joventut Badalona 86-70 in the BKT EuroCup single-game quarterfinals. 

Things were not easy at first, as Joventut tried to slow down the game tempo and using its size advantage in the paint through Tyler Cook and Ante Tomic. Starting center Leon Kratzer battled foul trouble throughout the game, picking up his third early in the second quarter and fouling out in less than 7 minutes. Kratzer, a 2.12-meter center, averaged 5.8 points and 4.9 rebounds before this game.

Paris had no other player available close to the combination of size and experience that Tomic brought to the table. Coach Tuomas Iisalo opted to play with a smaller lineup most of the way and power forward Mikael Jantunen gave Paris the consistency and toughness required to balance the battle in the paint.

Mikael Jantunen had 12 points against Joventut Badalona to lead Paris Basketball to the quarterfinals.

Jantunen plays critical role

Jantunen finished the game with 12 points and team highs of 6 rebounds and 3 steals in less than 25 minutes. All his baskets were critical: a three-pointer right before halftime to stop Joventut's comeback, giving Paris a 40-35 lead, a couple of close baskets in a 13-0 run that put Paris on track to win the game late in the third quarter, and another bomb from downtown in the fourth quarter to keep the hosts far away.

Iisalo spoke about his team's resilience after the game: "We have a lot of experience of winning, and that is one of the hallmarks of great teams however the game is going. We had difficulties with our three-point shots, we had good opportunities to finish but were not able to do it, but we found another way to win, and that was through our defense, especially in the second half where we locked in and made that third quarter run that proved crucial," he said.

Jantunen had a PIR of 19 for the fifth time this season. Paris is now getting ready for an exciting best-of-three semifinal series against the London Lions.

Paris made club history on Thursday night, advancing to the EuroCup Semifinals for the first time. 

Paris Basketball made it to the BKT EuroCup semifinals for the first time in club history by downing Joventut Badalona 86-70 in a do-or-die quarterfinals showdown at Adidas Arena in the French capital on Thursday. 

Paris beats Joventut, reaches semis, 86-70! 

Paris grabbed its 18th win of the 2023-24 EuroCup season and will face the London Lions in the best-of-three semifinals. T.J. Shorts led the winners with 21 points and 9 assists. Nadir Hifi added 15 while Mikael Jantunen had 12 for Paris. Andrew Andrews paced Joventut with 25 points. Andres Feliz added 14 for the visitors, who were eliminated with the loss. It was a close game for 25 minutes before Paris used a 13-0 run to get full control of the game and cruise to a well-deserved victory.

### Paris uses late run to lead 

Andrews got Joventut going with a stop-and-pop jumper and Michael Ruzic struck from downtown. Collin Malcolm hit back-to-back three-pointers for a 6-5 Paris lead. Shorts hit a jumper, Tyson Ward scored in the low post and Mehdy Mgouama banked in a three-pointer that restored a 13-10 Paris lead. Shannon Evans hit a floater which Tyler Cook followed with a dunk for a 13-14 score. Shorts had 6 points in an 8-0 run which he capped with a buzzer-beating triple, giving Paris a 24-17 lead after 10 minutes. 

### Hosts hold on to lead

Feliz found his first points and Vladimir Brodziansky added a floater to give Joventut hope, 24-21, early in the second quarter. Andrews sank back-to-back three-pointers to bring the guests even closer, 30-28. Michael Kessens rescued Paris with a layup, getting help from Sy and Ward to give the hosts fresh air at 37-32. Brodziansky and Jantunen each sank a catch-and-shoot triple to fix the halftime score at 40-35. 

Game Videos

### Paris took off

Feliz finished a four-chance Joventut offense with a layup and Andrews bettered Malcolm's coast-to-coast basket with a three-point play. Hifi scored in penetration and fed Kessens for a fastbreak layup for a 46-40 Paris lead. Brodziansky hit a jump hook and a red hot Andrews added a triple to make it 46-45. Bandja Sy and Shorts each buried a three-pointer and Jantunen scored twice in the paint in a 13-0 run that broke the game open, 59-45. Andrews brought Joventut within 62-48 after 30 minutes.

### Shorts led Paris to semis!

Feliz and Shorts traded three-pointers early in the fourth quarter. Tomic and Feliz each fought hard for a put-back basket to bring Joventut within 67-56 with 7 minutes left. Jantunen struck from beyond the arc and Shorts erased Feliz's triple with a wild three-point play. Little changed in the final 4 minutes, as Paris kept using longer possessions to run the game block down and its fans had plenty of time to celebrate a historic win!

Paris beats Joventut, reaches semis, 86-70

The BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals end tonight with the showdown between Paris Basketball and Joventut Badalona. All four quarterfinal duels are one-game clashes, so the players will leave everything on the floor. Just like in the previous round, the EuroCupbasketball.com staff members who follow the competition as closely as anyone have made their predictions for each game.

Quarterfinals predictions: Paris Basketball vs. Joventut Badalona

The BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals end tonight with [the showdown between Paris Basketball and Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-joventut-badalona/U2023/185/). All four quarterfinal duels are one-game clashes, so the players will leave everything on the floor. Just like in the previous round, the [EuroCupbasketball.com](http://EuroCupbasketball.com) staff members who follow the competition as closely as anyone have made their predictions for each game.

### Paris by double digits

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

Paris entered the playoffs with a 17-1 regular season record, having already swept Joventut. But both of those were hard-fought wins. The first one in Badalona was in overtime even though Joventut played without [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andres-feliz/011247/), [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/), [Tyler Cook](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-calvin-cook/012780/), [Shannon Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/shannon-evans/010677/) and [Vladimir Brodziansky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/vladimir-brodziansky/010458/). When they met in the French capital in January, Joventut was up with just over 3 minutes to go before Paris finished the game with a 12-3 run to pull out an 89-82 win. That triumph is the only one by fewer than 16 points during Paris' current 10-game winning streak. Another win gets EuroCup's most dominant team into the best-of-three semifinals, and despite all the Joventut's experience and their two previous games being so close, I think Paris will show why it is a favorite to win the title. Paris will get the job done, eventually winning by a double-digit margin. **My pick: Paris.**

### Joventut stuns Paris

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

So, cards on the table... Joventut Badalona is my pick to go all the way. I really think that Joventut has all that it takes to win this year’s EuroCup, including beating a Paris Basketball side it was 0-2 against during the regular season. That first meeting, in Round 7, saw an undermanned Joventut force overtime against Paris before losing, then it took some heroics from [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) to ensure the French team won 89-82 in Round 16. That Round 16 contest took place at Halle Georges Carpentier and this upcoming quarterfinal clash will be held at adidas arena, so will that end up affecting Paris? Nevertheless, I expect Andres Feliz to be play a pivotal role in this game and continue his MVP-caliber season, with Ante Tomic, [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/) and Shannon Evans, among others, all likely to be heavily involved, too. Paris’s backcourt of [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tj-shorts/012608/) and Hifi has been amazing this season, but I think Joventut has the ability to hand Paris just its second loss of the season – and at the worst time possible. **My pick: Joventut.**

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">💚🖤 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎 𝑙&#39;𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡 𝑑𝑒 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑖́𝑠. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜̧𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/lgnjjSwuus">pic.twitter.com/lgnjjSwuus</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1767462532397089113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Paris powers onward

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

Let’s make a list of pros for each team. Joventut has the experience. Paris has everything else. While this may be an exaggeration, there is a reason Paris was 17-1 in the same regular season group that saw Joventut go 10-8. The stats almost all point in Paris’s direction. (Joventut was actually a better three-point shooting team.) I can only imagine a pick for Joventut because Ante Tomic, [Pau Ribas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/pau-ribas/jug/), Andrew Andrews and [Guillem Vives](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/guillem-vives/002361/) bring a level of experience that Paris simply lacks. While I would never belittle the importance of experience, I doubt it is not worth enough to even the playing field between these teams. I expect to see T.J. Shorts, Nadir Hifi and [Collin Malcolm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/collin-malcolm/012609/) playing in the semifinals. **My pick: Paris.**

### Joventut to become first to win at adidas arena

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

I am all-in for Joventut against Paris. Everything works in Paris's favor: its 17-1 regular season record, a group of players that already won together last season (with Telekom Baskets Bonn) and this season (French Leaders Cup), and an outstanding TJ Shorts who leads the competition in PIR, assists and two-point shots made. I believe Joventut has enough weapons to find answers at all times, and head coach Carles Duran has all the tools he needs to find advantages in this game. Joventut has a size advantage in the paint with Ante Tomic down low, and it can rely on Vladimir Brodziansky, [Pep Busquets](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/pep-busquets/006771/) and [Yannick Kraag](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yannick-kraag/010161/) to match Paris's versatility. Shorts can find a lot of double-team situation and traps along the way with Guillem Vives, Shannon Evans, Pau Ribas and, above all, Andres Feliz, who had a monster game in the eighthfinals and should join forces with Andrew Andrews on offense, too. Above all, it is a battle for the game's tempo. Paris is in track (99.3 ppg.) to be the highest-scoring team ever in EuroCup history. Joventut, of course, will try to slow down the game tempo, taking advantage of Tomic's size in particular. **My pick: Joventut.**

Two genuine title-contenders collide. Both are enjoying impressive seven-game winning streaks, with the Spanish outfit keeping alive its hopes of a top-two finish by overcoming London, whilst the Parisians reaffirmed their credentials by hitting over a century of points at the expense of Hapoel.

Paris Basketball-Joventut Badalona | Round 16 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Sam Dekker was the difference maker for London Lions against U-BT Cluj-Napoca from his first seconds on the court. 

‘Proud’ Dekker looked like his old self in leading London to semis

The signing of [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/) on August 7, 2022, was a move that helped put the London Lions on the basketball map. Dekker was expected to be the face of the franchise and a star on the court as the club entered a new era in the EuroCup.

He delivered immediately in that first season, eventually earning a spot on the All-EuroCup Second Team, while leading London to a playoff berth.

This season had not gone as well for Dekker. Injuries limited him to only seven appearances in the regular season and he was a non-factor in the eighthfinals with just 6 points in 17 minutes. And then came the quarterfinals.

Dekker was the difference maker against U-BT Cluj-Napoca from his first seconds on the court. Introduced into the game with 3:39 to go in the opening quarter, Dekker promptly scored on his first two touches to help double the lead. He then ended the quarter with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to put the Lions up 17-28.

Sam Dekker's best plays from the eighthfinals

Sam Dekker s best plays from the eighthfinals

When the final buzzer sounded, Dekker led London with a season-high 21 points in 23:47 minutes. He made 5 of 8 two-pointers and 2 of 5 threes and also tallied 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal for a PIR of 23. He essentially looked like his old self.

Dekker’s dominant showing helped the team win even though star center Gabe Olaseni missed the game to attend the birth of his first child.  

Cycling back to Dekker as the face of the franchise, he focused his joy after the game on the club and not on his personal return to form after an injury plagued season:

“I am so proud of our team. I am so proud of our coaching staff, our whole organization. We have been through a lot the last two years,” Dekker said. “I am really proud of being a part of it and helping grow this into something that is very special.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;𝘐&#39;𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭&quot;<br><br>21 points and a Semifinals ticket for Sam Dekker🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/sbSr1tGGn0">pic.twitter.com/sbSr1tGGn0</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1767994618312839500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He also made sure to credit the fantastic atmosphere at BT-Arena and sent a message that he and London are still hungry for more. Those are exactly the notes you want your franchise player to hit after winning such a game.

“The fans were amazing tonight. What a great environment,” Dekker added. "This is what basketball is all about and we have a lot of fun things ahead, unfinished business for us. And I couldn’t be more proud of what we were able to do again tonight.”

It was a night of great news for London, which won with its best player missing and reached the semifinals for the first time. As the team settles in to watch Thursday night’s Paris Basketball versus Joventut Badalona quarterfinal, knowing it will face the winner in the semis, it can do so with the confidence of knowing that Dekker is back in form and with him clicking alongside Olaseni, Matt Morgan, David Nwaba and the rest of the crew, London is a much more dangerous squad.  

The Lions’ franchise player came up big in the quarterfinals win in Romania

Its second road win in elimination games in as many weeks, this one in epic comeback fashion, has Besiktas headed to the semifinals.

Besiktas made history by getting back to basics

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul pulled off [the biggest comeback in the club's history](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/besiktass-starters-stepped-up-big-in-sublime-second-half/) in the BKT EuroCup Quarterfinals [to eliminate higher-ranked Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv on Wednesday](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2324-qf-d-report-hta-bes/). 

Despite boasting the fourth-best defense in the competition with an average 80.3 points conceded before the game, the Turkish side allowed Hapoel to score 57 points by halftime. Hapoel's biggest lead of the game came at 47-26 with 3:54 left in the second quarter. It was clear at halftime that many things needed to be changed by Besiktas to keep any hope of making the semifinals alive.

What followed after the break was a scenario that even the most optimistic Besiktas fan may have struggled to imagine. 

### Physicality and aggressiveness were key

The Turkish side outscored Hapoel 19-29 in the third quarter and held their opponents to 13 points in the fourth to clinch a glorious victory at the Avia Solutions Group Arena in Vilnius. 

"\[After the break\] we changed our mentality," said [Matthew Mitchell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-mitchell/012622/), who scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half. "\[In the first half\] we came out and played kind of soft. We were afraid to foul, afraid to slow down their pace. A few of us got in foul trouble early and things just kind of snowballed from there. So, we came out in the second half and just had a whole new outlook. We tried to play the game like it was 0-0 and just kept playing at 100% percent and it worked in our favor tonight."

Matthew Mitchell (22 points) Highlights vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv, 03/13/2024

Matthew Mitchell highlights in quarterfinals against Hapoel

Inspired by head coach Dusan Alimpijevic, who now boasts a sublime 5-2 record in EuroCup elimination games, all of which were played on the road, Besiktas bounced back in style after the break. After the game, Alimpijevic labelled Besiktas's second half against Hapoel as "one of the best in my coaching career" and attributed it to his players' ability to dig deep and get back to factory settings. 

"To come back after trailing by 20 and to play this way in the second half is something really special," he said in the post-game flash interview. "We just came back to our basics. Our basics are physicality, character and being aggressive. For sure that's not what we had in the first half, so we just came back to what we've been so far. I'm really proud of my team. A special group of people."

### Anatomy of a comeback

At halftime, Hapoel was on its way to reach its average of 96.1 points, which is the second-best mark in the competition. Meanwhile, Besiktas's defense couldn't find ways to contain an extraordinary Will Cummings. The Hapoel guard finished the game with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 7 drawn fouls for a PIR of 32 points, but he managed to score just 3 points in the closing quarter. That's when Besiktas tightened up its defense and dominated the boards to impose its game on Hapoel, dictate the tempo and record an 89-94 victory. 

The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius hosts this meeting. The two sides win in opposite ways and styles of basketball, and though this is only the second EuroCup season for Hapoel, while Besiktas returned to the competition for the first time in eight years, they are familiar with the knockout stages.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Quarterfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

"It was an amazing game," Alimpijevic said in the post-game press conference. "This is something that the EuroCup needs. I think that their biggest lead was by 21 points at some point. So at halftime we talked about this, and we talked about how we want to say goodbye to the EuroCup. Is this what we are, what we were and what we'll be in the future? So, it was very simple. We had to go out, fight, show some character and dignity, and play what is our game. And our game is this: 19 and 13 points \[conceded\] in the third and fourth quarter \[respectively\]. Our game is 18 offensive rebounds. Our game is that character that we showed."

### 'We live for playoff moments'

A Besiktas side that finished sixth in Group A with a 9-9 record has managed to pull some huge upsets on the way to the semifinals. First came a victory away at Paris Basketball in 63-68 in Round 8. This remains Paris's only EuroCup defeat so far this season. Then, came a 78-80 road win to eliminate defending champion Dreamland Gran Canaria from the eighthfinals. And now, Alimpijevic has led his men to yet another incredible triumph thanks to an epic comeback.

"I'm very proud of us," Mitchell said. "In critical moments of the season where we found ourselves not having a rhythm, we found a way to come together and win big games. I think we live for playoff moments and big games like this."

What comes next is a best-of-three matchup against a Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse side that has recorded just one home loss this season. The first game will take place in France, but then the Besiktas fans will have an opportunity to experience a EuroCup Semifinal clash at the Besiktas Akatlar Sports & Events Hall. Having already led Frutti Extra Bursaspor to the finals in 2022, when he was voted EuroCup Coach of the Year, Alimpijevic will now see if he can get there again, only this time with the benefit of one home game.