Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade improved to 15-10 and solidified its postseason position after a feisty 95-92 home win over Dubai Basketball, its fourth successive win in the EuroLeague and its first in four meetings with the Middle East franchise in all competitions.

Strong first quarter propels Crvena Zvezda to home win over Dubai

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) improved to 15-10 and solidified its postseason position after a feisty 95-92 home win over [Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/dub/), its fourth successive win in the EuroLeague and its first in four meetings with the Middle East franchise in all competitions.

Having suffered a pair of losses in the regional ABA League last season as well as an 86-102 setback in the reverse EuroLeague fixture earlier this term, Zvezda came back with a vengeance and romped into a 34-11 lead late in the first quarter.

The hosts couldn’t put a foot wrong as they dished out 10 assists and committed no turnovers in the opening period, having also shot 5-of-8 from deep to set the biggest first-quarter margin in the club’s history and a record tally in points scored in the opening 10 minutes.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Dubai Basketball | Round 25 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Trailing 34-14 after the first quarter and rocked by a number of Zvezda dunks, including a monster one from big man [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/), who returned to EuroLeague action for the first time since March 2025, Dubai looked dead and buried.

However, the visitors bounced back in the second as Zvezda’s offense came to a screeching halt while [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) caused the home team all sorts of problems in the paint, while [McKinley Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) followed in his footsteps and ran the back court.

Zvezda led 44-41 at the interval and saw its lead slashed to 59-58 midway through the third quarter, but just when anxiety started to creep into the vocal home fans, [Jared Butler](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jared-butler/014163/) hit some tough shots from long range and the hosts were able to breathe again.

Leading 68-61 ahead of the fourth quarter, Zvezda also thrived on [Ebuka Izundu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ebuka-izundu/014029/)’s hard work in the paint and [Jordan Nwora](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-nwora/013363/)’s all-round proficiency to open up an 84-69 gap before Dubai nearly made a fight of it in the home straight.

Kabengele hit an audacious three-pointer on the final buzzer to close the gap to just three points, but in the end it didn’t matter as Zvezda celebrated its return to the Belgrade Arena for the first time [since a 90-89 win over Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zvezda-shows-steel-to-secure-slim-win-and-snap-streak-against-virtus/) on December 19.

Izundu, who won the player of the game accolade, was humble in his postgame comments. “I just tried to play hard for my team and protect the rim,” he said, having racked up 18 points and 8 boards on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor.

“It’s good to be back in the Arena with the fans as it helps a lot. I gave the team a lot of second-chance opportunities, the easy points, as that’s what I do. The team and the coach trust me so I tried to get some offensive rebounds to win possessions. We just need to keep going one game at a time to get where we need to be,” the big Nigerian added.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">Игра Звезда данас прави лом… ❤️🤍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/UUYmVOr0vg">pic.twitter.com/UUYmVOr0vg</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/2017359464643404197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Butler and [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) chipped in with 16 points each, the latter also dishing out 7 assists to complement an efficient performance by Nwora, who scored a team-high 22 points for Zvezda. At the other end, Kabengele excelled with 24 points and 8 boards, [Dwayne Bacon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dwayne-bacon/011286/) scored 19 and Wright added 16.

“We found the rhythm late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. I am happy with the win and apart from inconsistency in the second quarter, we did well,” said the Zvezda head coach Sasa Obradovic. “I didn’t expect an easy win anyway and we move on from here. The first quarter was the best we’ve played all season, but complacency seems to have crept in as it usually does when you make such a good start.”

Dubai head coach Jurica Golemac stressed that his team looked less than a sum of its parts in the cauldron of Belgrade Arena, where 16,000 noisy fans put wind in the home team’s sails from start to finish.

“We had too many individual solutions on offense and made too many defensive mistakes,” he said. “Second chance points that we conceded cost us the win. Congratulations to Zvezda, they were stronger and more focused than us. We had some good minutes but in a road game you can’t afford not to do the dirty work. I expected a lot more from my team, especially on defense.”

Game News

The Serbian team et club records for points scored and largest first-quarter margin in the opening period of its slender win against Dubai 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Dubai Basketball (2026-01-30T19:00:00.000Z)

No Carsen Edwards, no Alessandro Pajola and no Alen Smailagic. It did not matter for Virtus Bologna, which went heavily depleted into Friday night’s matchup on the road against last season’s EuroLeague runner-up AS Monaco, only to come up with an 82-84 win.

Luca Vildoza’s game-winner, unlikely heroes lift Virtus in thriller over Monaco

No [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/), no [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/) and no [Alen Smailagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alen-smailagic/011051/). It did not matter for [Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/), which went heavily depleted into Friday night’s matchup on the road against last season’s EuroLeague runner-up [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/), only to come up with an 82-84 win.

And Virtus did so in one of the most dramatic finishes so far this season, as [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) drained a game-winning triple with 4.4 seconds to go. After a timeout, [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) had a chance to win it for Monaco, but his three-point shot was off the mark.

“Everybody in our locker room believes we can win every game,” said [Derrick Alston Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/derrick-alston-jr--/014005/), Virtus’s top scorer on the night with 19 points.

“Everybody went out there and contributed, which is amazing. We had guys to step up and play big, play big minutes, and have big possessions.”

AS Monaco-Virtus Bologna | Round 25 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Apart from Alston and the hero of the night, Vildoza, who finished with 13 points, Virtus indeed had a series of contributors.

[Matt Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matthew-morgan/012585/) netted 15 points, and veteran guard [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) made some big plays down the stretch, collecting 7 points and 5 rebounds.

However, it is hard to argue that any of the contributions were bigger than those of [Nicola Akele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicola-akele/011816/) and [Aliou Diarra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aliou-diarra/014108/).

It could be easy to say that Diarra’s comeback from injury has been huge for Virtus, but his contribution was anything but expected. The big man did miss the last six games, however, and before Friday night he had never played more than 11 minutes in any game.

Akele, who also missed time with injury earlier this season, has had just one game in which he played more than 17 minutes. That is until Friday night, when he scored 11 points, pulled down 7 rebounds, and also dished 3 assists, all career-best marks. Meanwhile, Diarra had 9 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Those combined 13 boards, along with 8-for-11 two-point shooting from both of them, was as big as Vildoza’s game-winning triple.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Cuore 🤍🖤 <a href="https://t.co/tHrUzeeWiI">pic.twitter.com/tHrUzeeWiI</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/2017353589224603782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“This is a team victory,” coach Dusko Ivanovic stressed in an interview after the game. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

The Virtus head coach continued, adding: “Our defense in the second half was so much better. On offense, we had very good patience, attacking for many seconds to find better options.”

Monaco was up by 10 points in the second quarter, and 53-44 early in the third before Akele and Diarra started dominating under Monaco’s rim. The visitors tied it at 62-62 in the final minute of the third quarter before opening the fourth with an 1-15 run to take a 66-77 lead. The hosts rallied, and [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) hit a tough three to give Monaco an 82-81 advantage.

However, in the final minute, Virtus pulled down two of its 11 offensive rebounds, then made a defensive stand, all of which allowed Vildoza to get in a position to shoot – and make – the game-winner.

“We stayed in (it),” Vildoza said. “We never left the game even though they were making tough shots. We kept fighting. “

After back-to-back home losses last week, and defeats in three of the last four games, this win ensures that Virtus remains in the playoff hunt, just two wins out of 10th place in the standings.

The Italian side remained alive in the race postseason basketball with a statement win in Round 25

AS Monaco v Virtus Bologna (2026-01-30T18:30:00.000Z)

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 25 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 25

## Friday, January 30

### AS Monaco vs. Virtus Bologna (19:30 CET)

**Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco head coach**

"We can't let up. We had a six-game winning streak, and now we've lost two in a row. In this league, you pay for any lapse in concentration. The guys know what it takes to win at the highest level. Bologna is one of the best teams in the Euroleague. They're an athletic team, very well coached, with excellent off-ball movement. We lost the first game, so we need to focus on this kind of game at a crucial time of the year."

**Nikola Mirotic, Monaco forward**

"This game is very important at this stage of the season. It's time for us to bounce back, especially at home. After two tough losses in the EuroLeague, we need to move forward. We've had time to analyze this game, watched a lot of video, and we're ready. When we share the ball, that's when we're at our strongest and when our individual qualities can be expressed best. It can't be perfect every time, the season is long, but now is the time to stick together, stay healthy, and build for the big moments that await us at the end of the season."

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach**

"We face Monaco, really good team. It will be a tough game, especially without \[Carsen\] Edwards, \[Alessandro\] Pajola and \[Alen\] Smailagic, but we have the mentality to try to win this game."

**Luca Vildoza, Virtus guard**

"Especially at home Monaco plays really well, they have very physical players in defense and in offense they have very talented players. Playing against this team is really tough, in general EuroLeague away games are always really tough. Every game is important in this competition, we need to play until the end with energy and focus."

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Dubai Basketball (20:00 CET)

\--

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CET)

**Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach**

"They’ve won seven of their eleven victories at home. They have a lot of talent, both teams have changed, and just like against ASVEL, we’re expecting a completely different game. It will be a tough battle, but we’re ready to fight. \[Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot\] is impressive and among the top five scorers in the EuroLeague. He definitely deserves attention. We have to prevent him from catching the ball in positions where he can drive or take shots from his spots. This time we’ll have our best perimeter defenders available, so he’ll be a major focus. We’ll try to limit him. \[Baskonia's\] style is definitely the same – they want to shoot a lot of threes and run in transition. It’s the same as in the first round. The players have changed: Gytis \[Radzevicius\] wasn’t there, \[Markus\] Howard wasn’t there. Now they’re more injured than they were at the start of the season when we played them. The style is the same, but the personnel is different."

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:45 CET)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach**

"First of all, my condolences for the people of PAOK who lost their lives. In Greece, all fans follow their teams all across Europe. My condolences to the PAOK family and to Greek sport as a whole.

"The game against Villeurbanne is certainly dangerous. They have two new players \[in Braian Angola and Paul Eboua\] and they’ve started well. In addition, at home they play to win until the very last second. They fight. As for us, unfortunately this season we’ve lost many games against teams that are low in the standings. Therefore, we want the big games against teams that are higher up. We lost in Munich and against Maccabi, who are low \[down in the standings\]. The game against Villeurbanne is important. Whether you play Villeurbanne or Real Madrid, a win carries the same weight. They have very dangerous scorers. \[Glynn\] Watson and especially \[Thomas\] Heurtel, when he’s in the game, he organizes well their big men, who are athletic. Defense is important, but offensively, without \[Kendrick\] Nunn, we need to find solutions. That will be the key. Not allowing them to run and score in transition."

**Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Panathinaikos forward**

"First of all, let’s talk about some events that have happened… the factory initially and the people who were lost, who were actually going to the same place we are going to now. Condolences to those families; it’s something tragic and heartbreaking, there are no words. Talking about it won’t change anything, but I wanted to say it because we are deeply shaken.

"Villeurbanne plays quite good basketball despite their position in the standings, and we will go for the win because there is no room for mistakes. They play at a high pace, they are athletic, and if we don’t limit the intensity they bring with toughness and self-sacrifice, we won’t get a good result. We are Panathinaikos, we know where we play and we have high goals. That doesn’t change whether we were winning before or not. We have to be ready for every challenge."

## Thursday, January 29

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (18:45 CET)

**Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach**

"Efes is a very talented team. With \[Vincent\] Poirier’s return, they have become even stronger. Saben Lee has started to adapt to the team. The Istanbul derby is very important for us, and with the support of our fans, we will try to reflect our best performance on the court."

**Metecan Birsen, Fenerbahce forward**

"We will play an important game in front of our fans. Istanbul derbies have always been important. We want to maintain our winning habit and continue to improve our effectiveness on the court. We must stay true to our game plan and maintain full concentration both on defense and on offense."

**Pablo Laso, Efes head coach**

"Of course, it will be a difficult game. We're playing against the defending champions on the road, so it’ll be tough. Fenerbahce Beko is a powerhouse, both in Europe and Turkiye, and it’s a derby game. We know we have to play at our highest level if we want to compete against them. Despite the difficult situation, we will try to get a victory away from home. As I’ve said, we need to build step by step as a team and show it on the floor this Thursday."

**Rodrigue Beaubois, Efes guard**

"In our situation, there’s only one approach: take it one game at a time and give everything we have to get the win. On Thursday it’s a derby against the defending champions, so we know it’s going to be tough, and we have to be ready for it."

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:05 CET)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach**

"EuroLeague games are unique, and sometimes less is more. We need to stay united and approach the game knowing we rely on each other and support one another. We analyzed the second half, the late shot-clock situations. We spent a significant amount of time working on these aspects and reviewing them in detail."

**Bar Timor, Hapoel guard**

"We’re very excited to host our One Team \[participants at the game\]. We’ve been in close contact with them, it’s a very special and inspiring project, and I’m happy they’re coming. It will be great to meet them. Our preparation has been good. No matter whether the schedule gives us more or less time, we always aim to be as ready as possible. We’re coming to win. The last two games weren’t good, but we’ll arrive prepared with the goal of winning."

**Niels Giffey, Bayern forward**

"The last game against \[Maccabi\] at the SAP Garden actually went quite well for us; we want to try to build on that. But of course it’s going to be very tough, because Hapoel is extremely strong."

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Barcelona (20:15 CET)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach**

"In the first \[part of the regular season\], we played our worst game of the season in Barcelona, based on the analysis we conducted both at the time and after reviewing the game again. We were poor in every aspect of the game. It was probably the only game in which we never really came close to winning, where we didn’t truly compete. We did everything wrong. However, from that point on, our team showed significant improvement in all areas, something that is also reflected in the numbers. Of course, we expect to respond with a different style of play compared to what we showed there, one that includes all the fundamentals of basketball. In that game, we didn’t set screens, didn’t play with pace, lacked patience, gave them control of the ball, made poor shot selections and didn’t fight for rebounds. We had 18 defensive rebounds, while they grabbed 18 offensive rebounds. We need to do all the important things. Naturally, the EuroLeague shows that the same teams can meet again after one or two months under different conditions - form, availability and absences. Still, I believe that right now we are playing better, and with our fans behind us, it will be important to impose our tempo and get the win."

**Nikola Milutinov, Olympiacos center**

"It was truly a tough loss in Barcelona. We played very badly in that game, but immediately after we started to improve and play much better. Barcelona is a very good team. They have many high-quality players who know how to play and how to win games. So it will be a big challenge for us to secure another win."

**Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach**

"This is just another game – but it’s one of the toughest venues in the competition, historically and especially this season. They’re a team that’s playing very well, they’ve won seven of their last eight games, and they’re very solid at home. Regardless of the result, we’ll keep fighting to stay near the top of the standings, at least for now. Honestly, I don’t look too much at the standings. But yes, it’s a very important opponent. What we do have to keep in mind – and this is something we need to start paying attention to – is that we won by 13 at home. That always has to be in the back of your mind. We’re going there to win, but now that we’re into head-to-head matchups, that’s something you always have to consider, whether you won or lost the previous game."

**Nico Laprovittola, Barcelona guard**

"We want to stay at the top of the standings, and it's a very important game. We have to be aware of how difficult it will be at their arena. We have to fight and get back to winning ways, dominating games. We prepared very well for the game we played against them at Palau \[Blaugrana\]. It was spectacular, but now, at their home, it will be very difficult."

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

**Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach**

"We're facing a team that's in excellent shape, having won its last two EuroLeague games, and is completely different from the one we faced in Belgrade, having changed coaches and many players. We'll have to be ready to play a physical game because they have the ability to go big, with Isaac Bonga at the 3 spot. Lately, the physicality and the ability of their point guards, \[Cam\] Payne and \[Nick\] Calathes, to create a lot for everybody, have been the keys to their wins. We're coming off a rough week, but that's precisely why we want to bounce back. To do that, we'll have to be physical and intense for 40 minutes."

**Zach LeDay, Milan forward**

"The EuroLeague is the highest level you can find in Europe, and sometimes just winning games isn't enough; you have to do it twice or three times. We're coming off two games where we were excellent for 35 minutes, and it wasn't enough. The lesson we learned is that we have to be excellent for 40 minutes, helping each other on both offense and defense against a Partizan team that's having a good run, is confident, and will come here prepared."

**Joan Penarroya, Partizan head coach**

"I expect a very difficult game. Milano had some issues last week, but they still have a great team with a lot of quality and strong individual players. If we want to compete, we’ll need to play at a very high level tomorrow. We’re missing a few important players, but that’s not an excuse, we have to play together, just like we did last week."

**Tonye Jekiri, Partizan center**

"We’ve had some injury issues, but we’re doing our best to deal with them. What’s really important for tomorrow is that we fight, play with pride, and bring that mindset from the very start of the game. Hopefully, that’s exactly what we’ll do."

### Valencia Basket vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:45 CET)

**Omari Moore, Valencia guard**

"We played Maccabi just over a month ago, on their court. It was a very tough game. They have a really talented squad and they were better than us that day. So tomorrow we want to come out with a good game plan, play with a lot of intensity and try to get the win. They have been very strong in recent games, especially at home. They've won a lot. But we want to focus on our offensive plan. I think the coaches have prepared a good plan against their defense and versatility, so I think we'll be fine if we stick to that. The energy of our fans really helps our team, so I'm very happy to know that they'll be there to support us."

**Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach**

"One of the best teams in the EuroLeague, especially at home. They really play in high tempo. We found a way to win when we played them \[at home\], but we can’t build on that. We have to be defensively focused all 40 minutes because it will be a really high-tempo game."

**Will Rayman, Maccabi forward**

"Valencia is a really good team. This is a really important game for us to win and be 2-0 against them. I am really happy to sign an extension and be here another three years. I love everything about this organization, and I am happy to keep going, keep winning games, and it starts against Valencia."

**Mario Santos, Maccabi center**

"We know it is a tough away game. Valencia plays at high-tempo, it is a really good team. We need to go and meet their energy, meet their flow, and bring our best."

## Tuesday, January 27

### Paris Basketball vs. Real Madrid (21:00 CET)

**Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach**

"We're up against a team that plays in a pretty unique way. They're not the only ones who play like that anymore, but we know that against these opponents we have to be very smart in how we play because, as has happened to us on other occasions, we can concede very high scores, although we also know that we can hit back ourselves. The main characteristic of Paris Basketball is their pace. They are by far the EuroLeague team that plays the most possessions, which will lead to a very high score, and that doesn't mean that their defense is bad, but rather that the pace of possession will be very high with many possessions, many shots, and surely a high score.

"For our part, we also have to focus on the fact that Paris is the highest-scoring team in the EuroLeague and also the highest-scoring team in the first seven seconds of possession. They are also very strong on offensive rebounds. They are also capable of forcing many turnovers with their aggressive full-court defense, so there are many points and areas of focus, and we will certainly have to be prepared. Despite bad moments, it is important that when the crunch time comes, we are in a position to win and have the strength and solidity necessary to win and take a very important game."

**Chuma Okeke, Real Madrid forward**

"Paris Basketball is a good team, a team that fights hard, very aggressive. I think they're a little different now than when we faced them in the first half of the season, but they're capable of beating any opponent on a good night. We're expecting a tough game, with Paris eager to win and, what's more, needing to win. I've never been there, but from what I've seen, Paris Basketball has a good arena, great fans, and we're in for a tough game. We need to focus on our game and grab the rebounds well because Paris is very good at offensive rebounding. We'll have to be alert in defense and get back quickly to defend because they run a lot and well, and it's important to match up with your man very quickly, even after scoring. We must avoid miscommunication because I think that could cost us the game. We have to try to repeat certain things that we tried in the game in Madrid that worked well for us."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 25 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season

Pregame quotes, Round 25: 'ASVEL  is certainly dangerous'

Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Zalgiris Kaunas (2026-01-30T19:30:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2026-01-30T19:45:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2026-01-29T19:45:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2026-01-29T19:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv v FC Bayern Munich (2026-01-29T19:05:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v FC Barcelona (2026-01-29T19:15:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2026-01-29T17:45:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Real Madrid (2026-01-27T20:00:00.000Z)

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs ahead of Round 25 of the 2025-26 season.

Injury report: Round 25

## Friday, January 30

### AS Monaco vs. Virtus Bologna (19:30 CET)

##### AS Monaco

Yoan Makoundou is Monaco's only absentee for its game against Virtus on Friday, [according to the club's website](https://asmonaco.basketball/news/show.php?ID=74437).

- Yoan Makoundou last played in Round 17.

##### Virtus Bologna

Carsen Edwards, Alessandro Pajola and Alen Smailagic are ruled out for Virtus's game at Monaco on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Luca Vildoza, out since Round 21, returned to action in Round 24.
- Alen Smailagic has been out since Round 22.
- Aliou Diarra has missed Virtus's last six games, but he returned to action in the team's Italian League game Monday night. He is listed as available for Round 25.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Dubai Basketball (20:00 CET)

##### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Crvena Zvezda has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Dubai on Friday.

- Joel Bolomboy, who has been out all season after suffering a Lisfranc injury last March, returned to action in the ABA League, but is yet to play in the EuroLeague.
- Tyson Carter has been [diagnosed with pulmonary embolism](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zvezdas-tyson-carter-facing-extended-absence-with-pulmonary-embolism/) and faces a lengthy absence. He has been discharged from hospital and will continue his treatment at home.
- Jasiel Rivero hurt his foot in Round 1 and is expected to be sidelined for several months.
- Isaiah Canaan [suffered an ACL injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-loses-isaiah-canaan-to-acl-injury/) and is out long term.

##### Dubai Basketball

Dubai has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Crvena Zvezda on Friday.

- Davis Bertans missed Rounds 23 and 24 with a calf injury
- [Bruno Caboclo joined the club from Hapoel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/dubai-basketball-reels-in-bruno-caboclo/) on January 15. He is yet to make his debut.
- Kosta Kondic last played in Round 16 due to a groin injury.
- Boogie Ellis last played in Round 13 due to a right hamstring injury.
- Nate Mason, who hasn't played this season, has undergone a discectomy after sustaining a cervical injury during practice.
- Summer signing Mam Jaiteh suffered an Achilles injury and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CET)

##### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Baskonia has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Zalgiris on Friday.

- Markquis Nowell missed Rounds 23 and 24.
- Markus Howard has been out since Round 20.
- Tadas Sedekerskis underwent ankle surgery, [Baskonia announced on its website](https://www.baskonia.com/es/noticias/parte-medico-tadas-sedekerskis-5) on December 11. He last played in Round 11.

##### Zalgiris Kaunas

Coach Tomas Masiulis confirmed during [his pregame interview on Thursday](https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/t-masiulis-apie-pasikeitusia-baskonia-ir-traumu-situacija) that Nigel Williams-Goss would be a game-time decision for Zalgiris's game at Baskonia on Friday.

- [Nigel Williams-Goss suffered a calf strain](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-backcourt-hit-as-nigel-williams-goss-faces-multi-week-absence/) in Round 21 and is set to miss the next two to three weeks, the club announced on January 11.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:45 CET)

##### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

ASVEL has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Panathinaikos on Friday.

- Glynn Watson, who missed Round 23, returned to action in Round 24.
- [New signing Braian Angola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/experienced-swingman-braian-angola-joins-asvel/) made his debut in Round 24.

##### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Panathinaikos has not yet sent an injury report for its game at ASVEL on Friday.

- Kendrick Nunn has been out since Round 22 with an ankle problem.
- Konstantinos Mitoglou last played in Round 19.
- Mathias Lessort, still recovering from an injury, is yet to play this season.

## Thursday, January 29

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (18:45 CET)

##### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Devon Hall, Bonzie Colson, Brandon Boston and Scottie Wilbekin are all game-time decisions while Chris Silva, Melih Mahmutoglu and Arturs Zagars are ruled out for Fenerbahce's game against Efes on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Wade Baldwin, who was a late scratch for Round 23, returned to action in Round 24.
- Brandon Boston Jr. was a late scratch in Round 23 and also missed Round 24.
- [Chris Silva suffered a thigh injury](https://x.com/FBBasketbol/status/2011091723317915992) in training last Tuesday. He has been out since Round 22.
- [Bonzie Colson injured his right patellar tendon](https://x.com/FBBasketbol/status/2009897597041889604) in Round 21. He has been out since Round 22.
- Arturs Zagars suffered a hamstring injury, [the club confirmed on December 28](https://x.com/FBBasketbol/status/2005231973967511693). He has not played since.
- Scottie Wilbekin is receiving treatment for knee swelling, [the club confirmed on November 10](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/scottie-wilbekin-receiving-treatment-for-knee-swelling/). He has not played since.

##### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Rodrigue Beaubois is questionable while Shane Larkin, Jordan Loyd and Georgios Papagiannis are ruled out for Efes's game at Fenerbahce on Thursday, the club has confirmed. Vincent Poirier is available.

- Vincent Poirier has been out since Round 20, but he returned to action in the Turkish League this past weekend.
- Jordan Loyd missed Rounds 23 and 24 last week.
- [Shane Larkin will be out until early February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/shane-larkin-undergoes-groin-surgery-out-for-two-months/) after undergoing groin surgery, the club announced on December 3.
- [Georgios Papagiannis is expected to miss eight months](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-ercan-osmani-out-three-weeks-georgios-papagiannis-to-miss-eight-months/) following ACL surgery, the club confirmed on October 18.

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:05 CET)

##### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv

Hapoel has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Bayern on Thursday.

- Elijah Bryant travelled with the team for Round 24 but did not play. He did not play in the Israeli League this past weekend, either.

- [Tyler Ennis tore his Achilles tendon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/hapoels-tyler-ennis-tears-achilles-tendon-in-win-over-dubai/) in Round 20. It is expected to be a season-ending injury.

##### FC Bayern Munich

Bayern has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Hapoel on Thursday.

- Andreas Obst, who missed Round 23, returned to action in Round 24.
- David McCormack was ruled out for Round 24.
- Stefan Jovic missed Rounds 23 and 24.
- Kamar Baldwin was a late scratch for Round 10 and has not played since.
- [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayerns-rokas-jokubaitis-suffers-knee-injury/) will be sidelined until the spring following knee surgery.
- Elias Harris has yet to return to action following a knee injury suffered in June.

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Barcelona (20:15 CET)

##### Olympiacos Piraeus

Kostas Papanikolaou, Frank Ntilikina and Monte Morris, in addition to long-term absentees Keenan Evans and Moustapha Fall, are ruled out for Olympiacos's game against Barcelona on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Kostas Papanikolaou will miss the game due to lower back pain.
- [New signing Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-overhauls-frontcourt-with-tyrique-jones/), appeared to suffer a thigh injury in the Greek League this past weekend, but is available according to the club.
- Nikola Milutinov missed Round 24 due to a concussion, but he is ready for Round 25.
- Monte Morris suffered an injury in Round 21 and has not played since.
- Frank Ntilikina was ruled out for Round 24 and will miss Round 25.
- Keenan Evans [ruptured his Achilles tendon in Round 10](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/keenan-evans-suffers-achilles-rupture-in-euroleague-return/).
- [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-center-moustapha-fall-suffers-knee-injury/) could miss the entire season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee during the Greek League finals in June.

##### FC Barcelona

Will Clyburn is listed as questionable but is expected to available while Juan Nunez is ruled out for Barcelona's game at Olympiacos on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Will Clyburn is expected to be back for Thursday's game. He suffered an injury in Round 17 and was reported to be [out until late January, early February](https://x.com/FCBbasket/status/2002694206280614084). He has started light training ahead of his return to action.
- [Juan Nunez is out ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-guard-juan-nunez-to-miss-6-months/)due to a knee injury. He expected to be sidelined until April.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

##### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Armoni Brooks is questionable while Nate Sestina, Ousmane Diop, Stefano Tonut and Nico Mannion are ruled out for Milan's game against Partizan on Thursday, the club has confirmed,

- Devin Booker missed Milan's Italian League game on Monday due to a knee injury.
- Leandro Bolmaro, who was ruled out in Round 23, returned to action in Round 24.
- Ousmane Diop, who had arthroscopic knee surgery, [the club announced on December 4](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ousmane-diop-has-arthroscopic-knee-surgery/), remained sidelined in Round 24.
- Stefano Tonut, who last played in Round 12, remained out in Round 24.
- Nate Sestina suffered a triceps injury in Round 10 and has not played since. He remained out in Round 24.

##### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Duane Washington, Aleksej Pokusevski, Vanja Marinkovic, Shake Milton, Carlik Jones and Mario Nakic are ruled out for Partizan's game at Milan on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Vanja Marinkovic [suffered an Achilles injury during the comeback win over Hapoel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizans-vanja-marinkovic-out-long-term-with-achilles-injury/), and is out for the season.
- Duane Washington did not play in Rounds 23 or 24.
- Jabari Parker has been ruled out since Round 22.
- [Shake Milton suffered a broken hand](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/shake-milton-suffers-broken-hand/) ahead of Round 21 and is out indefinitely.
- Carlik Jones (ankle), who last played in Round 5, has yet to return to action.
- Mario Nakic (knee) has been sidelined with a knee problem.

### Valencia Basket vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:45 CET)

##### Valencia Basket

Matt Costello is ruled out for Valencia's game against Maccabi on Thursday. 

- [Matt Costello is dealing with discomfort in his left knee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/matt-costello-sidelined-with-knee-discomfort/) and will be out for the 'upcoming games'.

##### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv

Maccabi has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Valencia on Thursday.

- Lonnie Walker (shoulder) last featured in Round 19, when he left the game with a shoulder injury. [He is expected to be out until early February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabis-lonnie-walker-to-miss-additional-time-with-shoulder-injury/).
- John DiBartolomeo, who was injured in the game against Hapoel Holon, was examined and diagnosed with a small tear in the groin muscle. The captain is expected to be out for about another week.
- [Zach Hankins has been out since Round 18](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabis-zach-hankins-to-miss-23-weeks-with-bone-bruise/) with a bone contusion above the ankle. He has still not recovered and is expected to miss an additional week.

## Tuesday, January 27

### Paris Basketball vs. Real Madrid (21:00 CET)

##### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

- Derek Willis has been out since Round 20.
- Jeremy Morgan missed Round 24 and was a DNP in the French League this past weekend.
- [Ismael Bako left the club](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/ismael-bako-moves-on-from-paris/) last Friday.

##### Real Madrid

Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Paris on Tuesday.

- [Theo Maledon suffered an adductor injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/theo-maledon-sidelined-with-adductor-injury/) in Round 24.

Stay up to date with the latest injury information provided by the EuroLeague clubs

Injury report, Round 25: Edwards, Pajola out for Virtus; Williams-Goss a GTD

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan clawed its way back into postseason contention with a hard-fought 85-79 home win over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, improving to 12-13 after three successive defeats as Zach LeDay delivered a vintage performance against his former club. 

Milan snaps three-game losing streak to overpower Partizan 

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan clawed its way back into postseason contention with a hard-fought 85-79 home win over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, improving to 12-13 after three successive defeats as Zach LeDay delivered a vintage performance against his former club.

LeDay racked up 20 points and 4 rebounds against Partizan, a club still close to his heart after spending three memorable seasons with the Serbian side and he made his feelings clear in no uncertain terms after a grueling contest.

“All my love to the best people of Belgrade,” the American forward voiced his message to Partizan fans after sinking 7 clutch points in the home straight to make sure Milan stayed on course to fight for a spot in the business end of the competition.

“We moved the ball inside and out, we played a good game of basketball as a team. We’re in a tough moment of the season, so the main thing is to stay together and keep supporting each other. Today we found a different way to win, we keep working and we go forward,” LeDay added.

Big man Josh Nebo contributed with 15 points, forming a devastating partnership with Marko Guduric as he dunked time and again on the Serbian guard’s inch-perfect passes. Quinn Ellis came up with a mature performance as he racked up 11 points and 5 boards, taking on a bigger role after Leandro Bolmaro’s elbow injury, as Milan dished out 18 team assists against just 8 turnovers. 

 “Marko threw some good lobs today and it’s just a combination of us working together as well as the right chemistry we’ve got. We did a good job today,” Nebo said.

Milan led throughout the contest, but Partizan kept chipping away at the home team, playing rock-solid defense in the third quarter after trailing 52-43 at halftime. Just when the visitors looked likely to turn the tide, Milan delivered a salvo of four successive three-pointers to engineer a 69-57 lead ahead of the fourth.

<center>
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Partizan closed in to 71-68, but Milan had more resources in the home stretch as Partizan’s depleted back court had the additional burden of Cam Payne playing with 4 fouls since the latter stages of the first half.

The Serbian team thus dropped to 8-17 after celebrating a pair of wins, which came on the back of seven successive defeats, but head coach Joan Penarroya was upbeat about his team’s performance.

“It’s impossible to be happy after a loss, but I am very proud of my team as we played with a lot of commitment,” the Spanish tactician said. “It was an amazing effort and we improved on defense in the second half, but some bad moments at the end of the third quarter cost us.”

Sterling Brown paced Partizan on 17 points while Payne added 16 and Dylan Osetkowski racked up 14. Tonye Jekiri added 12 and 6 rebounds but the other big man, Bruno Fernando, had a forgettable evening as he finished on a mere 3 points and got ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct towards the end of the third quarter.

The outcome spelled welcome respite for Milan head coach Peppe Poeta, who praised his team’s gritty defense when the chips were down, although he insisted there was still room for improvement.

“We reacted in the right way starting from defense,” he said. “That’s where we have to improve and be more consistent because you have to limit the damage when you have three or four scoreless possessions.

“We have to find a way every time to stick together and get the mental edge. It was not easy because they were in a good moment after beating Hapoel in Munich. I hope Bolmaro recovers quickly from his elbow injury.”

Zach LeDay shined against his former club and carried Milan with a game-high 20 points

Milan snaps three-game losing streak to overpower Partizan

Valencia Basket, struggling after losing three of its previous four games, appeared headed for another setback when Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv built a 35–47 lead late in the first half. Questions surrounding Valencia’s fading pace and dwindling momentum grew louder as Maccabi dictated the early tempo. However, the home side steadily regained control, showcasing resilience and renewed energy. A dominant fourth quarter (28–15) flipped the narrative entirely, and Valencia closed the night looking stronger than ever, securing a 94–83 victory and dispelling concerns about running out of steam.

Valencia turned to inside game as Sako soared to down Maccabi

For a long time, it looked as though Valencia Basket’s midseason stumble was set to continue against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv at Roig Arena on Thursday night.

The Spanish team’s hugely promising season had been threatening to turn into a disappointing anticlimax, with Pedro Martinez’s men losing three of their last four games heading into this week’s encounter.

Was the team’s famously fast-paced style starting to take its toll? Had the recent loss of momentum shown that Valencia was running out of steam, and that the final weeks of the season would see a gradual slide down the standings?

When Maccabi came out with real intent to outrun, outrebound and outshoot Valencia and take a double-digit lead, 35-47, towards the end of the first half, those doubts were only intensifying.

But the question marks did not exist in the minds of the home team players, who grew stronger and stronger as the game went on. The fourth quarter was particularly decisive, 28-15, and by the final buzzer, it was clear that Maccabi had nothing left to give… whereas Valencia – mocking the theory that its energy reserves were running low – looked like it could continue playing all night as the final buzzer confirmed a 94-83 victory.

Crucially, that second-half upturn came courtesy of a dramatic shift in strategy. Valencia only attempted 11 two-point attempts in the first half compared to 21 three-point shots – nothing particularly surprising for the team that takes on more three-point shots than any other in the league.

But that script was totally flipped around after the break, as the host finished the game with 33 shots from inside the arc against 32 long-range efforts – a 22 to 11 split in the third and fourth quarters.

And it was a very profitable change in approach as Valencia converted a highly impressive 24 of those 33 two-pointers (72.7%), with the fourth quarter proving particularly fruitful. During those final 10 minutes, Valencia netted 7 two-point shots on 9 attempts, the key factor to surge into a lead that Maccabi could not challenge as its own offense ran out of energy.

<center>
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Neal Sako scored three of those baskets in the space of less than 4 minutes, and the French big man finished the game with 12 points and 8 rebounds, along with 2 assists and 1 blocked shot for a game-high PIR of 24. Crucially, he also spent more than 20 minutes on the floor – his highest total since Round 2 – to help compensate for the absence of injured big man Matt Costello.

Victorious coach Martinez hailed the physical improvement shown by his players, noting: “We improved our rebounding in the second half, our defense in the second half was much better, and we found our bigs better.”

And shooter Kam Taylor – who contributed 17 points – agreed as he said: “I think the key was that we didn’t doubt ourselves. Sometimes we get a little shaky and second-guess ourselves, but it the last minutes, especially with Neal Sako, we just went to the basket and didn’t doubt ourselves.

“I’m glad to get another win. The EuroLeague is getting tougher and tougher as the season goes on, and it’s just good to get a win each game.”

More than strategy, however, Martinez believed that the physical and mental effort exerted by his players was the key. “The most important thing is the mental situation, to understand that these kinds of games are very physical but you need to be concentrated for 40 minutes,” the Valencia play-caller said.

“In the bad moments, we don’t have to lose our heads, and play together.”

The host’s ability to keep pushing throughout the game was also highlighted by defeated coach Oded Kattash, who admitted there were no excuses after seeing his team score just 33 second-half points.

“They kept with the same tempo, like they always do,” he said. “We knew that in the second half, it was not going to be easy. You have to be concentrated for 40 minutes against Valencia, but we were short on that.”

Valencia, in contrast, was short of nothing in the second half – certainly not energy, and the Spanish team’s spirited comeback will have silenced a few doubters about its prospects for the rest of the season.

The Spanish team overturned a double-digit deficit to take a crucial victory

A whirlwind of a game in front of a sold‑out crowd between two EuroLeague title contenders was decided by a player in just his third appearance for Olympiacos Piraeus. Tyrique Jones provided the initial jolt on both ends of the floor when it mattered most, fueling a fourth‑quarter surge that carried his team to an 87–75 victory over FC Barcelona.

Tyrique Jones brought the energy on both ends as Olympiacos beat Barcelona

A whirlwind of a game in front of a sold‑out crowd between two EuroLeague title contenders was decided by a player in just his third appearance for Olympiacos Piraeus. Tyrique Jones provided the initial jolt on both ends of the floor when it mattered most, fueling a fourth‑quarter surge that carried his team to an 87–75 victory over FC Barcelona.

The hosts came out flying, with a red‑hot Sasha Vezenkov pouring in 12 points as Olympiacos built a 27–13 lead after the opening quarter. A Shaquielle McKissic transition dunk pushed the margin to 42–26, but it also triggered a response from Barcelona, which cut the gap to 46–37 by limiting Olympiacos to just 4 points over the final 3 minutes of the first half.

What followed was a defensive showcase by both sides in the final two quarters, with the Reds ultimately coming out on top.

Will Clyburn added 8 points to his tally, with Kevin Punter netting 9 of his own in the third quarter, as Barcelona held the hosts to 13 points for a 59-64 advantage heading into the closing quarter.

When everything indicated that the momentum had shifted in Barcelona’s favor, Olympiacos fought back with Jones leading the charge as his team tightened up its defense and found its groove on the other end.

The hosts outscored Barcelona 28-11, with Jones registering 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, a block and an assist in the fourth quarter. Bringing the energy off the bench, the 28-year-old center slammed home dunk after dunk on offense and hustled in every possession on the other end, bringing their fans to their feet, with his name becoming a chant on their lips.

Pulling off a complete outing, he finished the game on 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks and 2 assists.

“I’m just trying to come here and be myself,” he told EuroLeague TV after the game. “That’s why they brought me here, so I can be myself. Bring the energy and just play winning basketball. I’m just staying ready for when my number is called. My number was called and I was able to come out there and be myself. Right energy, both offensively and defensively. Chase the game and just continue to get stops.”

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Tyson Ward, who ended the duel on 8 points, 5 rebounds and a team-high 5 assists, said at halftime that Olympiacos needed to “weather the storm”, which he predicted was coming in the second half and his team did just that, turning the tide thanks to a 15-2 run in the fourth.

The Reds scored 21 points off Barcelona’s 20 turnovers and 17 off their 15 offensive rebounds. They didn’t hesitate to run the floor, scoring 22 fastbreak points, and dictated the tempo when it mattered most by outrebounding Barcelona 16-8 in the fourth quarter.

“We were really good at rebounding,” Olympiacos head coach Georgios Bartzokas said in the post-game press conference. “We forced them to make a lot of turnovers. And we finally dominated in the fourth quarter through our defense. Everybody sacrificed himself for the team to win.”

Vezenkov stressed that “the team that is successful is the team where everybody accepts his role and is a star in his role.” A tough start to the season, with key players struggling to find their roles, has been followed by eight wins in Olympiacos’s nine games as the team appears to be clicking.

Despite narrowly missing out on the head-to-head advantage against Barcelona, Thursday’s win was a statement by Olympiacos, which aims to go all the way. To do so, they will need to approach every game as a battle and in Jones, they are sure to have the player who will bring that spark when needed.

 The 28-year-old center pulled off a complete display on Thursday night

FC Bayern Munich is making a push towards postseason contention thanks to a strong defensive effort, which shut down Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv’s offense and supplied a rare road victory, 64-79, in Israel

Bayern shuts down Hapoel offense for fifth win in seven games 

FC Bayern Munich is making a push towards postseason contention thanks to a strong defensive effort, which shut down Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv’s offense and supplied a rare road victory.

Bayern gave up only 38 points in the final three quarters of a strong 64-79 win in Israel to improve to 10-15, including 2-10 on the road.

"We knew how talented they were. We came here with a shorter rotation and ready to compete. It’s a big win for us,” said Bayern’s captain Vladimir Lucic, who tallied 11 points and 6 rebounds.

Isiaha Mike paced Bayern with 16 points, while Andreas Obst had 13 points and Neno Dimitrijevic chipped in 11 points.

“We just focused on the defense, the rebounds and taking care of the ball. Shots were falling today. We had really, really good defense. I have to credit the team for the defense today,” said Mike.

The 64 points were 23.4 fewer than Hapoel’s average of 87.4 points coming into the game and Bayern held the league’s second-best two-point shooting offense (59.1%) to 54.1% and the fifth-best long-range shooters (37.2%) to just 16.7%.

 “To win here, we must play perfect and find the balance between defense and offense. The defense which we demonstrated tonight gave us additional confidence on offense. We are a team who if we play defense - with aggressive denial and good pick-and-roll defense - then we can find solutions for offense,” said Bayern’s head coach Svetislav Pesic.

The veteran playcaller’s first game back at the helm with Bayern was against Hapoel at home in Round 18, when it lost 72-82. But the German champion has responded to Pesic with five wins in the last seven games.

“We have been in the gym a lot, working out and having meetings about where we are making mistakes and finding some things,” Lucic said about the changes that have taken place since Pesic was hired. “We grouped together and decided to fight and be aggressive.”

Pesic said the turning point was the win over Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv in Round 19 to start the winning ways.

“That win gave us additional confidence and, of course, helped me. If you win some games then the players believe in the coach and the concepts of the coach. If you lose games, that is the problem,” he said. “We are in a good way but we will see.”

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Hapoel allowed the first points of the game but led the rest of the first quarter, being up by 6 points four times before the opening stanza ended with the hosts up 26-23. Dan Oturu tallied all 10 of his points in the first quarter.

Bayern conceded only one basket in the first 7 minutes of the second quarter and pulled ahead 28-30. Hapoel responded with the next 9 points for its biggest lead at 37-30, only to have Bayern score the final 11 points of the first half for a 39-43 advantage at the break.

Bayern’s defense shined in the third quarter, keeping the hosts scoreless for more than 6 minutes in a 0-12 run to lead 41-55. The cushion swelled to 15 points at 44-59 and Bayern went into the final frame up 50-61.

Justinian Jessup netted 6 points in a 2-10 surge that gave Bayern a 54-73 lead with only 5 minutes to play and Hapoel’s will was beaten.

The defeat dropped Hapoel to 16-8 with back-to-back losses and falling to second place, handing over the top spot to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Vasilije Micic led the hosts with 13 points and 5 assists.

Head coach Dimitris Itoudis talked after the game that his team is still unified despite its recent struggles.

“I have been called here to create a team that can win. And evidently the team is in the target that we have set from the summer. We have this bad period, but we are not divided. There is no division in the team as some of them think or they want to be. There is no division, there is one team. Those are the things that we are addressing among us and we will continue to fight for what our purpose is,” the coach said.

FC Bayern Munich won just its second road game of the season 

Baldwin, Horton-Tucker and De Colo all stood out against Efes 


Fenerbahce guards dominate Turkish derby 

It was one of the most one-sided Turkish Derbies in EuroLeague history as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul dominated from start to finish to beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 79-62 at home. 

Efes came to the game without four of its main guards, [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/), [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/), [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) and [Isaia Cordinier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaia-cordinier/009549/). Fenerbahce head coach [Sarunas Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/jasikevicius-saras) made sure that running his offense through his guards was a main part of his team's game plan.

The game was balanced in the opening 6 minutes, in which both teams struggled to focus offensively. [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/talen-horton-tucker/014124/) thrived in this initial chaos, getting 5 quick points to give Fenerbahce a 9-5 lead before heading to the bench.

When [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) and [Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/) stepped on the court, they gave Fenerbahce the discipline and ball circulation required to make the difference. They joined forces with [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) in a 12-0 run that saw the hosts to take off. At the end of the first quarter, Fenerbahce led 25-8. Efes kept struggling on offense, with 6 first-quarter turnovers and missing its 6 shots from beyond the arc.

Baldwin kept pacing Fenerbahce without the need of flashy individual actions, other than a circus shot late in the first half. At the break, Baldwin had 8 points, 6 assists and 0 turnovers. Efes improved in the second quarter and once [Cole Swider](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cole-swider/014025/) buried a couple of three-pointers, the visitors got a bit closer, 39-25.

"I thought for a moment we were very good. I thought immediately when we came in with two ball handlers, we were excellent, and then we got the lead early and we started messing around a little bit too much," Coach Jasikevicius said after the game. "Immediately, Efes gets back into the game. And it was kind of this. So I thought we were inconsistent. I thought, like I said, both teams are going a little bit through the rough stretch. So we take the win and should be happy."

Horton-Tucker simply dominated in the second half, scoring 17 of his 22 points after the break. He had 10 in the first 4 minutes of the third quarter to singlehandedly break the game open, 52-30. Just like in the first half, Coach Jasikevicius put Baldwin and De Colo together on court and his team took full control of the game.

"We have got to keep fighting. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us if we are injured or banged up. So we have got to continue to come out and fight, just put our best foot forward and try to just play with effort every night," Horton-Tucker said after the game. 

"Nando and [Nico Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/), they are my vets here, so just being able to follow and stay up under them and watch what they do and do what they do in practice. I'm happy to see that it's kind of like paying off in the game. Nico's going to talk trash to me, too, so I just want to kind of shut up him up a little bit."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Mozart of passing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/M5usWiyjeC">pic.twitter.com/M5usWiyjeC</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/2016953283214975397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Fener kept excelling on defense, limiting Efes to 39 points in the first three quarters. It was its lowest score after 30 minutes since December 2017, in a 58-61 home loss against Olympiacos Piraeus.

Baldwin finished the game without any turnovers for the first time this season. He sent out 9 assists and posted a PIR of 17. De Colo had 12 points and Biberovic added 10. [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/) led Efes with 19 points - 17 of them in the fourth quarter.

"It's been a great month to finish it off in the Turkish Derby is phenomenal. We had a great crowd today, guys kind of digging in and find a way to win this game. It was a pretty easy one for us tonight. We'll see what happens in this double week next week," Baldwin said. 

"We talked about before the game, just our span throughout the course of the last 10-13 games. We were getting a lot more scoring, but our team is producing a lot more turnovers. So cutting down on those was obviously a key for us moving forward and especially for this game. And I was able to execute a 9-assist, 0-turnover game."

Fenerbahce finished January with a 5-1 record and plays its next three games on the road, against FC Barcelona, Paris Basketball and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. Efes has a chance to avoid an unprecedented 10th consecutive loss in the EuroLeague when it hosts Valencia Basket on Tuesday, February 6.