Nigel Hayes-Davis and Tarik Biberovic stepped up in the second half as Fenerbahce Beko flipped the script to beat Zalgiris Kaunas 98-86 in Round 22.

Hayes-Davis, Biberovic lead Fenerbahce turnaround against Zalgiris, 98-86

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat Zalgiris Kaunas 98-86 at Ulker Sports and Event Hall in Round 22 on Friday. Fenerbahce improved to 14-7 in the standings while Zalgiris dropped to 11-11. 

Nigel Hayes-Davis led the winners with 21 points. Marko Guduric added 20, Tarik Biberovic had 15 while Arturs Zagars got 11 for Fenerbahce. Alen Smailagic led Zalgiris with 24 points, a new career high. Sylvain Francisco added 16 while Ignas Brazdeikis got 12 for the guests.

Game Videos

Brazdeikis got Zalgiris going with a backdoor layup and struck twice from downtown for a 2-8 lead. Khem Birch banked in a close shot, then Dovydas Giedraitis and Bonzie Colson traded jumpers before Francisco hit a fadeaway shot for a 6-12 Zalgiris lead. Guduric downed a step-back jumper, Brazdeikis scored again and Errick McCollum soon brought Fenerbahce within 10-14. Francisco and Matt Mitchell struck from beyond the arc to make it a double-digit game, 10-20. Devon Hall joined the three-point shootout and downed a mid-range shot. McCollum sank a stop-and-pop jumper to bring the hosts within 17-20 after 10 minutes.

 

Smailagic buried a jumper early in the second quarter. Hayes-Davis stepped up with a put-back layup and bettered Smailagic's jumper with a bomb from downtown. Lonnie Walker dunked and a red-hot Smailagic restored a 22-28 Zalgiris margin. Zagars found his first points and Nicolo Melli scored in the paint, but Smailagic did better with three consecutive three-pointers, boosting the guests' lead to 26-37. Smailagic kept pacing Zalgiris before Guduric and Hayes-Davis got Fenerbahce within 30-39. Francisco and Brazdeikis buried a jumper apiece for a 32-43 score. Sertac Sanli took over with a put-back layup, Smailagic matched that with a driving basket and Francisco scored off a steal for a 34-47 Zalgiris lead at halftime.

Game News

Biberovic buried a three-pointer right after the break. Arnas Butkevicius answered from downtown and Smailagic added a put-back layup to keep Zalgiris way ahead, 39-52. Hayes-Davis stepped up for Fenerbahce and Guduric added a three-pointer to give the hosts hope at 45-53. Biberovic swished his second triple and Giedraitis scored in penetration before Edgaras Ulanovas restored a 48-57 Zalgiris margin. Biberovic hit a floater which Zagars followed with a driving layup in a 6-0 run in which Guduric got Fenerbahce as close as 54-57. Francisco and Mitchell buried a triple apiece to give Zalgiris fresh air at 56-63. Biberovic and Zagars each stringed three-pointers but so did Francisco, banking in one from way downtown at the third-quarter buzzer for a 62-68 Zalgiris lead.

Guduric sank back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to tie the game, 68-68, early in the fourth quarter. Smailagic rescued Zalgiris with a wild three-point play, Zagars scored again and Hayes-Davis's three-pointer completed the hosts' comeback, 73-71. Biberovic scored around the basket and fed Hall for a three-pointer, good for a 78-72 Fenerbahce lead. Colson buried a huge step-back triple that Walker matched at the other end. Zagars banked in a close shot and found Hayes-Davis for a backdoor layup for a double-digit Fenerbahce lead, 85-75, with under 3 minutes left. Hayes-Davis kept delivering, and Colson's wild put-back slam allowed Fenerbahce to seal an important win in style.

After being limited to 34 first-half points, the hosts erupted for 64 points after the break


Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-01-17T17:45:00.000Z)

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 22 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 22

## Friday, January 17

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (18:45 CET)

**Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach**

"Zalgiris is the best defensive team in the EuroLeague. It is extremely difficult to score against them. They are a team that can change their defensive strategies game to game, quarter to quarter. They are extremely versatile defensively and offensively. A lot of shooters. They usually play with four shooters at a time. So it is really important to understand what kind of players are guarding and obviously try to limit \[Sylvain\] Francisco and \[Lonnie\] Walker as much as possible."

**Dyshawn Pierre, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward**

"It will be a hard game. They play with a lot of energy. Back to back wins are important to finish off the double week."

**Andrea Trinchieri, Zalgiris Kaunas head coach**

"We play against another big team. They are a strong candidate for the Final Four. They're big, they're long, they cover the court very well on defense, and this is, besides all the things you need to do in order to compete against them, playing against their length and their switching defense is one very important topic for this game. It's a double week, if we're talking about tactics and Xs and Os, remain hungry and build on the win from \[Wednesday\], trying to regenerate and refresh mental and physical energy will be the keys for this game."

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. AS Monaco (20:00 CET)

**Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade head coach**

"Monaco is quality... They have players with the talent to play one on one, they are good as a team. So, as I said, we have to be significantly better if we think we have a chance. On the other hand, we also have to be smart in attack, look at where we have an advantage and attack in the right way at the right time. I expect the reaction of the players and together with the fans to fight for a positive result." 

**Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco head coach**

"Against Bayern, we lacked seriousness and concentration. You can't show two different faces in two halves, it's not possible to play like that. Even if I liked the way we fought afterwards, that's not the way to win a game."

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna (20:30 CET)

**Gordon Herbert, FC Bayern Munich head coach**

"Bologna is a team with nothing left to lose, which makes them dangerous. They’ve been playing much better in recent weeks and are well-organized. Our win against Monaco only matters if we also win this game."

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach**

"Bayern is an excellent team, with very good shooters: they are the team that shoots the most from three-point range, with a very good percentage. They open the court very well, they play fast, so it will be a very difficult game. But we have to improve on how we played yesterday against Zalgiris, especially at the beginning of the game."

**Momo Diouf, Virtus Segafredo Bologna center**

"For tomorrow's game we will have to take the court focused and start from the beginning with energy. They can count on experienced players, quick and good shooters, we will have to be united for the whole 40' and help each other."

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:30 CET)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach**

"I don't expect any reaction, it's a different game, a different arena, a different opponent, a coach with a lot of experience. They may not be in a good position in the standings, but in reality, at home, it's a different and better team. It will be a different game and our team will play its own basketball, so I hope we find a good atmosphere and we will try to get the win."

**Omer Yurtseven, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens center**

"I think we always just look forward and look ahead to the schedule ahead of us. One day at a time. Recover, work on it today, and we'll be out there competing tomorrow."

### FC Barcelona vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:45 CET)

**Joan Penarroya, FC Barcelona head coach**

"It's a different game against a different opponent. We need to have a good game, a game full of energy, and a game where we are in front of our fans. The energy of Palau Blaugrana is a plus for us. It's a difficult opponent with high-quality players who have won multiple EuroLeague titles. We can't think about the last game, we need to focus on a tough opponent in Efes."

**Chimezie Metu, FC Barcelona forward**

"The group is very happy as the win \[against Panathinaikos\] was a big win. We needed it, and on Friday too. Every team in the EuroLeague, and Efes as well. It's the second time that we're playing them and it's very important to get another victory."

**Luca Banchi, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"We expect a very tough game. FC Barcelona is actually in great shape. They collect three wins in a row, they will present their best roster with one of the best scoring guards in the entire EuroLeague \[Kevin Punter\]. That's why we have to prepare ourselves very well. Taking care of details in Paris was not so good for us. We must approach the game with a good consistency, physicality and use all our talent to take a win which can finally reignite our season in the EuroLeague."

**Elijah Bryant, Anadolu Efes Istanbul guard**

"FC Barcelona is a great team, and we have to approach the game with consistency and fight, especially on the road. Every game is an opportunity, and we can’t afford to take any of them for granted."

## Thursday, January 16

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. ALBA Berlin (20:00 CET)

**Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach**

"ASVEL's roster consists of a very good mix of experienced players like \[Nando\] De Colo, \[Tarik\] Black, \[Joffrey\] Lauvergne and young players like \[Theo\] Maledon, \[Neal\] Sako and \[Melvin\] Ajinca. This combination also characterizes ASVEL's play and brings consistency to the team. They bring a lot of quality to the court, especially at home in Villeurbanne, which is why it will be a big challenge for us on Thursday – especially in the double-game week."

### Paris Basketball vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)

**Oded Kattash, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach**

"There are some offensive things we did well yesterday, and we need to build on that going forward. Defensively, it's a completely different game. Paris plays at a very high and unique pace compared to other EuroLeague teams, and in the first round, they surprised the entire EuroLeague with their style of play. During a double-game week, it’s difficult to prepare tactically for the second game, but we’ll try to build on things we did in the first game and do them better, especially in an away game. They don’t do many offensive things, but they execute at a very high level, and we’ll need to try to slow them down, which we weren’t able to do yesterday."

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

**Ettore Messina, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan head coach**

"We face a great opponent, a team that, after a difficult start, has raised its performance by obtaining many significant wins including with the last one in Villeurbanne. For us it is essential to continue to show on the court the defensive improvements produced in the last period, and to continue to move the ball against a very athletic defense like that of Partizan."

**Nikola Mirotic, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan forward**

"We are aware that the moment of the season is crucial, but we must take it one game at a time without looking too far ahead. Today, our thoughts are all about the game against Partizan. For some time now, we have had a better understanding of ourselves and how to play together. Injuries have affected us, but at the same time the guys staying on the court had the opportunity to develop confidence. For me personally, playing alongside Zach LeDay is fun and makes everything easier because there is chemistry and mutual trust, and we know we can count on our teammates, especially on defense."

**Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach**

"We had a good game in Lyon, but there’s no time to celebrate. We arrived in Milan this morning and managed to fit in a training session, which was more of a discussion about the good things, but also the weaker points from the game against Milan in Belgrade. We tried to correct those and will do our best to win tomorrow’s game, which is very important for us. Milan has an excellent team, with players like \[Nikola\] Mirotic, \[Zach\] LeDay, and \[Shavon\] Shields, but of course, the rest of the roster is also very strong. There are a lot of things we need to focus on, and it certainly won’t be an easy game."

**Iffe Lundberg, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard**

"We'll review the footage, as we always do, and try to prepare as best as possible for the next game. There's only a short amount of time between the two games, so we need to get ready quickly. We hope that our fans will support us tomorrow, just as they did in Lyon."

### Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:45 CET)

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

"We face a tough game against Olympiacos, a team that has two of the best scorers in the EuroLeague in \[Evan\] Fournier and \[Sasha\] Vezenkov, a team that knows how to play, that has very well established its defensive rules and its style of play. Olympiacos is coached by a gentleman of the sport in \[Georgios\] Bartzokas who, year after year, proves that his style of play is worthy of being champion. In addition, they have players of a very high level, one of them very dear to us, Nigel Williams-Goss. We have been doing a good defensive job, although Maccabi managed to take the game to many possessions and had extraordinary percentages. We were able to take the scoring to extraordinary levels as well and I am very happy for the victory, but now we have to keep thinking about winning. Olympiacos will not allow so many offensive possibilities and we have to do the same."

**Eli Ndiaye, Real Madrid center**

"Olympiacos is playing very well and we expect a tough game. We have to defend very well because they have very good players with many points in their hands. We have to come out from the first minute with a lot of concentration and energy, with a good balance between offense and defense to counter their strengths, which are many. Defense will be key tomorrow and I think that a good part of our chances of victory will depend on it. We have improved a lot since a month ago, winning very difficult games and tomorrow we have to continue on the same path."

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach**

"It was expected that after injured players would come back, they would find their rhythm. Real’s game is more consistent after \[Dzanan\] Musa returned. They have good players and a good coach, and I was sure that they would be back on track. They have 6 wins in a row, and that says a lot. In our between game, the most important key factor will be which team will be more fresh, since we both come from back-to-back games."

**Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos Piraeus forward**

"I am blessed to be a part of the Olympiacos family. This team has helped me to achieve a lot in my career, and I am grateful. Tomorrow we play against a great team. They are in very good shape; they have six wins in a row, and we expect a tough game. In my opinion, the key factor will be the defense. We have to play hard and follow the game plan."

Pregame quotes hub: 'Fenerbahce is a strong candidate for the Final Four'

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v ALBA Berlin (2025-01-16T19:00:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-01-16T19:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2025-01-16T19:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-01-16T19:45:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v AS Monaco (2025-01-17T19:00:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-01-17T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-01-17T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-01-17T19:45:00.000Z)

Here, you can find all the latest injury news surrounding all registered players in the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

EuroLeague injury report: Round 22

Follow all the latest injury information for registered players in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, as reported by the clubs, and get your [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home?_ga=2.101462721.1199459303.1696273873-903329349.1669636775) teams up to date!

### ALBA Berlin

Matteo Spagnolo and Justin Bean are ruled out for ALBA's game at ASVEL on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Matteo Spagnolo did not play in Round 21.
- Malte Delow did not play in Round 21.
- Louis Olinde last played in Round 18.
- [Justin Bean](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/justin-bean-out-three-months-with-broken-wrist/) is out until early February after breaking his wrist.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Darius Thompson and Rolands Smits are questionable for Efes's game at Barcelona on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- [New signing PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-adds-pj-dozier-to-its-backcourt-mix/) did not play in Round 21, but he is registered to play.

### AS Monaco

There are no absentees on Monaco's roster for its game at Crvena Zvezda on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-basket-loses-alpha-diallo-to-knee-injury/) returned to action in Round 21.

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

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

- Markus Howard last played in Round 19.
- [Tadas Sedekerskis is out with an injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/baskonia-tadas-sedekerskis-suffers-thigh-injury/) in his thigh muscle, but no timetable has been set for his return.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

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

- Nemanja Nedovic was unavailable in Round 21.
- Milos Teodosic returned to action in Round 21.
- Ognjen Dobric returned to action in Round 21.
- Branko Lazic (back) last played in Round 15.
- Mike Daum, who last played in Round 18, has undergone knee surgery, the club confirmed on January 9.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Diego Flaccadori, Josh Nebo, Fabien Causeur, Neno Dimitrijevic and Ousmane Diop are all ruled out for Milan's game against Partizan on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Ousmane Diop last played in Round 19.
- Neno Dimitrijevic last played in Round 19.
- Fabien Causeur last played in Round 18.
- [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/josh-nebo-to-be-reevaluated-in-3-4-weeks/) suffered another injury in Round 17 and is expected to miss extended time, according to coach Ettore Messina.

### FC Barcelona

Nico Laprovittola is ruled out for Barcelona's game against Efes on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Jan Vesely returned to action in Round 21 after missing the previous two rounds.
- [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nico-laprovittola-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) was ruled out for the season due to an ACL and meniscus injury.

### FC Bayern Munich

Kevin Yebo and Vladimir Lucic are ruled out for Bayern's game against Virtus on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Nick Weiler-Babb returned to action in Round 21 after missing Rounds 19 and 20.
- Oscar da Silva returned to action in Round 21 after missing Round 20.
- Bayern has been without Vladimir Lucic (muscle bruise) since Round 2.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Wade Baldwin and Scottie Wilbekin are ruled out for Fenerbahce's game against Zalgiris on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- [Arturs Zagars](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/arturs-zagars-fenerbahce-beko-foot-injury/), who had been out since Round 14, returned to action in Round 21.
- [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/wade-baldwin-out-with-hamstring-injury/) has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in Round 16.
- [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-confirms-the-worst-scottie-wilbekin-has-torn-his-acl/) tore his ACL in Round 1 and is out.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

ASVEL has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Partizan on Thursday.

- Joffrey Lauvergne last played in Round 16.
- [Mbaye Ndiaye ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/mbaye-ndiaye-ldlc-asvel-out-for-several-months-with-knee-injury/)has ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his right knee and is likely out for the season.
- [Charles Kahudi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/charles-kahudi-out-for-four-weeks-with-groin-injury/) is out until mid-to-late January with a groin injury.

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

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

- Maccabi had no injuries heading into Round 21.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

Thomas Walkup, Tyler Dorsey, Keenan Evans and Moses Wright are all ruled out for Olympiacos's game at Real Madrid on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Thomas Walkup (back) and Tyler Dorsey (illness) both missed Round 21.
- Evan Fournier and Kostas Papanikolaou returned to action in Round 21 after missing Round 20.
- [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/moses-wright-out-for-the-season-with-health-issue/) is out for the season with a health issue.
- [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-star-keenan-evans-out-long-term-after-knee-surgery/) remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery. He has not yet been registered for the competition.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

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

- Lorenzo Brown returned to action in Round 21 after missing Round 20.
- Kostas Sloukas returned to action in Round 21 after missing Round 20.
- Kostas Antetokounmpo missed Round 21.
- [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/all-euroleague-center-mathias-lessort-leaves-game-with-leg-injury/) suffered a broken fibula in Round 17 and will miss several months.
- Marius Grigonis (lower back surgery) has not played since Round 4.

### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Maccabi on Thursday.

- Daulton Hommes has not yet played this season.

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Frank Ntilikina, Duane Washington, Vanja Marinkovic and Mitar Bosnjakovic are all ruled out for Partizan's game at Milan on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Isaac Bonga and Aleksej Pokusevski both returned to action in Round 21.
- Frank Ntilikina missed Round 21.
- Duane Washington (illness) missed Round 21.
- Vanja Marinkovic has not played since Round 16 due to an Achilles injury.
- Mitar Bosnjakovic (ankle) last played in Round 16.

### Real Madrid

Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Olympiacos on Thursday.

- [New signing Dennis Smith Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-baloncesto-signs-ex-nba-guard-dennis-smith-jr/) has not yet been registered.
- Serge Ibaka did not play in Round 21.
- [Gaby Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-loses-gabriel-deck-to-torn-hamstring/) is sidelined with a torn hamstring.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Will Clyburn is ruled out for Virtus's game at Bayern on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Toko Shengelia, who had not played since Round 15, returned to action in Round 21.
- Ante Zizic last played in Round 19, but he is available in Round 22.
- [Will Clyburn is out until mid-March](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/will-clyburn-virtus-bologna-out-at-least-10-weeks-with-foot-injury/) due to a foot injury.

### Zalgiris Kaunas

Zalgiris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Fenerbahce on Friday.

- Tomas Dimsa, who has not been registered, remains out with a shoulder injury.

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

Injury report, Round 22: Thompson, Smits questionable for Efes

Few people could have predicted that Olympiacos BC would enjoy such a comfortable victory, rolling to an 86-96 scoreline with a dominant performance at both ends of the floor against Real Madrid in Round 22 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Serious Olympiacos breaking away from pack in top four race

Something had to give when [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) hosted [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in a true heavyweight matchup on Thursday night, repeating both [last season’s semifinal](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-dug-itself-too-big-a-hole-to-get-out-of-against-real-madrid/) and the [previous year’s championship game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/championship-game-blog-olympiacos-piraeus-vs-real-madrid/).

Both teams were in red-hot form heading into the showdown, with Real having won all six games since sinking to a worrying [home defeat against Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-overpowers-real-in-madrid-83-92/) in mid-December, neatly turning crisis into opportunity.

Olympiacos, meanwhile, had established a two-game lead at the top of the standings with its own six-game streak, again getting its competitive juices flowing with an [overtime win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-wins-overtime-thriller-at-baskonia-101-102/) just two days earlier.

Irresistible force versus immovable object? With these two talent-loaded rosters it’s difficult to decide which team fits which of those descriptions, so the outcome of Thursday’s Rivalry Series showdown was really anyone’s guess.

And few people could have predicted that Olympiacos would enjoy such a comfortable victory, rolling to [an 86-96 scoreline](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-dominates-real-in-statement-making-win-86-96/) with a dominant performance at both ends of the floor which delivered a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Although Real did show some spirit to launch a late 10-0 run and nearly set up a big finale, the host couldn’t get closer than 8 points and Olympiacos will reflect on a very well-deserved victory after leading for the last 34 minutes.

Evan Fournier runs wild in Madrid against Real in Round 22 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Evan Fournier runs wild in Madrid

There were key individual contributions, notably from shooting star [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) who netted 5 triples in his career-high total of 28 points. [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) also won his battle in the paint with [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) by blasting a couple of ferocious dunks in his 13 points and adding 8 rebounds, while [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) – on the night he reached 1,500 points in the competition and dished a game-high 5 assists – did a great defensive job to limit Real dynamo [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) to just 7 points.

More than those solo stats, however, this was a highly serious and focused performance from Olympiacos, leading Fournier to conclude: “We came in with the mentality of the underdog. Madrid is playing really well and they have a really good defense, so it’s tough to play against them. When we have that spirit, that mindset and that fight, that’s when we play our best.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">👏🏽 The presidential congratulations from Mr. Georgios Angelopoulos to Evan Fournier and Nikola Milutinov.<br><br>🗣️ And of course, coach Barzoka&#39;s speech after the big W!!! <br><br>🙌🏽 Coach B: “Guys, congratulations. We accomplished to win two games in Spain. Big credit for that”!<br><br>😂… <a href="https://t.co/9DMhAB8E98">pic.twitter.com/9DMhAB8E98</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1880024298913690114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was the second win this season for Olympiacos over its Spanish rival, having triumphed [79-69 in October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-beats-real-madrid-79-69-in-rivalry-series-clash/) behind 23 points from [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/), so Coach [Georgios Bartzokas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/bartzokas-georgios/?season=E2024)’s team now boasts the potential head-to-head tiebreak advantage over Real as well as a four-game lead.

With 12 games still remaining in the regular season, that is far from decisive, but it puts Olympiacos in a great position to overcome one of its chief rivals for a top-four finish – which historically provides a 75% chance of advancing to the Final Four.

Coach Bartzokas certainly isn’t thinking that far ahead, but allied with Fournier in praising the mental fortitude of his players as he concluded: “I really appreciate the effort of the players. We have players with personality – players that play to do their job, not just to play naïve basketball. We need to play to win games, and we have these players.”

Winning games is something that Olympiacos is doing with impressive consistency right now. And if the same serious attitude is maintained until the end of May, the Reds could well end up winning it all.

Evan Fournier played a key role Thursday with a season-high 28 points in Madrid

Serious Olympiacos breaking away from pack in top-four race

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade hit top form at just the right time with an impressive 70-90 win at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan behind Carlik Jones, who racked up 24 points and 9 assists

Partizan stormed Milan as Carlik Jones turned on the heat 

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/partizan-nis-belgrade/roster/par/?season=2024-25) hit top form at just the right time with [an impressive 70-90 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-steamrolls-milan-70-90-through-monster-second-half/) at [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/roster/mil/?season=2024-25), which came on the back of an equally resounding [62-93 drubbing](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/vintage-partizan-crushes-asvel-62-93/) of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Tuesday.

After a dismal 2-8 start to the season, Partizan came back with a vengeance and is now 11-11 heading into the final third of the regular season, with upcoming home games against [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2024-25) and archrival [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/roster/red/?season=2024-25) presenting a perfect opportunity to gain more ground.

Livewire playmaker [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/), who suffered a temporary dip in form over the last few rounds, was back to his best against Milan as he racked up 24 points and 9 assists. His effort was complemented by that of [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) as the big man amassed 22 points and 7 boards, while he also found the time to galvanize a raucous contingent of 2,000 away fans who subdued the home faithful all night.

Carlik Jones turned on the heat on Milan

Last but by no means last, [Sterling Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sterling-brown/012720/) chipped in with a season-high 26 points and a stellar all-around performance as his aggressive defense vanquished Milan’s second-half effort after the home team sank 8 of 17 shots from three-point range in the opening two quarters.

Carlik Jones heaped praise on both Partizan’s supporters and on Tyrique Jones, whose energy kept the visiting team firing on all cylinders in the second half after trailing 40-37 at halftime.     

“A shout out to our fans, they were amazing,” Jones said in his postgame comments. “No matter where we go and what the situation is, they’re always traveling to support us and we really can’t do a lot without them. We knew what we had to do this week, we needed these wins and it goes back to us being one of the most lethal teams in transition.”

The point guard then had a few words about to say about Tyrique Jones, who was a menace in the paint at both ends of the court.

“The energy he brings every night is unmatched and guys who go against him find it hard to match it. He is everywhere on the floor at both ends, he is a great guy and an even better teammate,” Carlik Jones added.

Brown has been one of Partizan’s most consistent performers all season and against Milan he once again demonstrated an array of shooting skills, mixing mid-range jumpers with three-pointers as he finished on 9 of 13 from the floor and 4 of 4 from the foul line.

“We faced a little adversity in the first half as they were hitting shots but we came out focused in the second half and got the job done,” Brown said in a courtside interview. “Everybody contributed and it was a great win for us. Our fans are great every night and tonight we fed off each other. We made some big plays and they gave us the extra boost.”

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard Sterling Brown spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Round 21 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Sterling Brown: 'I love this team'

Coach [Zeljko Obradovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/obradovic-zeljko/?season=E2024) stressed his team was on full steam after the interval following an even first half, pointing out that suffocating Milan’s long-range artillery was vital. 

“The first half was balanced but in the second we stifled out their three-point shooting and that was the key to victory because they are incredible from long range,” Obradovic told reporters at the postgame press conference.  “We were very smart on offense and that makes me happy as we were able to replicate the performance of two nights ago \[against ASVEL\].” 

The visiting team’s point guard led an effervescent trio with a classic all-around performance 

Edwin Jackson's big night helped ASVEL bounce back against ALBA

Having suffered [a 29-point loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/vintage-partizan-crushes-asvel-62-93/) at home just two days before, [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/roster/asv/?season=2024-25) was in big need of getting back on the right track. Even though the opponent in Round 22 was last-placed [ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/roster/ber/?season=2024-25), and the game was at the Astroballe, the hosts knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task.

“It’s never easy to play a EuroLeague game, especially when you play back-to-back and you are tired,” Coach [Pierric Poupet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/poupet-pierric/?season=E2024) recognized right after the game. “And as I mentioned before the game, I believe ALBA is playing good now, and it’s not easy to match on their off-screen situations, they have many situations we are not used to playing defense against.”

Despite enjoying a 15-point advantage early in the second quarter and starting the last quarter ahead 80-72, ASVEL saw ALBA return to the game and send it to overtime with a three-pointer by [Malte Delow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/malte-delow/008211/) that could have been even worse if the German guard had converted the extra free throw he had.

ASVEL players managed to refresh their minds, though, and faced overtime with renovated energy. [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) got the hosts going with a bucket, [Neil Sako](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/neal-sako/010545/) added a free-throw and [Edwin Jackson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/edwin-jackson/000229/) later showed up to nail a three-pointer that established a 91-86 advantage that ALBA could not fight back against.

Coming to this game, Jackson had missed 10 games out of 22, shooting a below-par 6-of-25 (24%) from behind the arc and finishing with double figures in scoring only twice. Indeed, he averaged just 1 point per game since Round 17.

Edwin Jackson's big night against ALBA in Round 22 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Edwin Jackson's big night against ALBA

“What a win for us, after some very disappointing games”, he celebrated. “I think it is a great way to bounce back. I mean, I was just, you know, down on myself after the injury and I decided to stop. You know, having negative energy, I needed to pick it up, especially defensively.”

But defense was not the only thing he provided. Against ALBA, Jackson finished with 18 points and a PIR of 21, which are season-highs in both categories. He also made 4 out of 5 triples as the best offensive weapon on his team and playing a key role in the win.

LDLC AVEL Villeurbanne guard Edwin Jackson spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat ALBA Berlin in Round 21 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Edwin Jackson: 'This was a great way to bounce back'

“Today my teammates found me to make open shots, but I got in the game defensively, we all did, and this is how we got a very precious win,” he added. “Looking from the side of the team, it was doing very good, you know, it's just you want to be a part of the success of the team.

“So, you got to put away your personal frustration to be able to help and I felt like the last couple of games I wasn't doing that, at least defensively, what I bring to the team. I know it's not my role to necessarily school points. It's a bonus when I do, but today, it was a great effort for the team and for myself.”

The veteran guard recorded season-highs in points (18) and PIR (21) to lead ASVEL to an OT win

Paris Basketball beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 96-83 behind TJ Shorts's big double-double. 


Shorts makes Paris roll again 

[Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/roster/prs/?season=2024-25) shook off its first bad moment of the season, following a four-game losing streak with back-to-back home victories in Rounds 21 and 22. On Thursday, Paris raced to [a 96-83 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/paris-thrashes-maccabi-at-home-96-83/) over [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/roster/tel/?season=2024-25) at Adidas Arena, trailing only after the first basket of the game, a power layup by [Marial Shayok](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marial-shayok/011202/). [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) took matter into his own hands, getting 3 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in a 12-0 run that put Paris ahead for good, 12-2.

Shorts went to the bench but Paris kept rolling, taking a 26-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and extending it to 31-11 soon after that. Maccabi did not give up and managed to get within 64-55 late in the third quarter. Paris did not panic, however, as it knew it had to put the ball in Shorts's hands and expect good things to happen.

That is exactly what happened, as Shorts was all over the place in a 13-1 run that broke the game open. Shorts rescued his team with a driving layup, fed [Collin Malcolm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/collin-malcolm/012609/) for a fastbreak basket, found [Tyson Ward](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyson-ward/012610/) for a two-handed slam and beat the buzzer with a jumper that gave Paris a 72-56 margin after three quarters. Right after that, Shorts connected with Ward for a three-pointer, all in just 3 minutes.

TJ Shorts of Paris Basketball had 11 points and 14 assists in Round 22 against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Shorts sets new season-high in assists

All of a sudden, Paris led 77-56 and was well on its way to its 12th victory. Shorts finished the game with 11 points and 14 assists, a new EuroLeague season-high. [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) of FC Bayern Munich, [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul, [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) of AS Monaco, [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) of Real Madrid, [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/) of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv had all had 12 assists at some point this season. It was Short's third double-double of the 2024-25 campaign.

Ward led six Paris players in double digits with 18 points. Shorts helped Paris finish the game with 22 assists - 5 more than Maccabi. Three-point shots made the difference, too. Maccabi made 6 of 19 attempts from downtown (31.6%) and Paris buried 12 of 18 three-point shots (42.9%). After the game, Shorts found out about his new career-high in assists and gave credit to his teammates for making it happen.

"It was a good all around team game from us. We are happy that we defended our home court over another tough double week. And the most important thing is that we got another win," Shorts said. "I would shout out my teammates for making shots because assists don't happen unless the guys around knock down shots or finish plays. So credit to them for helping me, I guess, break my own record."

Paris beat Maccabi 96-83 behind Shorts's big double-double


TJ Shorts made Paris roll again 

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade completed a perfect double-round week with a second successive road win in the Turkish Airline EuroLeague as the Serbia side brushed aside EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 70-90 and improved to 11-11. 

Partizan steamrolls Milan 70-90 through monster second half 

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade completed a perfect double-round week with a second successive road win in the Turkish Airline EuroLeague as the Serbia side brushed aside EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 70-90 and improved to 11-11.

Center Tyrique Jones racked up 22 points and 7 boards, while Sterling Brown sank a season-high 26 points and Carlik Jones added 24 for Partizan, which roared back from a 40-37 halftime deficit.

At the other end, Nikola Mirotic and Shavon Shields netted 16 points apiece and Leandro Bolmaro scored 14 for Milan, but the latter two amassed a mere 2 points between them in the second half as the hosts fell apart and dropped to 12-10.

The first quarter produced a rugged and physical battle as baskets were hard to come by amid strong defense at both ends, with Milan edging ahead 12-7 before Partizan hit back to tie the score, 17-17, at the end of the opening period.

It was a rollercoaster in the second as the lead changed hands several times before Milan took a 40-37 lead into the locker room a halftime, with Shields and Bolmaro running the show for the home team. The duo shot the lights out in the first half while Carlik and Tyrique Jones countered for the visitors, who were roared on by some 2,000 fervent away fans in the Unipol Forum.

Partizan gained the upper hand early in the second half as Brown took over and gave his markers a roasting on offense, making shots from all over to score 13 points in the third quarter and give the Serbian team a 55-64 lead before Giampaolo Ricci hit a three-pointer on the buzzer ahead of the final 10 minutes.

The tide had turned irretrievably, however, as Partizan hit top gear in the fourth and stretched the gap to 61-72 behind more good play from the unstoppable Brown, coupled with inspired performances from the Joneses and ironclad team defense.

Roared on by vocal away fans who made Partizan feel at home, the visiting team kept its foot on the gas until the very end and came away with another huge road win after dismantling LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 62-93 on Tuesday. 

Zeljko Obradovic's charges fired on all cylinders after the break and edged closer to the postseason picture 

In a game that came down to the wire, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne bounced back from a tough home loss against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade with a hard-fought overtime victory over visiting ALBA Berlin, 96-89, at the Astroballe in Round 22 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

ASVEL survives ALBA, 96-89, in overtime thriller

In a game that came down to the wire, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne bounced back from a tough home loss against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade with a hard-fought overtime victory over visiting ALBA Berlin, 96-89, at the Astroballe on Thursday night. The hosts enjoyed double-digit leads several times during the game before Malte Delow sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer. ASVEL didn’t tremble and found Edwin Jackson and Theo Maledon in the extra period to secure the win. ASVEL improved its record to 10-12, while ALBA slipped to 3-19 after its ninth straight defeat.

Jackson led ASVEL with 18 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting, Theo Maledon followed with 17 points and 4 assists, Melvin Ajinca netted 11 points and Nando De Colo and Andre Roberson scored 10 apiece. Matt Thomas paced ALBA with 20 points, Martin Hermannsson neared a double-double with 13 points and 9 assists and Delow, Yanni Wetzell, and David McCormack contributed 11, 10 and 10 respectively.

Maledon and Ajinca set the tone offensively for ASVEL in the early going, finding no big problems to dismantle ALBA’s soft defense and build an 11-6 edge after 5 minutes. ALBA found more balance when it brought Wetzell onto court, as he combined with Tim Schneider inside to make it a one-possession game. Thomas provided ALBA with his first strike from downtown to tie it, 15-15, but the visitors couldn’t go further and allowed a 6-0 run that Jackson completed with a buzzer-beater jumper that granted a 23-19 advantage for the hosts at the end of the first period.

Jackson remained hot early in the second with back-to-back threes to build a double-digit margin, 29-19. But the run didn’t stop here, as Shaq Harrison made a bucket and Roberson drilled a three to extend the run to 13-0 and force a timeout with the hosts comfortably ahead 34-19. The break was like medicine for the visitors, as Hermannsson and Schneider opened fire from downtown and Thomas joined later to ignite a 3-14 run that seemed to bring ALBA back into the game. Maledon had different plans, though. He stepped up, first scoring 5 points in a row, then feeding De Colo for a three and finally beating the buzzer with his first triple to close the first half with ASVEL again in control 50-40.

ALBA came up much stronger after the intermission, holding ASVEL scoreless for more than 3 minutes while finding good balance in offense with McCormack ruling inside and Thomas punishing from long range. A three by the latter made it 54-52 midway through the third quarter but, again, ALBA couldn’t go much further. This time was Ajinca, who emerged as a real threat in the perimeter to recover a 10-point lead, 65-55, in a blink of an eye. And later, when Thomas and Hermannsson seemed to reactivate the visitors again, it was Harrison who came up with a huge block and back-to-back triples to help ASVEL enter the last stanza leading 70-62.

Wetzell and ALBA took advantage of Paul Mbiya's lack of experience to strike back once again, once the game resumed. The center provided 4 points, Gabriele Procida finished a fastbreak with a slam and Will McDowell-White rose up with back-to-back threes that turned the tables and pushed ALBA up, 72-74, for the first time in the game. ASVEL didn’t panic, though, as Mbiya and David Lighty showed up right before Jackson capped a 9-2 run to return the lead to ASVEL, 81-76. But another script twist was still left, as Delow erupted in the last 2 minutes to erase the deficit to 83-82 first, then nailing a miraculous triple. Fouled on that made three, which tied it at 85-85, Delow had a chance to put ALBA ahead with 7 seconds left, but missed the bonus free throw and the game went to overtime.

Maledon opened fire with an acrobatic layup to get ASVEL going in overtime, as Ajinca took over inside to convert a free throw after an offensive rebound. ALBA did not score in the first 2 and a half minutes, which the hosts exploited to earn a 91-85 edge after another huge three by Jackson. Neal Sako increased it to 93-88 soon after from the line, as Hermannsson and McCormack missed on the next two possessions, ruining the few chances ALBA still had of coming back. Then Maledon sealed the outcome with 3 free throws.

Jackson, Maledon played key roles for the winners with 35 combined points