Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 20 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 20

## Wednesday, January 7

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball (18:30 CET)

**Pablo Laso, Efes head coach**

"Paris Basketball is a team that is difficult to match up with because they play at a very fast pace. Nadir Hifi and Justin Robinson are both dangerous outside shooters -both left-handed- and they aggressively look for their shots and one-on-one opportunities. The rest of the team understands this approach and need that. They have excellent shooters, spread the floor effectively, and are always a tough matchup. I think we have to impose our rhythm on the game and control the rebounds to ensure a good number of possessions. I hope we can play our best, recover our players from this tough schedule, and be ready for a challenging game, especially knowing we have a long week ahead."

**Saben Lee, Efes guard**

"Paris Basketball is an aggressive team, both offensively and defensively. We just need to stick to the game plan our coach has set for us and everything else will take care of itself. I’m looking forward to this game."

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:30 CET)

**Svetislav Pesic, Bayern head coach**

"This is our sixth game in 13 days, which is really a lot. And Baskonia have found their rhythm, after needing some time at the beginning with a new coach. Now they play some of the most attractive basketball in the EuroLeague. They focus on transition and have very high quality on offense. We need to be well organized again in transition defense, because their big men are very athletic and fast. That’s why, with almost a 70 percent two-point rate, they are one of the best teams in Europe."

**Johannes Voigtmann, Bayern center**

"In Vítoria, we started well but then completely lost control. We need to make up for that game. We’ve now won a few in a row and want to keep it going, especially at home. But Baskonia play very fast, have good shooters, and are also strong at the rim."

## Tuesday, January 6

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (18:45 CET)

**Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach**

"We expect it to be a very tough game. Olympiacos is one of the mentally and physically toughest teams in the EuroLeague. We need to be passionate on both ends of the court and continue playing our own game."

**Tarik Biberovic, Fenerbahce forward**

"We started 2026 with two great victories — one in the EuroLeague and one in the Turkish League. We want to carry our rising form and winning habit into the new year as well. Of course, it will be a tough game, but with the support of our fans, we want to play our own game and secure the win."

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach**

"Fenerbahçe generally makes the opponent’s game difficult; it’s not something specific to us. They are a team that plays switching defense about 90% of the time, with mobile big men and guards who defend high. In general, they try to isolate ball-handlers and force them to go to the side they don’t like. Tactically, they are a very good team. They also have great depth on their roster and that’s how they play overall. They allow fewer assists than any other team in the league. We have to adjust to that, but since they are a physical team and play with a lot of contact, the game will go there — into toughness. We have to respond in that area, and I hope we’ll be in good physical condition, in terms of energy. The games have been many and difficult, and matches against Panathinaikos always bring a certain level of exhaustion."

**Thomas Walkup, Olympiacos guard**

"We have high energy levels! After Panathinaikos, we played Aris inside less than 48 hours and it wasn’t an easy game. It was a demanding match in front of a packed arena. I think we’ve already given our answer. The game against Fenerbahçe is a tough one, and they are a physical team —we have to show character."

### AS Monaco vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19:30 CET)

**Terry Tarpey, Monaco guard**

"It's the restart, the important thing is to focus on ourselves. We need to keep improving in the areas that are our strengths and have brought us this far: sharing the ball, playing intense defense, moving quickly in transition, fighting for rebounds... That's our identity, which we successfully displayed against Real and Barça, two EuroLeague heavyweights."

**Joan Penarroya, Partizan head coach**

"We’re facing a very demanding week with three tough away games ahead of us. First comes Monaco, then Barcelona, and finally SC Derby. We’ll be playing against two very important EuroLeague teams, one of them being Monaco, who reached the Final Four last season. Monaco is a strong team with excellent players and an experienced coach, so we know we’re in for a challenging game. Even though there have been some changes within our squad, I’m happy with the way we’re continuing to play as a team and build our character."

**Aleksej Pokusevski, Partizan forward**

"I think we’re facing some very tough away games, so it will be important for us to stay solid and play the way we did for most of the game against Valencia. I believe we can put in a good performance, especially compared to some of our previous games."

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Real Madrid (20:00 CET)

**Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach**

“We have to approach this game with great concentration and a desire to keep improving. If we think back to October and see where we are now, we realize how far we've come, but we have to keep taking many more steps forward. We'd love to start climbing the standings little by little. We're only two wins behind the leader, and we'd like to keep adding wins to grow gradually, as we should. Asvel is in great form right now. They have won two games playing very well against Anadolu Efes and Paris Basketball and are a very athletic team that imposes a very high tempo, with a lot of strength in the paint and excellent ball handlers in Watson and Heurtel. We have to be prepared and know that it's going to be a difficult game and that no one has won here easily.“

**Facundo Campazzo, Real Madrid guard**

“We're expecting a tough game on a very difficult court, as Asvel really thrives with its fans behind them. We suffered a very tough defeat there last year, so we know what we're up against. It's going to be a physically and mentally demanding game, and I think it will be a long one. If we can control the rebound and the pace by stopping their scoring, we will have opportunities to win. ASVEL is an athletic team in which any of their players can defend any opponent, which is why they change a lot from one to five. They also have a lot of scoring ability. Perhaps with the departure of De Colo, they will lose a reliable source of points, but I am sure that other players will step up in his place. We have to be prepared and not give them any respite, not let them dictate the pace of the game. We have to be generous and pass the ball around, attack from defense because, if we defend well, we will be ourselves in attack. I think controlling the rebound will be key because, if we can do that, we can run, have more possessions, more clear shots... a more fluid attack, in short."

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Valencia Basket (20:00 CET)

**Pedro Martinez, Valencia head coach**

"We start a physically demanding week at Crvena Zvezda, so it's good to have been able to give some rest to players \[over this past weekend\] who have been playing a lot of minutes lately. And to continue with the idea that the team is what matters. What the players need to do is rest, relax a little tonight, sleep as many hours as they can. This is normal for us, we're used to it. What we have to do is make the most of the little training time we have. And compete and prepare for the next game. We know it will be very difficult this week. It's one of the most difficult weeks of the year in terms of competition. Playing at Crvena Zvezda, which is an impressive team, and on their home court. Then Monaco at home, a Final Four team from last season. And then Unicaja. It's a great week, in the sense that it's very demanding, and we like things to be demanding and difficult, because that's how we test ourselves. But we also know that it's not going to be easy, and that our opponents are going to give us a lot of trouble."

**Neal Sako, Valencia center**

"We know that winning at Crvena Zvezda's home court is very difficult. They are a very talented team that plays very physically. We are going to try to give our best to compete and hope to have a chance to win. This pace of games is new for many players on the team. In January, we have twelve games, which is new for everyone, but we have a lot of players and I think we'll be fine."

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Dubai Basketball (20:05 CET)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach**

"There are many strong teams in this league, and Dubai is certainly one of them. In our first game they were missing some key players. Our focus now is on continuing to improve as a team."

**Tyler Ennis, Hapoel guard**

"We won them in the first round, but they were missing five players at the time. This time it’s going to be a different game. I expect a good matchup."

**Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach**

"For sure, one of the best teams so far. We need to play good basketball for 40 minutes. We need to be consistent, we need to be physical, we need to be patient, not to hurry. On the road, it's very important not to give them any momentum. It's very important that we stay together, and it's very important to keep our heads up and have patience during the 40 minutes."

**Aleksa Avramovic, Dubai guard**

"We showed a very good first half in the last game against Real Madrid, one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. We'll now face Hapoel Tel Aviv on their court, and I think it will be a crazy atmosphere. What do we need to do better? To play for the full 40 minutes. I think we have the quality to challenge them, to play against them 100%. I think with a good approach, good attitude and good energy on the court, I think we can have a chance to bring the victory to Dubai."

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:15 CET)

**Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach**

“We face a great team, built to win it all and deeply motivated. We played probably our best game of the year against them just a few weeks ago and we will try to get as close as possible to that level again, despite the roster emergency that is still hard to overcome.”

### Virtus Bologna vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CET)

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach**

"Zalgiris is a really tough team to face, partly because they play just as well at home as they do away. They are strong and solid, and they can count on guards who can shoot three-pointers, such as \[Sylvain\] Francisco, \[Nigel\] Williams-Goss and \[Maodo\] Lo, who are capable of creating and playing basketball. The game we played in Kaunas lacked energy, so I hope we can play better tomorrow."

**Brandon Taylor, Virtus guard**

"Zalgiris is a really great team, very well-trained. They are a very disciplined side, but at the same time physical. Tomorrow we will need to be focused, also because we know that it is very rare to find a team that plays so well both at home and away. That's why we will need to play our best tomorrow."

**Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach**

"We’re facing a serious opponent that plays very well at home, very physically. They’ve won seven of nine games on their home court. They play with a lot of energy — it’s enjoyable to watch them. This will be a real challenge. We don’t know exactly which players they’ll have available. We have some ideas from that game, but we also see areas we can improve. That said, it was a long time ago — it’s a new story now. They’re more cohesive, especially in recent games when, despite injuries, they played together. It’s difficult to prepare against a team dealing with injuries. In their last game, they won the derby against Milan (97–85). They looked good — they were down 15 points in the second quarter but came back and won. Their energy, pace, and athleticism are much better now than they were two months ago. They actually look more team-oriented. Carsen is the kind of player who plays more for himself and can decide games. Without him, the ball moves more, and it’s harder to predict what they’ll run. We’re preparing as if he’ll play, and we’ll adjust afterward. Also, Matt Morgan plays in a similar way. The plan against both of them is similar. The coach has his own style — a lot of sets for shooters. Morgan has taken on Edwards’s role, and he looked very good in the last game."

**Moses Wright, Zalgiris center**

"The EuroLeague has a lot of heavy hitters, so we've got to come into every game mentally and physically prepared. The second half of the season is coming up. It's a good chance to solidify our playoff spot, so we've got to come into the second half very strong — no mental lapses or anything, play as a team, and we'll make a lot of people very happy."

### FC Barcelona vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)

**Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach**

"The team is doing well and happy with the win we just got, but our focus has already shifted to this game against Maccabi. It’s going to be a very tough matchup. They’re in great form right now, and on top of that we have to adjust to this new situation of playing without fans. We also have to reset emotionally after the Real Madrid game \[in the Spanish League\] — whenever you win a big game like that, it’s always hard to turn the page. We know we have two key games this week — actually three important games — but two of them are EuroLeague games and one in the domestic league. They’re a very athletic team with a lot of individual talent. On any given night, one of their guards can take over the game because they’re extremely talented and can get hot, and then they’re very hard to stop. Their bigs can all shoot, they really space the floor well, which creates more room for the guards to attack off the dribble. They’re a very difficult team to defend. That said, we have to play our game. We need to be solid on both ends of the floor, defensively and offensively, and we’ll need to have a strong performance to win. Without a doubt, our fans will be watching us on TV, and we have to win for them. We always play for them, and we’re going to miss them a lot. It’s a situation where we’re being affected through no fault of our own. Honestly, I really don’t like playing without our fans, but it’s what we have right now. We have to adapt, and we have to win no matter what."

**Miles Norris, Barcelona forward**

"Feeling good. You know, it was good to get a win yesterday. Just trying to keep the momentum going. So, you know, coming in here, trying to get our bodies right, get our minds right for the game tomorrow. I think mentally we’re pretty good. We come in prepared every game with the right mindset. We come into practice with the right mindset. I feel like we’re in a good flow during the season. We’ve got a lot of guys who have been doing this for a long time, so they’re pretty used to the schedule. For me, it’s been pretty good with the travel — travel, games — but I’m enjoying it. I feel like everyone’s enjoying it as well. It’s going to be a high-intensity game. Obviously, since we beat them a couple of months ago, I think they’re going to come in here really prepared to get a win. But our goal is to play hard and get the win. Yeah, definitely, we love to have the fans here, but unfortunately tomorrow we can’t. We’ve got the same goal, the same mindset, coming into every game — trying to get a win."

**Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach**

"We are facing a challenging week, and we will face Barcelona and Real Madrid that are picking up their rhythm. Barcelona changed their coach and got some players back. It's a team that can execute at a high level. They beat Real on the road. Both of those team have many capabilities and we must be concentrated. we are not with our full roster, and it is going to be a challenge for us."

**Jimmy Clark, Maccabi guard**

"We want to bring the effort and the energy coming in to this week. Play as a collective and try to get these road wins."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 20 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season

Pregame quotes, Round 20: 'Baskonia plays some of the most attractive basketball in the EuroLeague'

FC Bayern Munich v Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2026-01-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2026-01-07T17:30:00.000Z)

Virtus Bologna v Zalgiris Kaunas (2026-01-06T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2026-01-06T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2026-01-06T19:15:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Real Madrid (2026-01-06T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Valencia Basket (2026-01-06T19:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2026-01-06T18:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv v Dubai Basketball (2026-01-06T19:05:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Olympiacos Piraeus (2026-01-06T17:45:00.000Z)

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs ahead of Round 20 of the 2025-26 season.

Injury report: Round 20

## Wednesday, January 7

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball (18:30 CET)

##### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Vincent Poirier, Shane Larkin, Burakcan Yildizli and Georgios Papagiannis are ruled out for Efes's game against Paris on Wednesday, the club has confirmed.

- [New signing Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/saben-lee-leaves-reds-links-up-with-efes/) made his Efes debut in the Turkish League this past weekend. He has been registered and could make his first EuroLeague appearance for the club in Round 20.
- PJ Dozier, out since Round 10 with a hamstring injury, returned to action in Round 19.
- Jordan Loyd, who did not play in Round 18, returned to action in Round 19.
- Center Vincent Poirier was listed as questionable Round 19 but ended up playing. However, he did not play in the Turkish League this past weekend.
- [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.

##### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Efes on Wednesday.

- Daulton Hommes, who missed Rounds 17 and 18, was on the game-day roster for Round 19 but did not play.
- Ismael Bako last played in Round 13.
- Joel Ayayi last played in Round 12.

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:30 CET)

##### FC Bayern Munich

Kamar Baldwin, Neno Dimitrijevic, Isiaha Mike and Justus Hollatz are game-time decisions for Bayern's game against Baskonia on Wednesday, the club has confirmed.

- New signing Neno Dimitrijevic has been registered and could feature in Round 20.
- Isiaha Mike was not available in Round 19.
- 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.

##### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot did not travel for Baskonia's game at Bayern on Wednesday, with coach Paolo Galbiati stating: "I hope we can have him on Friday."

- 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.

## Tuesday, January 6

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (18:45 CET)

##### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Arturs Zagars, Onuralp Bitim and Scottie Wilbekin are ruled out for Fenerbahce's game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- [New signing Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/nando-de-colos-return-provides-experience-and-excellence-for-fenerbahce/) has not yet been registered.
- [New signing Chris Silva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-fortifies-frontcourt-with-chris-silva-signing/) has been registered and, in theory, could make his debut in Round 20.
- Mikael Jantunen, who had been out since Round 13, returned to action in Round 19.
- Arturs Zagars suffered a hamstring injury, [the club confirmed on December 28](https://x.com/FBBasketbol/status/2005231973967511693). He has not played since.
- Onuralp Bitim suffered an ankle injury, [the club announced on December 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-loses-onuralp-bitim-to-ankle-injury/). 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.

##### Olympiacos Piraeus

Frank Ntilikina is listed as doubtful while Nikola Milutinov, Tyson Ward, Shaquille McKissic, Keenan Evans and Moustapha Fall are ruled out for Olympiacos's game at Fenerbahce on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- [New signing Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-overhauls-frontcourt-with-tyrique-jones/) has not yet been registered.
- Tyson Ward last played in Round 13 due to an injury.
- Shaquielle McKissic last played in Round 11.
- 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.

### AS Monaco vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19:30 CET)

##### AS Monaco

Monaco has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Partizan on Tuesday.

- Yoan Makoundou missed Rounds 18 and 19.

##### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Duane Washington (illness), Carlik Jones, Mitar Bosnjakovic and Mario Nakic are ruled out for Partizan's game at Monaco on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Tyrique Jones left the club to join Olympiacos.
- Aleksej Pokusevski suffered an ankle injury in Round 14 and has yet to return to action, but he is listed as available for Round 20.
- Shake Milton (foot) last played in Round 17.
- 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.
- Mitar Bosnjakovic (ankle) was ruled out for Round 19.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Real Madrid (20:00 CET)

##### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

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

- Nando De Colo left the club to join Fenerbahce.
- [New signing Paul Eboua](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-brings-rebounding-ace-paul-eboua-aboard/) has been registered and could make his debut in Round 20.

##### Real Madrid

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

- Trey Lyles, a late scratch in Round 18 due to neck soreness, returned to action in Round 19.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Valencia Basket (20:00 CET)

##### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Crvena Zvezda has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Valencia on Tuesday.

- Ognjen Dobric sustained an injury in Round 14. He has not played since.
- 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.
- Joel Bolomboy is out long term.

##### Valencia Basket

There are no players listed on Valencia's injury report for its game at Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday, [the club declared via its website](https://www.valenciabasket.com/valencia-basket-abre-la-segunda-vuelta-de-la-euroleague-en-la-pista-del-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade).

- Sergio De Larrea was listed as questionable for Round 19. He ultimately did not play.
- Xabi Lopez-Arostegui was listed as available for Round 19, although he was not on the game-day roster.

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Dubai Basketball (20:05 CET)

##### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv

Hapoel has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Dubai on Tuesday.

- Vasilije Micic last played in Round 17 due to a shoulder injury.

- [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/hapoel-bruno-caboclo-undergoes-back-surgery/) is recovering from back surgery. There is no timetable for his recovery.

##### Dubai Basketball

Dubai has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Hapoel on Tuesday.

- Aleksa Avramovic returned to action in Round 19, having missed Rounds 17 and 18.
- Boogie Ellis last played in Round 13 due to a right hamstring injury.
- Dzanan Musa has been out since Round 2 with a knee 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.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:15 CET)

##### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Panathinaikos has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Milan on Tuesday.

- Nikos Rogkavopoulos did not play in the Greek League this past weekend.
- Alexandros Samodurov was questionable for Round 19 and did not play, but he did return to action in the Greek League this past weekend.
- Mathias Lessort, still recovering from an injury, is yet to play this season.

##### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Shavon Shields, Quinn Ellis, Leandro Bolmaro, Nate Sestina, Ousmane Diop and Stefano Tonut are ruled out for Milan’s game at Panathinaikos on Tuesday, the club has confirmed. Diego Flaccadori is available.

- Diego Flaccadori did not play in Round 19, but he is listed as available for Round 20.
- Leandro Bolmaro, who last played in Round 15, remains sidelined in Round 20.
- 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/), remains sidelined in Round 20.
- Stefano Tonut, who last played in Round 12, remains out in Round 20.
- Nate Sestina suffered a triceps injury in Round 10 and has not played since. He remains out in Round 20.

### Virtus Bologna vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:30 CET)

##### Virtus Bologna

Momo Diouf and Aliou Diarra are ruled out for Virtus's game against Zalgiris on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Carsen Edwards sustained "a sprained right ankle with ligament involvement" in Virtus's Round 18 loss to Olympiacos and missed the Round 19 win against Milan, but he is listed as available for Round 20.
- Alen Smailagic missed Round 19 with a "muscle strain," but he is listed as available for Round 20.
- [New signing Francesco Ferrari](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/virtus-invests-in-top-prospect-francesco-ferrari/) has been registered and, in theory, could make his debut in Round 20.
- Aliou Diarra was listed as unavailable for Virtus's Round 19 game.

##### Zalgiris Kaunas

Zalgiris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Virtus on Tuesday.

- Dovydas Giedraitis's only appearance of the season came in Round 16. He has been out ever since. Ahead of Round 20, coach Tomas Masiulis stated: "He's not traveling to Bologna yet, but he’s close to returning."

### FC Barcelona vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:30 CET)

##### FC Barcelona

Jan Vesely and Dario Brizuela are questionable while Will Clyburn and Juan Nunez are ruled out for Barcelona's game against Maccabi on Tuesday.

- Toko Shengelia has been out since Round 16, but he returned to action in the Spanish League and is listed as available for Round 20.
- Jan Vesely did not play in the Spanish League this past weekend.
- Dario Brizuela did not play in the Spanish League this past weekend.
- Will Clyburn suffered an injury in Round 17 and [will be out for approximately the next six weeks](https://x.com/FCBbasket/status/2002694206280614084).
- [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.

##### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv

Lonnie Walker and Iffe Lundberg are game-time decisions while Zach Hankins and Jeff Dowtin are ruled out for Maccabi's game at Barcelona on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Lonnie Walker (shoulder) and Iffe Lundberg (illness) both traveled with Maccabi to Barcelona and their availability will be decided close to game time.
- Team captain John DiBartolomeo did not travel to Munich for Round 19 due to personal reasons, but he is available for Round 20.
- [Zach Hankins is expected to miss the next two to three weeks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabis-zach-hankins-to-miss-23-weeks-with-bone-bruise/) with a bone bruise.
- [Jeff Dowtin Jr. is expected to be out until February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-jeff-dowtin-out-six-weeks-with-foot-injury/) with a torn ligament in his foot.

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

Injury report, Round 20: Poirier, TLC ruled out; Kamar Baldwin a game-time decision

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv guard Tyler Ennis tore his left Achilles tendon in Tuesday’s EuroLeague win over Dubai Basketball. The 31-year-old Canadian faces surgery and a lengthy recovery after averaging 4.5 points in EuroLeague play this season.

Hapoel’s Tyler Ennis Tears Achilles Tendon, Out for Season After Win Over Dubai

In Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv’s 85–60 rout of Dubai Basketball on Tuesday, veteran guard [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) crumpled to the floor in the final seconds of the first quarter and later was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury that is expected to end his season. The 31-year-old was taken for imaging during the game; surgery is anticipated in the coming days.

For a player whose career has been defined by resilience – from an NBA first-round pick to comebacks after a fractured ankle (2018) and an ACL tear (2020) – this setback hits hard. Ennis had carved out a valuable sparkplug role this season, averaging 4.5 points in 8:22 minutes per game across 10 EuroLeague appearances, while delivering steady production domestically (11.9 points, 3.9 assists in the Israeli League).

Achilles tears typically sideline basketball players 6–12 months, with most returning closer to the 9-10 month mark. Hapoel now turns to its depth to sustain momentum from the statement win, while Ennis begins another rehab journey he’s proven he can face – and overcome.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">טיילר אניס סובל מקרע בגיד אכילס וינותח בימים הקרובים. <br><br>החלמה מהירה, טיילר ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/Q8YyKc0i0j">pic.twitter.com/Q8YyKc0i0j</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/2008663568087216557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hapoel Tel Aviv news

Ennis’s season ends abruptly as Hapoel secures key win but loses a key contributor

Hapoel’s Tyler Ennis tears Achilles tendon in win over Dubai

AS Monaco strengthened its grip near the top of the EuroLeague standings with a 101-84 home victory over struggling Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Tuesday night at Salle Gaston Medecin, extending its winning streak to four games.

Monaco’s balanced attack buries slumping Partizan

AS Monaco strengthened its grip near the top of the EuroLeague standings with a 101-84 home victory over struggling Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Tuesday night at Salle Gaston Medecin, extending its winning streak to four games.

Alpha Diallo led a remarkably balanced attack with 14 points as six Monaco players scored in double figures and all 11 who dressed found the scoresheet. Nikola Mirotic and Matt Strazel added 13 points apiece, while Mike James orchestrated the offense with 11 points and 8 assists. Sterling Brown poured in 19 for Partizan, which dropped its fifth straight to fall to 6-14.

Monaco’s perimeter shooting immediately separated the teams and never really allowed Partizan to feel comfortable. The hosts drilled 6 of 9 three-pointers in the first quarter to open a 28-21 lead, repeatedly punishing late closeouts and defensive breakdowns. Mirotic then pushed the margin into double figures with the first two baskets of the second quarter as Monaco continued to move the ball crisply and attack mismatches.

By halftime, Monaco’s control of the game showed up everywhere on the stat sheet. It led 54-39 at the break and dominated the glass 18-8, including 5-1 in offensive rebounds, turning those extra possessions into a 9-0 advantage in second-chance points. The ball movement was equally striking: Monaco held a 12-6 edge in assists at the half, a precursor to a 22-15 final tally.

The margin swelled to 21 in the third quarter before Partizan finally mounted a response. Veteran playmaker Nick Calathes engineered a 0-10 run that briefly revived the visitors’ hopes, as Partizan increased its defensive pressure and found some rhythm in transition.

Monaco, however, absorbed the punch and then reasserted control. A 10-3 burst to open the fourth quarter restored a comfortable cushion, and although Partizan continued to fight, the outcome was never seriously in doubt the rest of the way. The hosts finished the night with a 32-21 rebounding advantage and a resounding 15-0 edge in second-chance points, while also winning the points-off-turnovers battle 28-23 after leading 17-9 in that category at halftime.

Coach Vassilis Spanoulis highlighted his team’s two-way commitment and unselfishness as the foundation of the performance: “We were good on both ends of the floor,” he said. “When we share the ball and we play together, we are a different team. I am satisfied and now we have a very important game against Valencia.”

Spanoulis noted that the team needed a few minutes to rediscover its rhythm after a week without games, but once it did, the offense flowed through its guards and spacing.

“After a couple of minutes, we found our rhythm. We started to share the ball and play our game. We had amazing, amazing creation from our guards. Everybody played amazing in his role, and we were very good both ways, except for a couple of moments in the first quarter and a couple of moments in the third quarter, but overall, I’m very satisfied.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Perfect way to start 2026 💯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/X4CkvG05Mk">pic.twitter.com/X4CkvG05Mk</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/2008646998975803482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Diallo underlined the group’s resilience after a difficult lead-in to the game: “We played a 40-minute game,” he said. “We came out really sluggish. First game of the new year. Half the team was sick for a few days, so a lot of guys were questionable, including me. Just to come out here and get our second wind and get a win on our home court is important.”

James continued his remarkable all-around run; his 11 points and 8 assists marked his 15th consecutive game with a performance index rating of at least 10 and his 17th straight outing with 5 or more assists.<br>
Mirotic, meanwhile, added another historical milestone to the night. By knocking down 2 three-pointers, he moved past Arturas Milaknis into 13th place on the all-time EuroLeague list with 462 career triples.

Strazel’s perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc epitomized Monaco’s collective marksmanship. In all, 10 different Monaco players made a three-pointer as the team finished an astonishing 15-for-25 from long range, a display of depth and spacing that Partizan’s weary defense simply could not match.

Partizan head coach Joan Penarroya was blunt in his assessment: “We played bad in the first half,” he admitted. “I think we improved, especially in the third quarter, but it’s not enough.”

Despite Brown’s 19 points and the third-quarter spark, Partizan’s fifth straight loss leaves it deeper in trouble at the bottom of the standings. Monaco, by contrast, leaves the night with momentum preserved, its winning streak extended, and its collective identity – unselfish, deep and disciplined – reinforced ahead of another key clash against Valencia.

Game News

Diallo, Mirotic, Strazel lead balanced attack as hosts roll to fourth straight win

Real Madrid’s victory at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Tuesday night was far more challenging than the deceptively wide final scoreline, 69-80, might suggest. But if Los Blancos got the win, it was thanks in large part to one man, Trey Lyles.

Trey Lyles leads lackluster Real Madrid to late-developing road win at ASVEL

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/)’s victory at [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/) on Tuesday night was far more challenging than the deceptively wide final scoreline, 69-80, might suggest.

The French team was superior for long periods and led at the end of the first, second and third quarters, maintaining for the majority of the game an advantage that climbed as high as 10 points early in the third period.

But Real, despite playing way below its best for nearly all the contest, hung in there and gradually fought back to take a small lead, 63-65, early in the fourth quarter.

And then [Trey Lyles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/trey-lyles/014117/) took over.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Real Madrid | Round 20 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

The Canadian forward scored 10 consecutive points in just over two minutes, single-handedly turning what had been a tight game into a comfortable conclusion by netting four straight scores, while also helping out on the defensive end with a couple of rebounds and a big block.

His final tally of 21 points and 7 rebounds, for a game-high PIR of 26, continues the Canadian forward’s strong first season with Real following 10 years in the NBA, and after the contest he joked that coach Sergio Scariolo should count on him for more game-winning exploits in the future.

“Coach came to me a bunch in the fourth quarter, and I showed him why he should keep doing that,” he smiled.

More seriously though, Lyles added a reproach to his teammates for getting themselves into such a tricky position in the first place, complaining: “We’ve made it a habit to play lackadaisical in the first half, and then in the second half we pick it up.

“We need to start doing that from the beginning of the game. If we do that, we will make games a lot easier for us and we won’t have to dig ourselves out of a hole like we did today and in the last few games.

“We’ve got to stay accountable to one another and go out there and play with a lot of energy.”

Lyles has a point, because his outstanding burst helped Real overcome an often sloppy and occasionally lifeless collective performance. But although Coach Scariolo did not even attempt to pretend that his team had played a good game, he also wasn’t particularly unhappy about that as he reasoned: “It’s difficult to look for perfection. Perfection is to come, when it’s time to play for a championship.

“Right now, this is a process where every couple of days you have a game. There are difficulties, there is travel, there are many factors… When you play every couple of days, there are difficulties. For people who are professionally into this, it’s not something difficult to explain at all.”

This mindset – accepting that no trophies are won in the autumn and that momentum needs to be gradually built over the course of a season rather than burned out when it’s too early to count – has been a key aspect of Real’s habitual success over many decades.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">✨ <a href="https://twitter.com/TreyLyles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TreyLyles</a> <br>👏 MVP del partido vs <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LDLCASVEL</a> <a href="https://t.co/7ur1cw8WWY">pic.twitter.com/7ur1cw8WWY</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/2008648301370109967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Without saying it directly, Scariolo is also suggesting that the struggles of top teams to find consistency explains the current parity of the EuroLeague, as we head into the midway point of the regular season with only two wins separating first place from tenth.

Behind that line of thinking, of course, there is also the expectation that the cream will eventually rise to the top, and that the strongest teams will find a way to pace themselves and hit their best form when it matters the most.

With an unmatched tally of 10 Final Four appearances in the last 15 years, Real has repeatedly benefitted from that philosophy.

Scariolo’s calmness suggests he has every belief that everything will come together for his team when the time is right: hit your peak in May, not November.

And, in a way, the evidence was provided on a smaller scale on Tuesday night: early struggles, gradual improvement, a powerful late surge, and ultimately a deserved victory. If this win proves to be a microcosm of the season in general, Real’s race could be perfectly timed.

A strong fourth quarter allowed the Spanish giant to overcome Pierric Poupet's spirited squad

Virtus Bologna ended an eight-game losing streak against Zalgiris Kaunas with an 83-79 home victory in Round 20. Derrick Alston and Luca Vildoza starred late as Virtus stayed strong at home.


Virtus vanquishes Zalgiris to snap historic losing streak 

Virtus Bologna finally broke a 19-year curse. After eight consecutive losses to Zalgiris Kaunas, the Italian powerhouse ended the drought with an 83-79 home victory in Round 20 of the EuroLeague Regular Season. The last time Virtus beat Zalgiris was back in October 2007 — Alan Anderson scored 28 points that night, and current Virtus forward Saliou Niang was just three years old.

This win wasn’t just about history; it was about resilience. Virtus led most of the way, but when Zalgiris clawed back to tie the game at 74-74 late in the fourth quarter, the hosts refused to fold. Derrick Alston Jr. and Luca Vildoza combined for 7 crucial points in crunch time, and Carsen Edwards iced the game from the free-throw line to seal a statement victory.

Several players stepped up during the game. Matt Morgan scored 13 of his 15 points in the first quarter to set the tone. Edwards, Alston, and Vildoza carried Virtus throughout, while Niang impressed with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 7 rebounds – including 5 on the offensive end – for a PIR of 15.

"Coach told me that I needed to go for offensive rebounds, because I can give energy and more opportunities to the team. And that's what I did tonight," Niang said. I'm very happy to help my teammates, and I'm also happy for the win."

For Zalgiris,  Nigel Williams-Goss, Sylvain Francisco, Moses Wright, and Azuolas Tubelis all posted PIRs of 20 or higher, but the rest of the team combined for just 3 PIR.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It takes 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 🤍🖤 <a href="https://t.co/YQHWBqzeML">pic.twitter.com/YQHWBqzeML</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/2008659825090326528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Virtus remained rock-solid at home. Coach Dusko Ivanovic's team has won eight of its 10 games in several venues around Bologna, always pushed by thousands of diehard fans. With the team back at Virtus Arena, the home-court advantage is even stronger now.

"I remember I talked to Dani \[Hackett\] this morning and he said, 'I don't know, we've never beaten Zalgiris in EuroLeague'. So, we both unanimously said, we got to get one today. So, that was just the focus, trying to go there and get a win," Alston said after the game. "We just played super hard tonight and I felt like we stayed focused throughout the end. Even, it got close to the end, we stayed with it and got a win."

Virtus now has an opportunity to both win on the road and give itself a winning record. It faces Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the Greek capital in Round 21 before playing on the road at Dubai Basketball in Round 22.

Alston, Vildoza, and Edwards deliver late heroics as Virtus rewrites history in Bologna

Antonio Blakeney led Hapoel Tel Aviv with 25 points in a dominant 85-60 win over Dubai Basketball. Vasilije Micic added 19 as Hapoel improved to 14-6 despite losing Tyler Ennis to injury.


Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Crushes Dubai Basketball 85-60 Behind Blakeney’s 25 Points

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv romped to an 85-60 home win over Dubai Basketball and improved to 14-6 in the EuroLeague after a rampant second half in which the visitors were blown away by the home team’s immaculate defense.

Having led 36-41 at the interval, Dubai had no reply for Hapoel’s aggressive second-half hustle and dropped to 9-11 after scoring a mere 6 points in the fourth quarter, with the home team running riot from all over and putting the icing on the cake with some spectacular plays.

The only downside for Hapoel was a torn Achilles tendon suffered by  Tyler Ennis, who has previously had multiple injuries, including a fractured ankle in 2018 during his time with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and an ACL tear in 2020 when he featured for Turk Telekom Ankara.

Antonio Blakeney produced a masterclass for Hapoel as he led the charge with 25 points and 7 rebounds, while playmaker Vasilije Micic added 19 as the hosts racked up a staggering 47 rebounds, 14 of them on the offensive end.

Dubai got off to a great start as it dominated the offensive boards, collecting 6 in the opening 10 minutes to take a 17-24 first-quarter lead as Dwayne Bacon and Filip Petrusev netted 7 points each. Blakeney caught fire in the second as he sank 9 points in the period, but Aleksa Avramovic responded at the other end with 8 points, 3 assists and 2 steals for Dubai to keep the visitors ahead as they led 36-41 at halftime.

Then came the third quarter whirlwind as Blakeney started hitting mid-range jumpes for fun, followed by some long-range artillery, and Micic followed in his footsteps, turning the game on its head. More one-way traffic followed in the fourth with Dubai throwing in the towel well before the final buzzer. 

“Our defensive effort was enormous and smart at the same time. Dubai are such a talented team and we managed to keep them under 20 points for the two quarters and that says a lot,” Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis said in his postgame comments.

“We showed that we have the identity to compete when things are not going well for us. Dubai have multiple ways of hurting you, but defensively we were there, we stayed composed and kept believing that we can make it happen. Last but not least, we want to applaud the fans who were here, there were 7,000 heroes in the gym,” the Greek tactician added. “Unfortunately we have some bad news about Tyler. We know he’s a tough kid, but it doesn’t look good.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">👀👀👀 <a href="https://t.co/WUJKu5Upkj">pic.twitter.com/WUJKu5Upkj</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/2008660743538045055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With Hapoel losing two of its previous three, including an 80-93 home defeat by Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 19, Blakeney acknowledged that defeat was not an option against Dubai. “We had to bounce back,” he said. “They were scoring on us, so we changed the defense and made it happen.”

Micic added: “We played a great game and used the energy we got from the fans. We were ready for today’s game and I think we deserved the victory,” said the Serbian playmaker who went on to extend best wishes to those celebrating Christmas by the Julian calendar. 

There was not much visiting coach Jurica Golemac could complain about after seeing his team swept aside in a lop-sided second half, as Dubai committed 14 turnovers, having managed as many assists, while shooting 4-of-19 from deep and collecting just 31 boards.

“We didn’t show up in the second half,” Golemac said. “We didn’t make the stops and we played as individuals, so congratulations to Hapoel.”

The hosts dominated 49-19 after the break to celebrate an emphatic victory 

Hapoel thrives on ironclad second-half defense to overwhelm Dubai

With six players unavailable, Peppe Poeta knew EA7 Emporio Armani Milan would be up against it at Telekom Center Athens on Tuesday night. What he described pregame as “a huge emergency” instead revealed the character of his roster, as Milan earned a 74–87 road victory over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.

Armoni Brooks helps Milan sting Panathinaikos again

With six players unavailable, Peppe Poeta knew [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) would be up against it at Telekom Center Athens on Tuesday night. What he described pregame as “a huge emergency” instead revealed the character of his roster, as Milan earned a 74–87 road victory over [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/).

Both teams entered this Round 20 matchup coming off derby losses. Milan was defeated 97–85 by Virtus Bologna, while Ergin Ataman’s Panathinaikos side fell 82–87 to Olympiacos Piraeus. Pressure was heavier on the Greens [following comments from owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1914596/dimitris-giannakopoulos-to-panathinaikos-players-after-losing-to-olympiacos-i-havent-slept-at-all/), and the result marked an unwelcome milestone: Panathinaikos has now lost consecutive EuroLeague home games for the first time since Ataman arrived in the summer of 2023. The last time the club dropped back-to-back home games in the competition came in Rounds 24 and 26 of the 2022–23 season, when the Greens finished 17th.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 20 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

The victory also allowed Milan to sweep the season series against Panathinaikos for the first time since 2021–22. Just as he was in Round 15, [Armoni Brooks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/armoni-brooks/013384/) proved decisive. In that earlier meeting, he scored 26 points and knocked down 8 three-pointers as Poeta earned his second win as full-time head coach. This time, at the home of the eight-time champs, Brooks finished with 24 points and 5 threes, with former Milan coach Ettore Messina – now the club’s president of basketball operations – watching on.

Brooks was far from alone. [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) delivered his best performance of the season with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) added 17 points and 5 assists in his first game back at Telekom Center Athens since leaving Panathinaikos last summer. With Milan missing [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/), [Quinn Ellis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/quinn-ellis/012593/), [Leandro Bolmaro](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/leandro-bolmaro/008985/), and rotation players [Nate Sestina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nathan-sestina/011980/), [Ousmane Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ousmane-diop/013385/), and [Stefano Tonut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/stefano-tonut/006509/), contributions from Nebo and Brown were essential for an undermanned group.

“That’s just our next-man-up mentality,” Brooks said afterward. “We had some big minutes from \[[Diego\] Flaccadori](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/diego-flaccadori/005670/), \[[Nico\] Mannion](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/niccolo-mannion/011064/), and \[[Pippo\] Ricci](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/giampaolo-ricci/001518/), and Lorenzo stepped up in his moment. It’s good that we’ve got such a deep roster. We trust each other, we play hard, and we’ve just got to keep this momentum going.”

Panathinaikos led for much of the first half, but Milan consistently found ways to stay within striking distance. Brown scored 11 of his points after halftime, while Brooks and Nebo each had 12 in the second half. Milan pulled away in the fourth quarter, keeping its foot on the gas and silencing a stunned home crowd.

“Tough crowd – it’s always a tough environment here,” Brown said. “Sticking together as a team, executing late, taking our time, and making big shots and defensive stops helped us win the game.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jump AB Jump<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/UaoLK6avrz">pic.twitter.com/UaoLK6avrz</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/2008672245355606456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After three straight EuroLeague losses, the win was an ideal way for Milan to steady itself entering the second half of the season. It was a statement result, underlining that even shorthanded, Milan remains a serious contender to reach the postseason.

“I’m so happy for the guys because they deserve it,” Poeta said. “We came in on the road after three straight EuroLeague losses and wanted to show how tough we are. We want to compete for the playoffs until the end. The guys really showed up. Winning on this court against such a great team and coach is very difficult.”

Milan hosts Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Friday night to close out the double-round week, beginning a stretch in which five of its next six games are at home. Sitting 12th at 10–10, Poeta’s team has a good chance to now strengthen its playoff push and climb into the top 10. Panathinaikos, meanwhile, will look to respond when it hosts Virtus Bologna on Thursday night.

Lorenzo Brown and Josh Nebo were also key factors in an impressive road win

Valencia Basket broke its winless streak in Belgrade by defeating Crvena Zvezda 106-89 on Christmas Eve. Jean Montero starred with a career-high 25 points and 4 steals as Valencia stayed atop the EuroLeague standings.


Fearless Valencia sweeps Zvezda with historic triumph in Belgrade

On a day where a snow-covered Belgrade celebrated Christmas Eve, Valencia Basket took to the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall to ruin the festivities and it did so in style.

The Spanish side may have never celebrated a victory away at Zvezda heading into Tuesday’s clash, but curses are there to be broken and the visitors proved that by grabbing a 89-106 win on the road.

Pulling off what head coach Pedro Martinez called "probably" the team’s "best game of the season" in the press conference, Valencia cruised past the hosts in the first half.

Jean Montero produced a career night in the Serbian capital, netting 15 points as Valencia took a 37-54 lead at halftime. A 2-11 run to end the first quarter was followed by a 2-9 surge late in the second, as the visitors silenced the home crowd with big baskets and transition points off turnovers.

Despite Valencia’s strong start to the game, Zvezda showed no intention of throwing in the towel. The hosts hit the ground running in the second half by going on a 13-0 run that cut the difference to 50-54. Inspired by a red-hot Jordan Nwora, who scored 17 of his 22 points in the third quarter, the Serbian side brought the fans back into the game.

With the arena buzzing, Valencia met the moment head-on and responded with a 0-9 run that put an end to Zvezda’s momentum. Brancou Badio nailed one from deep before making 2 from the free-throw line. Then, he set up Jaime Pradilla and Montero, whose bucket restored a 50-63 cushion. Valencia would never look back.

“In basketball, it’s so important to play well, but it’s more important to recover from the bad moments,” Martinez told EuroLeague TV after the game. “We were sure, because Zvezda is a very good team, that in the second half, they were going to react. We needed to understand that it was a new game and we had to play well another time and we did that. I’m happier for this than for the win.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔸 No tiene frío en el invierno de Belgrado<br>🔸 No tiene frío en las alturas de Pionir<br><br>🥶 Natali Reuvers <a href="https://t.co/kmFqAIST0X">pic.twitter.com/kmFqAIST0X</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/2008665477527327093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Valencia opened the first double-round week of 2026 with a victory in Belgrade, maintaining its spot on top of the standings alongside Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv.

This is yet another statement road win by the Spanish side, which has already celebrated triumphs away at both Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus. Because, as Kameron Taylor stressed after the game, this group of players shall not flinch against any opponent.

“I think we’re just hungry,” he told EuroLeague TV. “We don’t have any fears. We’re looking forward to the next game. Crowds like this really bring the best out of us. We’ve played in Greece, in here. Playing in front of the best crowds we look forward to. I think we are just hungry, young guys.”

Montero ended the game on a career-high 25 points by going 6-for-7 from inside the arc and 3-for-8 from deep. He stepped up on both ends of the floor, also recording a game-high 4 steals in a sublime night for the EuroLeague rookie.

 “We’ve got to believe in us,” he said after the game. “Obviously, during the game, there’s lots of ups and downs. We’ve just got to stay together and stick to the coach's plan.”

Having swept one of the playoff contenders by scoring over 100 points at Zvezda, Valencia is set to host last season’s runner-up AS Monaco on Thursday night. Brimming with confidence from the start of the season, Martinez’s team has shown no hesitation in looking EuroLeague powerhouses in the eye.

Considered by many as the most fun-to-watch side in the league, Valencia has taken EuroLeague by storm and does not seem willing to gear down.

Jean Montero posted a career-high 25 points to lead his team to their first ever victory at Zvezda