Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 14 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

EuroLeague pregame quotes hub: Round 14

## Friday, December 6

### AS Monaco vs. ALBA Berlin (19:00 CET)

**Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco head coach**

"We'll need to be consistent for 40 minutes, and it's up to us to make our mark at home. Of course, when you lose a game like the one against Olympiacos, you can be disappointed, but you have to be mentally strong to bounce back very quickly. It's the EuroLeague, a constant challenge; you have to move forward, fight, progress, and it's the team that's the strongest in the head that'll be able to evolve the best throughout the season. There's no point in projecting ourselves far ahead, you have to question yourself every time, starting with me, and try to understand what went wrong last time and put things right. We mustn't make excuses and move forward, and that's what's so important about this match against ALBA Berlin."

**Georgios Papagiannis, AS Monaco center**

"Against Olympiacos we passed the ball well, which is a very good thing, but we weren't hard enough on the rebounds in particular. Of course, we need to bounce back against ALBA. It's a home game that we have to win. We need to secure the advantage of playing at home, because we know how difficult it is to win away from home in the EuroLeague."

**Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach**

"Monaco has a high level of individual quality in his roster. That's why good one-on-one defense will be very important for us. We're also continuing to work on building up rhythm with the players returning from injury."

**Tim Schneider, ALBA Berlin forward**

"Playing two EuroLeague games in such a short space of time is no easy task, especially after such an intense game as against Virtus on Wednesday. But we've built up a bit of self-confidence, which we have to build on for the remaining challenges this week."

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Paris Basketball (20:15 CET)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach**

"Paris is a very good team with a clear structure. They play very well on both ends. They have had the same game style for the last 2-3 years. They are on the top of the standings, and that says a lot. For us it is a game under special circumstances, since we have one day less than our opponent to get some rest and get prepared. Our flight from Monaco landed at 6 in the morning. Since it is going to be a game in which energy will be the key, we must play smart. We should not allow ourselves to be carried by our enthusiasm and our feelings. Every possession is going to be important; that’s why we must protect the ball. We must be patient. We have some problems… Sasha \[Vezenkov\] went to the hospital today because he is suffering from tonsillitis, and \[Moustapha\] Fall is injured and he will not play. Still, it is a game that we really want to win. The gym will be full as the game is sold out."

**Luca Vildoza, Olympiacos Piraeus guard**

"It is going to be a tough game. They play with confidence and at a very high pace. I believe that it is going to be a real fight over who will control the pace. There is no doubt that Paris is a very good team, with very good players. I feel that tomorrow's game will look like a war. TJ Shorts is a great player. He is the main leader in this team, and his statistics are impressive. We have to play hard defense on him and at the same time not allow any of his teammates to step up on offense."

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

\--

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:45 CET)

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

"We face a very athletic team, well organized on offense around the talent of its guards and the excellent use of the pick and roll, and with a full-court defense that knows how to be very aggressive. The theme of the game for us will be defense, to keep the pace high, and fast ball movement against their defense."

## Thursday, December 5

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (19:00 CET)

**Tomislav Mijatovic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"We are entering the second game of the double-game week against a very tough home-court opponent which has a great offensive system presented through their main player and offensive leader, Lonnie Walker. They are a very well-coached team that requires our maximum effort on both sides of the court. That being said, we have to do great individual as well as team effort and present 40 minutes of hard played Anadolu Efes basketball in order to reach our goal and conclude the double-game week with the second victory."

**Rolands Smits, Anadolu Efes Istanbul forward**

"It will be a very difficult game. Zalgiris Kaunas is playing with different energy at home, they have very good and talented players. We need to be ready for a physical game."

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. FC Barcelona (20:05 CET)

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

"We've faced a lot of challenges. We've had injured players, we've had newcomers... Basically, we lost many key players last summer, so we are trying to build something. But it's not easy with all of the travelling and the schedule that we have. Almost every 2-3 days we have a game. So we have to, in between, try to build the process and hopefully to get some confidence. We are facing another great offensive team in Barcelona, which really plays with a high tempo, dominant bigs, dominant guards. We have to go to our basics. It's easy to say, tough to do."

**Jaylen Hoard, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv forward**

"Our main focus should be on personnel. They're a talented team individually, so we really have to focus in on guys strengths and things like that. I feel like once we know those things, try to play good team defense. I feel like that's been hurting us a little bit, so I think if we can take care of that part of the court, I feel like our offense will be fine; we'll be able to flow, get easy buckets on the other end, so I think our defense is the main pillar we have to focus on."

**Marial Shayok, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard**

"I think our main focus is just to stay together. Coming off a tough loss, I think we've just got to keep our energy right, listen to Coach's game plan, and keep together and keep the chemistry high. Coming out and playing hard tomorrow and see what happens."

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (20:30 CET)

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

"We're playing against Panathinaikos, the European champions. They've added Omer Yurtseven and Cedi Osman to their roster, both with NBA experience, as well as Lorenzo Brown, one of the best point guards in Europe. They have a very deep roster and tremendous quality, so it’s clear what kind of opponent we’re facing. Last night, they played an outstanding and highly competitive game against Barcelona. They have versatile perimeter players and \[Mathias\] Lessort, who dominates in the paint. Their players at the '4' position are exceptional shooters, so it’s hard to say where the biggest threat will come from. We must avoid repeating the defensive mistakes from the first half against Zalgiris. We need to be aware that another very challenging game is ahead of us, and we have to be significantly better."

**Frank Ntilikina, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard**

"I expect a tough game, as they are a talented team and the reigning champions. However, this game is no different from any other EuroLeague matchup – it's a high level of competition, and we can't expect anything less."

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

"It's a great team, Partizan, and a great coach \[in Zeljko Obradovic\]. Of course, a great atmosphere. It will be a very difficult game on the road. But I believe that in that kind of atmosphere, we have the atmosphere, we have the experience to play an aggressive game. Maybe we will play more aggressive on our home court because on our home court, we have a lot of confidence about winning the game. Now we know that, starting from the first minute, we must fight for every possession to win this game. I don't think the score will be too high in this game. It will be more important offensively to attack well, being smart to not make a turnover, because the worst thing in that kind of game is to give the opponent fast-break points after turnovers. For me, when I started coaching, it's always a pleasure to play against Zeljko because he's a maestro, he's part of the history of EuroLeague basketball. It's a pleasure and always I try to beat him – sometimes I won, sometimes he won – but we continue to fight."

**Jerian Grant, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard**

"They're playing well, we're going to have to come ready. They've got one of the best fan bases in the world. Our defense has to get better, but the way we score the ball, it's going to be tough for opponents to keep up. We're figuring it out, but as long as we get the win, that's the most important. But we're trying to fix a bit of everything."

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

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

"This is a game where we need to get back on our feet. We need a defensive reaction, and it’s good that we’ll be playing again at the SAP Garden in front of our amazing fans. Our offense is not the problem."

### Real Madrid vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:45 CET)

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

"We know that we have to take a step forward. We are at a point in the season where we are aware that we have to get into a good position. Right now we find ourselves out of the playoffs. We are taking one step forward followed by one step back, and we need to move forward and do things with more consistency. We have good moments and not so good moments in which we must grit our teeth and be much more solid, something we have been looking for since the beginning of the season and the time has come to do it because we cannot let games slip away. Tomorrow we play in front of our fans, we need them more than ever, but we are the ones who have to start by taking a step forward. Fenerbahce is at the top of the standings, they are doing things right, they have a very good team, players with a lot of quality on the perimeter like \[Marko\] Guduric, \[Arturs\] Zagars, \[Wade\] Baldwin, \[Tarik\] Biberovic and \[Bonzie\] Colson and a great inside game with \[Sertac\] Sanli who can open the court, \[Nicolo\] Melli who sometimes plays at the '5' or Nigel Hayes-Davis who is a player who is playing at an excellent level this year. We know what we are facing, a team that plays good defense, does not take too many shots and has very good percentages. That's why we have to be especially careful with their perimeter players, with their shooters."

**Usman Garuba, Real Madrid center**

"Tomorrow we play a key game for us, even more so playing at home where we want to do our best to get the victory. We know what we have to do and we are prepared for it. We have to play as a team, defend as a team, be consistent throughout the game, avoid avoidable mistakes and give our all to win because stringing together a good streak is important for us. We want to play in front of our fans after several road games. Now we have four in a row at WiZink which will be decisive to gain confidence, but the first thing is to face Fenerbahçe, a club that always represents a great challenge."

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

"\[We are\] facing one of the most difficult away games. Real Madrid is a team where the players know each other incredibly well. They have great players in every position. For sure they will be very motivated after the last games. So, we need to focus on taking easy points first in transition and the offensive rebounding. We also need to deal with their great players like \[Facu\] Campazzo and \[Walter\] Tavares."

**Marko Guduric, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard**

"Second game of the double week. It is always tough, especially if you are on the road. We have had a difficult stretch so far, but we have to come out ready to fight on their home court. As we all know, it is very difficult to play there. They also struggle a little bit, like us. But the energy and the competitiveness will decide the winner, whoever wants it more."

Pregame quotes hub: 'Paris is top of the standings, that says a lot'

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-12-06T19:45:00.000Z)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2024-12-06T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Paris Basketball (2024-12-06T19:15:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v ALBA Berlin (2024-12-06T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-12-05T19:45:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-12-05T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-12-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v FC Barcelona (2024-12-05T19:05:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2024-12-05T18:00:00.000Z)

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

EuroLeague injury report: Round 14

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

Will McDowell-White and Justin Bean are ruled out for ALBA's game at Monaco on Friday, the club has confirmed. [ALBA later stated on Twitter](https://x.com/albaberlin/status/1865090512669094172) that Louis Olinde is back, while Martin Hermannsson will rest.

- [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.
- Will McDowell-White has been sidelined since Round 8.
- Louis Olinde has not played since Round 8.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Shane Larkin is listed as questionable ahead of Efes's game at Zalgiris on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/shane-larkin-out-for-3-4-weeks-with-ankle-sprain/), who has been out since spraining his right ankle in Round 5, did not feature against Bayern in Round 13.
- Dogus Ozdemiroglu last played in Round 10.

### AS Monaco

Mam Jaiteh, Furkan Korkmaz and Nick Calathes are ruled out for Monaco's game against ALBA on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Mam Jaiteh, who is recovering from a knee injury, last played in Round 7.
- Furkan Korkmaz, dealing with a fractured coccyx, last played in Round 8.
- [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nick-calathes-out-3-4-weeks-with-knee-injury/) remains sidelined after a knee injury he suffered before Round 1.

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

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

- Ognjen Jaramaz did not play in Round 13.
- [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/timothe-luwawu-cabarrot-sidelined-with-calf-injury/) is dealing with a calf injury, 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 at Virtus on Friday.

- Nemanja Nedovic last played in Round 11.
- Uros Plavsic did not play in Round 13.
- [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/joel-bolomboy-hyperextends-knee-avoids-acl-tear/) hyperextended his knee in Crvena Zvezda's ABA League game at Buducnost and will undergo conservative treatment. The center, who last played in Round 4, is expected to be out early December.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

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

- Leandro Bolmaro has not played since Round 10 due to an injury.
- Stefano Tonut (back) last played in Round 11.
- [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/josh-nebo-to-be-reevaluated-in-3-4-weeks/) (arm) has not played since Round 7 and will be reevaluated in early December.

### FC Barcelona

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

- Dario Brizuela is out for 2-3 weeks after injuring his psoas muscle.
- [New signing Raul Neto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-brings-in-ex-nba-guard-raul-neto/) made his debut in Round 12, but he is out for 3-4 weeks with a groin injury.
- [Chimezie Metu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-loses-chimezie-metu-for-6-8-weeks/) is out until early January with a sprained knee.
- [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nico-laprovittola-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) is ruled out for the season due to an ACL and meniscus injury.

### FC Bayern Munich

Vladimir Lucic and Ivan Kharchenkov are ruled out for Bayern's game against Baskonia on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Ivan Kharchenkov did not play in Round 13.
- Bayern has been without Vladimir Lucic (muscle bruise) since Round 2.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Dyshawn Pierre, Devon Hall and Scottie Wilbekin are ruled out for Fenerbahce's game at Real Madrid on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- [Dyshawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-dyshawn-pierre-sidelined-by-calf-injury/) suffered a calf injury in Round 12.
- [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/devon-hall-to-undergo-surgery-on-hand-injury/) is out after suffering a fracture in his left hand's metacarpal bone in Round 9.
- [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 with a long-term injury.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

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

- Charles Kahudi did not play in Round 13.
- [Edwin Jackson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/edwin-jackson-to-miss-six-weeks-with-hamstring-injury/) is sidelined until late December with a hamstring injury.

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

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

- Tamir Blatt returned to action in Round 13.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

Moustapha Fall (adductor strain) and Moses Wright (health issue) are both ruled out for Olympiacos's game against Paris on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Moses Wright last played in Round 11. He is out for the foreseeable future.
- [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

Omer Yurtseven (illness), Marius Grigonis and Kostas Antetokounmpo are ruled out for Panathinaikos's game at Partizan on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Ioannis Papapetrou is available after missing Round 13.
- Marius Grigonis (lower back) has not played since Round 4.
- Kostas Antetokounmpo (knee injury) last played in Round 6.

### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Olympiacos on Friday.

- Daulton Hommes has not played so far this season.

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Iffe Lundberg and Mario Nakic are both ruled out for Partizan's game against Panathinaikos on Thursday, while Aleksej Pokusevski is questionable, the club has confirmed.

- Iffe Lundberg (foot) did not play in Round 13.
- Aleksej Pokusevski did not play in Round 13.
- Mario Nakic (ankle) has not played since Round 7.

### Real Madrid

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

- Serge Ibaka did not play in Round 13.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

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

- [Luca Banchi resigned as Virtus head coach](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/luca-banchi-resigns-as-virtus-bologna-head-coach/) and has been [replaced by Dusko Ivanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/virtus-appoints-dusko-ivanovic-as-head-coach/).

### Zalgiris Kaunas

All of Zalgiris's players are available for the team's game against Efes on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

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

Injury report, Round 14: Olympiacos without two bigs; Monaco, ALBA missing three players

KK Partizan defeated Panathinaikos BC 91-73 in Round 14 on Thursday night, with Carlik Jones, Frank Ntilikina and Tyrique Jones speaking exclusively to Euroleague.net after the win.

Faith and fervent fan support carried Partizan to big win over EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) romped to [a memorable 91-73 win over Turkish Airlines EuroLeague holder Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-overwhelms-panathinaikos-91-73-to-make-it-four-in-a-row/) on Thursday, thanks to a masterclass performance coupled with awe-inspiring support from 20,000 galvanized home fans in a jam-packed Belgrade Arena.

Although the likes of Panathinaikos are used to playing in an intimidating atmosphere on the road, the decibel level in the gym which shook the building to its core seemed to knock the stuffing out of the Greens, as they wilted like a punctured accordion in the second half after trailing 44-37 at halftime.

When asked by [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) to sum up the game and his feelings about the atmosphere, Partizan point guard [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/), who served up yet another majestic display as he sank a game-high 18 points while pulling all the strings on offense, heaped praise on his teammates as well as the crowd.

He also emphasized that a revamped Partizan team, comprising an entirely new roster, was still a work in progress while also showing massive personal confidence in his own ability.

“It was one heck of a win and I want to give a shout-out to my teammates as we all did our part tonight,” Jones said with a big smile on his face. “We never lost faith after losing six in a row. I felt from the jump that we had the ability to win games but we’re a young group being together, it’s like 14 new guys on the team.

“We’ve got to stay humble, though. As for the fans, we’re overly appreciative of them as they keep cheering us, at home and on the road, win or lose. We’ve been in a position to lose games, now we’ve got to learn how to win. We’ve got to take it one game at a time. I always felt like I was one of the best guards in this league, with all due respect to all the other guards in this league and what they’ve done.”

When approached by [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net), Frenchman [Frank Ntilikina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/frank-ntilikina/006591/) was calm and composed after a big night, warning against any complacency after Partizan appears to have gotten its season back on track. 

“It was a huge atmosphere and I am happy that we stayed focused for the full 40 minutes,” he said. “Panathinaikos are a great team, they’ve got plenty of talent but we can be proud of the work we did tonight and build on it. We suffered some tough losses but we learned from them and stayed poised.

“It feels good to get four wins in a row but it’s a long season and we need to keep going. We feel the fans’ support, when we’re down and when we’re up. They bring more energy and we’re thankful for it.”

Big man [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) got the better of Partizan’s former center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) with a huge double-double of 12 points and 10 boards as he outmuscled the athletic Frenchman for much of the contest. Still a fan favorite with the die-hard Partizan crowd, Lessort was moved after being shown endless love off the court as the home faithful chanted his name repeatedly before and after the absorbing contest, while young supporters preyed on him for autographs and selfies.

A heartwarming scene saw Lessort’s own son Matson, watching the game courtside with his mother, cheering Partizan as he held the club’s scarf aloft and joined the home fans in singing its anthem. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Tata sada igra za PAO, ali zna se za koga Matson Lesor navija :)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/partizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#partizan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/grobari?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#grobari</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lessort?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lessort</a> <a href="https://t.co/s15tPUZ2QF">pic.twitter.com/s15tPUZ2QF</a></p>&mdash; Sport Klub (@sportklub) <a href="https://twitter.com/sportklub/status/1864767232821125530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yet, it was Jones who stole the show and emerged as one of Partizan’s heroes, having credited the fans for their relentless support. “It was a tough opponent but we executed the game plan well. I am happy that we got the victory and we want to keep the streak going. I love the fans here, it’s something you can’t get anywhere else in the world. There’s nothing like it,’ an overjoyed Jones said.

It was yet another sweet victory for Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic, who came under pressure after a poor run at one point left Partizan near the bottom of the standings with a 2-8 record. The outcome vindicated the winner of a record nine EuroLeague title, five of them with Panathinaikos, who singled out team captain [Vanja Marinkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vanja-marinkovic/004761/) for containing the Greek side’s top performer [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/). Marinkovic also rifled in a game-changing salvo of three successive three-pointers at the other end late in the first half, which set the tone for Partizan’s dominance after the interval. 

“We played outstanding defense and I have to single out Marinkovic for stifling out Nunn. We always knew that he is the Panathinaikos pack leader and that we had to contain him in order to win the game,” Obradovic told the post-game press conference.

“We didn’t wilt after a series of defeats and we must now stay humble in victory in order to keep moving up the standings. Vanja’s flurry of three-pointers late in the first half was a turning point, it lifted the team and gave us a massive confidence boost.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">VOLIM GA!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z7ZoLe1xBn">pic.twitter.com/Z7ZoLe1xBn</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1864783746735464804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman conceded that his team was punished for a substandard performance. “We lost control of the game in the last two minutes of the first half, when we gave away open three-point shots and they took advantage,’ said the Turkish tactician.

“In the second half, we had no answer to their aggressive approach and they played a really great game. We need to improve our defense. Tonight we played like a team of veterans and we must understand that basketball is not just about quality or tactics, it’s also about aggression and commitment. Teams perform against us above their limits and we have to be ready for that.”

In Round 15, Panathinaikos visit Ataman’s former club [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/), where he won back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, while Partizan faces [ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/ber/) on the road in a bid to keep its winning streak going.

Game News

The Serbian team’s key players and head coach Zeljko Obradovic said they had never stopped believing after a series of losses 

Faith and fervent fan support carried Partizan to big win over Panathinaikos

Carsen Edwards dropped all 27 of his points in the final 17:07 minutes in a 94-80 Bayern victory over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Carsen Edwards put on second-half show in win over Baskonia 

[Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) has put together some outstanding performances this season, but the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s [leading scorer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2024&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=score) put together a second half for the ages to keep FC Bayern Munich perfect at home. 

Edwards dropped all 27 of his points in the final 17:07 minutes in a [94-80 Bayern victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-remains-perfect-at-home-after-94-80-win-over-baskonia/) over [Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/roster/bas/). Edwards had attempted only one two-pointer and one three-pointer in the first half but finished making 5 of 9 two-pointers and 4 of 8 triples to go with 5 of 5 free throws. 

Edwards was modest in talking about his performance after the game.

“I was just able to make some shots. Our team just put together some good looks for me and we got some stops and built some momentum,” he said. “I don’t want to say anything about the points. We just got the win so I am just happy about that.”

Carsen Edwards (27 points) Highlights vs. Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, 12/05/2024

Carsen Edwards scored 27 points against Baskonia

Others with the team did not shy away from speaking highly about the 26-year-old star, who has scored 20 or more points in six of his last seven games while making at least 1 three-pointer in 12 straight games and draining multiple three-pointers in 11 of his last 12 games.

“Carsen got hot in the second half - that was all we needed to finish the game,” said [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/), who himself collected 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. 

“He wasn’t there in the first half. He made up for it in the second half. He put on an unbelievable performance in the last 17 minutes,” added [Coach Gordon Herbert](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/herbert-gordon/). “He was amazing in the second half. I’m glad we started him and glad it worked out.”

Game Videos

Baskonia came out strong in the second half and Bayern’s offense failed to score for nearly 3 minutes and fell behind 44-52. That was when Edwards took over. 

He scored the team’s next three baskets with driving layups and then with the team still down 56-61, Edwards drained 2 three-pointers and a tough jumper off the glass for 8 points in Bayern’s 13-0 close to the third quarter. 

And Edwards opened the fourth with another three-pointer and just continued to put the ball in the basket. He surprised even his teammates with 15 seconds left in the game when he buried a three-pointer just inside the middle circle to finish off his outstanding night. 

Edwards has been wowing fans all season and he gave them another show against Baskonia. 

The league-leading scorer's amazing season added another chapter with his performance against Baskonia 

A slump in form and a series of injuries saw FC Barcelona lose four games in a row, but Keven Punter, Jabari Parker and Justin Anderson nailed big buckets to seal an 86-88 come-from-behind win over Maccabi Tel Aviv 

'Hungrier' Barcelona refused to lose again

A slump in form and a series of injuries saw [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/) lose four games in a row, including a [tough 90-89 defeat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-wins-thriller-against-barcelona-90-89/) away at [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) to kick off the two-round week. Barcelona seemed as though it was in control of the game in Greece, but an extraordinary [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) netted a [career-high 29 points](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-fired-on-all-cylinders-on-a-career-night-against-barcelona/), including two midcourt buzzer-beaters to lead Panathinaikos to victory.

That loss dealt yet another blow in morale for the Barcelona players, who needed to find an answer that would allow the team to bounce back and potentially turn their season around. The Catalans started strong against [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/roster/tel/?season=2024-25) on Thursday night, but the hosts outscored them 28-15 in the second quarter to take a 44-37 cushion into the second half.

It got even worse after the break, with Maccabi going on a 9-0 run that extended its lead to 16 points. But Barcelona fought back, netted 27 points in 8 minutes in the third quarter and slashed the deficit to 66-64 heading into the fourth.

“I’m proud of our character and because we believed,” head coach [Joan Penarroya](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/penarroya-joan/) said in the post-game press conference.

The duel turned into an exchange of blows, with [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/), [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) and [Justin Anderson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/justin-anderson/012795/) nailing big buckets to seal the 86-88 outcome.

“We were the hungrier team,” Anderson told EuroLeague TV. “The Panathinaikos loss that we just suffered was really gut-wrenching, hard for guys to sleep. It was a tough loss for us. The team was ready, we were ready to go out and maybe get our revenge a little bit.”

Parker and Punter netted 18 points each, with the former coming close to recording a double-double, as he picked up a season-high 9 rebounds.

“I think we wanted it a little bit more,” Parker admitted after the game. “Especially myself. I was tired of losing. That’s what it takes. Try to do as hard as you can while you’re here now.”

Anderson chipped in with a season-high 16 points, including an impossible buzzer-beating off-balance jumper to make it 84-87 with 01:35 left on the clock.

“We had a guy \[Nunn\] score three buzzer-beaters against us from halfcourt,” Anderson added after the clash. “We needed luck on our side and I was happy it was on our side finally this time.”

After snapping its four-game losing streak, Barcelona will look to build on its momentum starting next week, when the Catalan side hosts EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Luck may not be something that they can control, but should Barcelona show the same hunger against the Italian side, this could well be the start of a winning run. 

Kevin Punter, Jabari Parker and Justin Anderson made some big buckets to seal the victory over Maccabi

Zalgiris Kaunas bounced back in Round 14 by downing Anadolu Efes Istanbul 85-72 at home. All Zalgiris guards had a solid, decisive contribution in this game. 


Zalgiris's backcourt excels in Round 14 

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/roster/zal/) used an outstanding first half to get a solid lead and held on to it for the rest of the game, leading from start to finish to claim an [85-72 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-overpowers-efes-85-72/) over [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/roster/ist/). Things could not have started better for Zalgiris, as [Deividas Sirvydis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/deividas-sirvydis/007029/) completed a four-point play in his team's very first possession, barely 11 seconds into the game.

[Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/) took over after that with three consecutive bombs from downtown and an assist to Sirvydis for a layup. When Sirvydis hit another triple, Zalgiris already had a double-digit lead, 18-8, with all its points coming from its backcourt starts. Walker and Sirvydis ended up combining for the team's opening 23 points, helping Zalgiris to a 27-17 lead after 10 minutes.

Walker and Sirvydis went to the bench and Zalgiris kept running its offense the same way, finding new go-to guys in guards [Dovydas Giedraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dovydas-giedraitis/007513/) and [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/). Both players had 7 quick points as Zalgiris broke the game open, 41-49, midway through the second quarter.

Efes never rallied within striking distance but managed to get as close as 69-63 with less than 6 minutes remaining. With the game on the line, Francisco made the difference with 9 points in the final 5 minutes, including a three-pointer that sealed the outcome, 80-69, in the next-to-last minute.

Deividas Sirvydis, Lonnie Walker, Dovydas Giedraitis and Sylvain Francisco all shined against Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Zalgiris guards make things happen

When the dust settled, Walker led the way with 18 points - 13 of them in a really strong first quarter. Francisco added 16 and Sirvydis 14. Giedraitis had an all-around performance with 4 points, a team-high 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Zalgiris showed great hustle, finishing the game with 17 offensive rebounds, 7 steals and 4 blocks. Efes had had 4 blocks, but was limited to 11 offensive boards and 4 steals.

After the game, Walker praised Francisco for his clutch performance.

"I'm just playing the right way. Cisco \[Sylvain Francisco\] stepped up and did what he is supposed to: carry the ball, made the right reads, was scoring, passing and doing everything;" Walker said after the game. "And our defensive effort really led our team to victory. I think they got it down to about 6 points and my teammates picked us up the last 3-4 minutes. We handled business and did what we were supposed to do."

"Lonnie \[Walker\] had a great first half, amazing, and he couldn't find his groove and his rhythm in the second half, they started being very physical and we need to find a way to play old school basketball fundamentals, how to get open. This is a learning lesson for him," Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri said. "Cisco gave us a lot, Alen \[Smailagic\] gave us a lot as a facilitator from the post, and we controlled their comeback. They had a very good team, a lot of talent, so it's a great win."

Zalgiris bounced back in Round 14 by downing Anadolu Efes at home with big contributions coming from its guards

Zalgiris's backcourt exceled against Efes

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul bounced back into winning ways by overcoming an early double-digit deficit to down Real Madrid, 70-82, in the Spanish capital

Fenerbahce blasts past Real, 70-82

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul bounced back into winning ways by overcoming an early double-digit deficit to down Real Madrid, 70-82, in the Spanish capital. The Turkish team improved to 10-4, while Real slipped to 6-8 after losing twice this week.

The hosts dominated early to take a 20-10 lead in the first quarter, but Fenerbahce stormed back with 0-13 and 0-9 runs to lead at the break, and stayed ahead the rest of the way. Nigel Hayes-Davis was once again Fenerbahce’s inspiration, netting 33 points including 6 three-pointers. Wade Baldwin was the only other visiting player in double digits, with 10 points. Facundo Campazzo paced Real with 14 points and 6 assists, and Walter Tavares added 13.

A three-point play from Campazzo and a triple from Gabriel Deck gave Real an 8-2 lead, before Hayes-Davis finally scored Fenerbahce’s first field goal. Sergio Llull struck from deep and Mario Hezonja added a transition layup for a 14-6 margin. Hayes-Davis responded with a turnaround jumper but Serge Ibaka bettered it with a three. Bonzie Colson scored from mid-range but Llull hit a trademark rainbow three for a 20-12 lead after 10 minutes.

Nicolo Melli’s turnaround jumper opened the second quarter, before Arturs Zagars, Baldwin and Tarik Biberovic also scored from midrange. Hayes-Davis added a triple for Fener’s first lead, 20-23, before Llull’s layup snapped a 0-13 run. Khem Birch, Baldwin and Hayes-Davis hit tough jumpers, and Melli added a triple to make it 24-32 after a 0-9 run. Dzanan Musa scored off the glass, before Hayes-Davis and Campazzo drilled triples to give the visitor a 31-37 interval lead.

Biberovic started the second half with a deep strike, before inside scores from Deck and Tavares. Colson and Tavares traded turnaround jumpers, making it 41-45. Hayes-Davis sliced through the defense for a layup and then added a three-pointer for a double-digit lead, 41-52. Hezonja’s jumper and Andres Feliz’s transition layup stopped the bleeding, but Hayes-Davis scored again and Birch added a dunk for a 47-60 lead.

Hayes-Davis and Campazzo traded triples at the start of the final period, and Tavares made it 52-63 with a close-range finish. Baldwin protected a double-digit margin with consecutive baskets, but Tavares and Hezonja dunked to reignite Real, 58-67.  Baldwin stayed hot with another mid-range finish, and Hayes-Davis added a dagger from deep. Hezonja’s triple gave Real hope, but Marko Guduric’s deep strike inside the final minute sealed the victory.

The Turkish team shrugged off a sluggish start to claim a valuable road victory

Fenerbahce blasts past Real Madrid, 70-82

FC Bayern Munich remained perfect at home this season with a hard-fought 94-80 victory over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to snap a two-game losing streak

Bayern remains perfect at home after 94-80 win over Baskonia

FC Bayern Munich remained perfect at home this season with a hard-fought 94-80 victory over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to snap a two-game losing streak. Bayern gained control of an otherwise tight game with a 16-0 run spanning the final two quarters to improve to 9-5 with a 7-0 mark at SAP Garden. Carsen Edwards was otherworldly in the second half with all 27 of his game-high points coming in the final two quarters. Andreas Obst and Devin Booker both added 18 points in the win.

Baskonia saw its modest two-game winning streak snapped in dropping to 6-8 including a 1-6 record away from home. Chima Moneke led the Spanish side with 25 points and 11 rebounds while Markus Howard had 19 points in the defeat, spoiling the return of Baskonia coach Pablo Laso to where he coached last season. 

There were lead changes on four straight scores with Booker scoring two baskets and Obst adding 5 points in an early 9-2 run to lead 14-8. Sander Raieste drained back-to-back triples to knot the game at 18-18. Johannes Voigtmann answered with a three-pointer of his own for Bayern only to see Moneke drain a long ball to put Baskonia up 21-23. The game was tied 23-23 after 10 minutes. 

Baskonia stepped up its defensive effort early in the second quarter and Moneke had 5 points and Nikos Rogkavopoulos added a triple in a 0-8 start for a 23-31 lead. Booker finally got Bayern on the board after nearly 3 minutes with a three-pointer and connected from deep on the next possession as well. The triples kept raining with Nick Weiler-Babb hitting twice from deep and Obst making his second for a 41-36 Bayern cushion. Baskonia answered with the next 4 points and went to halftime tied 44-44.

Moneke knocked down 2 three-pointers and Baskonia started the second half with the first 8 points for a 44-52 lead. Bayern went nearly 3 minutes without a score until Edwards picked up his first points of the game on a layup. That sparked the offense with Edwards adding 5 more points and a Voigtmann triple evened the game at 56-56. Edwards added 2 triples and a jumper off the glass for 15 points in the quarter and Bayern held a 69-61 lead after three quarters.

The Edwards show continued in the fourth with a tough triple for a 72-61 cushion. Howard punched back with his first three-pointer after missing his first six shots from long range. He added 2 more tough triples and Baskonia was down 76-73. Obst replied with 2 threes of his own and a driving layup and Bayern led 86-75 with less than 3 minutes to go. Oscar da Silva ended all doubts with a three-pointer for an 89-77 lead with 81 seconds remaining. 

Carsen Edwards pours in all 27 of his points in the second half of the seventh straight home win

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade earned an impressive 91-73 home win over Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, stretching its winning streak to four games and improving to 6-8

Partizan overwhelms Panathinaikos, 91-73, to make it four in a row 

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade earned an impressive 91-73 home win over Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, stretching its winning streak to four games and improving to 6-8, while the Greens slipped to 8-6 after a rip-roaring contest in the Belgrade Arena.

Carlik Jones paced Partizan with 18 points, Sterling Brown added 17 while Isaac Bonga chipped in with 13. Tyrique Jones racked up 12 points to go with 10 rebounds, as Partizan won the battle of the boards 34-26. At the other end, Kostas Sloukas led Panathinaikos on 15 points while Mathias Lessort and Juancho Hernangomez netted 13 each.

Roared on by a fervent 20,000 crowd, Partizan drew first blood through Isiaha Mike but Panathinaikos hit back instantly as Jerian Grant and Kendrick Nunn netted to give the visitors a 2-5 lead. A tight battle ensued with both teams playing aggressive defense before a huge dunk from Balsa Koprivica and 5 quickfire points from Carlik Jones turned the tide, giving Partizan an 11-5 advantage with the decibel level in the gym threatening to blow the roof off.

However, the reigning EuroLeague champion showed its resilience as Partizan’s former center Lessort made a three-point play and  Hernangomez hit 5 in a row before Sloukas also sank a deep three to put Panathinaikos in the driving seat, 13-18. The 200 or so visiting fans were in full swing in one of the gym’s upper tiers as the visiting team profited from a barrage of offensive boards, but Partizan responded superbly through Frank Ntilikina to tie the score at the end of the first quarter, 20-20.  

Sloukas nailed a three in the opening play of the second quarter and Carlik Jones replied moments later, setting the tone for a fascinating battle. Like a pair of heavyweight prize fighters trading blows in the center of a boxing ring, both teams gave as good as they got and were deadlocked 33-33 midway through the second period.

Both teams ramped up on defense and baskets became harder to come by, but Sloukas then nailed a layup followed by a long baseline two. Partizan soon responded with a majestic 11-0 run capped by three successive three-pointers from team captain Vanja Marinkovic.

The hosts led 44-37 at halftime on the back of 10 points from Carlik Jones, 9 from Marinkovic and 7 by Ntilikina, while Sloukas paced Panathinaikos with 10 and Grant added 9 at the other end. 

Nunn, who struggled in the first half and scored a mere 2 points, opened the third quarter with a long two, but Bonga and Carlik Jones replied with a vengeance, sinking back-to-back triples before Tyrique Jones tipped in an offensive board galvanizing Partizan to a 52-39 lead. The atmosphere in a jam-packed Belgrade Arena reached fever pitch but Panathinaikos bounced back with a Sloukas triple followed by a huge Lessort dunk, before Duane Washington made a three-point play at the other end.

Partizan was in the promised land again as Carlik Jones sank a triple followed by a pair of free throws from Washington, firing up a raucous home crowd, which was in raptures as the Serbia powerhouse galloped away into a 60-46 lead. The home team headed into the final 10 minutes 64-49 ahead, having turned the tide in the paint to rack up a total of 25 boards through the opening three quarters against 20 collected by Panathinaikos, with Tyrique Jones outmuscling Lessort.

Carlik Jones opened the fourth quarter with a delightful three off the dribble, sparking wild celebrations in the stands and forcing Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman to call an early timeout. 

It had little effect as Brandon Davies fired up the crowd with a slam-dunk which gave Partizan a 69-49 lead and although the visitors fought hard to get back into the game, a Bonga triple extended the advantage to 79-58 midway through the final period.

Seemingly out for the count, Panathinaikos then conjured a 0-9 run out of nowhere to slash the deficit before Washington stopped Partizan’s rot with a layup and Carlik Jones followed up with a triple and a mid-range jumper to make the score 86-67 with 2 minutes left on the clock.

It was effectively lights out for Panathinaikos and there was time for the jugular in the end as the Joneses produced a magic moment, with Carlik dishing out an alley-oop to Tyrique for a spectacular dunk that put the icing on the cake for Partizan.

The Serbian side dominated the reigning EuroLeague champion for its fourth successive win in front of a passionate home crowd 