Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 87-91 on the road in Game 1 of their best-of-five playoffs series. Offensive rebounds and turnovers were two of the biggest keys to the game. 

Maccabi's offensive rebounds led to big win 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv rallied from a double-digit deficit to [beat Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 87-91](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-steals-game-1-at-panathinaikos-87-91/) on the road in Game 1 of their best-of-five playoff series. Offensive rebounds and turnovers were two of the biggest keys in the Israeli side's win. 

Maccabi won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Panathinaikos 33-37. The guests pulled down 15 offensive rebounds and allowed Panathinaikos to get just 6 offensive boards at the other end. [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) led the way with 5 offensive rebounds, all of which came in the first half. [Antonius Cleveland](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/antonius-cleveland/012744/) and [Jasiel Rivero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jasiel-rivero/011214/) also grabbed multiple offensive boards against the Greens.

After finishing the regular season with nine consecutive home wins, Panathinaikos look to carry that form into postseason versus a dangerous Maccabi roster, which cruised through its play-in test by crushing Baskonia 113-85 and are one of the only three visiting teams to have won in Athens this term.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv| Playoffs Game 1 | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Maccabi played smarter and weathered the storm

The guests also took much better care of the ball, limiting themselves to just 6 turnovers and picking up 8 steals. As many as seven Maccabi players had at least one steal, which speaks wonders about its overall defensive activity. On the other hand, Panathinaikos had 3 steals and 12 turnovers. Kostas Sloukas had a career-high 13 assists and just one turnover, which came on the Greens' final possession, with Maccabi leading 87-89 in the final minute.

Small details made the difference down the stretch. Panathinaikos hit its opening 12 two-point shots and was still 16 of 18 (87.5% 2FG) late in the third quarter, with the Greens on track to break an all-time playoff record which has belonged to Anadolu Efes Istanbul (80.0% 2FG) since 2022. Panathinaikos, however, went on to score just 6 of its last 12 two-pointers (50%).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">1️⃣:0️⃣ <a href="https://t.co/xeaynAptR6">pic.twitter.com/xeaynAptR6</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1782857003074810264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Free throws missed were also a big factor in this game, as Ergin Ataman's squad went 16 of 26 from the foul line. Center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) went 4 of 11 (36.4% FT) from the foul line on the night after hitting 65.8% of his attempts throughout the regular season. Maccabi hit 21-of-27 attempts (77.8% FT), none more important than Nebo's foul shots which sealed the outcome with 3.1 seconds remaining.

Game News

Josh Nebo dominated the Greens' glass as his team secured an important road victory

Maccabi leaned on offensive rebounds in Game 1 win at Panathinaikos 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-04-23T17:30:00.000Z)

In a thriller that went down to the final seconds, Maccabi Tel Aviv BC struck first in its best-of-five playoffs series by downing Panathinaikos BC 87-91 at OAKA in the Greek capital on Tuesday.

Maccabi steals Game 1 at Panathinaikos, 87-91

In a thriller that went down to the final seconds, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv struck first in its best-of-five playoffs series by downing Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 87-91 at OAKA in the Greek capital on Tuesday. Maccabi takes an early lead in the series, with Panathinaikos set to host Game 2 on Thursday. 

Bonzie Colson led the winners with 18 points. Lorenzo Brown added 16, Wade Baldwin had 15 before leaving the game due to an injury, while Josh Nebo had 12 and 8 rebounds for Maccabi. Mathias Lessort paced Panathinaikos with 22 points. Kostas Sloukas added 12 and a career-high 13 assists, while Jerian Grant and Marius Grigonis each had 11 for the Greens.

Game Videos

### Cohen, Rivero gave Maccabi the lead

Dinos Mitoglou got Panathinaikos going with a bomb from downtown and Kendrick Nunn added a one-handed floater in the lane for a 5-2 lead. Brown buried a three-pointer, then Jake Cohen added a layup, a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer to give Maccabi a 9-12 lead. Sloukas scored in penetration and Grigonis bettered Josh Nebo's put-back dunk with a triple that tied the game at 14-14. Baldwin stepped up for Maccabi and Jasiel Rivero's jumper boosted his team's lead to 17-21. Sloukas hit a triple and fed Grigonis for another one from beyond the arc. Lessort erased James Webb's acrobatic layup with a huge dunk, then Rivero fixed the score at 25-26 after 10 minutes.

### Vildoza, Lessort led the Greens' surge

Grant buried a baseline jumper early in the second quarter. Tamir Blatt and Luca Vildoza exchanged three-pointers, then Lessort's power layup boosted Panathinaikos's lead to 33-29. Grant sank a mid-range shot and Lessort added a layup for a 37-30 Panathinaikos margin. Nebo stepped up with a put-back slam that Vildoza bettered with back-to-back triples, making it a double-digit game at 43-32. Colson followed a three-point play with a turnaround jumper, then Nebo's tip-in gave Maccabi hope at 46-39. Lessort dunked again and Sloukas restored a 50-40 Panathinaikos lead. Antonius Cleveland got Maccabi within 50-42 at halftime. 

### Panathinaikos held on to lead

Baldwin scored in penetration soon after the break. Mitoglou sparked a 6-0 run which was highlighted by Sloukas's fastbreak layup. Colson sank a corner triple and Brown erased Mitoglou's circus shot with a mid-range jumper for a 58-49 Maccabi deficit. Even when Brown kept pacing Maccabi, Sloukas found ways to fix the hosts' offense, finding Lessort for a dunk and Mitoglou for a close jumper. Cleveland tried to change things with an off-balance three-point play and Rivero's basket made the Greens call a timeout at 64-59. Lessort and Webb traded dunks, then Panagiotis Kakaitzakis restored a 70-63 Panathinaikos lead after 30 minutes.

### Down to the wire!

Baldwin took over with 5 quick points early in the fourth quarter, single-handedly bringing Maccabi within 70-68. Colson's three-pointer soon tied it at 71-71. Lessort scored three times in the paint but he didn't find much help around. Meanwhile, Colson insisted from downtown to complete Maccabi's comeback, 77-78, with 6 minutes left. Brown joined the three-point shootout but Grant scored in transition and matched Colson's jump hook with an off-balance basket for an 81-83 score. Colson hit free throws and Nebo's alley-oop dunk made it a five-point game, 82-87. Grant answered from downtown before Nunn's layup tied it at 87-87 with 52.7 seconds left. Brown banked in a close shot and Nebo drew a foul with 3.1 seconds remaining. He hit both attempts to give Maccabi the first win of the series!

Wade Baldwin of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv is guarded by Jerian Grant of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in Game 1 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

In a game that went down to the wire, the Israeli managed to grab a crucial road win

Playoff predictions. Real Madrid vs. Baskonia

### Real will return to dominant form

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

It has been a long month for Real Madrid since clinching first place in the EuroLeague Regular Season. Los Blancos have been waiting for this moment for a long time and even when Baskonia has beaten Real at WiZink Center lately, Coach Ivanovic and his team should expect a different animal this time. During the season, Real showed it can play better than anybody team, and now is time again for it to fully focus and make things happen. Real has a size advantage in the paint with Walter Tavares and Vincent Poirier; it has more experienced guards in Facu Campazzo, Sergio Rodriguez and Sergio Llull; and the fact that star forward Chima Moneke is injured makes things worse for Baskonia. Real is the heavy favorite and should prove it. **My prediction: Real Madrid 3-0.**

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Real Madrid-Baskonia: arranca el playoff de la Euroliga.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1782718560311316528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Real's depth with decide this one

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

This series will be flavored by the absence, at least for the first game or two, of the most productive player this season on either team, Baskonia forward Chima Moneke. With him trolling along the baseline and uncatchable Markus Howard sniping outside, Baskonia had the chance to push the defending champs to five games, in my opinion. Without Moneke, Real's depth and experience will be too much to overcome. Real just has too many threats for Baskonia to handle or counter-balance. With 11 players averaging between 15 and 25 minutes per game, give or take a few seconds, Real's stars will keep coming at Baskonia with fresh legs all series long, and that would be too much for almost any team to resist. I respect Baskonia's famed character enough to think they'll pull of one win, but no more. **My prediction: Real Madrid 3-1.**

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">READY FOR THE FIRST BATTLE! ✊🏼🏟️<br><br>21:00h 🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurWay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurWay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> 🔵🔴 <a href="https://t.co/seaWpCnVZC">pic.twitter.com/seaWpCnVZC</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1782746792783655123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Real Madrid has too much for Baskonia

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

As much as I am convinced that Markus Howard can become the hero for Baskonia once again, perhaps even pulling out a road win at Real Madrid in either Game 1 or Game 2, I think Los Blancos' quality will shine through. Baskonia will be without Chima Moneke for Game 1 and potentially Game 2 as well, leaving Dusko Ivanovic a player short, while Real Madrid has a stacked roster that will be determined to defend their title. Real Madrid has made it to five of the last six Final Fours and it boasts a roster full of champions, most of whom lifted the EuroLeague title last season. Baskonia actually leads its series with Real Madrid this century, going 10-8 in EuroLeague play, but it's hard for me to look past Chus Mateo's men in this one. **My pick: Real Madrid 3-1.**

### Real will defend its crown in Berlin

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

The two Spanish sides know each other oh-so-well, and have split road wins during the regular season, including Baskonia's 91-95 win in the Spanish capital less than two weeks ago. Baskonia has been (mostly) flying high since that victory, apart from getting thrashed by Maccabi in the first play-in round. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has been in search of its form from the first part of the season, and has been far from impressive in recent weeks. However, it's playoff time and I fully believe Los Blancos are not just ready, but much more rested than Baskonia, which has played five games in 10 days, including three on the road. I see the defending champs dominate in Game 1, take 2-0 advantage to Vitoria-Gasteiz, where they will eventually close out the series. **My pick: Real Madrid 3-1.**

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Real Madrid (2024-05-03T18:30:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Real Madrid (2024-05-01T18:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-04-25T19:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-04-23T19:00:00.000Z)

Playoff predictions: Panathinaikos vs. Maccabi

### This one will go the distance

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

Two proud, long-starved and entertaining teams full of players chomping for their Final Four opportunity – only Kostas Sloukas and Ioannis Papapetrou have made it that far before – make this as compelling a series as any. Maccabi's two victories this season over Panathinaikos, which holds home-court advantage, make it unpredictable, too. Matchup edges are hard to pinpoint and solid pros in their primes dot the landscape. This will be very much a question of who is ready to seize the moment. I expect close outcomes that could go either way, but in all likelihood, it will take five games to solve. We know that home teams are 18-0 all-time in Game 5s, so much as I like Maccabi's team and its chances, with a full OAKA, I'd have to see the first do-or-die road win in a Game 5 to believe it. **My prediction: Panathinaikos 3-2.**

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">☘ GAME DAY <br>🏀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaccabiTLVBC</a> <br>🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> | PlayOffs - G1<br>🕔 20:30 🇬🇷 <br>📍 OAKA<br>📺 Novasports Prime<br>❕SOLD OUT<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToBerlin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToBerlin</a> <a href="https://t.co/RulX1IM7vY">pic.twitter.com/RulX1IM7vY</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1782664112691929403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### PAO to prevail over Maccabi in five

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

Ergin Ataman told Panathinaikos fans months ago that they should buy tickets to Berlin for the Final Four – and I think he'll be proven right after his team's series with Maccabi. The Greens last made it to the Final Four in 2012, but it really feels like they are primed to return to European basketball's showpiece event. With Kostas Sloukas pulling the strings, Kendrick Nunn and Marius Grigonis making big shots, Jerian Grant playing lockdown defense, and Dinos Mitoglou and Mathias Lessort playing at an All-EuroLeague level, Panathinaikos certainly has what it takes. It won't be easy against the likes of Wade Baldwin, Lorenzo Brown and Josh Nebo, but I believe Panathinaikos will make the most of its home-court advantage and win the series in five. **My pick: Panathinaikos 3-2.**

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final preparations 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreMaccabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreMaccabi</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/KS7j4x7wFc">pic.twitter.com/KS7j4x7wFc</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1782734073607176403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Panathinaikos's Final Four return

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv have been away from the Final Four for a very long time, considering both teams' winning tradition. I believe Panathinaikos has an edge in this series for two reasons. First, both teams have strong starting lineups but Panathinaikos has a deeper, more experienced second unit and that should pay off in what is expected to be a very physical series. Second, Panathinaikos has a difference-maker like Kostas Sloukas, looking for his fourth EuroLeague title and to reach the Final Four with a third different team. Sloukas arrives to this game in great momentum and should make things happen. OAKA Altion will be a tough place to play, too. **My prediction: Panathinaikos 3-1.**

### It will be Maccabi returning to the Final Four

#### *By Igor Petrinovic*

Panathinaikos and Maccabi are two of the hottest teams in the competition, each holding an 8-1 record in their last nine games, and it's been more than four months, since December 7, that the Greens have lost at home. Maccabi has actually swept the regular season series against Panathinaikos, but the first game was in Round 4 when Panathinaikos was still looking for chemistry, and in the second game the Greek side was without Kostas Sloukas and Luca Vildoza, while Kendrick Nunn was benched by Coach Ataman midway through the third quarter. Nunn has shined ever since, and Sloukas has been a true leader for Panathinaikos. But Maccabi has some major weapons in Wade Baldwin, Lorenzo Brown and Josh Nebo, and has learned many lessons in last year's playoffs. Also, I think those two regular season wins are an indication that Maccabi just might have the Greens' number. Call it an upset! **My pick: Maccabi 3-1.**

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-02T18:45:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-04-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-04-25T18:15:00.000Z)

As announced by the club on Tuesday afternoon, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul big man Johnathan Motley will be travelling with the team to Monaco injured for the first two games of the best-of-five playoff series against Monaco starting on Wednesday.

Motley will be a game-time decision for Fenerbahce

As announced by the club on Tuesday afternoon, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul big man [Johnathan Motle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/)y will be traveling with the team to Monaco despite a leg injury for the first two games of the best-of-five playoff series against Monaco starting on Wednesday.

Motley suffered the injury prior to the start of the series and he will be a game-time decision. Motley is one of the key pieces for Fenerbahce as this season he averages 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Johnathan Motley of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul had season-highs of 25 points and 31 PIR in Round 10 against Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Virtus beat Fenerbahce 87-79.

Motley had season-high game against Virtus

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-04-26T17:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-04-24T17:00:00.000Z)

Players on all eight playoff teams have dominated in certain statistical categories and hope to continue doing so in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

The playoff players' strengths, by the numbers

### Sizzling shooters

The playoffs will have an abundance of game-changing marksmen from long range. Of course, it all starts with [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/), the league-leading scorer (19.5 ppg.) who shattered the EuroLeague single-season record by sinking [137 three-point shots](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&seasonCode=E2023&category=FieldGoalsMade3&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=) this season, a league-leading 3.8 per game on 40.2% accuracy.

Of the 14 players averaging 2.0 triples made this season, Baskonia is the sole playoff team with two. [Vanja Marinkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vanja-marinkovic/004761/) (2.1) and Howard have downed more three-pointers than twos this season, as have three other playoff participants. Fenerbahce's [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) (3.0) became just the third EuroLeague player ever to make triple digit three-pointers (102), after Howard's 137 and Alexey Shved's 107 in the 2017-18 season. [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) (2.5) of Olympiacos and [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) (2.5) of Barcelona have made 84 and 69 triples, respectively.

Though neither plays shooting guard and both score more two-pointers, Monaco's [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) (2.3) enters the playoffs with 79 made threes while [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) (2.2) is Real Madrid's leader with 72, ranking seventh and ninth, respectively, in total shots made from the arc. Hezonja enters the playoffs hotter than any other long-distance sniper, having shot 17-for-26, or 65.4%, over the last four regular-season rounds.

Meanwhile, Panathinaikos guard [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), after some three-point woes earlier in the season, has made multiple three-point shots in eight straight games, making 23 triples on 51.1% over that span.

If a playoff game comes down to the final shot, expect the aforementioned specialists to have the ball in their hands.

### Inside scorers

Nunn's improved three-point shooting comes in addition to his ability to finish closer to the basket. Whether driving to the hoop or rising for mid-range jumpers, Nunn takes [a larger share of his team's two-pointers (23.7%)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=scoring&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=fieldGoalsAttempted2Share) than any other Euroleague player. To make things even more interesting, his Panathinaikos teammate, center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) (21.6%), ranks second on that list.

It is quite unique to have teammates rank first and second in this two-point share, especially one being a guard and the other a center. Of all two-point shots taken by Panathinaikos this season, nearly half have come from Lessort and Nunn.

Kendrick Nunn has the largest share of his team's two-point shot attempts than any other player this season (23.7%), and is his Panathinaikos teammate, center Mathias Lessort (21.6%), is second on that list.

Nunn and Lessort do the scoring work inside

Lessort [converted 24.7% of his team's attempts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=scoring&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=fieldGoalsMade2Share) inside the arc, the league's highest share this season. Just six players reached 20.0% in that category, including fellow playoff participants Fenerbahce center [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) (23.2%), ranked second, and Barcelona center [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) (22.7%), fourth. Expect these three teams to keep depending on their big man inside for high-percentage two-pointers.

### Playmaking trios

There are 13 players who have averaged [more than 4.5 assists](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&seasonCode=E2023&category=Assistances&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame&phase=) per game this season, and three of them wear a Maccabi uniform. [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) is the team leader, and third in the league, in that department with 6.1 per game. He is followed by [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/), who ranks 11th averaging 4.9 assists, and [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/) who has been dishing 4.7 per contest, ranking 13th. Their combined average of 15.7 assists was better than what two entire teams – Zalgiris Kaunas and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade – have averaged.

Barcelona has three players posting 4.0 assists or better. Nicolas Laprovittola ranks ninth with 5.0 per game, leading the team, while Tomas Satoransky posts 4.1 per game. Meanwhile, Ricky Rubio averages 4.0 assists, albeit in only eight appearances.

Barcelona's playmaking trio

Another playoff team not lacking playmaking options is Barcelona, which has three players posting 4.0 assists or better. Laprovittola ranks ninth with 5.0 per game, leading the team while [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) posts 4.1 per game. Meanwhile, [Ricky Rubio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ricky-rubio/lfw/) averages 4.0 assists, albeit in only eight appearances. The only other playoff team with multiple players averaging more than 4.0 assist is Real Madrid, which has [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) (6.5) and the three-time EuroLeague champ [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) (4.1).

### The Reds' silent threats

Olympiacos enters the playoffs with the league best defense, allowing a league-low 75.0 points to its opponents, but is the only playoff team scoring fewer than 80 points (79.0) per game. Nonetheless, the Reds have a very offensively efficient front line.

For instance, [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) ranks second [in true shooting percentage (74.6%)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=advanced&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=trueShootingPercentage), and [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) is seventh (70.1%). [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/), who has come back from a foot injury after having missed 13 games, is 20th with 67.9%, but [ranks first in offensive rebounding percentage (17.8%)](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=advanced&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=offensiveReboundPercentage), the same category in which [Luke Sikma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luke-sikma/006589/) (15.0%) is fourth.

None of those players rank in the top 10 in rebounds, but three of them Milutinov (5.6 rpg.), Peters (4.8) and Fall (4.6.) make the Reds only one of two teams with a trio of players accumulating that many rebounds. The other is Real Madrid, which leads the league with 36.8 boards per game, with [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) (6.3), [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) (5.4) and [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (5.0) leading the way. It is unusual that 15th-ranked Olympiacos (32.3 rpg.) would have three such rebounders, however.

### Monaco's major ball hawks

Monaco enters the playoffs tied with Panathinaikos for the most forced turnovers, 13.53 per game, and ranks fourth among playoff teams in steals (7.0). James leads Roca Team with 41 steals, which speaks volumes of how valuable he is to Monaco on both ends of the floor. James [ranks eighth](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-players/?size=25&misc=&seasonCode=E2023&category=Steals&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=) among all EuroLeague players in steals, while two other Monaco players – [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) and [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) – each have 39 steals. Their combined 119 total steals are the most by any three teammates this season and amount to just over 50.0% of team's total of 236.

A combined number of 119 steals from Mike James, John Brown and Alpha Diallo is the most by any three teammates this season, which amount for just over 50.0% of team's total of 236 steals this campaign.

Monaco's ball hawks

Interestingly, Monaco's playoff opponent Fenerbahce has several ball hawks, too. Fenerbahce claimed just 196 this season, 5.8 per game, [second-fewest in the regular season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=E2023&category=Steals&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated&phase=RS) in front only Baskonia (5.5). But Fenerbahce is alone with four players collecting 27 or more steals. Wilbekin (36), [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (31), [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) (30) and [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) (27) combined for 124 steals, 63.2% of the team's total.

FC Barcelona v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-04-26T19:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-04-24T19:00:00.000Z)

With the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs beginning this week, there is no shortage of trends to keep an eye on.

Stats review: Trends to follow in the playoffs

### Real Madrid vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Defensive Identity. Real Madrid held Baskonia to 77 points in Round 1, bullying it to earn a road win in a game where it struggled to get much going offensively themselves. After allowing a dominant 0.88 points per possession over the first half of the season, Real has conceded 1.00 points per possession over the second half of the year. After looking like this season’s top defense by a wide margin for several months, Real performed at a league-average level for several more to close the year. This team is going to be very formidable regardless, but its efforts in transition and closing out shooters could be key to its ability to return to the form that made Los Blancos the very obvious favorite early on.

How hot is Howard? It is no secret that [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) is a flamethrower; every team in the EuroLeague knows that. That has not stopped him from scoring in bunches on many nights this season including the 35-point effort that saw him go 7-for-12 from beyond the arc to beat Real at the WiZink Center only a few weeks ago. On his best nights, he takes and makes tough shots on the move and off the dribble through tight windows from well beyond the three-point line. Shooting 43% from beyond the arc in wins and 34% in losses, that tends to be the X-factor for Baskonia as he’s nearly unguardable at times when he gets hot.

Panathinaikos was one of the most productive pick-and-roll offenses in the EuroLeague this season, even showed it in a home loss against Maccabi in Round 4.

The Greens' pick and roll offense vs. Maccabi

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Pace and possession. While Maccabi is the lower seed in this series, it defeated Panathinaikos twice during the regular season. Maccabi's ability to control the tempo of the game was significant in both victories, unsurprising considering it finished the regular season ranked first in the EuroLeague in pace and third in offensive rebounding rate. Panathinaikos more than held its own on the glass, but Maccabi outscored the Greens 33 to 17 in transition across their pair of wins. How well the two-seed shoots the three and takes care of the ball will likely play a key role in whether Maccabi can control the tempo of the game.

Scoring-passing balance. Panathinaikos was one of the most productive pick-and-roll offenses in the EuroLeague this season. [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) and [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) all found some success looking to score off the dribble, but one of the strengths of this offense was the stellar 41% shooting from beyond the arc that resulted from their passes out of pick-and-rolls. Maccabi did a very good job limiting their ball handlers in their regular season matchups, making them give up the ball, but benefited from more bounces on the open looks they subsequently allowed than they can reasonably expect to throughout a five-game series.

### AS Monaco vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Shot-making. No teams in the EuroLeague attempted more pull-up jump shots this season than AS Monaco. It scored 25 points with dribble jumpers in its win over Fenerbahce, but only 15 in its loss as they split their regular season series. Despite finishing last in spot-up scoring efficiency this season, this offense has been able to lean on [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/)’s ability to pick opposing defenses apart off the dribble and how Fenerbahce reckons with that will likely set the tone for this series.

Home sweet home. Fenerbahce surged offensively over the second half of the regular season, ultimately rising to lead the EuroLeague in overall offensive efficiency heading into the postseason. Its success on that end of the floor is firmly rooted in its performance at home. Averaging an absolutely devastating 1.19 points per possession in Istanbul and a slightly below-average 0.98 points per possession on the road where it won fewer games than any other quarterfinalist, Fenerbahce’s ability to find a rhythm and steal a game on the road could make this series very interesting.

In the two wins over its playoff adversary during the regular season, Barca shot the ball as well as it did against any other team, moving the ball at a very high level, playing through the post.

Barca shot the ball well vs. Olympiacos

### FC Barcelona vs. Oiympiacos Piraeus

Inside-out. Barcelona has not matched up with Olympiacos since January, but in the two wins over its playoff adversary during the regular season, Barca shot the ball as well as it did against any other team. Making 50% of its catch-and-shoot threes, Barcelona moved the ball at a very high level, playing through the post and how Olympiacos deals with the passing ability of the Barca big men is something to monitor early on.

Seeking balance. Olympiacos has some things to address defensively against Barcelona, but found some positive things to take away from their regular season encounters on the offensive end. [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) and [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) found quite a bit of success creating out of pick-and-rolls, but Barcelona’s shooting stifled Olympiacos’s ability to get out in the open floor and create quality looks out of the secondary break.

Since the modern playoffs system was established in 2005, the top Turkish Airlines EuroLeague players and teams have amassed some amazing numbers. Check out the single-game, single-season and all-time playoff records below in 13 different statistical categories.

EuroLeague Playoff records: Points 

**SEE ALSO**: [PIR ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-pir)| [PTS](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-points) | [2FG](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-two-pointers-made) | [3FG](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-three-pointers-made) | [FT](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-free-throws-made) | [2FG%](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-two-point) | 
[3FG%](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-three-point) | [FT%](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-free-throw) | [TR](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-rebounds) | [OR](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-offensive-rebounds) | [AS](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-assists) | [ST](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-steals) | [BL](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-playoff-records-blocks)

TOTAL POINTS: Vassilis Spanoulis 

SCORING AVERAGE: Sergio Llull

POINTS PER 40 MINUTES: Sergio Rodriguez

POINTS, ALL-TIME, PLAYERS

MOST TOTAL POINTS: FC Barcelona 

HIGHEST SCORING AVERAGE: CSKA Moscow 

POINTS PER 40 MINUTES: CSKA Moscow 

POINTS, ALL-TIME, TEAMS

EuroLeague Playoff records: Points

They may know each other exceedingly well, but this is the first time Real Madrid and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz face off in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

 5 key questions: Real Madrid vs. Baskonia 

### What poison does Baskonia's defense pick?

One reason that Real ruled from the get-go this season is the team's incredible combination of talent, size and experience. It's a pick-your-poison proposition for Baskonia, and the choices are many. Six Real players average PIRs of 13.6 PIR or higher per game; double the number of any other team. Those six – [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) (29.3 PIR per 40 minutes), [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) (28.1), [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) (25.8), [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) (25.5), [Guerschon Yabusele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (24.8) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) (24.3) – all rank in [the top 26 PIRs this season on a per-minute basis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=200&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=perMinute&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=valuation); only Olympiacos, with three such players, comes close. Notice, that sextet is perfectly balanced around the court, with the reinforced center position ensuring that one top-15 player in per-minute performance is patrolling the paint at all times. They are an ever-changing combination of shooters, dunkers, floor-runners, bruisers, above-the-rim crashers, mid-range smoothies and specialists at drawing fouls. Now, who do you try to stop? Better not to ask. Baskonia will be playing Whac-A-Mole without a moment's relaxation as long as this series lasts.

Real Madrid's big six vs. Baskonia this season

### Will Real protect its home floor?

By seeding alone, this series is held up to be the most lopsided of the playoffs. Real finished the regular season with the most win (27) and the widest first-place margin of victories (4) under the eight-year-old round-robin format. Baskonia eked into eighth place. As such, Real has the all-important home-court advantage. Nonetheless, Real's three home losses this season came in the last eight games against three playoff teams, including the final one against Baskonia – which, admittedly, had much more to play for that night. But Real also trailed already-eliminated Crvena Zvezda 89-93 at home with 2 minutes left before finishing with a 12-1 run. Otherwise, it would have gone 0-for-4 at home since February 1. And remember that [Real coughed up its first two home games in the last season's playoff against Partizan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/?round=39&season=E2022). Baskonia will not forget any of that, of course. What's more, the challengers come with a shootout mentality and nothing to lose while Real is under pressure to win its first back-to-back titles since the 1960s. Need we repeat that [no regular-season winner has lifted the EuroLeague trophy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-aims-to-break-the-top-seed-curse/) under the new format? Danger has lurked somewhere for all recent defending champs.

### Can Markus Howard blow it up again?

With a defense anchored by the EuroLeague's top two shot-blockers, Vincent Poirier (1.5 bpg.) and Walter Tavares (1.4), Real's defenders can risk sticking closer to opposing perimeter shooters, knowing if they get faked and beaten on the dribble, help is behind them. That's one reason that [Real leads the league in both two-point (50.7%) and three-point (33.3%) defense](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2023/310/#comparison). One player who upended that dynamic is scoring sensation [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/), who drilled 7 three-pointers among 35 points, tied for the second-most ever on Real's floor, as Baskonia won 91-94 at WiZink Center in Round 33. Howard will get a lot of Real's defensive attention, but he's used to that. Baskonia's ability to parlay all the attention on Howard into clean shots for his teammates will be essential to its chances of springing an upset, even if he doesn't score in bunches. Still, Howard's unique ability to strike from any distance will give Baskonia a puncher's chance in any game, as he can single-handedly erase deficits or supply sudden leads in what seems like a heartbeat.

Markus Howard's 35-point night at Real Madrid on April 5.n

Markus Howard's 35-point night at Real Madrid on April 5.

### How much does experience weigh?

We're about to find out. Real's roster has all the playoff pedigree possible, it seems. All told, its players combine for 193 games worth of EuroLeague Playoff experience. They are led by [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/), the EuroLeague record-holder with 46 playoff appearances, [Rudy Fernandez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rudy-fernandez/bmt/) (39) and [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) (37). If "El Chacho" appears in three games of this series, all three will rank in the top five all-time. Meanwhile, for Baskonia, [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) played three games last season with AS Monaco, but he is injured and may not appear in this series. That leaves only [Dani Diez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-diez/003198/) whose four-game EuroLeague Playoffs experience dates to 2014 – when he was with Real. On the bright side for Baskonia, Coach Ivanovic has passed this way before 37 times and won 19 of those playoff games, while Real's Chus Mateo is 3-2 from last season, which is not to discount his many years as an assistant on the bench of the defending champs. We know that in a tight series, game-to-game adjustments matter, and Mateo aced that task after Real fell behind 0-2 to Partizan last season, never to lose another game. How much Ivanovic can transfer his experience in the cauldron of the playoffs to his players who have always wanted to be on this stage will be telling.

### Can Baskonia steal one in the capital?

That's the bottom line in any five-game playoff. An in-country series means less travel and more familiarity with the opponents, their arena and their fans. This may be their first EuroLeague Playoffs series, but Real and Baskonia are long-time Spanish League postseason rivals, steeped in each other's stories. Neither is intimidated playing on the other's floor. That has been especially true of Baskonia, which not only leads its head-to-head with Real in EuroLeague games this century by 8-10 – all of them since 2016 – but has come home victorious from three of its last four trips to WiZink Center. If there's one head coach who relishes starting a series like this on the road, it's Ivanovic, who holds a 7-6 record vs. Real in EuroLeague games. That includes a 3-0 sweep in his only EuroLeague Playoff series against Real, back in 2006 when he coached FC Barcelona. Baskonia will be undermanned to start the series with Moneke sidelined, but these underdogs will never feel like they cannot beat the odds. Real will have to prove its supremacy to this Baskonia team every step of the way.

5 key questions: Real Madrid vs. Baskonia

Real Madrid v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-05-07T22:00:00.000Z)