Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 5 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 5

## Friday, October 17

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Real Madrid (19:00 CEST)

**Sasa Obradovic, Crvena Zvezda head coach**

"Maybe we need to change a few more details in the offense. Coach Scariolo is known as someone who can adjust defenses, and we need to be prepared for the zone – we saw that against Partizan as well. Especially since we have a shortened rotation, we need to pay attention to focus and energy. The first idea is not to start the game poorly. We've had some games where Real won all the first quarters, they come out strong, but their last quarters aren’t as good. Do they relax when they have a big lead – I don’t know, but it’s very important how the game starts. They have a recognizable style, with lineups that play different types of basketball. We have to talk about preventing easy points and offensive rebounds. Real is definitely a Final Four team, they’re organized as a unit, they have three or four top-level players, and they can stay consistent throughout the entire season."

**Nikola Kalinic, Crvena Zvezda forward**

"We expect a difficult game, they play hard, quite physically demanding... We want to transfer the energy from the last game, to be in rhythm. More or less, these are the things that have been true for Real for the last 15 years. Lots of pick and rolls with Tavares, extremely awkward. Hezonja is playing great, all the guys who came are shooting great, they allow Tavares and the other to play from the paint."

**Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach**

"Red Star's court is one of the most difficult places to play because of the pressure from the crowd. What's more, our opponents are in great form, having won two very good games at Fenerbahce and against the current league leaders, Zalgiris, playing very well, with a lot of solidity, a lot of toughness, and a lot of prominence from their most talented and experienced players. We know it will be a very demanding game. Above all, we have to prepare ourselves mentally on an individual level because, little by little, we are seeing improvements at the collective level, but we have to be able to stay focused throughout the game. There may be a bad moment, a couple of bad moments, but we have to limit their duration and the damage they do to us at those moments."

**Walter Tavares, Real Madrid center**

"We expect a very difficult atmosphere in Belgrade, but we have to step up and try to win our first road game, which is the most difficult thing to do. To achieve this, we have to play a complete game, a serious game from start to finish. Our minds are set on doing our best because it will be a dangerous game. Red Star will play with new energy as the players will want to show their new coach that they deserve to be on the court. Everyone will want to play their best game, and we have to be very focused and play hard against a team that likes to run, a very dynamic opponent with players who are open to shooting and who, playing at home, may be more accurate than usual."

### AS Monaco vs. Valencia Basket (19:30 CEST)

**Jaron Blossomgame, Monaco forward**

"What didn't work \[on Wednesday\] was that I think we started slowly. We didn't start the game well. We weren't incisive enough on offense. We showed a side of ourselves that we sometimes show, but it's not our best side. And we have to avoid that as much as possible. We have a lot of talent on offense, but when we don't move the ball around enough and it gets stuck sometimes, we're very limited and we don't score points. And when we play on the road in an environment like \[we did at Virtus\], things only get worse for us. We watched the video to see what we can improve on in certain areas."

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19:30 CEST)

**Igor Kokoskov, Efes head coach**

"We are facing a team that we played against last year in the playoffs. They kept the core of the team. They are a Final Four team with a lot of talent and with a great coach. We really have to focus on ourselves. We're gonna stick with what we are doing this year offensively and defensively. Mr. Ataman is coming home. We will give him a warm welcome for being back at home. It’s going to be a challenging and a tough game for us. We’re gonna be ready."

**Rolands Smits, Efes forward**

"Panathinaikos is a very experienced and a physical team. They have a lot of talented players. It will be a physical game. We need to stop their leaders and play as a team both in offense and defense."

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach**

"There is no easy game in the EuroLeague. More than the opponent, it is important how our team will play. We have the ability, we have the power, so we can play with anybody. Of course, with all the respect to Efes, they've put together a good roster. They got a very important victory here in Athens against Olympiacos. Now we will go there to try to win this game. We hope that we will improve every game because there are new players who need to adapt to play with each other. We haven't had a chance to have many practices, but I hope everybody will understand the strategy of the game better."

**Jerian Grant, Panathinaikos guard**

"We know we're going up against the team we played in the playoffs last year. A really tough team that has got better, so we'll be ready. We'll need to keep our poise. Playing on the road is always difficult, they've got great fans, so we've just got to keep our poise and play under pressure. \[The win against ASVEL\] was a game we needed. We lost our last EuroLeague game on our home court so we don't want to lose any more there."

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Virtus Bologna (20:00 CEST)

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach**

"After a physical and intense game like the one against Monaco, we will have to reproduce the same quality and intensity in defense and the same energy in attack, given that we are going to play against one of the best teams in the EuroLeague in terms of physicality. ASVEL is a very physical team that runs very well. Furthermore, especially at home, it is one of those teams that manages to perform at its best, thanks to its energy and ability to control the game."

**Alen Smailagic, Virtus forward**

"Tomorrow we have a big game against ASVEL. They just lost to Panathinaikos away from home. What is certain is that they are strong: they play well and we will have to run to keep up with them. Their transition game is a strong point, as is their three-point shooting. We will need to be good at containing them, especially because we know who to keep an eye on. For our part, we know we'll have to fight to bring it home."

### Paris Basketball vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (20:45 CEST)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach**

"Paris is a high-paced team. They play with great tempo and put a lot of pressure on the ball. For 40 minutes, they crash the boards hard. Overall, they’re a good and athletic team. We’re in a good place right now. We’re trying to build the bond and chemistry needed to sustain us throughout the season."

**Collin Malcolm, Hapoel forward**

"We’re happy with the previous win against Valencia. Now we’re going up against a similar team – my former team, Paris Basketball – and we’re expecting another high-intensity, up-and-down game. We’re getting prepared, and we’ll be ready to go tomorrow."

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:45 CEST)

**Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach**

"We first responded with a meeting at the hotel, where we watched the footage from the Real Madrid game and talked about the lack of aggressiveness we showed, especially in the first half. When it comes to Baskonia, it’s important to note that they’re a team that loves to play in transition and they score a lot, but they also allow a lot of points. Almost everyone on their roster can shoot for three points, and they’re very strong on the boards. For tomorrow, the key will be to have the right mindset and for the players to understand that our aggressiveness has to be at the highest level, while also being smarter on offense."

**Vanja Marinkovic, Partizan guard**

"We have to show a much better performance than the one in Madrid, especially in the first half. We need to play smarter, with more control and a clear plan. We must be aware of the situation on the court and know how to recognize and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way."

## Thursday, October 16

### Dubai Basketball vs. FC Barcelona (18:00 CEST)

\--

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (19:00 CEST)

**Ettore Messina, Milan head coach**

"We face a Zalgiris team that has been doing very well so far in the competition and on a basketball arena where the home crowd is playing a role. We are coming off a game plagued by very low shooting percentages that eventually doomed our chances. The defensive effort was there, and we need to restart from here. It will be crucial to move the ball better. We are also waiting to know what Lorenzo Brown’s condition will be, since he came out of the Munich game with some problems."

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. FC Bayern Munich (19:45 CEST)

**Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach**

"Bayern is a very physical team that puts a lot of pressure on our players. We need to match that; we need to play in our spots. Basically, we need to fight more, try to take more ball pressure on the other team, more offensive rebounds, and show reaction after a bad performance."

**Devon Hall, Fenerbahce guard**

"I mean obviously we want to come out and play well. We lost a tough one last night, so we will prepare well and come out to play much better."

**Gordie Herbert, Bayern head coach**

"The fact that Fener lost on Tuesday is certainly not good for us. It's still early in the season for many teams that had players at the European Championships. Sometimes it takes many weeks. But they are the EuroLeague champions and will be motivated. Just like us after our great team performance against Milan."

### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (21:00 CEST)

**Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach**

"Olympiacos is another high-level team, well-coached, they got their system. A lot of players that play together for a long time, so they know what they do. We have to come ready, especially after the tough loss that we had \[on Tuesday\]. We have to match their aggressiveness and their size. I mean, we have to cover it with a lot of concentration and aggressiveness. Also, Olympiacos, we know it’s a second game on a double-week, they're coming after a loss, so it's going to be a battle."

**TJ Leaf, Maccabi forward**

"We just need more energy, more fight. It kind of got away from us early \[against Barcelona\]. We know that can't happen again. We just have to come with more urgency, more sense of urgency on both ends of the court. At the end of the day, we just got to fight. X's and O's aside, we just got to have more pride out there. So that's really all there is to it. Obviously, they have a lot of talent. I mean, one of the best players in the EuroLeague. I think it all comes down to, like I said, forget the X's and O's for a minute. And we just have to play with pride, play with heart, play with a lot of fight. And if we do that, I think we'll be fine."

**Jimmy Clark, Maccabi guard**

"Just building team chemistry, camaraderie, and just playing hard together. That's the only thing I think we need to focus on, just come with some enthusiasm, heart, and integrity for the next game. So as long as we do that, I feel like we'll get the outcome we want. I feel like if we play together, nobody can stop us. Just play together, play hard, and just go out there and leave it all on the court. So I feel like if we can do that for the club, for the team, for each other, will be great."

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach**

"There’s some fatigue from the consecutive games, but that’s the case for every team. The game against Maccabi won’t be easy, because as you know, the conditions in Belgrade are always a bit special, playing without fans. We hope to be more consistent than we were yesterday, for longer stretches of the game."

**Tyler Dorsey, Olympiacos guard**

"We need to put two good halves together. My teammates and I have to play consistently throughout the whole game. We start well, but in the second half we can’t sustain it. We have to watch the film, see what needs to be corrected for the game against Maccabi, and finish games better. I also need to be better in the next one."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 5 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season

Pregame quotes, Round 5: 'Real Madrid is definitely a Final Four team'

Paris Basketball v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Virtus Bologna (2025-10-17T18:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Valencia Basket (2025-10-17T17:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-10-17T17:30:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Real Madrid (2025-10-17T17:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-10-16T19:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v FC Bayern Munich (2025-10-16T17:45:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-10-16T17:00:00.000Z)

Dubai Basketball v FC Barcelona (2025-10-16T16:00:00.000Z)

After trailing for most of the game, the Reds caught fire late by scoring 14 of the game's last 15 points to edge Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 94-95 at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade. All-EuroLeague forward Sasha Vezenkov made 3 key free throws with 42.2 seconds remaining and then the go-ahead bucket with 17.4 on the clock. 

Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos 'stole' victory from Maccabi

One after another, Olympiacos Piraeus's best players and head coach echoed the same concept. They were happy to win this game despite not necessarily deserving the victory.

After trailing for most of the game, the Reds caught fire late by scoring 14 of the game's last 15 points to edge Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 94-95 at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade. All-EuroLeague forward Sasha Vezenkov made 3 key free throws with 42.2 seconds remaining and then the go-ahead bucket with 17.4 on the clock.

The drama was such that Olympiacos head coach Georgios Bartzokas later quipped: "it's not a game for people who have heart problems."

The Reds still had to stop Lonnie Walker on the game's final possession and when he missed a tough would-be game winner, Olympiacos was able to celebrate its sixth consecutive victory over the Israeli side.

Celebrate, however, may be an overstatement as Vezenkov was quick to criticize his team in the post-game interview.

"We played terrible difference. They scored 94 points. We have a lot to improve. This win would be like a lie to us," the former MVP said before turning to the positives. "We made a great comeback the last 4 minutes, we found the right solutions, we played a little bit better defense. And as I said, it's better to learn by winning and not by losing."

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 5 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Vezenkov finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double in five games this season. He made 6 of 7 two-pointers and was joined by co-star Nikola Milutinov in making sure Olympiacos dominated the paint. The center scored 23 on 8-of-9 shooting. Combined they helped the Reds make a whopping 74.3% of their two-point attempts.

Like Vezenkov, Milutinov made it clear that Olympiacos won a game that it didn't necessarily deserve to win.

"Let's be honest. We stole this game tonight. If Maccabi won, it will be completely deserved for them. We were not good, especially in defense, it's really bad how we played defensively. Receiving more than 90 points is too much, and we have to improve the part of our game," Milutinov said.  "We have to fix it as soon as possible if we want to be contenders this year."

To be fair, Olympiacos did improve its defense late. The Reds closely contested most of their opponents' shots in the closing minutes when Maccabi missed 6 in a row.

Coach Georgios Bartzokas was so frustrated with his team's defensive effort that he walked out of a timeout in the fourth quarter. At the post-game press conference, he was able to put into perspective the situation his team is in with Thomas Walkup, Shaq McKissic and Evan Fournier all sidelined by injury.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another game. Another <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bwinMVP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bwinMVP</a> performance. 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/SashaVezenkov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SashaVezenkov</a> 💪<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/4gPprwe6i6">pic.twitter.com/4gPprwe6i6</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1978940129130524751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"We miss our defensive stoppers. You know, just to be tougher on defense, because, as you see, the talent in offense we have. It's obvious that we could score 30 points to the last quarter, but we need to be tougher on defense. And I hope that with the players coming back, we're going to be … way better."

Maybe taking Bartzokas's final words into context, Olympiacos didn't exactly "steal" a victory as much as they showed character to battle for all 40 minutes and showed off their talent to come through late. In addition to Vezenkov and Milutinov, Tyler Dorsey stood out with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Tyson Ward dished a career-best 8 dimes.

An easier stretch is around the corner for Olympiacos. After travelling to face FC Bayern Munich next week, the Reds play four consecutive home games between Rounds 7 and 10. If they are about to truly get "way better" on the court, it's a great time to be an Olympiacos fan.

Game News

The Reds finished the game on a tear to win after trailing for most of the night

One must have wondered if the wheels had come off at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul as the defending EuroLeague champs looked all at sea in the first quarter against FC Bayern Munich. In the end, however, they managed to get their act together.

Fenerbahce bounces back with big win over Bayern to get on track

One must have wondered if the wheels had come off at [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) as the defending EuroLeague champs looked all at sea in the first quarter against [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/). In the end, however, they managed to get their act together.

Having lost three in a row after the opening 96-77 win over Paris Basketball, including an embarrassing 69-93 home mauling by newcomers Dubai Basketball in Round 4, Fenerbahce showed some character to turn the tide in an 88-73 defeat of Bayern.

It was welcome respite for coach Sarunas Jasikevicius too, with club president Sadettin Saran keen to extend the Lithuanian tactician’s contract expiring at the end of the season. In his post-game comments, Jasekivicius acknowledged that Fenerbahce’s first priority was to find some consistency before becoming an entertaining outfit again.

“We tried to do too much in the first quarter and we have to understand that we can’t win playing pretty basketball at the moment,” he said. “We need to dig a little bit deeper, get some stops and somehow find some rhythm on offense. It will take time, we need our injured players back and the new arrivals to understand how we play.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Maç Bizim! 💪<br><br>Tebrikler Fenerbahçe Beko! 👏<br><br>Maç Sonucu | Fenerbahçe Beko 🆚 Bayern Münih: 88-73<br><br>Skor dağılımımız: Jantunen 15, Wilbekin 14, Baldwin 13, Hall 10, Zagars 8, Colson 7, Biberovic 6, Metecan 6, Melli 4, Melih 3, Onuralp 2. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/VXnxF5ae1K">pic.twitter.com/VXnxF5ae1K</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1978909691943030934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The normally noisy Istanbul crowd looked completely subdued as Bayern raced into a 14-20 lead before [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/), making a gradual comeback from a serious knee injury which had sidelined him for a year, got Fenerbahce going with a couple of trademark long range efforts.

Wilbekin finished on 14 points and [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/) paced Fenerbahce on a game-high 15, having sank 5-of-6 shots from downtown. However, the player of the game accolade went to [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/), who racked up 13 points, 3 boards and as many assists.

Fenerbahce committed a staggering 9 turnovers in the first quarter but kept the damage down to a total of 16, having nailed 13-of-27 long-range efforts as the hosts conjured a decisive 17-1 run in the second half to grab an unassailable 70-46 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“It was very important to treat this game like a final when a team like this loses three in a row at any point in the season, especially at the beginning,” said Baldwin. “Teams have been more energetic and more physical than us, so we wanted to turn that around today. We’re a dangerous team when those shots go in, today was a good day and we’ll be ready for the next one.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Kocaman bir aile. 💛💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/wFeCDvTO05">pic.twitter.com/wFeCDvTO05</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1978910692410261919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wilbekin, who made a long awaited EuroLeague return in the drubbing by Dubai when he scored 7 points in a lackluster team effort, seems to have rediscovered his mojo as he sank 4-of-8 shots from downtown and was instrumental at both ends of the court against Bayern.

The guard netted 14 points in just 15 minutes on the court, providing the spark on offense so painfully missing in Fenerbahce’s previous three outings, while he also marshalled the troops on defense to stifle out Bayern’s sharpshooters.

“We really wanted to come out and respond after the last game and I think we did,” said Wilbekin. “We were physical, we put in the effort and grabbed a lot of offensive rebounds.”

With both teams on a 2-3 record, Bayern head coach Gordon Herbert acknowledged that his men fell short on offense. “We really struggled on the offensive after a good first quarter,” he said. “They started making some threes in the third quarter and that was it.”  

Following three successive defeats, the champs closed shop on defense to overcome a stuttering start against the German side

Things were not looking good for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, which arrived at Zalgirio Arena without three injured starters, but it rallied to come away with an impressive 78-89 win at Zalgiris Kaunas.

Quinn Ellis, Pippo Ricci make Milan forget injuries in Kaunas

Things were not looking good for [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/), which arrived at Zalgirio Arena without three injured starters: [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/), [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) and [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/). Milan was coming off a tough road loss against FC Bayern Munich just 18 hours earlier, in which coach Ettore Messina’s team was held to just 53 points.

On Thursday evening, [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) forward [Arnas Butkevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arnas-butkevicius/002676/) came off the bench to score 17 points in six minutes, single-handedly giving his team a 29–13 lead early in the second quarter.

Most teams would have given up, but Milan chose not to. With some players seeing extended minutes due to the circumstances, Milan rallied to celebrate a 78-89 victory.

Zalgiris Kaunas-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 5 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

“I think the defense was very good throughout, and it grew in the second, third, and fourth quarters. Offensively, we were calm – I think that was important. We were very nervous at the beginning,” Coach Messina said after the game.

“We didn’t play a good game two days ago. That’s another example that, especially with this year’s schedule, you have to make an effort to move on from both good and bad performances.”

Milan’s comeback started with a 0–12 run in which four different players hit from downtown: [Nico Mannion](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/niccolo-mannion/011064/), [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/), [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) and [Pippo Ricci](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/giampaolo-ricci/001518/), who was unstoppable from beyond the arc.

Ricci finished with a career-high 15 points, hitting 5 of 5 three-pointers. Coming into the game, he had been 2 of 7 from deep (28.6%) for the season, averaging less than 9 minutes over the first four games.

This time, he played 27 minutes and was instrumental in keeping Butkevicius scoreless in the second half.

Giampaolo Ricci buried all of his 5 three-point attempts to his way to 15 points, a new career-high! EA7 Emporio Armani Milan beat Zalgiris kaunas 78-89. 

Ricci shoots the light out in Kaunas 

[Quinn Ellis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/quinn-ellis/012593/) was Milan’s decisive player down the stretch. He scored 9 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a jumper and a three-pointer to extend Milan’s lead to 64–70.

Ellis then found space for a wide-open layup, and Ricci knocked down a pair of crucial threes – the last of which sealed the outcome, 70–82, in the next-to-last minute.

Ellis had averaged just 2.5 points on 3-of-15 shooting (20.0%) and a PIR of 1.3 over his first four EuroLeague games with Milan.

In Kaunas, however, he made 7 of 9 shots for 15 points, adding 3 assists for a PIR of 18. After the game, Ellis credited his team’s defense for stepping up when it mattered most.

“I think we really, really turned it up in the second half on the defensive end with our aggressiveness. We got stops, and then the offense became easier with less pressure,” Ellis said, referring to the loss in Munich.

“We put that game behind us. We played again just two days later and are happy to get the win on the road, which is always important. Now we go back home next week and hopefully continue our streak.”

Quinn Ellis had 9 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead EA7 Emporio Arrmani Milan to a 78-89 road win over Zalgiris Kaunas. 

Ellis leads Milan past Zalgiris

A balanced offense helped Milan get the win, with six players scoring in double digits – led by Ellis, Ricci, Shields and [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/), each with 15 points.

After giving up 16 offensive rebounds over the first three quarters, Milan limited Zalgiris to just one in the final 10 minutes.

Milan also got a bit of sports revenge for a painful loss almost exactly one year ago. On October 17, 2024, Zalgiris beat Milan 82-85 despite trailing 64-37 with under 14 minutes left.

This time Milan produced a 27-point swing, turning a 16-point deficit into a double-digit road win that snapped a three-game losing streak.

Both players had career-high efforts against Zalgiris, making the most of their extended playing time in an impressive road victory

Zalgiris Kaunas is renowned for its deep basketball heritage, having seen some of Europe’s greatest players wear its iconic green jersey. But it’s safe to say that few moments – if any – have matched the fiery burst Arnas Butkevicius delivered against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Round 5 of the EuroLeague Regular Season.

A first half Arnas Butkevicius (and Zalgiris fans) won't forget in a hurry

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) is renowned for its deep basketball heritage, having seen some of Europe’s greatest players wear its iconic green jersey. But it’s safe to say that few moments – if any – have matched the fiery burst [Arnas Butkevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arnas-butkevicius/002676/) delivered against [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) in Round 5 of the EuroLeague Regular Season.

Both teams got off to a slow start, with Zalgiris leading 11-9 after seven minutes. That’s when Butkevicius decided to take over, exploding in a way rarely seen before.

He started his run with a wide-open three-pointer from the left wing, then followed it up with another from the top of the key. As the first quarter wound down, Milan had possession, but Butkevicius came up with a steal and drained a running triple at the buzzer.

The crowd erupted, and just like that Zalgiris was up 21–13.

But Butkevicius was just getting started.

Arnas Butkevicius of Zalgiris Kaunas went completely on fire against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. 

Arnas Butkevicius: 17 points in 6 minutes! 

Brimming with confidence, Butkevicius nailed a step-back, catch-and-shoot three from the left corner. Then came a fast-break dunk off another steal. Moments later, he brought the arena to its feet again with a deep three from the EuroLeague logo, beating the shot clock.

When he finally went to the bench, Zalgirio Arena gave him one of the loudest ovations in its history. And he wasn’t done – upon returning to the game, Butkevicius nailed his sixth three-pointer without a single miss.

Before this season, Butkevicius was a 34.6% career shooter from beyond the arc (66 of 191). But he has started this campaign red-hot, knocking down 11 of his first 14 three-point attempts (78.6% 3FG).

He reached halftime with 20 points –  just shy of Zalgiris's first-half record, shared by [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/) and [Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/), who had 21 points apiece before halftime against FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, respectively.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In the first half, Arnas Butkevicius was simply on fire – 26 EFF! 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/LgT9Jaq5Vp">pic.twitter.com/LgT9Jaq5Vp</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1978887749953368555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

His teammates, meanwhile, struggled from long range, combining to hit just 1-of-11 threes before the break.

In the second half, Butkevicius cooled off and didn’t score again. Milan adjusted defensively, denying him clean looks and eventually pulling away for a 78-89 win.

But years from now, only the die-hard fans will remember that Zalgiris lost that game.

What will live on is the memory of a six-minute stretch in which Arnas Butkevicius lit up Zalgirio Arena with 17 points and delivered one of the most electrifying performances Kaunas has ever seen.

Despite his team's home loss, the 32-year-old forward had a shooting night for the ages

Dubai Basketball seemed to have a clear game plan for its Round 5 tussle with co-leader FC Barcelona on Thursday evening: pound the ball inside, establish dominance of the paint, and then set up the long-range shooters later on. Big men Filip Petrusev and Mfiondu Kabengele shined particularly bright on the night.

Inside dominance of Petrusev, Kabengele gives Dubai famous win over Barcelona

[Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/dub/) seemed to have a clear game plan for its Round 5 tussle with co-leader [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) on Thursday evening: pound the ball inside, establish dominance of the paint, and then set up the long-range shooters later on.

And it worked. Jurica Golemac’s team did not even attempt a three-point shot until more than six minutes had been played, with its opening seven field-goal attempts all coming inside the arc. Big men [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) and [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) shined during those early stages, helping the team race into a double-digit lead by combining for 13 of its first 18 points.

Dubai’s first triple of the night finally arrived when [McKinley Wright IV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) drained a deep strike in the last minute of the first half, by which time the host had already made 12 two-point conversions.

Dubai Basketball-FC Barcelona | Round 5 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

It was a similar story in the third quarter, with Petrusev continuing to excel as he netted 12 points in the period and Dwayne Bacon’s aggressive drives to the basket adding another dimension to the home team’s inside game.

Dubai’s outside threat had been minimal, but that suddenly changed when [Davis Bertans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/davis-bertans/003458/) belatedly became a force by netting two triples in just 70 seconds, having previously missed all four of his long-range attempts, and [Klemen Prepelic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/klemen-prepelic/002661/) also stepped up to string his first points of the night with another deep strike.

Those scores were enough to take Dubai close to victory, but it was highly fitting that the deal was sealed much closer to the rim with a series of big buckets in the last few possessions: first Bacon again forced his way to the basket to add another layup, then Petrusev added a smooth jumper, before Bacon finally took the game out of Barcelona’s reach with a breakaway score.

The success of Golemac’s men inside the paint was not limited to offense, because Dubai also dominated at the other end of the court as Barcelona struggled all night for inside penetration. The visitors finished with just 16 two-point shots converted on 43 attempts (37.2% 2FG), while Dubai also comfortably won the rebounding battle 46-39 and made no less than 5 blocked shots – including a stunner by Justin Anderson on his former teammate Kevin Punter in the last 90 seconds.

<center>
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The numbers at the end of the game told their own story: Petrusev led all scorers with 23 points on 5-of-9 two-point shooting plus all 7 of his free-throw attempts; Bacon followed close behind with 20 points on 8-of-10 two-point shooting, and Kabengele contributed big time with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.

That physical effort was even more impressive considering the team’s exertions in Istanbul just two days previously, followed by the long journey home. And that point was not lost on victorious Coach Golemac, who told EuroLeague TV: “After this road trip, with this schedule that is really tight, we managed to find this energy.

“It’s our job. Tomorrow we’re going to recover, the day after we’ve got practice, and in three days we’ve got a game \[in the ABA League\]. We’ll try to recover as much as we can and not to think about that.”

There's no denying Dubai’s focus was crystal clear on Thursday night, and perhaps the post-game recovery can even include a short amount of time for celebrations after a famous week.

The duo set the tone early en route to an impressive win, the team's second in succession

On October 16, 2000, the modern-day EuroLeague officially began with a thrilling opener in Madrid that changed European basketball forever.

25 years ago today: A new era tipped off

On October 16, 2000, the modern-day EuroLeague officially began with a thrilling opener in Madrid that changed European basketball forever.

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) edged [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) 75-73 in a tightly contested battle that marked the first-ever EuroLeague game. It was a night full of symbolism, passion, and history in the making.

[Dino Radja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dino-radja/aha/), a two-time continental champion and future Hall of Famer, scored the first basket in modern EuroLeague history and grabbed 16 defensive rebounds – still the joint fourth-highest single-game total ever.

[Stephane Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/stephane-risacher/ahb/) – now the father of BKT EuroCup Rising Star and future No.1 pick in the NBA Draft, [Zaccharie Risacher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zaccharie-risacher/010718/) – led all scorers with 18 points for Olympiacos, but Real Madrid’s balanced attack – with seven players scoring between 7 and 14 points, led by [Alberto Angulo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-angulo/ain/) – secured the win.

Sergio Scariolo, who returned to *Los Blancos* for his second spell in charge in the summer of 2025, earned the distinction of being the first head coach to win a EuroLeague game, while the late Mirza Delibasic, a Real Madrid legend, was honored by the home fans with a loving ovation.

A quarter-century later, the legacy of that night still echoes across Europe. Here's to 25 years of unforgettable EuroLeague basketball.

An all-around performance — the best of his EuroLeague career — has seen Jordan Nwora of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade honored as the MVP for Round 4.

Round 4 MVP: Jordan Nwora, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

An all-around performance — the best of his EuroLeague career — has seen [Jordan Nwora](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-nwora/013363/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade honored as the MVP for Round 4.

Nwora led Zvezda to an 88-79 win over previously unbeaten Zalgiris Kaunas with 24 points, shooting 7-of-12 on two-pointers, 1-of-4 from three, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also pulled down 7 rebounds, recorded a career-high 5 steals, dished 3 assists, and blocked a personal-best 2 shots. It all added up to a PIR of 34 – the highest of his career and the top performance index rating in this round.

The second-highest PIR of the round, 33, belonged to Panathinaikos Athens center [Richaun Holmes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/richaun-holmes/014011/). In a 91-85 win over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Holmes posted 24 points on 11-of-12 two-point shooting, 10 rebounds, and 1 block. [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) of Paris Basketball followed with a PIR of 32 in his team’s 105-87 win over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Hifi’s 32 PIR and 29 points were both career highs. He also tallied 5 assists and 4 steals.

[Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) of Dubai Basketball registered a 31 PIR in the newcomer’s resounding 69-93 road win at the home of the defending champs, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Kabengele contributed 26 points and 7 rebounds in the victory. Rounding out the list of this round’s top performers were [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos and [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) of Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. Nunn shined with 26 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in the Greens’ win over ASVEL, while Micic tallied 24 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals in Hapoel’s 93-100 triumph at Valencia Basket.

### Individual highs: Nadir Hifi, Paris, 29 points

Nadir Hifi led all scorers in Round 4 with 29 points. He is also the league’s top scorer after four rounds, averaging 23.3 points per game.

[Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/) of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Paris forward [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/derek-willis/009664/) each pulled down a round-high 12 rebounds. [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of Olympiacos Piraeus remains the league's top rebounder with an average of 10.0 boards per game.

Three players shared the round’s high of 8 assists: [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chris-jones/010568/) of Hapoel, [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) of FC Barcelona, and [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/) of Valencia. The overall assists leaders are [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) of Fenerbahce and [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) of Zalgiris, each averaging 6.8 per game.

Round 4 MVP Nwora led all players with 5 steals. Hifi remains the season leader with 3.3 steals per game.

Twelve players had 2 blocks in Round 4. One of them, [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) of Real Madrid, is the league leader with 1.8 blocks per game.

Two players recorded double-doubles in Round 4: Holmes with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Booker with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Virtus Bologna remains perfect at home in the EuroLeague this season, thanks in no small part to the play of Carsen Edwards in Round 4.

Carsen Edwards inspires Virtus to another big night at the PalaDozza

There was plenty of excitement when [Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) announced the signing of [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) this past summer. The 27-year-old, coming off a career-best season with FC Bayern Munich, was seen as the centerpiece of Vu Nere’s new project. But through the first three rounds of the EuroLeague season, Edwards found himself under the microscope.

That changed on Wednesday night.

The former Boston Celtic delivered his breakout performance in a Virtus jersey, leading his team to a 77-73 win over [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/). It marked the Italian side’s second straight home victory, following their Round 1 triumph over Real Madrid (74-68).

Back-to-back road losses in Rounds 2 and 3 had cooled some of the early buzz around Dusko Ivanovic’s squad, with criticism falling on Edwards among others. But in Round 4, he set the tone from the tip at the PalaDozza, scoring 8 points in the opening quarter – matching the 8 from [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), who received some boos following his two years with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.

Virtus Bologna-AS Monaco | Round 4 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Edwards added another 8 across the second and third quarters, then dropped 8 more in the final frame to finish with 24 – his highest-scoring game for Virtus and his best since the final day of the 2024-25 regular season with Bayern.

“How are you and I going to talk about the best player that we have?” said [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) afterward, when asked about Edwards. “I’m just proud. I like playing with him. I hope he continues that way. He showed last year the way he can hoop, the kind of player he is, so I’m just really happy being next to him.”

It was a standout night for both Edwards and Virtus, though things nearly unraveled at the end. After a driving layup from Edwards pushed the lead to 74–62 with just under three minutes remaining, Monaco responded with an 8–0 run that quieted the PalaDozza. Edwards stepped up again, drawing a foul from [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) and calmly sinking both free throws to restore a two-possession cushion with 67 seconds left.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">COSÌ. <a href="https://t.co/hH1RuZsr0h">pic.twitter.com/hH1RuZsr0h</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/1978559709222203550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Virtus did just enough to hold on and even its record at 2–2 on the season.

“It was important for us to build good habits and put ourselves in a good position in this game, especially at home. It was good for us,” Edwards told EuroLeague TV in his post-game interview.

Those habits will face another test on Friday night, when Edwards and Virtus go on the road to face LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, looking to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Monaco, on the other hand, will look to get back on track when it hosts Valencia Basket, also on Friday night.

The Italian side remains perfect at home after a Round 4 win over Monaco

Virtus Bologna v AS Monaco (2025-10-15T18:30:00.000Z)