Olympiacos fights off Barcelona 59-63 in Game 5 thriller

Olympiacos Piraeus is back to its third straight Final Four after to a dramatic, defensive-minded 59-63 road win over FC Barcelona. Olympiacos now heads to Berlin where it will playing in the semifinals against Real Madrid, in a rematch of last year's championship game.

I was a historic night for the Reds, one at the beginning of which home teams had a perfect 19-0 record in Games 5s in EuroLeague Playoffs history. But Olympiacos became the second road team on Wednesday night alone to clinch a best-of-five series, just hours after Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul did the same in Monaco.

In this game, Olympiacos spent most of the night trailing, and got its first lead, 47-49, on a Shaquielle McKissic triple with exactly 5 minutes to go. Soon after, the Reds added a 0-8 run in a span of just 42 seconds, to open a 49-57 margin, which they managed to keep until the final buzzer, booking a place at the Final Four.

McKissic scored 9 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter. Kostas Papanikolaou scored 5 of his 11 in the final 3 minutes, while Nikola Milutinov collected 10 points and 10 rebounds in a historic victory. Nicolas Laprovittola paced Barcelona with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Alex Abrines finished with 13 points, while Ricky Rubio had 6 points, 4 assist and 5 steals in defeat.

Game Videos

### Low-scoring first half

Barcelona and Olympiacos struggled offensively early on. The Reds needed 4 minutes to score their first points, while Laprovittola scored all Barcelona points for an 8-2 lead. Papanikolaou hit one from long range for the visitors, but Barcelona remained in front and led 12-9 after the first 10 minutes, the lowest scoring first quarter in the playoffs since 2009.

Barcelona pulled away behind its defense, and close-range baskets from Willy Hernangomez and Jabari Parker opened an 18-9 lead. But Milutinov was doing the job inside for the Reds, and baskets from Nigel Williams-Goss, Alec Peters and McKissic cut it to 22-17. Olympiacos kept making defensive stops, and used another basket from Williams-Goss, and a put-back from Moses Wright to get within 27-25 at halftime.

Game News

### The Reds fight back and in front

Olympiacos closed the gap to 29-28 after Isaiah Canaan's three-point play, but Barcelona found a way to pull away thanks to a 7-0 run sparked by Jan Vesely's dunk and capped by a transition three from Alex Abrines. Olympiacos answered with 6 consecutive points through Thomas Walkup and Filip Petrusev, before Papanikolaou's triple tied the game for the first time since the first quarter, 40-40, which was the score after 30 minutes.

Rubio and Hernangomez restored Barcelona's lead, which grew to 47-42. But Olympiacos slowly melted the deficit, before McKissic's triple, the visitors' only fourth of the night, gave Olympiacos its first lead of the game, 47-49 with exactly 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer and a fastbreak layup from McKissic, followed by a Papanikolaou triple made it 49-57 with, a 0-8 run in just 42 seconds. Barcelona was not done, scoring the next 5 points and had a possession in the final minute to tie it. But but McKissic stole a ball, and Papanikolaou found Milutinov all alone for an easy dunk and 54-59, and there was not coming back for Barcelona.

FC Barcelona v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-08T19:00:00.000Z)

Nick Calathes and Tarik Biberovic were the two stars for Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul as the Turkish club beat AS Monaco Basket in Game 5 to reach the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four.

Calathes, Biberovic shined on unforgettable night for Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul will take part at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four after becoming the first road team to win a Game 5. The 2017 EuroLeague champion couldn't have achieved the victory without young gun [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) and veteran playmaker [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/), who stepped up big at Salle Gaston Medecin. 

Biberovic came off a weak performance in Game 4, getting 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting. In a do-or-die situation, Biberovic showcased his shooting skills, especially in a critical moment late in the third quarter when Monaco took a 55-48 margin.

Fenerbahce was searching for a go-to guy and Biberovic delivered, hitting a jumper and a couple of three-pointers to put his team in charge, 55-56, at the end of the third quarter. Even though Biberovic could not finish the game due to injury, he had put Fenerbahce on the right track to win the game.

Tarik Biberovic of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul had 8 of his 11 points late in the third quarter.

Biberovic rescued Fenerbahce in the third quarter

### Calathes added to his legend

It was also the first Game 5 to go to overtime. Once in the extra period, Alpha Diallo gave Monaco a 77-74 lead in the penultimate minute of the contest. Calathes then decided to take matters into his own hands.

First, the 35-year-old buried a corner three-pointer to tie the game. When Mike James put Monaco in charge again, Calathes struck from downtown for a 79-80 score with 19.4 seconds remaining. To cap things off, Calathes got a key deflection, diving for the loose ball to force a jump ball situation with 2.5 seconds remaining to [all but seal the outcome](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-makes-history-by-winning-game-5-at-monaco-79-80/).

Calathes ended the night with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while he averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the playoffs. As for Biberovic, he had 13 points on 3-of-3 three-pointers and 5 rebounds in less than 20 minutes on the floor.

They both provided the character and firepower Fenerbahce needed to win the series.

Nick Calathes hit a couple of three-pointers late in Game 5 to make Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul punch its Final Four ticket.

Calathes sends Fenerbahce to the Final Four

"I cannot comprehend the emotions I'm feeling. I'm really happy and proud of my team," Biberovic said after the game. "Everybody put amazing character in the game. 

"This is the first time in history somebody did something like this. It went down to the \[final possession\]. It required a lot of concentration and everything. And we did it really with amazing character. I'm really proud of my guys."

"It was a hell of a series. Hats off to Monaco," Calathes commented after the game. "First and foremost, I'm happy for my guys. We worked all year. We went through adversity. It was huge for us today. I can keep speaking, but I'm just very excited about going to the Final Four and doing it with these guys and this club."

Fenerbahce is set to face Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the EuroLeague Semifinals, although head coach Saras Jasikevicius had bigger fears after the game.

"The next step is how to land this plane in Istanbul!" he joked with a big smile on his face. "How are we going to take that plane down? I have no idea. But this flight home has to be legendary. Yellow Nation, get ready for Berlin!"

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard Nick Calathes comes together with Melih Mahmutoglu after their team's Game 5 win at AS Monaco in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

The 2017 champion will play at the Final Four for the first time in five years

AS Monaco v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-08T17:00:00.000Z)

After going more than a decade without taking the crown, Olympiacos Piraeus is now only two wins away from reuniting with the EuroLeague Trophy. The Reds survived a grueling five-game series against FC Barcelona, winning Game 5 on the road to advance to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the third year running. 

Olympiacos heading to 3rd straight Final Four

After going more than a decade without taking the crown, Olympiacos Piraeus is now only two wins away from reuniting with the EuroLeague Trophy. The Reds survived a grueling five-game series against FC Barcelona, winning Game 5 on the road to advance to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the third year running. Coach Georgios Bartzokas, who was on the bench when Olympiacos won its last championship in 2013, leads the team to Berlin to target another triumph.

This will be Olympiacos’s 13th Final Four, which represents the fourth most appearances in competition history behind CSKA Moscow (20), FC Barcelona (17) and its semifinal opponent Real Madrid, which will play its 14th Final Four when it takes the floor against the Reds on May 24. Olympiacos’s nine championship-game appearances are the second most in the Final Four era. The Final Four will also be Olympiacos’s second in the German capital; it finished fourth in 2009 after losing to archrival Panathinaikos Athens in the semis.

### Journey to the Final Four

After losing a championship-game thriller to Real Madrid last season, Olympiacos set its sights on getting back there. The first step was bringing back eight players who dressed for the championship game. The Reds stumbled early this season, despite an opening-night win at Panathinaikos. Olympiacos was 3-4 by mid-November and back-to-back losses to Valencia Basket and Virtus Segafredo Bologna in mid-December knocked the team down to 11th in the standings. However, no team finished the regular season stronger. It went 10-1 from Round 24 onward and not only climbed up to fifth place, but was one win out of second and matched fourth-placed Barcelona at 22-12.

Olympiacos’s success has been built on having the best defensive team in the competition for the second year running. During the regular season, it allowed a league-low 73.3 points per game.

Olympiacos allows just 74.5 points per game. That's almost three points lower than anyone else.

Olympiacos: the EuroLeague's best defense

The Reds carried their momentum and defensive prowess into the playoffs and – despite losing to Barcelona twice in the regular season – turned the series upside down with a 75-77 Game 1 victory. Two of its newcomers, Nigel Williams-Goss and Filip Petrusev, played key roles in the win. Barcelona bounced back by taking Game 2 at home and Game 3 in overtime at Peace & Friendship Stadium. With its back to the wall, Olympiacos produced a historic effort in Game 4 as it pummeled Barcelona 92-58 to stay alive and force a Game 5. Then a late 0-8 run led by Shaq McKissic in Game 5 gave the Reds a historic 59-63 victory and ticket to Berlin.

### Final Four experience

On top of its eight returnees from last season, Olympiacos added a pair of former champs. Williams-Goss won it all with Real Madrid last season and Petrusev was a reserve with Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s championship-winning side in 2022. Another summer signee, Nikola Milutinov, reached the 2017 championship game in his first stint with the Reds. The only player among Olympiacos’s top 10 in PIR without previous Final Four experience is mid-season addition Moses Wright. In addition to Williams-Goss and Petrusev, Alec Peters (CSKA 2019) and Kostas Papanikolaou (Olympiacos 2012, 2013) are also former EuroLeague champs.

### Final Four history

Olympiacos was the talk of the town when it won back-to-back EuroLeague Championships in 2012 and 2013 and remained a contender after that, getting back to the championship game in 2015 and 2017, when it lost to Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Istanbul, respectively. Despite bidding farewell to the generation of legends Vassilis Spanoulis and Georgios Printezis – only Papanikolaou remains from those years, Olympiacos remained competitive with a new wave of talent. And now they will head to Berlin looking to claim the club’s fourth crown.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shaq and Petrusev in EuroLeague playoffs<br><br>McKissic — Petrusev — <br>12.0 PPG 11.5 PPG<br>4.5/8.0 FG 4.5/7.8 FG<br>56/31/67% 58/25/82%<br>4.0 RPG 4.8 RPG<br>14.8 PIR 14.5 PIR<br><br>Leading OLY team in PIR per game. <a href="https://t.co/8MtIJvjEwV">pic.twitter.com/8MtIJvjEwV</a></p>&mdash; Givemestats (@iamgivemestats) <a href="https://twitter.com/iamgivemestats/status/1788210243849048136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A Game 5 win over Barcelona sends the Reds back to the semifinals


Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul has qualified for the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four! Saras Jasikevicius's men edged AS Monaco Basket 79-80 in overtime, winning the best-of-five series 2-3 and punching its ticket to Berlin, Germany. 

Fenerbahçe makes history by winning Game 5 at Monaco, 79-80

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has qualified for the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four! Saras Jasikevicius's men edged AS Monaco 79-80 in overtime, winning the best-of-five series 2-3 and punching their ticket to Berlin, Germany. This victory saw Fenerbahce become the first road team to win a Game 5 since the playoffs returned to the competition in 2005. 

Nick Calathes was the man of the night, hitting back-to-back three-pointers late in overtime and adding a key deflection in the final seconds. Scottie Wilbekin and Calathes led the winners with 14 points apiece, Tarik Biberovic added 13 and Marko Guduric netted 10 for Fenerbahce. Mike James paced Monaco with 20 points. Donatas Motiejunas had 16, Elie Okobo added 15 and Alpha Diallo got 10 for the hosts.

### Monaco shook off a slow start

Johnathan Motley got Fenerbahce going with a put-back layup and Nigel Hayes-Davis dunked for a 0-4 lead. James and a red-hot Motley traded layups, then Motiejunas brought Monaco within 5-6. Georgios Papagiannis dunked after a timeout, Motiejunas scored around the basket and Okobo's rainbow jumper completed the hosts' comeback, 9-8. Hayes-Davis took over with a reverse layup off a spin move that Diallo matched with a floater. Okobo dunked off a steal and Donta Hall ignited the crowd with an alley-oop slam, but Nick Calathes kept Fenerbahce within 15-13 after 10 minutes.

### Hosts extended their lead

Jordan Loyd hit a stop-and-pop jumper and Jaron Blossomgame added a three-pointer for a 20-13 score early in the second quarter. Biberovic and Nate Sestina each struck from downtown but Monaco didn't panic, as Blossomgame hit a jump hook and Hall added a three-point play. Okobo improved on Marko Guduric's driving layup with a three-point play. Wilbekin and Guduric each struck from downtown to get Fenerbahce closer, 30-29. James and Motiejunas rescued Monaco with consecutive baskets, then John Brown's jumper gave his team a 36-32 lead. Wilbekin improved Diallo's layup with a three-pointer that fixed the halftime score at 40-35.

### Biberovic put Fener ahead

Motiejunas buried a corner triple soon after the break. Wilbekin answered from downtown and Motley added a power layup to keep Fenerbahce within 43-40. Dyshawn Pierre erased Motiejunas's layup with a floater and Calathes's three-pointer tied it at 45-45. Diallo buried a highly contested shot that Hayes-Davis bettered with a triple that completed the guests' comeback, 47-48. Motiejunas scored again and James sank a three-pointer, good for a 52-48 Monaco edge. James kept pacing Monaco, but Biberovic followed a jumper with back-to-back three-pointers to make the guests regain a 55-56 lead after 30 minutes.

### Down to the final shot!

Papagiannis hit a floater early in the fourth quarter, which Loyd improved with a three-point play for a 58-58 tie. Guduric answered with a fast-break layup, Loyd scored down low and Calathes restored a 60-62 Fenerbahce edge with over 6 minutes left. Biberovic hit free throws, then Motiejunas and Okobo turned the game into a thriller, 63-64, with 3 minutes remaining. Guduric and James traded three-pointers, then Okobo buried a jumper for a 68-67 Monaco lead with 1:14 left. Wilbekin banked in a triple, Okobo answered with a driving layup and Monaco got the ball back with 23 seconds left in regulation. Okobo missed from downtown at the buzzer.

### Calathes became the hero!

James buried his trademark step-back three-pointer early in the extra period. Papagiannis made free throws and Wilbekin's closer jumper put Fenerbahce in charge, 73-74. Okobo hit foul shots, Wilbekin missed from downtown and Diallo's basket made it a three-point game, 77-74, with 1:16 remaining. Calathes buried a corner triple, then James's floater gave Monaco a 79-77 lead. Calathes struck again from downtown and deflected the basketball that turned into a jump ball situation with 2.5 seconds remaining. Papagiannis won the jump ball, allowing Fenerbahce to celebrate a truly historic win.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's Nigel Hayes-Davis has possession against AS Monaco in Game 5 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

It took until overtime, but the Turkish side became the first road team to win a Game 5 

Fenerbahce makes history by winning Game 5 at Monaco, 79-80

Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul is the third team to make it to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four, joining Real Madrid Baloncesto and Panathinaikos BC.

Fenerbahçe returns to the Final Four after five-year absence

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is the third team to make it to the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, joining Real Madrid and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. Saras Jasikevicius’s squad finished with a 20-14 regular-season record, good for sixth position, and then knocked out third-placed AS Monaco in the playoffs by winning 3-2. In doing so, the Turkish side has become the first-ever team to win a Game 5 as the road team. Having last made it to the Final Four in 2019, Fenerbahce will play the semifinals in Berlin, Germany, against Panathinaikos on May 24.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">EUROLEAGUE&#39;DE FINAL FOUR&#39;DAYIZ! 💛💙<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/YGfpBpEd1X">pic.twitter.com/YGfpBpEd1X</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1788289955850072437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Journey to the 2024 Final Four

Fenerbahce, which started the season with Dimitris Itoudis as head coach, went 5-1 through the first six games of the 2023-24 EuroLeague season. One of the keys to that strong start was its home form, winning four games at Ulker Sports and Events Hall in that stretch. The problem is that Fenerbahce could not carry those level of performances on the road, losing four straight games – all on the road – between Rounds 7 and 10. Yet, back in Istanbul in Round 11, Fenerbahce became the first team in the EuroLeague to defeat Real Madrid this season, winning 100-99 in an overtime classic.

After sweeping aside Maccabi, 70-99, Real continues its own double-round week by travelling to a Fenerbahce team that has won all four games at home so far this season. Expect a physical affair featuring the top three shot blockers, which are Walter Tavares, Vincent Poirier and Georgios Papagiannis.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Real Madrid | Round 11 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Two more road losses would follow, however, making it six straight defeats away from home. Fenerbahce was a perfect 5-0 at home but 1-7 on its travels as it continued to show Jekyll and Hyde-type performances. The club decided to part ways with Coach Itoudis and in came Coach Jasikevicius, who won two home games – improving Fenerbahce to 7-0 at Ulker Sports and Events Hall – before emerging victorious twice on the road in the final double-round week of 2023. Fenerbahce was starting to show some consistency at last.

A first home defeat arrived in the first game of 2024, but Fenerbahce immediately responded with three home wins. While Fenerbahce would keep winning it home, its road problems from earlier in the season returned as the Turkish outfit went 1-3 away from Istanbul in January and February. Nevertheless, Jasikevicius’s men showed what they can do on any given night by going to WiZink Center and handing first-placed Real Madrid just its second home defeat of the campaign. One week later, there was a home win against FC Barcelona in Round 30 that allowed Fenerbahce to dream of home-court advantage in the playoffs, but a 1-3 end to the regular season saw the team slip to sixth position.

Once the playoffs got underway, Fenerbahce stunned Monaco by winning at Salle Gaston Medecin 91-95 in overtime in Game 1. Forward [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) ended up being the named Game 1 MVP after leading Fenerbahce with 19 points and 7 rebounds. [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/), [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and [Nate Sestina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nathan-sestina/011980/) all came up big in the victory, too. Monaco managed to even the series in Game 2, triumphing 93-88, but Fenerbahce quickly seized the advantage again back in Istanbul by securing an 89-78 win in Game 3, with Calathes, [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/), [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) and [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/) all impressing. There was a 62-65 loss in Game 4 on its home floor, but Fenerbahce went to Monaco and beat the Monegasques 79-80 in overtime in Game 5 on the back of strong performances by Calathes, Biberovic and Calathes.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Berlin yolcusu kalmasın! 😎💛💙<br><br>🔜 Berlin<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/WB5Wx7Mp7L">pic.twitter.com/WB5Wx7Mp7L</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1788291464151076906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Fenerbahce's Final Four history

The 2017 EuroLeague champion first reached the Final Four in 2015 and played in five consecutive Final Fours between 2015 and 2019. Fenerbahce has gone 3-2 in semifinals, reaching the championship game in 2016, 2017 and 2018. This will be the second time that Fenerbahce has taken part at the Final Four in Berlin, as the 2016 edition saw the Turkish club defeat Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 88-77 in overtime in the semifinals before falling 96-101 in overtime to CSKA Moscow in the championship game.

Fenerbahce made up for its championship game heartbreak in 2016 by returning to the title game one year later, and this time it came out on top after beating Olympiacos Piraeus 80-64. In 2018, Fenerbahce would make it to the championship game for the third year in a row, but on that occasion it lost to the Luka Doncic-led Real Madrid, 85-80.

Lookback: 2017 Championship Game, Fenerbahce-Olympiacos

### Final Four experience

Coach Jasikevicius, a four-time EuroLeague champion as a player, is heading to his fourth straight Final Four appearance as a head coach, having gone to three in a row with Barcelona between 2021 and 2023. He also took Zalgiris Kaunas to the Final Four in 2018. The Lithuanian tactician has reached one championship game, losing with Barcelona to Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2021.

On the playing roster, Nick Calathes became a EuroLeague champion in 2011, [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) did so in 2021, and [Melih Mahmutoglu ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/melih-mahmutoglu/002969/)is the only remaining member from Fenerbahce’s 2017 triumph. Calathes has reached the Final Four on four occasions and Sanli has played at the Final Four three times, while Tyler Dorsey, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Tarik Biberovic have both made it one time apiece. No one else on the roster has played at the Final Four.

The Turkish side defeated Monaco 3-2 in the playoffs

Fenerbahce back at the Final Four after five-year absence

The Players' View takes over EuroLeague TV on Wednesday with our two regular hosts, former player Michael Roll and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv big man Jake Cohen, putting their expertise in play for the very last game of an exhilarating playoffs fortnight. 

 Tyrese Rice joins The Players' View for Barcelona-Olympiacos in Game 5 on Wednesday! 

The Players' View takes over [EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) on Wednesday with our two regular hosts, former player Michael Roll and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv big man Jake Cohen, putting their expertise in play for the very last game of an exhilarating playoffs fortnight. 

It's a do-or-die clash to reach the Final Four between [FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus at 21:00 CEST on Wednesday](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-barcelona-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/327/), and the Players' View will be all over it. 

Michael and Jake will be joined by special guest Tyrese Rice. The former EuroLeague champion with Maccabi in 2014 will add his own analysis as a long-time EuroLeague star during the second quarter of the broadcast. 

As always, there's no better way to get the low-down on what's happening on the court than to listen to the live insights of one current and one former pro. The Players' View is available exclusively to [EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) subscribers. Get your pass now to make sure you don't miss any of the action.

BARCELONA-OLYMPIACOS SERIES NEWS

Enjoy triple-team coverage by the players who know the game best when Barcelona hosts Olympiacos for must-win Game 5 on Wednesday.

Tyrese Rice joins The Players' View for Barcelona-Olympiacos in Game 5 on Wednesday!

Panathinaikos BC qualified for the EuroLeague Final Four on Tuesday night, but who will join the Greens and Real Madrid in Berlin?

Game Center: Two more Final Four spots to be decided tonight!

[AS Monaco 79-80 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/328/)

History! Fenerbahce has made it to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four! Fenerbahce survived a thriller, downing Monaco 79-80 in overtime in Game 5 at Salle Gaston Medecin to punch its ticket to Berlin, Germany. Fenerbahce has become the first-ever road team to win Game 5. The game was a back-and-forth battle. Monaco led for the large part of the first half, as Donatas Motiejunas and Mike James allowed the hosts to get a 40-35 margin. Tarik Biberovic helped Fenerbahce regain a 55-56 lead after 30 minutes. Monaco had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but Elie Okobo missed from downtown at the buzzer. Once in overtime, Nick Calathes hit back-to-back triples and added a key steal to lead Fenerbahce... TO THE FINAL FOUR!

[FC Barcelona 59-63 Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-barcelona-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/327/)

Olympiacos is back to its third straight Final Four thanks to a dramatic 59-63 road win over Barcelona. After home teams had a perfect 19-0 record in Games 5s in EuroLeague playoff history, Olympiacos became the second road team on Wednesday night to clinch a best-of-five series. Olympiacos now heads to Berlin where it will playing in the semifinals against Real Madrid, in a rematch of last year's championship game. In this one, Olympiacos spent most of the night trailing, and got its first lead, 47-49, on a Shaquielle McKissic triple with exactly 5 minutes to go. Soon after, the Reds added a 0-8 run in a span of just 42 seconds, to open a 49-57 margin, which they managed to keep until the final buzzer, booking a place at the Final Four. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 5⃣ 𝐃𝐀𝐘 <a href="https://t.co/V0vUZ0GNaw">pic.twitter.com/V0vUZ0GNaw</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1788156892759355555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 81-72 Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/329/)

The opening baskets came inside through Mathias Lessort and Jake Cohen, before John DiBartolomeo’s three gave Maccabi its first lead. Josh Nebo and Lorenzo Brown stretched the edge to 4-9, but Ioannis Papapetrou pulled Panathinaikos closer from deep. Cohen and Nebo were again on target to make it 8-15 with a 0-6 run, but triples from Kendrick Nunn and Jerian Grant answered for the Greens. Juancho Hernangomez’s alley-oop layup and Kostas Sloukas’s transition bucket made it 19-21 after 10 minutes.

Nunn and Tamir Blatt traded triples to start the second stanza, before Nebo and Jasiel Rivero netted inside to keep Maccabi ahead. Nunn’s jumper capped a 5-0 run for a 29-28 lead, and Sloukas added a three. Nebo’s put-back and Antonius Cleveland’s lucky missed dunk which dropped in forced another lead change, and James Webb III’s triple made it 34-37. Sloukas scored inside and Papapetrou netted from deep, but Rivero was strong at the rim to make it 41-41 at the interval.

Brown’s jumper opened the second-half scoring, but Papapetrou responded immediately. Bonzie Colson and Nunn traded three-point strikes, before Sloukas and DiBartolomeo did the same for a 49-49 tie midway through the third. Nebo scored 4 points straight, but Hernangomez hit from long-range and Nunn scored twice from the line, 54-53. Blatt’s triple forced another lead change, but the Greens saw another swing as Hernangomez and Kostas Antetokounmpo scored from the line for a 58-56 lead after three quarters.

Panagiotis Kalaitzakis lifted the Greens with a steal and slam to start the final period, and Nunn’s three-pointer completed a 10-0 run for a 64-56 lead. Brown’s jumper ended Maccabi’s spell of more than six minutes without scoring, but Nunn and Dinos Mitoglou scored from the line for a 68-58 lead. Blatt and Brown triples gave Maccabi hope, but Nunn responded with his own three-pointer and inside score. Brown hit again to make it 73-67, but Lessort’s consecutive putback and layup kept the Greens comfortable, and Nunn’s stepback three sealed the deal to spark huge celebrations.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THEY HAVE DONE IT!<a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@paobcgr</a> will be at the Final Four for the first time since 2012 ☘️<br><br>See you in Berlin 🇩🇪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F4GLORY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F4GLORY</a> <a href="https://t.co/bE0iBlqwyQ">pic.twitter.com/bE0iBlqwyQ</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1787940266432774481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Final Four is set: Panathinaikos will take on Fenerbahce at 18:00 CEST on May 24 at Uber Arena in Berlin followed by Real Madrid against Olympiacos at 21:00.

Game Center: Olympiacos, Fenerbahce make history to join Real, Panathinaikos in Berlin!

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-05-07T18:15:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos BC has inked star guard Kendrick Nunn to a new contract that will keep him at OAKA until 2026. The deal includes an NBA out clause under specific conditions.

Kendrick Nunn renews at Panathinaikos until 2026

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has confirmed that [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), one of the stars of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, has renewed his contract at the club until the end of the 2025-26 season. As the Greens put it, 'under specific conditions, the player retains the right to use an NBA out clause.'

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την ανανέωση της συνεργασίας της με τον Κέντρικ Ναν ως το καλοκαίρι του 2026. Υπό συγκεκριμένες προϋποθέσεις ο αθλητής διατηρεί το δικαίωμα χρήσης NBA Out.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://t.co/nUvcESWCOh">pic.twitter.com/nUvcESWCOh</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1788212927335465280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### A very impactful debut campaign

Nunn (1.95 meters, 28 years old) joined Panathinaikos this season, making his EuroLeague debut against ALBA Berlin in Round 7. He is averaging 15.9 points on 41.0% three-pointers and 95.7% free throws, 2.6 assists, 3.0 assists and a PIR of 11.7. He ranks seventh in scoring and first in free-throw percentage.

The former Miami Heat guard did even better in the EuroLeague Playoffs, averaging 19.2 points on 51.6% three-pointers, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a PIR of 16.6. He had 27 points in Game 4 to lead Panathinaikos to an 88-95 victory which sent the series back to Athens, then scored 26 points in Game 5 [to help the Greens reach the Final Four](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-euroleague-playoffs-panathinaikos-returns-to-the-final-four-after-12-years/) for the first time since 2012.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Kendrick Nunn dominated in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Nunn's top plays in the 2024 playoffs

### Nunn's journey to Panathinaikos

Nunn finished his college career at Oakland University, averaging 26.1 points in 28 NCAA games. He played for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League and made his NBA debut with Miami, averaging 13.6 points in 82 games to make it to the 2019-10 NBA All-Rookie first team. 

Before joining Panathinaikos, Nunn also played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards in the NBA. He helped the USA national team to win respective gold medals at the 2011 U16 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2012 U17 World Cup. Nunn also helped Miami reach the NBA Finals in 2020. 

Kendrick Nunn in action for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

The 28-year-old has shined bright in his rookie EuroLeague season

Just one win separates the teams from a spot at the Final Four, but who will come out on top?

Barcelona vs. Olympiacos: History on the line

When two giants come head to head, excitement is guaranteed. But add in the drama of a Game 5 and it goes into overload. That is the mouth-watering prospect awaiting fans who will be [tuning in to EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) to watch [FC Barcelona and Olympiacos Piraeus face off](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-barcelona-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/327/) on Wednesday night (21:00 CEST).

This will be the 40th meeting this century between the Blaugrana and the Reds, with Barcelona having the historical edge after winning on 24 occasions to Olympiacos’s 15. However, for the first time in this matchup, a Game 5 will determine which team makes it to the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Berlin, Germany.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">🏀 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘!<br>🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympiacos_BC</a> <br>📆 21.00h<br>🏆 Playoffs - GAME 5<br>📺 Movistar<br>📍 Palau Blaugrana<br>🔵🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/For%C3%A7aBar%C3%A7a?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForçaBarça</a> <a href="https://t.co/JPCEBxvyfS">pic.twitter.com/JPCEBxvyfS</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1788101529989227009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

When Olympiacos stole Game 1 at Palau Blaugrana by coming away with a 75-77 victory, the momentum completely swung in favor of the Greek team. Not only had Georgios Bartzokas’s squad managed to overturn the home-court advantage in the first game of this best-of-five series, but they sent a statement to Barcelona that they are more than capable of winning at the Spanish team’s home, where Roger Grimau’s charges had gone a joint league-best 15-2 through the regular season.

Barcelona went away and licked its wounds ahead of Game 2 and hit back with a 77-69 win to level the series. When the action switched to the Greek city of Piraeus, a tight Game 3 went right down the wire before [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) kept his cool from the free-throw line with 0.5 seconds remaining, going 2 for 3 to give Barcelona an 80-82 triumph. Suddenly, the two-time EuroLeague champion knew it needed just one win to advance to the Final Four and eliminate Olympiacos.

But, just as Barcelona had done ahead of Game 2, Olympiacos responded to a loss on its home floor by coming out on top in Game 4. While the first three games of this series had been tight, the Reds completely wiped the floor with Barcelona in Game 4. A 17-0 first-half run making it 53-37 at halftime before they went on to win 92-58, thus securing their second-biggest playoff win of all time. Will the confidence of that victory catapult Olympiacos to a win in Game 5? Will Barcelona be able to react after being humbled? We’ll find out soon enough.

### History on the line

If Olympiacos is able to pick up where it left off and win at Palau Blaugrana in Game 5, it would do something that no team has ever done – win on the road in a Game 5 situation. To date, home teams have gone 19-0 in Game 5s since the playoffs became best-of-five quarterfinals in 2009. By the time Olympiacos play, that could be 20-0 if AS Monaco manages to defeat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

That’s not the only piece of history Olympiacos is looking to overcome. Never before have the Reds made it to three Final Fours in a row, so there is also that hurdle to overcome. The Greek giants have reached European basketball’s showpiece event in each of the last two years, having also done so on two prior occasions this century – in 2009 and 2010, then in 2012 and 2013. Coach Bartzokas and his players therefore have the chance to knock off two demons in one go with a win on Wednesday night.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="lt" dir="ltr">Gameday! 🏀🔴⚪<br><br>🆚 FC Barcelona<br>🕒 22:00 🇬🇷<br>🏆 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@euroleague</a> / Game 5<br>📌 Palau Blaugrana<br>📺 Novasports Prime<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/CfGRYgKP73">pic.twitter.com/CfGRYgKP73</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1788092623057514995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Curiously, a similar situation faces Barcelona. The Spanish club in the midst of a three-year run of playing at the Final Four, something it had only done once before this century – the three-year stretch between 2012 and 2014. As such, Barcelona can do something that it has never done in its history by appearing at a fourth straight Final Four. History is on the side of Coach Grimau’s men, given how Game 5s have always gone until now, and the fans inside Palau Blaugrana will be doing their all as the sixth man to push their team over the line.

Olympiacos does have the edge over Barcelona in Game 5 contests, going 4-1 all time compared to the Spanish team’s 4-2 mark, which includes a Game 5 triumph over Fenerbahce last year to advance to the Final Four. Yet, in a game that is incredibly hard to call, anything could happen. [Make sure to tune in to EuroLeague TV to watch the action unfold.](https://tv.euroleague.net/)