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

Pregame quotes hub: Round 25

## Wednesday, February 5

### AS Monaco vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (19:00 CET)

**Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco head coach**

"We're taking it one game at a time. This year in the EuroLeague, there's no room for error, so we can't afford to relax. \[Elie Okobo\] is almost back, but we'll decide day by day. \[The five-game winning streak in all competitions\] gives us confidence, but this is the EuroLeague and anything can happen. It's a battle in which you have to find solutions, even when the scenario is not going well."

**Donatas Motiejunas, AS Monaco center**

"We're at a crucial point in the season, the teams are playing their best basketball, we're on a good trajectory in terms of play and results, and we want to confirm that. Concentration is imperative, Baskonia play very fast basketball, they have very good shooters. We prepare each game as if it were the last of the season. The way we beat a big club like Real is the kind of performance we want to reproduce. From a personal point of view? Last week was complicated for me (he had a sinus infection), but I'm feeling better now."

**Pablo Laso, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz head coach**

"We're going to have to do a lot of things right if we want to get a good result. Monaco has been EuroLeague favorites for several years now. They've got some very unbalanced one-on-one players like Mike James, Okobo, Loyd, Cornelie and Motiejunas. And at the '1', there's one of my favorite players, Nick Calathes. He's a player who knows how to read games perfectly, he knows how to impose the right rhythm, and he's an excellent defender. That's why they're great candidates to win the EuroLeague title."

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach**

"Partizan is a combative and athletic team, they have proven it often, especially in the last few games. They play very well defensively, tough, with constant defensive switches, plus they have several players with enough experience to manage the last decisive possessions."

**Rayjon Tucker, Virtus Segafredo Bologna guard**

"It will be a very tough game because Partizan is a very good team, with many strengths. From our side it will be necessary to make a good impact because on the court there will be a fight, as always in the EuroLeague. The goal is to play as a team, hard and with determination."

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

"We have a double round in the EuroLeague ahead of us. Our motivation remains the same, and every game is extremely important for us. The first key thing to note is that Virtus changed their coach a few rounds ago. They are adjusting their roster, but they already have Dusko Ivanovic's recognizable style - lot of aggression, running, and defensive adjustments. We tried to respond with training yesterday, and we will continue preparing today based on what awaits us in tomorrow’s game."

**Iffe Lundberg, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard**

"I expect us to win. We need to approach this game as if it were a final. It’s always nice to see familiar faces, as I’ll be playing against my former club. I have many great memories in that arena, so it will be special. But above all, winning is what matters most, and we have to do whatever it takes to get the job done."

### Paris Basketball vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:30 CET)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach**

"The truth is that if there was only one match where we should have all the guards available, that match would definitely be the one against Paris because we must defend players who are very creative and good shooters. But Paris is more than that… They are very good at offensive rebounds, on defense transition, and generally are a team with good structure in its game. We have to stick to our game plan and not carry on from their high pace. We have to be very good on offense as well as on defense in order to get the win."

**Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos Piraeus forward**

"We play against a good team with a special game style. We will miss players, but from time to time all the teams face the same problem. We have to do our best in order to overcome the absences of Thomas Walkup and Luca Vildoza. We also must be focused and dominant on rebounds. We need to stick together and do our best in order to get the win."

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

**Joan Penarroya, FC Barcelona head coach**

"\[Maccabi\] has dangerous players and is a team capable of having big runs. We want to play a good game to get rid of this bad taste and give our fans a reason to be behind the team."

**Joel Parra, FC Barcelona forward**

"I'm confident that us players can reverse this situation. We hope to reengage our fans and ask for forgiveness in the form of a victory."

**Rokas Jokubaitis, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard**

"We know Barcelona is not in the best moment, so they will approach this game even more serious. It is never easy to play there, I know that from my experience. We don’t have many games left in the EuroLeague regular season, but we need to have the best game possible. I don’t know how it will feel, I spent three years there. I got a very good relationship with the fans and the club. I will be nervous a little bit, but I am excited to go back to Barcelona."

## Tuesday, February 4

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Real Madrid (18:30 CET)

**Luca Banchi, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"We are starting the double-game week with Real Madrid game. This game will be the first of a cycle of very important games that we want to approach with a great aggressiveness and concentration. Our opponent shows collective effort, starting from the defensive end. They have rhythm and play high-paced basketball, with many individual talents. It is enough to understand what type of challenge we have in front of us, but we are conscious that with general effort in general participation we can have a great game against them. I think we are facing some problems that can probably limit some players, but we have all the options to find alternatives and to respond against one of the most powerful teams in this league."

**PJ Dozier, Anadolu Efes Istanbul guard**

"We are looking forward to another opportunity to compete at a high level. I think we are taking steps in the right direction and continue to find our identity. We have all the pieces it takes to win."

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

"This week we face two teams that come with different dynamics and I think we have options against both of them. I don't trust their recent victories and defeats. We will fight to win both games. Now we are focused on Anadolu Efes and I don't think we should trust their streak going into tomorrow's game. We will try to compete to reach the end with a chance to win and we will try to make up for the defeat we suffered against them at home. We will try to play a serious game, a good game, and pull it off on a complicated court."

**Walter Tavares, Real Madrid center**

"We know it's very difficult to play away and even more so in Turkiye against Efes, but we have the experience of having won important away games and I hope that will help us and unite us more to add another victory. Efes is going to play with a lot of desire because they are playing at home and against Real Madrid, which is always a source of extra motivation. They will be prepared and will try to do their best to win, just like us. A win would be very important because the standings are very tight, there is a lot of equality and any victory we can get will help us to be at the top."

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. ALBA Berlin (19:00 CET)

**Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach**

"With Sylvain Francisco and Lonnie Walker, Zalgiris has two players in its team who are exceptionally strong one-on-one. We have to be wide awake in these matchups and also work against them in team defense. In addition, they have a lot of basketball IQ in their team with \[Edgaras\] Ulanovas and the other Lithuanian players. Also, the fans in Kaunas give them a real home-court advantage. We must push our energy and focus to the limit to give ourselves the chance to win."

**Matteo Spagnolo, ALBA Berlin guard**

"Zalgiris is a really good and well-prepared team. We need to match their energy and prevent them from building up their confidence. Besides that, we’ll have to be able to respond to their runs. Especially Francisco and Walker can get hot quickly with their drives to the baskets or three-pointers. The rebounding duel is another factor that will be crucial."

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:00 CET)

**Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade head coach**

"An important game for us. ASVEL is quite an athletic team, they play very well. They have three wins in the last five rounds. We expect a tough game. They have a wide roster. It is extremely important for us to stay focused on our plan, I want to play the game in our rhythm. Control of the rebounds will be important. They have two or three players who control the ball, organize the offense, such as Theo Maledon, Nando De Colo and Paris Lee. They are the main creators and scorers. They have more ways to attack, but we are ready and we know what to do defensively. On offense, we have to be smart and find the right solutions."

**Dejan Davidovac, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade forward**

"We expect a difficult game, ASVEL is known as a team that plays with a lot in contact, they can be tricky, they are still fighting for the play-in spots. They changed the roster, now Ben Bentil is here, some players are coming back from injuries. They have a pretty strong roster, it will be difficult, for sure. We are trying to understand each other as well as possible, we have now played together a lot, it is time we all connect. We look good now, especially on defense."

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:15 CET)

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

"We must win all our remaining home games. That is the reality for us. If we fail to do so, we can forget about the Final Four or even the playoffs. Winning is our only option. That is one reality. The other is that our opponent is in excellent form. They have won their last six EuroLeague games. Just last week, they came here and convincingly defeated Olympiacos, the team currently leading the standings. So, it will be a very challenging game. We must be highly aggressive and prepared for a game that feels like a derby – similar to our game against Olympiacos two weeks ago. Our situation in the EuroLeague is quite critical at the moment, and we need to start the game with intensity."

**Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard**

"We lost the last game in Italy, a game we should have won, especially considering that EA7 Emporio Armani Milan was missing several key players. I agree with the coach that we cannot afford to lose another home game, starting with the ones coming up this week. We need to be ready. We have prepared well, we feel good. These are two must-win games for us."

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

"Panathinaikos is in real need of the win, so they're gonna come out with a great intensity. OAKA will try to push them ahead. So first of all, we have to match their intensity, then we need to understand the defensive coverage that they throw at us, prepare our good offenses, and try to understand where we can hurt them. Also defensively, their guards present really big difficulties with their talent, their pick-and-roll creation and their isolation creation."

**Devon Hall, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard**

"We're going into a tough environment. Obviously, they are a very good team. So we just gotta be solid, stick to our plan and rules. Today, we'll try to work on it."

### FC Bayern Munich vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:45 CET)

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

"We hope that Devin \[Booker\] will avoid the worst-case scenario. Until then, others have to step up, and we all need to stick together. We've been through this situation before when Vlado \[Lucic\] and Niels \[Giffey\] were missing. That brought us together, and it's always a moment when the guys from the bench have to step up. Milan is a tough challenge either way because they are a high-level team with outstandingly talented players like \[Zach\] LeDay and \[Shavon\] Shields. Coach Messina is one of my favorite coaches, but it's also clear: This is a very important game for both teams."

**Oscar da Silva, FC Bayern Munich forward**

"We are in a good position when it comes to big men and now have to compensate for Book's injury as a team. Milan and Villeurbanne are roughly on par with us based on the current standings. Two wins would be perfect, but Milan is already a really strong team. I hope our fans will support us as incredibly as they have all season."

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

"It is obviously a very important game, but at this point, with 10 games remaining in the schedule, every single game is going to be crucial. Bayern is capable to play up-tempo especially on its home court, they are aggressive defensively and can use multiple solutions offensively with the many shooters they have. For, a good transition defense, rebounding control and a good shooting selection will go a long way in determining the outcome."

Pregame quotes hub: 'This year in the EuroLeague, there's no room for error'

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-02-04T19:45:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-02-04T19:15:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-02-04T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v ALBA Berlin (2025-02-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Real Madrid (2025-02-04T17:30:00.000Z)

The long-term absence of injured big men is hurting Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens but the defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion got a combined 40 points  veteran guard Kostas Sloukas and top scorer Kendrick Nunn to defeat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 91-90 in Round 25

Panathinaikos dug deep to overcome adversity on Tuesday

The long-term absence of injured big men is hurting [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) but the defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion has been able to rely on its vast resources in battling the void in the paint.

Against [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2024-25), veteran guard [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and top scorer [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) stepped up to the plate by combining for 40 points as the Greens made 10 of 22 shots from downtown, while forward [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) also came up big with a tally of 15 points and 8 boards in the [91-90 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-edges-fenerbahce-91-90-in-a-titanic-tussle/).

[Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/), the only natural center remaining on the roster after injuries sidelined [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/), made a flying start as he racked up 8 points and 3 boards in the first quarter, but ultimately it was Sloukas and Nunn who did the damage.

Sloukas scored a game-high 23 points and picked up 5 rebounds while Nunn added 17 points - 13 of them in the second half, as Panathinaikos ground out a fortuitous win in the dying seconds. Nunn also dished out 7 assists while Sloukas marshaled Panathinaikos superbly from start to finish, playing a big part on defense too as he managed a crucial late steal that allowed the Greens to force the final twist.

Hernangomez, who also made some clutch shots in the third quarter, elaborated just how pivotal the backcourt firepower was in making up for the absence of muscle in the paint, adding that team spirit was just as crucial with Lessort, Yurtseven and [Kostas Anthetokoumpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) unavailable.

It’s the ‘next man’ mentality,” the versatile Spanish forward said in his postgame comments.

“Omer, Mathias and Kostas are huge players for us, but they are not here and that means we have to do more things. As for Sloukas and Nunn, they are a great duo and when they go out there they do their magic.”

Nunn, who’s been struggling from long range recently, turned facilitator in the opening three quarters before sinking a pair of clutch threes in the fourth as he went the distance despite playing much of the second half on 4 personal fouls. Nunn’s effort prompted head coach Ergin Ataman to point out how vital the shooting guard’s presence was.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And that moment, we knew…<a href="https://twitter.com/kos_slou?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kos_slou</a> 😤💚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneClubOneApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneClubOneApp</a> <a href="https://t.co/WSdK8oqbbL">pic.twitter.com/WSdK8oqbbL</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1886905448839750122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Nunn was held to 4 points until the fourth quarter but that kind of a player will find a way to score and that’s why I kept him on the court throughout despite him being on 4 fouls. He sank a pair of critical shots which put us up by 5 points in the last 2 minutes,” the Turkish tactician told the postgame press conference, having also emphasized the importance of winning when his team’s performance left a lot to be desired.

“I am not entirely satisfied with the tactical and technical level of the basketball that we played,” he said. “Every time we had a chance to take control of the game, we committed turnovers and missed open shots and we gave them a chance to win. But we played aggressive defense on their last two possessions and then we got lucky as they committed an unnecessary foul with one second left. It’s important to be able to win a game like that without playing well.”

The result lifted Panathinaikos into fourth place with a 15-10 record ahead of [Thursday’s home game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2024/229/) against Ataman’s former club [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/roster/ist/?season=2024-25) and the 59-year-old coach, who won back-to-back titles with Efes in 2021 and 2022 before taking over the Greens in 2023, was clear that there was no room for error in the home straight of the regular season.

“It’s extremely important to win all our home games for the remainder of the season, starting with Efes on Thursday,” Ataman said. “They are a very good team, as they have shown by [beating Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-stops-real-at-home-79-73/) \[79-73 on Tuesday\]. We are missing some big players but we can compensate for that by using the home-court advantage, feeding on the atmosphere our fans create.”

With a dramatic climax to the regular season looming as the battle for the top spots intensifies, Ataman will be keen to complete a week’s double over Turkish opposition in a bid to keep Panathinaikos on course to earn home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Game News

The reigning champion thrived on perimeter power and fan support to beat Fenerbahce 

It went right down to the wire, but Panathinaikos BC managed to edge Fenerbahce Beko after a stellar performance by Kostas Sloukas and a clutch free throw by Kendrick Nunn.

Fortune favored Panathinaikos in a titanic clash against Fenerbahce

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) got the rub of the green in a captivating Rivalry Series matchup [against the visiting Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to prevail 91-90](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-edges-fenerbahce-91-90-in-a-titanic-tussle/) and snap the Turkish team’s six-game winning streak, while also boosting its own hopes of a top-four finish in the regular season.

The result lifted the Greens into fourth place in the standings on a 15-10 record, with Fenerbahce dropping to 16-8 and staying second, behind leader Olympiacos Piraeus (17-7), as the battle for top spots intensified in what is shaping up to be a dramatic home stretch.

The home team’s veteran guard [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) was well worthy of the player of the game accolade as the 35-year-old racked up a game-high 23 points to go with 5 boards, 3 assists and a solitary steal.

But what a crucial steal it was, as it came in the final minute of a matchup which kept fans on the edge of their seat throughout and ultimately enabled Panathinaikos to turn a looming defeat into victory.

A slice of luck played a part, too, as Fenerbahce’s top performer [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) committed a clumsy foul on [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock, before the home team’s guard sank one of two free throws to delight a fervent home crowd inside OAKA.

In his postgame comments, Sloukas stressed that the Greens must quickly shift their focus to the upcoming clash with the other Turkish heavyweight, [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/), which visit Athens on Thursday and is aiming to keep alive its postseason hopes [after beating Real Madrid on Tuesday night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-stops-real-at-home-79-73/).

“It’s a great win against Fenerbahce who came here after six wins in a row,” said Sloukas. “I tried to do whatever the team needed me to and we had to make the extra effort because of the injured guys we missed.

“I tried to lead by example and the most important thing now is to keep our feet on the ground ahead of the very important game against Efes, as we want to finish in the top four \[of the regular season\].”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We got this win together ☘️<br><br>Our ritual - our way to celebrate! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneClubOneApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneClubOneApp</a> <a href="https://t.co/YyMNhyJKMV">pic.twitter.com/YyMNhyJKMV</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1886896446277832961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coach Ergin Ataman admitted his side was fortunate to emerge as the winner, highlighting that Panathinaikos is forced to keep adjusting in the absence of long-term injury casualties [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/). [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/) and notably [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) stepped up to fill the void in the paint, but Panathinaikos ultimately prevailed thanks to sound perimeter shooting, as the hosts nailed 10 of 22 from downtown. 

“The lead changed hands many times as both teams took turns in controlling the game,” Ataman said. “On that last play, we decided to apply aggressive defense and in the end we got a little bit lucky as they committed a foul.”

“They had a chance to win the game, they punished us with some three-point shots but it’s not easy to play against us in this kind of atmosphere. We are missing power in the paint but we found a way to win.”

Fenerbahce head coach Saras Jasikevicius was visibly frustrated as he found it hard to stomach seeing victory slip away through his team’s fingers, with the Turkish side looking the more likely winner heading into the final minute of the game.

“We didn’t do our job today and it’s a tough loss, no question” said the Lithuanian tactician.  “Panathinaikos was more aggressive and whenever we found what was working for us, we couldn’t continue. We scored 90 points with very limited ball movement because we made some tough shots, but we didn’t play good offense. We need to get back to what we’ve been doing in the last five or six weeks.”

The reigning EuroLeague champion came out on top in a pulsating see-saw encounter

FC Bayern Munich beat EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 87-70 in Round 25. Bayern fans had plenty of things to celebrate. 


Vladimir Lucic boosted banged-up Bayern against Milan

Despite losing its starting center to injury just two days before the game, [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/roster/mun/?season=2024-25) regrouped to claim [an 87-70 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-thrashed-milan-at-home-87-70/) over [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/roster/mil/?season=2024-25) on Tuesday night. With the win, Bayern remained in the thick of the playoff race and put its recent losses behind it. Bayern is now on a three-game winning streak and team captain [Vladimir Lucic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vladimir-lucic/001288/) is slowly but steadily finding his rhythm.

Lucic missed 20 regular season games due to injury and finally showed his best against Milan, the form that saw him earn [All-EuroLeague First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayerns-lucic-voted-to-all-euroleague-first-team/) honors with Bayern in the 2020-21 season. He was all over the place, finishing the game with 16 points on 3-of-3 two-point shooting, 2-of-4 on three-pointers (after going 0 of 8 from downtown this season entering the game) and 4-of-4 on free throws. Lucic also had 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal for a game-high PIR of 21.

In other words, Lucic is back. That is great news for Bayern and of course, bad news for its next opponents, as few players have his combination of size, shooting range and off-the-charts basketball IQ.

"It feels great, for sure. Even better, knowing that I helped the team tonight, since it was a really important game for us," Lucic said after the game. "We actually started a little bit nervous, which is maybe normal since we lost one of the most important players of this team, [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/), so we didn't have enough time, maybe one day to adjust to some new things. We talked in the locker room and I think we went out ready to play and compete. In the end, we deserved the win."

There was more good news for Bayern. In a game without starting center Booker and point guard [Shabazz Napier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shabazz-napier/011224/), scoring machine [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) was held scoreless for three quarters. Edwards entered the game averaging 19.7 points per games. Nevertheless, Bayern led 37-36 at halftime with solid contributions from [Niels Giffey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/niels-giffey/001557/) and [Johannes Voigtmann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johannes-voigtmann/007201/). Edwards scored all of his 12 points in the third quarter, in which Bayern made the difference in the game.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ❤️<br><br>Our GM Marko <a href="https://twitter.com/pesic7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pesic7</a> creates a big moment for a little Baller at <a href="https://twitter.com/SAPGarden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SAPGarden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fcbayern?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fcbayern</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#basketball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weballtogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weballtogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tsrsr41YhN">pic.twitter.com/Tsrsr41YhN</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1886901230334521541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Voigtmann finished the game with 13 points and Giffey had a season-high 16. After the game, Voigtmann explained how difficult it was to adjust to playing without Booker.

"We had to be ready to step up: everybody, especially the bigs, because Devin Booker is a main reason why we are where we are right now, and we are missing him already," Voigtmann said. "I think we came out with the right mindset. We had good energy and defensively, we looked pretty good. We controlled the rebounds for the whole game. Offensively, we made some shots at the right moment. The third quarter was big for us, and we kept that lead until the end."

Bayern remains home for its second game this week when it hosts LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 26. It will be ASVEL's first visit to SAP Garden. Last season, Bayern was the first-ever guest at LDLC Arena in a EuroLeague game. Bayern edged ASVEL [100-101 in double overtime](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne-fc-bayern-munich/E2023/82/#boxscore). If that game is as close and thrilling as the one played on November 23, 2023, you are in for a treat!

Bayern's victory over Milan gave its fans plenty of reasons to celebrate


For the third game in a row, KK Crvena zvezda scored 73 points – 9.5 below its average (82.5) – yet it was still able to down LDLC ASVEL to record back-to-back wins in the EuroLeague.

Everybody did their bit as Crvena Zvezda won again, despite its stuttering offense

Nothing was going to compare to the emotion that the Belgrade brings for [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/), which always made [its Round 25 game against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-gets-total-team-effort-in-73-66-win-over-asvel/) a potential banana skin.

The early going showed just that, with ASVEL taking the first lead of the game and holding the advantage for the majority of the opening quarter as [Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joffrey-lauvergne/004194/), [Paris Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/paris-lee/011225/) and [Ben Bentil](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/benjamin-bentil/009818/) combined for 16 of their team’s 18 first-quarter points. Yet, a pair of free throws by [Yago dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) gave Zvezda a 19-18 lead after 10 minutes – and it never trailed again.

What was the most impressive is that everybody did their bit. At halftime, 11 of the 12 Zvezda players that stepped onto the floor had scored at least 1 point, with Yago and [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/) leading the way on 5 points apiece. By the end of the third quarter, seven players had 5 points or more, paced by [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) on 8. And come the final buzzer, the number of players with 5 or more points had risen to nine, with Canaan having netted a team-high 11.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> Round 25 ✅ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/jwq4t3VaKy">pic.twitter.com/jwq4t3VaKy</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1886891138793267703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That team effort was something that certainly paid dividends, particularly as the team's offense is not exactly firing on all cylinders at present. What's more, Zvezda as a team finished with 8 steals on the night, the joint fourth most it has managed in a game this season, yet it was the defensive hustle that it showed time and time again that really epitomized its eventual 73-66 win over ASVEL.

“It was a team victory,” Canaan told EuroLeague TV afterward. “Everybody played defense, everybody stepped up on the defensive end, and that’s what Coach \[Ioannis Sfairopoulos\] has been preaching all week and for the rest of the season: defense will win us games. We’ll figure it out offensively.”

Curiously, Zvezda scored 73 points for the third game in a row, yet it still averages 82.5 points per night, which goes to show what its offense can do when things are going well. 

Still, the Serbian side now has back-to-back wins – against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and ASVEL – and heads into Thursday’s game on the road at ALBA Berlin feeling good about itself, sitting in the top six of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings with a 15-10 record.

For the third game in a row, coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos's team scored 73 points – 9.5 below its average (82.5)

Defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ground out a thrilling 91-90 home win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Round 25

Panathinaikos edges Fenerbahce, 91-90, in a titanic tussle

Defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ground out a thrilling 91-90 home win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Tuesday to improve to 15-10, while the visitors slipped to 16-8 after a pulsating Rivalry Series clash in the Greek capital.

The magnificent Kostas Sloukas paced the Greens with 23 points to go with 5 boards and Kendrick Nunn chipped in with 17 points of which he netted 13 in a rip-roaring second half, and 7 assists. Juancho Hernangomez came up big with 15 points and 8 rebounds and Jerian Grant scored 10 points as Panathinaikos shot 10 of 22 from deep to compensate for the long-term absence of injured big men Mathias Lessort and Omer Yurtseven.

At the other end, Nigel Hayes-Davis led Fenerbahce on 21 points but the visiting team’s hero turned villain in the last few moments of the game, when he missed a three-pointer and then fouled Nunn at the halfway line with 1.1 seconds remaining and put him on the foul line, with the game tied 90-90.

Game Videos

Nunn made the first free throw to send a fervent home crowd into raptures as Fenerbahce missed a golden opportunity to earn what would have been a precious road win in the battle for top spots in the standings. Errick McCollum netted 18 points, Devon Hall scored 14 and Sertac Sanli added 12 for the visitors, who shot 12 of 32 from downtown.

Panathinaikos was in the driving seat throughout the opening 10 minutes before Fenerbahce conjured a 0-8 run to draw level 24-24 at the end of the first quarter, setting the scene for a rugged and physical battle in the second. The home team thrived on Nunn facilitating the offense with timely assists as the Greens pulled away to 37-28, only for Fenerbahce to hit back and nose ahead 39-40, before Nunn netted a late layup to give the home team a slender 41-40 lead at halftime.

The rollercoaster continued in the third quarter as Hayes-Davis and Hernangomez traded blows from downtown while Hall caught fire for Fenerbahce, netting 12 points to propel the visitors into a 61-64 lead ahead of the final 10 minutes.

The fourth quarter produced masterclass offense on both sides, with the rivals dishing out three-pointers to each other like confetti. Nunn, who looked jittery and agitated all night, finally found his range from downtown as he sank a couple of shots to give Panathinaikos an 83-78 lead. Fenerbahce stormed back to turn the tide, 88-90, in the final minute of the captivating matchup and looked the more likely winner.

Sloukas then came up with a huge steal and sank a pair of free throws to tie the score, before Hayes-Davis made a mess of Fenerbahce’s last play and enabled Nunn to force the final twist.

The reigning champion snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a dramatic finish 

Panathinaikos edges Fenerbahce, 91-90, in a colossal tussle

Consistent defensive intensity was key to Zalgiris’s win over ALBA

It wasn’t the first time Zalgiris Kaunas proved why numbers have crowned it the stingiest defense in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season and it will most probably not be the last one. Heading into Tuesday evening’s clash against ALBA Berlin, Zalgiris conceded a league-low average of 79.0 points per game. Yet, in basketball, there’s always room for improvement and some extra sessions on defensive intensity this week paid off against the German side.

Zalgiris strangled ALBA with its defensive intensity, holding the visitors to a season-low 53 points. This win allowed Andrea Trinchieri’s side to get back to winning ways after losing their previous three duels.

“It was a must-win game for us,” Ignas Brazdeikis told EuroLeague TV after the game. “Especially with a few tough \[losses\]. We came out aggressive. We were really focused on defense. This whole week we were focusing on just the fundamentals of defense and locking in together and it showed tonight.”

Brazdeikis pulled off his finest performance this term, netting a season-high 21 points. Yet, more importantly, he fulfilled the role of being just one of Trinchieri’s warriors on the other end of the floor.

Bryant Dunston was the one to set the tone with a game-high 3 blocks and a team-high 7 rebounds. Zalgiris recorded 9 blocks, the highest tally of any EuroLeague side so far this season. The hosts also registered 9 steals, forcing ALBA into a total of 21 turnovers. Hustle, stops, deflections and blocks have been the key words that have sculpted Zalgiris’s mentality this season.

Zalgiris's block party against ALBA

“This is the kind of game I actually think is best for us,” Dunston told EuroLeague TV. “Defensively, even when the shots are not going down, we are still there, physically imposing our way on the game on the defensive end. And that’s important, especially when we play against teams that have a lot of offensive weapons.”

Zalgiris held the visitors to 12 and 10 points in the first and second quarter, respectively, taking a 37-22 lead into the second half. It took a frustrated ALBA more than 5 and a half minutes to score a field goal in the third quarter, with Zalgiris not even letting its guard down in the fourth, when the game was practically over.

Having opened the last double-round week of the season in style, Zalgiris is set to host EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Thursday. And should it maintain the same defensive intensity, it could open a winning streak that would serve as a major boost in morale.

The hosts held the German side to a season-low 53 points

KK Crvena zvezda built on last Friday’s derby win by downing LDLC ASVEL 73-66 on Tuesday night. Ioannis Sfairopoulis’s team is now 15-10 and remains in the top six, while Pierric Poupet’s squad dropped to 11-14.

Crvena Zvezda gets total team effort in 73-66 win over ASVEL

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade built on last Friday’s derby win by downing LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 73-66 on Tuesday night. Ioannis Sfairopoulis’s team is now 15-10 and remains in the top six, while Pierric Poupet’s squad dropped to 11-14. Should it come down to it, Zvezda now has the tiebreaker after winning by seven points, having lost by three (77-74) in Lyon earlier this season.

Isaiah Canaan led Zvezda in scoring with 11 points, followed by Codi Miller-McIntyre and Nikola Kalinic with 10 apiece. Center Joel Bolomboy finished with 7 points and 10 rebounds. For ASVEL, Theo Maledon netted 13 points and Ben Bentil added 12.

Paris Lee’s deep three-pointer got the scoreboard moving before Joffrey Lauvergne converted back-to-back scores inside to give ASVEL a 4-7 lead. Ognjen Dobric tied it up at 7-7 with a three, but Theo Maledon and Lee pushed ASVEL back ahead at 9-14. An 8-2 Zvezda run capped by a Dejan Davidovac triple and a Joel Bolomboy dunk gave the hosts a 17-16 advantage. Ben Bentil responded, but a pair of free throws by Yago dos Santos made it 19-18 after 10 minutes.

Isaiah Canaan showed Zvezda’s intentions with a triple just seven seconds into the second quarter, then Filip Petrusev made both of his free throws to make it 24-18. Nemanja Nedovic and then Luka Mitrovic appeared, with the former draining a three-pointer before the latter scored twice inside as Zvezda’s lead swelled to 31-21. Edwin Jackson came into the game and quickly scored under the rim, with Maledon, Nando De Colo and Lauvergne joining forces to pull ASVEL within three points, 34-31, but Canaan’s floater with eight seconds left ensured it was 36-21 heading into the break.

Zvezda kept its foot on the gas after halftime, going on a 9-2 run that featured baskets from Miller-McIntyre, Nedovic and Bolomboy to go 12 points ahead at 45-33. Maledon and De Colo provided some resistance, helping give ASVEL a boost at 46-39. Then it was the turn of Bentil and Sako to keep ASVEL pushing, with the duo combining to make it 47-43, but Canaan’s three burst the visitors’ momentum, 50-43. Bentil scored over Brown soon after, but Bolomboy’s three-point play was another tough blow at 53-45. A Bentil three to end the quarter meant it was 56-48 after 30 minutes.

Rokas Giedraitis’s fast-break dunk and a couple of free throws by Miller-McIntyre put Zvezda in complete control at 60-48. Shaquille Harrison scored on back-to-back plays to give ASVEL a bit of hope, 60-52, but a three by Giedraitis and another by Canaan gave Zvezda a game-high 14-point lead, 66-52. Neal Sako, playing on four fouls, came into the game and scored six points in a row to make it an eight-point ballgame, 66-58, but then fouled out. Maledon’s three-point play meant it was a 9-0 ASVEL run, 66-61, but Miller-McIntyre’s layup and a couple of Kalinic free throws calmed things down at 70-61 with 47 seconds remaining. Zvezda ended up seeing out the game as it came away with a 73-66 victory.

Now on a two-game winning streak, the Serbian side has also gone 6-1 at Belgrade Arena in its last seven home games

Vladimir Lucic led Bayern to its 15th win of the season. 

Bayern thrashed Milan at home, 87-70! 

FC Bayern Munich recorded its third consecutive win by downing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 87-70 at SAP Garden in Round 25 on Tuesday. Bayern improved to 15-10 in the standings while Milan dropped to 13-12. 

Vladinir Lucic led the winners with 16 points. Niels Giffey added 16, Johannes Voigtmann 13 and Carsen Edwards 12 for Bayern. Zach LeDay paced Milan with 17 points. Armoni Brooks added 13 and Shavon Shields 12 for the visitors.

LeDay got Milan going with a jump hook which Shields followed with a layup for a 0-4 lead. Voigtmann struck from downtown before Oscar da Silva gave Bayern its first lead, 5-4. Nick Weiler-Babb improved Leday's jumper with a triple before Lucic buried a jumper to boost the hosts' lead to 10-6. Leandro Bolmaro stepped up with a driving layup that Lucic bettered with his trademark corner triple. Giampaolo Ricci answered from downtown, Giffey found his first points and Brooks's triple kept Milan within 15-14. Elias Harris hit free throws and Brooks's backdoor layup fixed the score at 17-16 after 10 minutes.  

Brooks insisted from downtown before Leday followed a running hook with a one-handed turnaround jumper that made it 19-23 early in the second quarter. da Silva finished a four-chance Bayern offense with a put-back basket that he followed with a backdoor layup to tie the score. Giffey struck twice from beyond the arc to give Bayern fresh air at 29-25. Nico Mannion hit a floater that Voigtmann bettered with a three-point play. Mannion kept pushing Milan and got help from LeDay to put the visitors back in charge, 32-33. Weiler-Babb fed Lucic for a layup and added a three-pointer for a 37-33 Bayern lead. Shields answered from beyond the arc to bring Milan within 37-36 at the break.

Edwards took over with a wild three-point play right after the break. Lucic soon added another corner triple which forced Milan to call timeout at 43-36. Bolmaro and Edwards traded jumpers before LeDay's three-point play kept Milan within 45-41. Lucic scored in penetration and Vogitmann improved LeDay's jump hook with a three-pointer. Lucic scored again and Edwards's catch-and-shoot triple made it a double-digit game, 55-43. Neno Dimitrijevic hit a couple of jumpers but Lucic and Edwards pushed the hosts' margin to 61-47. Stefano Tonut scored around the basket and Brooks added a jumper to give Milan hope at 61-51. Andreas Obst splashed a fallaway corner three-pointer and Danko Brankovic scored in the paint before Edwards boosted Bayern's lead to 68-55 after 30 minutes. 

Brankovic scored again early in the fourth quarter, as Bayern held Milan scoreless for more than 2 minutes. LeDay tried to change things for the guests but Obst's three-pointer boosted the hosts' lead to 73-57. Shields bettered Brankovic's layup with an eight-meter bomb, Voigtmann hit a jump hook and Giddey's three-pointer sealed the outcome, 81-60, midway through the fourth quarter. Milan head coach Ettore Messina send its starting lineup to the bench, and ayern fans had plenty of time to celebrate an important home victory. 

Vladimir Lucic led Bayern to its 15th win of the season