Name: Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv-Paris Basketball | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

AS Monaco forward Nikola Mirotic has been named MVP of Round 2 in the 2025–26 EuroLeague season after delivering a highly efficient all-around performance in his team’s 103–81 home win over Dubai Basketball.

Round 2 MVP: Nikola Mirotic, AS Monaco

AS Monaco forward [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) has been named MVP of Round 2 in the 2025–26 EuroLeague season after delivering a highly efficient all-around performance in his team’s 103–81 home win over Dubai Basketball.

Mirotic needed just 20 minutes and 16 seconds on the court to register a performance index rating (PIR) of 32, the highest among players on winning teams this round. He finished with 19 points, shooting 5 of 7 on two-pointers, 1 of 2 from three-point range and 6 of 8 at the free-throw line. In addition, he collected 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and drew 9 fouls. This marks the 11th MVP of the Round honor in Mirotic’s EuroLeague career, tying him for fifth-most all-time in league history. 

The highest PIR of Round 2, however, belongs to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens’s [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/), who amassed a PIR of 39 in a 96–103 home loss to FC Barcelona. Hernangomez had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and drew 8 fouls. Another standout in defeat was [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/baldwin-iv-wade/009863/) of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. In an 84–81 road loss to Zalgiris Kaunas, Baldwin scored 36 points, adding 4 assists and 2 rebounds for a PIR of 34. Rounding out the top performers of Round 2 were FC Bayern Munich’s [Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/) and Panathinaikos’s [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), who each recorded a PIR of 30. Obst scored 31 points on 9-of-16 three-point shooting, along with 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Sloukas contributed 18 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in the loss to Barcelona.

### Individual highs: Wade Baldwin, Fenerbahce, 36 points

Wade Baldwin (Fenerbahce) led all scorers in Round 2 with 36 points. After two rounds, Baldwin, [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) (FC Barcelona) and [Jordan Nwora](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-nwora/013363/) (Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade) are tied for the league lead, each averaging 23.0 points per game.

[Allan Dokossi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/allan-dokossi/014010/) (Paris Basketball) pulled down 13 rebounds, the most in Round 2. Dokossi and [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) (Olympiacos Piraeus) are the league’s co-leaders in this category, each averaging 11.5 rebounds per game.

Kostas Sloukas (Panathinaikos) dished a round-high 11 assists. After two rounds, [Omari Moore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omari-moore/014115/) (Valencia Basket) and [Trent Forrest](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/trent-forrest/013367/) (Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz) share the overall lead with 8.0 assists per game.

[Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) (Paris) and [Jimmy Clark](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jimmy-clark-iii/013699/) (Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv) each recorded 5 steals in their head-to-head matchup, the most in Round 2. Clark leads the league with an average of 4.0 steals per game.

Five players finished with 2 blocks in Round 2: [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) (Zalgiris), [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/) (Zalgiris), [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/) (Fenerbahce), [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) (Monaco) and [Bastien Vautier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bastien-vautier/014014/) (LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne). Francisco and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) (Real Madrid) currently lead the league in blocks, each averaging 2.0 per game.

Sloukas was the only player to register a double-double in Round 2, finishing with 18 points and 11 assists.

We have our second winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge!

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 2 winner

EuroLeague fans, we have our second winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Igor Cebic beat everyone else in Round 2 with his team Cvetko Utd, which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 239.75.

Igor had the following lineup: team captain Nikola Mirotic of AS Monaco, then Wade Baldwin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Filip Petrusev of Dubai Basketball, Andreas Obst of FC Bayern Munich and Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos Piraeus as his starters. Jordan Loyd of Anadolu Efes Istanbul was his sixth man. Igor's bench players were Edwin Jackson of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, Sergio Llull of Real Madrid and Bryant Dunston of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Monaco's Vassilis Spanoulis was the head coach.

The prize for finishing first in Round 2 is a VIP EuroLeague TV Subscription for the 2026-27 Season, and an automatic entry to a lottery to win 2x Tickets to the 2027 Final Four.

Trades are now open for Round 3 of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/). Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first game of Round 3, Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv, is scheduled to tip off on Wednesday, October 8 at 20:05 CEST, and thus marks next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner! To help with that, watch the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge podcast weekly on the [EuroLeague's YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@euroleague) and on all audio platforms.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager. 

Valencia Basket made a flying start in its shining new palace, Roig Arena, romping to a 103-94 win over Virtus Bologna in the EuroLeague on a night the Spanish club’s fans will savor for a long time.

Roig Arena inspired Valencia to impressive victory over Virtus 

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) made a flying start in its shining new palace, Roig Arena, romping to [a 103-94 win over Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/rampant-valencia-throws-house-warming-party-to-beat-virtus-103-94/) in the EuroLeague on a night the Spanish club’s fans will savor for a long time.

Having bid farewell to their iconic La Fonteta with Valencia competing in the BKT EuroCup last season while the glittering new palace was being built, joyous fans gave club president Juan Roig a standing ovation after he made his way into the gym.

Valencia, whose season is going from strength to strength as it won the Spanish Super Cup and beat LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the EuroLeague’s opening round, was clearly inspired by a festive atmosphere to dismantle battling Virtus.

Valencia Basket-Virtus Bologna | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Having carved out a 49-46 first-half lead despite shooting a mere 3 of 15 from downtown in the opening 20 minutes, Valencia made 9-of-15 long-range efforts in the second as 19-year-old [Sergio De Larrea](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-de-larrea/010750/) showcased his immense talent.

The teenager, tipped to become the next big thing in Spanish basketball with the national team going through a painful transition, drained 23 points in just 21 minutes on the court as he nailed 5-of-7 shots from beyond the three-point arc.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">1️⃣4️⃣.6️⃣0️⃣6️⃣🧡<br><br>GRÀCIES 🧡<br>GRACIAS 🧡<br>THANK YOU 🧡<br><br>📷 <a href="https://twitter.com/miguelangelpo67?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@miguelangelpo67</a> <a href="https://t.co/PfQltabUTZ">pic.twitter.com/PfQltabUTZ</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1974224411747045428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With a near capacity crowd of 14,606 setting a new club record for attendance, De Larrea served up the energy of a youngster coupled with the maturity of a stalwart as he hit some clutch shots while showing the utmost humility in his postgame comments.

 “All the people of Valencia cheered and encouraged us, making me very proud that we played here tonight,” he said in a courtside interview. “It’s all about team work, one time it’s one player who steps up to the plate, another time it’s someone else. The important thing is that we played as a team and won the game.”

[Omari Moore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omari-moore/014115/), who marked his home debut for Valencia with an impressive effort of 15 points, 6 assists and 4 boards, was galvanized by the electrifying atmosphere generated by the home faithful, whose joy in the Roig Arena was everywhere to be seen.

“The fans did a super job as everybody was very loud,” he said. “We made runs when we needed to and we got a good team win. We needed to stay poised because we played against a really good team but we stayed solid and found a way to win the game.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">SE ME ESTÁ CAYENDO UNA LAGRIMITA, <a href="https://twitter.com/RoigArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoigArena</a> 🧡😢 <a href="https://t.co/KvJzcZai38">pic.twitter.com/KvJzcZai38</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1974209252353855796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Valencia head coach Pedro Martinez duly reminded his players there was no time to rest on laurels in the midst of a grueling schedule comprising Europe’s toughest national league and the EuroLeague, with Valencia up next against one of its perennial Spanish rivals.

“We played with a lot of rhythm in the second half and when you score some three-pointers everything looks easier,” Martinez elaborated.

“We had a lot of players who stepped up in crucial moments. We have to stay focused because we’ve got a big game against Barcelona in the Spanish League on Sunday, meaning that there is no room for us to dwell on our good start to the season.”  

Game News

The Spanish side clearly enjoyed its debut in a brand-new venue, producing a vintage performance 

Valencia Basket v Virtus Bologna (2025-10-03T18:30:00.000Z)

Most Paris Basketball fans expected it — and now it’s happening. Nadir Hifi has become the team’s go-to scorer and emotional leader on the court. 

Nadir Hifi: The Prince of Paris is now King   

Most [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) fans expected it — and now it’s happening. [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) has become the team’s go-to scorer and emotional leader on the court. 

After a busy offseason that saw several key players move on — including TJ Shorts, Tyson Ward, Mikael Jantunen, Leon Kratzer, Maodo Lo, Kevarrius Hayes, and Collin Malcolm — Hifi chose to stay and honor his contract, even releasing a lighthearted video on social media to announce it.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Merci <a href="https://twitter.com/thenadirhifi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thenadirhifi</a> 🖤❤️💙 <a href="https://t.co/jZAirVnwd3">pic.twitter.com/jZAirVnwd3</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1942917068912726338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

That decision is already paying off. Hifi played a key role in [Paris’s 94–101 road win over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nadir-hifi-leads-paris-past-maccabi-for-first-win-94-101/) in Round 2, delivering a complete performance that showed why he’s now the centerpiece of Francesco Tabellini’s squad.

Coming off the bench, Hifi immediately made an impact, burying back-to-back three-pointers during a 2–17 run that gave Paris control for good at 11–19. He struck twice more from beyond the arc — once just before halftime, and again to close the third quarter — to give Paris a 63–75 lead heading into the final frame.

But Hifi’s impact wasn’t just on offense. The young guard was constantly communicating with teammates, acting as an on-court extension of his coach, and disrupting Maccabi's rhythm with 5 steals. He finished with 21 points, 3 assists, and the look of a player ready to lead.

"I am satisfied with the energy and effort we put into the game for 40 minutes,” Hifi said. “We showed improvement since our game two days ago, and I’m happy to take this win.”

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv-Paris Basketball | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

And the story doesn’t end there. On Thursday night — just 24 hours before facing Maccabi — Hifi showed his love for the game by attending the matchup between Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan as a fan. Rather than asking for VIP access, Hifi bought a regular ticket and sat among the Partizan supporters to soak up the Belgrade basketball atmosphere.

“It was amazing!” he said. “I always dreamed of experiencing that kind of energy. It’s always special to play in Belgrade — that’s why I went to the game.”

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From staying loyal in the off-season to stepping up when it counts — and even cheering in the stands like any other fan — Nadir Hifi is becoming a fan favorite not just in Paris, but across the EuroLeague. The Prince of Paris is well on his way to becoming a king.

The 23-year-old guard, who attended Partizan's game on Thursday, inspired his team past Maccabi on Friday

Nadir Hifi: The Prince of Paris is now King 

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv v Paris Basketball (2025-10-03T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-FC Barcelona | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v FC Barcelona (2025-10-03T18:15:00.000Z)

Will Clyburn finished the opener with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in under 25 minutes – a performance that hinted he was ready to lead. Three nights later, the veteran forward doubled down with another standout display, helping FC Barcelona bounce back with a 96–103 road win at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.

Will Clyburn turns back the clock as Barcelona fires on all cylinders in Athens

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) didn’t start its EuroLeague season the way it had hoped. Conceding 103 points in [a loss to newcomers Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/hapoel-downs-barcelona-103-87-for-first-ever-euroleague-win/) on Tuesday, the Catalan giant looked out of sorts. But amid that defeat, one player quietly made a statement.

[Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) finished the opener with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in under 25 minutes – a performance that hinted he was ready to lead. Three nights later, the veteran forward doubled down with another standout display, helping Barcelona bounce back with [a 96–103 road win at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-dominates-at-panathinaikos-96-103/).

Clyburn matched his scoring total from the first game, again putting up 23 points, while adding 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal in a complete two-way performance. The 35-year-old showed no signs of slowing down, fitting seamlessly into a Barcelona side that bolstered its experience this summer with the additions of both Clyburn and [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) from Virtus Bologna.

“The team came out adjusted from the first game,” Clyburn told EuroLeague TV. “We fought, we played defense and we played together. That’s how you get a win on the road.”

Barcelona shot the lights out at Telekom Center Athens, hitting 16-of-34 three-point attempts, the most of any team in a game this season. Clyburn himself went 4 of 5 from deep, while the team’s ball movement and offensive spacing generated a string of open looks. The visitors finished with 23 assists, led by [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) (9), [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) (5) and [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) (4) as they dictated the tempo throughout.

“We are a team and we showed that today,” Laprovittola said after the game. “We followed the plan. That’s the key: playing together, not individually. We still have to improve, but with this energy and confidence, we’ll keep getting better.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">𝐌𝐕𝐏! 𝐌𝐕𝐏!! 𝐌𝐕𝐏!!! <a href="https://t.co/UTvP0sAJ2n">pic.twitter.com/UTvP0sAJ2n</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1974212235305046336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Eight different Barcelona players hit at least one three-pointer, with Clyburn, Laprovittola and Punter each draining a pair in the decisive final quarter. Joan Penarroya’s side will now look to carry that momentum into their first home game of the season against Valencia Basket.

And in Clyburn, they have a player who’s already proven he can shoulder the load – twice in the space of four days.

The veteran forward led the resurgent Blaugrana to an impressive road win at Panathinaikos

Draining 5 of his 6 attempts from beyond the arc on his way to 23 points, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne forward Zac Seljaas cemented his status as a new fan favorite at LDLC Arena as his team downed Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 102–95 in Round 2.

Zac Seljaas hopes to build on breakout performance as ASVEL beats Baskonia

Draining 5 of his 6 attempts from beyond the arc on his way to 23 points, [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/) forward [Zac Seljaas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zachary-seljaas/014088/) cemented his status as a new fan favorite at LDLC Arena as [his team downed Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 102–95](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-overcomes-early-deficit-to-defeat-baskonia-102-95/) in Round 2.

With Nando De Colo going out with an injury during the game, Seljaas stepped up and shouldered much of the offensive load, knocking down momentum-shifting shots and providing a spark whenever ASVEL needed one.

“It’s a great feeling to get a win here, at home, with the fans and the energy,” Seljaas said postgame. “It’s great to get a win under our belt and now we can keep building off of that.”

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

After a proverbial smack in the mouth in the first quarter, ASVEL overcame a 13-point deficit and Seljaas believes the packed-out crowd had a major part to play.

“The fans get us going, we thrive off that energy and it helps us be stronger, be more confident in everything we do. We rely on them, so getting them involved helps us a lot.”

Regularly seen pumping up the crowd from the bench all night, the 2.00-meter scorer fed into the growing atmosphere throughout the game. Seljaas’s teammate [David Lighty](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/david-lighty/003526/) spoke glowingly about how his energy impacted the game.

“Zac is a great guy,” Lighty said. “He is a pro’s pro. He comes to the gym ready to work, ready to learn. His energy is infectious for the team. He’s a big part of what we’re going to do this year. We have to create the energy, we have to give the fans something to cheer about. In the second quarter, we felt that and we rode that momentum until the end of the game.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WINNING FEELING 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/oRbbdpzzJj">pic.twitter.com/oRbbdpzzJj</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1974206612052074785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It’s a long season and one win won’t satisfy Seljaas, but he’s hoping that if he can build on Friday night’s performance, it won’t just be the scoreline that he changes. When asked about his signature hairstyle, he shared another long-term goal.

“Hopefully it starts a trend and we start seeing more mullets out there in the crowd.”

The American forward helped ignite ASVEL's comeback and energized the home crowd at LDLC Arena

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-10-03T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv flipped the script in the second half and powered its way to a hard-fought 81-87 road win over Anadolu Efes Istanbul, finishing its first EuroLeague week with a perfect 2-0 record.

Hapoel overcame first-half struggles at Efes to finish week unbeaten

[Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/hta/) flipped the script in the second half and powered its way to [a hard-fought 81-87 road win over Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/hapoel-finishes-perfect-double-round-with-81-87-road-win-at-efes/), finishing its first EuroLeague week with a perfect 2-0 record.

After a sluggish first half, where Efes dominated on the glass and controlled the pace, Hapoel tightened up its defense and played with aggressive energy on both ends of the court. The visitors allowed just 13 points in the third quarter and maintained that momentum through the fourth, ultimately securing the victory.

“We saw two very different halves,” Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis reflected. “In the first half, we played like prima donnas. Defensively, we weren’t on the court; offensively, our attitude was wrong and our spacing was poorly organized – Efes had us figured out. We were just reacting and falling behind.”

“But everything changed in the third and fourth quarters. We set the tone with a different mindset on defense and committed ourselves to playing aggressive basketball on both ends. That made all the difference.”

Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Rebounding was a major factor in the shift. Efes dominated the boards early with a 21-12 advantage in the first half, including 9 offensive rebounds that resulted in a 13-4 edge in second-chance points. However, Hapoel fought back to finish the game nearly even on the glass – 31-32 overall – with both teams grabbing 12 offensive rebounds and scoring 15 second-chance points.

“Defense is my thing, and in the first half I wasn’t locked in,” admitted Hapoel’s [Ish Wainright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ish-wainright/013284/), who finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds. “I needed to be focused in every aspect of the game. The second half was different – we came out and punched back.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">2 מ2. העיניים לדרבי 👹 <a href="https://t.co/6YYhuAAG9B">pic.twitter.com/6YYhuAAG9B</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1974199736254280080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/), who posted 12 points and 9 rebounds against his former team, praised the team’s resilience after the break. 

“In the second half, we were more aggressive in everything – offense and defense. In the first half, we let them take us out of our sets and played timidly. But after halftime, we stepped up, attacked more on defense, and played with confidence.”

With that second-half surge, Hapoel now boasts a 2-0 start to its EuroLeague campaign after surviving a true tale of two halves.

After beating FC Barcelona in Round 1, the Israeli side moved to 2-0 in Round 2

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-10-03T17:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball picked up its first victory of the 2025–26 EuroLeague season by defeating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 94–101 on Friday night at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia. Paris improved to 1–1, while Maccabi dropped to 0–2.

Nadir Hifi leads Paris past Maccabi for first win, 94-101

Paris Basketball picked up its first victory of the 2025–26 EuroLeague season by defeating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 94–101 on Friday night at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia. Paris improved to 1–1, while Maccabi dropped to 0–2.

Nadir Hifi paced the visitors with 21 points and 5 steals in a standout performance. Justin Robinson added 15 points, while Yakuba Ouattara scored 12. For Maccabi, Lonnie Walker and Jeffrey Dowtin led the way with 16 points apiece. Jaylen Hoard contributed 15, TJ Leaf had 14, and Jimmy Clark chipped in 11.

Game Videos

Maccabi started strong behind Dowtin’s three-pointer and Hoard’s back-to-back layups in a 9–2 run, capped by Leaf’s running hook. Joel Ayayi got Paris on the board with a fast-break layup before Derek Willis tied the game with a triple and a fast-break dunk. Leaf kept Maccabi’s offense rolling, but Hifi shifted the momentum with consecutive three-pointers to give Paris an 11–15 lead. Sebastian Herrera scored on a drive, and Robinson capped a 2–17 run with a tip-in off his own miss. Tamir Blatt responded with a triple, but Ouattara’s transition basket and Ismael Bako’s put-back dunk extended the lead to 14–23. Late baskets by Sorkin and Walker helped Maccabi close the gap to 19–25, before Robinson closed the first quarter with a layup for a 20–27 Paris lead.

Walker continued to pace Maccabi in the second quarter, but Robinson responded with a crafty inbound play, bouncing the ball off Marcio Santos’s back for an easy layup. Momo Faye added a put-back dunk to give Paris some breathing room at 25–31. Hoard and Clark trimmed the deficit to 29–32, but Jeremy Morgan and Alain Dokossi helped Paris pull away again. A dunk by Bako made it 32–42, and both teams traded three-pointers in a frantic final stretch of the half. Walker, Morgan, Santos, Dowtin, and Hifi all connected from deep, setting up a 41–48 Paris advantage at the break.

After halftime, Hoard opened the scoring with a backdoor layup, but Robinson answered with a three-pointer. Hifi followed with a fadeaway jumper off a slick Euro step, and Dokossi scored in transition for a 46–55 lead. Hoard and Walker continued to battle inside for Maccabi, but Hifi remained the key difference-maker, pushing Paris ahead 50–59. Hoard converted an alley-oop layup and Blatt kept Maccabi in touch, but a trademark corner triple from Ouattara and a fast-break layup from Robinson made it 57–67. Blatt, Santos, and Leaf helped close the gap again, but Paris finished the third quarter strong – Ayayi knocked down a triple and Hifi beat the buzzer with a deep three to restore a double-digit lead, 63–74.

Morgan opened the fourth with a coast-to-coast layup before Hifi hit another jumper to stretch the lead to 63–80. Paris stayed in control as Maccabi struggled to get stops – Ouattara buried another wide-open three and Morgan added a jump hook. Despite late threes from Hoard and Clark, Maccabi couldn't generate a run. Amath M'Baye and Herrera added insurance buckets before Leaf and Walker brought Maccabi within single digits, 81–90, with under 3 minutes to play. Ouattara calmly hit free throws and Dokossi’s put-back layup sealed the win at 83–94, before the final buzzer set the score at 94–101.

The French side bounced back after a road loss in Round 1 

Last season's EuroLeague runners-up looked every bit the contender on Friday night. After a disappointing opening-round loss at home to Zalgiris Kaunas, AS Monaco responded in emphatic fashion, rolling past Dubai Basketball 103–81 at Salle Gaston Medecin to pick up its first win of the season.

Monaco superstar duo led way against Dubai in ‘terrific’ display

Last season's EuroLeague runners-up looked every bit the contender on Friday night. After a disappointing opening-round loss at home to Zalgiris Kaunas, [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) responded in emphatic fashion, [rolling past Dubai Basketball 103–81](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-dismisses-dubai-for-first-win-103-81/) at Salle Gaston Medecin to pick up its first win of the season.

“I think we played much, much better – especially defensively,” said [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), comparing the opening loss to Monaco’s bounce-back performance.

AS Monaco-Dubai Basketball | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Leading the charge were Monaco’s superstar duo of Mirotic and [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/).

Mirotic delivered a dominant all-around effort with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in just 20 minutes and 18 seconds. James ran the offense smoothly, dishing out 8 assists to go along with 14 points and 5 rebounds.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🔝 OG performance from Nikola Mirotic 🦾⭐️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/xFUpJtZ1qw">pic.twitter.com/xFUpJtZ1qw</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1974199603043156207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While the game was still close early in the second half – Monaco led 50–46 just seconds into the third quarter – the hosts completely took over from there. A pair of dominant runs, first 9–0, then 17–0, blew the game open, and Monaco ended the quarter up 79–54.

“The second half was terrific,” Mirotic said. “The way we played defense, the way we played offense, the way we were committed – this is how we want to play: from defense to offense.”

It was the first time Monaco hit triple digits in a EuroLeague game at home since last December, and head coach Vassilis Spanoulis had no shortage of reasons for why everything clicked.

“We were much better: our mindset, our approach, our defense, our offense,” Spanoulis said. “We shared the ball. We had 27 assists and just 8 turnovers. And we forced Dubai into 16 turnovers and only 12 assists. We played smart and unselfish basketball. We were locked in on both ends.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🌟 Paul Pogba in the house ⛏️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/uKaB5xcRDs">pic.twitter.com/uKaB5xcRDs</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1974216198351937983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Monaco also locked down Dubai’s perimeter attack, holding the visitors to just 5-of-24 shooting from three-point range. That came just two nights after Dubai had lit up Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade with 11-of-20 shooting from deep.

All in all, it was a strong response and a comfortable first win of the season, one that Mike James believes is only the beginning.

“Getting Niko settled helped a lot,” James said. “I think we’re gonna be OK.”

Mike James and Nikola Mirotic shined bright in Round 2

AS Monaco v Dubai Basketball (2025-10-03T17:30:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket made it two wins out of two in the EuroLeague with a superb 103-94 victory over the visiting Virtus Bologna, marking a perfect start in the Spanish side’s glittering new Roig Arena.

Rampant Valencia throws house-warming party to beat Virtus, 103-94

Valencia Basket made it two wins out of two in the EuroLeague with a superb 103-94 victory over the visiting Virtus Bologna, marking a perfect start in the Spanish side’s glittering new Roig Arena.

Having ground out a 77-80 win at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the opening round, Valencia fired on all cylinders and gave its fans plenty to cheer about after returning to Europe’s premier club competition after a one-year sabbatical in the BKT EuroCup.

Sergio De Larrea paced Valencia on 23 points, shooting 5 of 7 from downtown to cap an excellent individual performance as the hosts put the pedal to the metal in the second half.

Kameron Taylor chipped in with 15 points for Valencia, Nate Reuvers scored 14 while Omari Moore and Darius Thompson added 13 apiece, the latter sinking a flurry of three long-range shots early in the third quarter which put Valencia firmly in the driving seat.

At the other end, Matt Morgan led Virtus and all scorers on a game-high 24 points, while Carsen Edwards and Derrick Alston amassed 15 each for Virtus, which dropped to 1-1 after the opening 74-68 home upset of more fancied Real Madrid.

Virtus made a bright start as a couple of three-pointers by Edwards propelled the visitors into an 11-15 lead, but a 13-4 run by the hosts turned the tide and Valencia never looked back after engineering a 26-23 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Delightful layups by Moore and relentless offensive rebounding allowed the home team to romp ahead 42-30 before Virtus produced a brief comeback which slashed the halftime deficit to 49-46, as Valencia stayed ahead despite shooting only 3 of 15 from downtown.

Enter Thompson. Subdued in the first half, the former Anadolu Efes guard unleashed his venom from distance early in the second as Valencia pulled away to 60-48 on the back of an 11-0 run.

Led by the brilliant Morgan, however, Virtus refused to roll over and the Italian side was back in contention after closing the gap to 75-71 at the end of the third quarter, setting the scene for a grandstand finale.

That did not happen as Valencia, leading 77-73 early in the fourth, found an extra gear and effectively sealed the contest with a decisive 17-6 run which forced Virtus into submission.

The visiting team fought hard to stay in touch but there was no way back as on-song Valencia made sure of a memorable night for the jubilant Spanish fans in their new home.  

The Spanish team celebrated moving into its new home with a sublime performance 

All the ingredients were in place for a classic EuroLeague night in Kaunas. Zalgirio Arena was rocking as Zalgiris Kaunas hosted defending EuroLeague champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, with emotions running high both on and off the court.

Zalgiris vets stepped up against Fenerbahce to cap off perfect double week

All the ingredients were in place for a classic EuroLeague night in Kaunas. Zalgirio Arena was rocking as [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) hosted [defending EuroLeague champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-improves-to-2-0-after-knocking-off-fenerbahce-84-81/), with emotions running high both on and off the court.

Fenerbahce head coach – and Zalgiris legend – Sarunas Jasikevicius returned to his hometown for the first time as a EuroLeague-winning coach. Having lifted the trophy four times as a player, he’s now added one as a coach with Fenerbahce. On the opposite bench stood Tomas Masiulis, his former assistant and longtime friend, now leading Zalgiris after leaving Jasikevicius’s staff. Unlike Jasikevicius, Masiulis won the EuroLeague title as a player with Zalgiris back in 1999.

“He is my mentor and my friend. Without him, I wouldn’t be here,” Masiulis said after the game. “I am very happy and will always be thankful to him. In these two hours we were enemies, but we are very good friends.”

Zalgiris Kaunas-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

With all the emotion, history, and a world-class atmosphere, the game lived up to expectations. Zalgiris came out firing, led by an electric start from [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) to grab a 29–20 lead after the first quarter. The hosts maintained their momentum, extending the gap to 67–53 early in the fourth quarter on a wild layup by [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/).

But as champions do, Fenerbahce punched back. Wade Baldwin took over the game, hitting big shot after big shot to drag the visitors back into contention. The explosive guard finished with 36 points – just two short of his career high – and by the time he buried his fifth three-pointer, Fenerbahce had completed the comeback, edging ahead 74–75.

Down 75–76 in the closing minutes and seemingly on the ropes, Zalgiris turned to its veterans. Team captain [Edgaras Ulanovas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/edgaras-ulanovas/002329/) calmly knocked down a three-pointer to reclaim the lead. Baldwin responded with another tough jumper, but [Arnas Butkevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arnas-butkevicius/002676/) answered with an even bigger shot: a corner three that put Zalgiris up 82–79 inside the final minute. Mikael Jantunen followed with a basket, and Williams-Goss iced the game at the free throw line. Nicolo Melli missed the final shot, sealing a dramatic win for the home side.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The perfect EuroLeague double week ✅ <a href="https://t.co/uciPJHnayI">pic.twitter.com/uciPJHnayI</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1974216511058334165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ulanovas scored all 7 of his points in the fourth quarter, while Butkevicius’s only basket of the game was the decisive one.

“It is a great team victory,” Masiulis said. “It’s important for our new coaching staff and for the players to believe in what we’re doing. I think it gives us a little confidence, but we still have to walk on the ground and focus on the next game. We’ll celebrate tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”

He also gave credit to Baldwin’s brilliant performance: “In the beginning, our strategy was to give him some shots, but he got hot and was very difficult to stop. Maybe we should have adjusted earlier, but in the end, we won this game as a team.”

Zalgiris now sits at 2–0, having opened the season with a road win over last year’s finalists AS Monaco before knocking off the defending champs. The Lithuanian side will look to carry that momentum into back-to-back road games against FC Bayern Munich on October 10 and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on October 14.

Edgaras Ulanovas and Arnas Butkevicius hit clutch shots late as the Lithuanian side moves to 2–0, having downed both of last year's EuroLeague finalists

Zalgiris Kaunas v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-10-03T17:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona grabbed its first victory of the 2025–26 campaign by defeating Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 96–103 on the road at Telekom Center Athens on Friday night. The visitors led for most of the game and absorbed several comeback attempts by Panathinaikos in the fourth quarter to close out a strong road win, capping off the double-round week in style.

Barcelona dominates at Panathinaikos, 96-103

FC Barcelona grabbed its first victory of the 2025–26 campaign by defeating Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 96–103 on the road at Telekom Center Athens on Friday night. The visitors led for most of the game and absorbed several comeback attempts by Panathinaikos in the fourth quarter to close out a strong road win, capping off the double-round week in style.

Will Clyburn paced Barcelona with 23 points, while Toko Shengelia added 17 and Nico Laprovittola contributed 15. Willy Hernangomez and Kevin Punter chipped in 13 points each. For Panathinaikos, Juancho Hernangomez led all scorers with 27 points, and Kostas Sloukas recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists. Konstantinos Mitoglou added 11 points, while Kendrick Nunn and Jerian Grant scored 10 apiece.

Barcelona started strong, with Clyburn and Shengelia knocking down early triples to build an 0–8 lead. Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman made four changes to his starting lineup just two minutes into the game, sparking a 10–0 run led by Cedi Osman and Omer Yurtseven that gave the hosts a 13–11 lead. Barcelona answered with a 2–10 run, capped by Miles Norris’s three-pointer to make it 15–21. Bench contributions from Myles Cale and Joel Parra extended the lead to 17–26 after the first quarter.

TJ Shorts opened the second quarter with a three-point play, and Jerian Grant’s jumper brought Panathinaikos within 24–26. Juancho Hernangomez and Mitoglou each hit triples, with Grant adding a three-point play to give Panathinaikos a 35–33 lead. However, Punter responded with a three-point play, and Clyburn’s layup sparked an 0–8 run that put Barcelona up 40–49. Juancho finished the half with a team-high 13 points, and Panathinaikos trailed 45–51 at halftime.

Barcelona began the third quarter with a 3–8 run, as Clyburn’s open three-pointer pushed their lead to 11 points. Panathinaikos forced back-to-back turnovers, but Shengelia’s three-point play restored Barcelona’s 58–69 advantage. Fueled by the home crowd, Panathinaikos fought back, with Juancho dunking in transition to cut the deficit to 69–75 going into the final quarter.

Punter and Clyburn hit consecutive triples early in the fourth, extending Barcelona’s lead to 69–84. Panathinaikos responded with a 9–1 run sparked by Juancho, who trimmed the gap to 80–88 with four straight points. Laprovittola then nailed two more triples and assisted Jan Vesely for an 85–96 lead with 2:23 remaining. Despite one last push from the hosts, five straight points from Clyburn helped Barcelona surpass the 100-point mark and seal the win.

The visitors led from start to finish and celebrated their first win this season