Name: Top 10 Dunks | Season | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Ergin Ataman heads into Tuesday's Game 5 hoping that Panathinaikos BC, his new love, can defeat his former love, Anadolu Efes, and reach the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.

Ataman at the center as his ex and his new love clash

In a league where the best head coaches can be as popular as the superstar players, no one stands out quite like [Ergin Ataman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/ataman-ergin/). The [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) boss is certainly a divisive figure. He can be loud and controversial. He is beloved by fans of his teams and sometimes even despised by the opposition. And he is also what every team wants from their coach: a winner.

Three of the last four EuroLeague championships have Ataman's name next to them. The first two came with [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) in 2021 and 2022. In the summer of 2023, he joined Panathinaikos and led the Greens to glory in their first season together.

On Tuesday, Ataman and Panathinaikos will host Efes for the fifth and final game of what's been a thrilling series and only one of them will earn the right to keep playing.

While the links between Ataman and Efes are well known, when the series began they were part of the backstory. That changed in Game 4.

### The Game 4 incident with Efes fans

Panathinaikos was clearly on its way to defeat late in Game 4. With 16 seconds left in the game, Ataman took offense when he heard the taunts of a small group of Efes. They were chanting a song that is usually associated with Efes's – and Ataman's – archrival [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/). Ataman reacted furiously, pointing and shouting toward the area in the stands where the singing was coming from before pointing again, this time towards the two championship banners in the rafters – the banners he helped bring to Efes.

Panathinaikos head caoch Ergin Ataman points towards Efes's two championship banners during Game 4.

He went on to shake the referees’ hands and proceeded to the locker room. He was not on the sidelines for the final seconds of the game, skipped the post-game television interview and did not attend the post-game press conference.

Assistant coach Christos Serelis, who represented Ataman at the press conference, said: "Coach Ataman doesn’t feel very well. He has a huge history with this club and big achievements and I think that he feels that some of the \[fans\], they don’t respect him a lot."

In the aftermath, players such as Panathinaikos forward [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/), who like Ataman has a past at Efes and has played under Ataman on the Turkish national team, and Efes forward [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/derek-willis/009664/) publicly sided with Ataman. They expressed that he did not deserve such treatment from fans who experienced so much joy in great part thanks to him.

But there is also no running away from the fact that emotions got the best of Ataman. It could be argued that no loss during his coaching career left him feeling as defeated as he felt at the end of Game 4, when he heard jeers from fans who not too long ago were singing his praises.

### The team Ataman did not want to play

To say that the charismatic Ataman has not had it easy the past two weeks is an understatement. On one side, his only goal is the success of Panathinaikos, which he guided to its [seventh EuroLeague crown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/watch-the-7th-star-for-free-on-euroleague-tv/) last season.

But on the other side is the club that he will forever be associated with and with which he won back-to-back EuroLeague championships.

EuroLeague Basketball Originals Documentary: Back 2 Back, Episode 1

The clash between Ataman's ex and his new love added spice to the series, but it was something the coach himself wanted no part of. Even before the playoff seeding were determined, Ataman said that Efes was the only team he did not want to see in the playoffs.

However, the basketball gods did not grant him his wish. And Ataman, who is often outspoken, before, during and after games, kept a relatively low profile, at least for his standards. Never one to shy away from big statements and guarantees, he has kept his tongue in check with thought-out statements that praised both teams and clubs.

Known for his occasional on-floor antics, where he is not afraid to put on a show and get into it with referees or with the opposing fans, Ataman has been unusually calm and collected.

Until the final minute of Game 4 on Friday night, that is, and him storming off to the locker room.

### Efes's historic journey from worst to first

To understand Ataman’s emotions, one must know his deep history with the club, and his personal rivalry with Fenerbahce.

One-third of his three decades on the sidelines has been spent with Efes. Ataman has been the head coach of the club on three different occasions. The first time, for two seasons at the turn of the century, during which in 2000 he made Efes the first ever Turkish team to play at the EuroLeague Final Four.

His second stint with the club was between 2008 and 2010. The third one made history.

Ataman was in charge of Efes from December 2017 through June 2023. He took over a team sitting in last place in the EuroLeague and a year later created a monumental turnaround, taking the team to the 2019 championship game. Ataman’s Efes was dominating the league in the 2019-20 campaign before the competition was abruptly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the games returned, Ataman guided Efes to back-to-back EuroLeague championships and was named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year in 2021, too. He turned Efes from a club that so often underachieved or came up just short into a EuroLeague powerhouse.

Ergin Ataman (center) celebrates after Anadolu Efes Istanbul won its second EuroLeague title in a row in 2022.

Even before his historic third stint with Efes, Ataman was an accomplished coach. In the EuroLeague, he led Montepaschi Siena to the 2003 Final Four and made history in other pan-European competitions by winning the 2002 FIBA Saporta Cup with Siena, the 2012 FIBA EuroChallenge Cup with Besiktas Istanbul and the EuroCup with Galatasaray Istanbul in 2016.

During his time at Galatasaray, Ataman developed a rivalry with the fans of its archrival Fenerbahce. It continued when he was in charge of Efes, and even as he took over as the head coach of the Turkish national team.

It is an unfortunate animosity that lasts to this day.

### From hanging with friends to shouts from the stands

When Ataman left Efes in the summer of 2023 to take over Panathinaikos, it became clear over time that he maintained a great relationship with his former club. And, in the way only Ataman knows how to, he was never shy about voicing his opinions on the moves Efes made, despite being in charge of a rival EuroLeague side.

Among those, he critiqued the gesture of respect then-Efes coach Erdem Can made towards Zeljko Obradovic. Ataman then publicly approved the appointment of Tomislav Mijatovic as Efes's next head coaching hire.

Panathinaikos and Efes spent parts of their training camp together last summer, and Ataman was happy to post a photo of all enjoying a cup of coffee, with the caption “Waiting for you guys in 2024-25 EuroLeague final”. Mijatovic was in the meantime replaced by [Luca Banchi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/banchi-luca/?season=E2024), but still serves as the first assistant on the team.

<center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_h1RbfNh_n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_h1RbfNh_n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C_h1RbfNh_n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Ergin Ataman (@erginatamania)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

In another show of their great relationship, Efes was invited to the open-air tournament in Athens at Panathenaic Stadium last August.

The way Ataman treats his former club also showed through his guest appearance on the [Off The RECourt Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzC_r19bAZs), hosted by Efes's star guards [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) and [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/). Ataman opened up about a number of topics there, which is rare to see between a coach and players from another team.

Fast-forward to the EuroLeague Playoffs, and Ataman’s approach did not change a bit.

“I have great respect for Efes,” Ataman said on the eve of this best-of-five series. “Many players are my players, and we made history in European basketball. But now we are on separate ends, and I will do everything on the court to send my team to the Final Four.”

A few days later, despite losing Game 2 at home and with tensions running high, Ataman tried to be a voice of calm, calling things “fair”, “balanced”, saying he was and looking forward to the continuation of the series.

Even ahead of Game 3, he referred to his opponents as “friends”, once again reiterating his feelings about the playoff opponent at hand.

### The flame has been lit on a Game 5 that promises fireworks

So, when Efes fans started taunting him at the end of Game 4, it was a little unexpected. And it obviously shocked Ataman, too.

What it also did was add more fuel to an already fiery series, with the outcomes of each game historically tight.

On one side is the defending champs, led by the reigning MVP [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) and four-time champion [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), who both joined the Greens under Ataman.

On the other, it's the last team to win back-to-back championships, led by Larkin, a player who became a superstar under Ataman.

And in the middle of it all stands Ataman himself.

The series now goes back to Athens for Game 5, which was sold out in about four hours. Who knows? Years from now we might simply remember it as the ‘Ataman series’.

But regardless of how things play out on Tuesday night, or how we end up calling it, this series is certain to go down as one of the best we have ever witnessed. And Coach Ataman is a big reason why.

Game News

The Panathinaikos coach casts a large shadow as his team heads to Game 5 against his beloved Efes

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-05-06T18:45:00.000Z)

Mr. Dimitris Giannakopoulos, the majority shareholder of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, has been sanctioned with fine amounting a total of €100,000 for statements on social media regarding the officiating performance, disparaging remarks and damages towards other clubs, individuals and Euroleague Basketball organization, in accordance with Article 24.2. b), c) and d) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

Latest disciplinary decisions

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary decisions pertaining to incidents that occurred during the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Javier Gancedo gives his recommendations for the last day of the playoffs, with four teams aiming to secure the last two tickets to the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips, Game 5: Last call for Abu Dhabi!

There are only six games left in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, with four teams in do-or-die situations to make it to the Final Four. 

On Tuesday night, two Game 5s take place as AS Monaco faces FC Barcelona in the principality before Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens hosts Anadolu Efes Istanbul at OAKA. The winners will join Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Olympiacos Piraeus at the Final Four in Abu Dhabi. 

This week, I will recommend one player per team and someone to give you an extra boost in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, which continues until a team captain lifts the trophy at Etihad Arena.

Mike James, Cedi Osman, Shane Larkin, Kendrick Nunn and Jabari Parker are featured in this week's article.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Playoffs Game 5

### Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (18.4 credits)

I am aware that Kendrick Nunn has not played at his best in the playoffs, averaging 16.5 points on 27.3% three-point shooting and a PIR of 13.0. It won't matter in Game 5, and like we say in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast, "home Nunn is the best Nunn". He should be ready for a monster, MVP-like performance in Game 5.

### Shane Larkin, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (15.1 credits)

Shane Larkin has been fantastic in the series against Panathinaikos, averaging 15.8 points on 44.0% three-pointers, 5.5 assists and a PIR of 20.0 without going to the free-throw line too much (16 attempts in four games). Larkin has posted a PIR of 17 or higher in all four games in the series, and that consistency is crucial right now.

### Jabari Parker, FC Barcelona (12.3 credits)

If Barcelona makes it to the Final Four, [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) will have to do a lot with it. In Game 4, Parker had 22 points and a PIR of 15. He also scored 16 points in both Games 2 and 3. Barcelona has a little bit of an advantage at power forward with Parker and Joel Parra, so it should look to exploit that. Expect Parker to lead his team once again in Game 5

### Mike James, AS Monaco (16.8 credits)

On a mission to make it to the Final Four, [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) has been playing really well lately. James has had 27 assists and just 8 turnovers in his team's series against Barcelona, while also averaging 15.8 points on 42.3% three-point shooting, good for a PIR average of 19.0. Everyone in Monaco knows that James will do whatever it takes to take the Roca Team to Abu Dhabi.

**Cedi Osman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (9.2 credits)**

It is a very special game for [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/), who grew up with Efes and is now trying to take his former team out of the Final Four race. Emotions have not had an impact on Osman's performances to this point, averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and a PIR of 13.0, way above his regular-season numbers (7.9 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 6.8 PIR). All for less than 10.0 credits! 

More Fantasy Challenge News

Javier Gancedo gives his recommendations for the last day of the playoffs

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2025-05-06T17:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria has announced that coach Jaka Lakovic has signed a new contract at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Gran Canaria extends Coach Lakovic's contract to 2027

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) has announced that coach Jaka Lakovic has signed a new contract at the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakovic2027?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakovic2027</a> 💛 <a href="https://t.co/vPLwaFZcOv">pic.twitter.com/vPLwaFZcOv</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1919327331434344703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lakovic, who was appointed by the club in the summer of 2022, led the club to its first-ever BKT EuroCup title in 2023 and a EuroCup Finals appearance in 2025.

Over the last three seasons, Lakovic has overseen a 47-19 record with Gran Canaria. 

More Gran Canaria News

The Slovenian play-caller has been at the club since 2022

Top 10 Dunks | Season | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

The Turkish team will have no fear of the awe-inspiring Athens atmosphere after already grabbing a road win in Game 2, but the Greens can take confidence from the fact that they have never lost consecutive home games during the reign of former Efes coach Ergin Ataman.

Both teams have past recent experience of this type of occasion – [Panathinaikos overcame Maccabi in Game 5 this time last season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-celebrates-after-81-72-game-5-victory-over-maccabi/), while Efes did the same against Real Madrid during its 2021 title run – and battle-hardened performers on both sides like [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), [Kendrick Nunn,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) and [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) will thrive rather than wilt under the pressure.

An X-factor for Efes in Game 4 was playmaker [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/), who had his team’s highest +/- (8) despite not even attempting a two-point shot, as he delivered 5 assists on just 1 turnover to lead his team’s offense with composure.

Larkin also had a strong night of distribution, dishing 9 assists as part of a team total of 24, so Panathinaikos’s defensive focus will surely be disrupting the visitors’ ball circulation. One key figure in that quest will be former Efes forward [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/), whose high-energy style has yielded 14.5 points per game so far in the series.

The Greens will look to gain extra possessions by crashing the glass through [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/), who took advantage of [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/)’s injury problems by grabbing 6 offensive rebounds last time out. Another important physical presence is [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/), who combines solid rebounding (8.2 boards per game in the series) with dangerous long-range shooting.

And in a series that has delivered constant changes in momentum, with neither team winning two games in a row, we should get ready for plenty of thrills and spills before the last ticket to the Final Four is finally taken.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

 

**Streaks**

Kendrick Nunn has made at least 1 three-point shot in 42 of his last 43 games.

Nunn has scored 12 or more points in 15 of his last 16 games.

Juancho Hernangomez has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in 20 straight games.

Hernangomez has made at least 1 three-point shot in four of his last five games.

Omer Yurtseven has pulled down 5 or more rebounds and posted double-digit PIRs in four of his last five games.

Mathias Lessort has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 11 straight and 23 of his last 24 games.

Lessort has had a PIR of 10 or more in 25 of his last 26 games.

Jerian Grant has made at least 1 three-point shot in eight of his last nine games.

Cedi Osman has made at least 1 three-point shot in five straight games.

Konstantinos Mitoglou has made at least 1 three-point shot in five of his last six games.

Kostas Sloukas has made at least 1 three-point shot in four straight games.

Sloukas has made 10 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Kendrick Nunn finished the regular season as the league leader in scoring with 21.1 points per game.

Nunn finished the regular season as the league leader in three-pointers made with 3.1 per game.

Nunn finished the regular season ranked fifth in average index rating with 20.3 per game.

Juancho Hernangomez finished the regular season ranked third in rebounding with 6.7 per game.

Wenyen Gabriel finished the regular season ranked ninth in offensive rebounding with 1.9 per game.

Gabriel finished the regular season ranked fifth in blocks with 1.1 per game.

Kostas Sloukas finished the regular season ranked ninth in assists with 4.8 per game.

Sloukas finished the regular season ranked sixth in free-throw shooting at 93.5%.

Panathinaikos leads the league in average PIR with 103.4 per game.

Panathinaikos is second in the league in scoring with 87.7 points per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in defensive rebounding with 24.1 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks third in steals with 7.0 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks third in two-point shooting at 58.0%.

Panathinaikos allows a league-high 38.6% on three-point shooting.

Panathinaikos has allowed 10.1 offensive rebounds per game, the third-lowest this season.

Panathinaikos allows the second-fewest total rebounds, 32.4 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Sloukas is in third place all-time with 424 games played. Next time he enters the floor he will tie Kyle Hines for second with 425 games played.

Sloukas is ranked second all-time with 1,876 assists. Nick Calathes of AS Monaco is the all-time leader with 2,130 and counting.

Sloukas is in fourth place all-time with 1,014 free throws made. Vassilis Spanoulis is third with 1,131.

Sloukas is eighth all-time with 4,045 career points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is seventh with 4,047 and counting, and Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,068 career points.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 5,052 index rating points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is third with 5,123 and counting.

Sloukas is 12th all-time with 509 three-point shots made. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 11th with 510, and Rodrigue Beaubois of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 10th with 513 and counting.

Marius Grigonis ranks eighth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.6%.

Sloukas ranks 15th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.2%.

Sloukas is in 18th place on the all-time charts with 269 career steals. Vassilis Spanoulis is 17th with 273 steals.

Tibor Pleiss is ranked seventh all-time with 229 career blocks. Alex Tyus is sixth with 238.

Pleiss is in 11th place all-time with 470 offensive rebounds. Vincent Poirier of Efes is in 10th place all-time with 480 offensive rebounds and counting.

Pleiss is tied with Nick Calathes of AS Monaco for 11th place all-time with 1,009 two-pointers made. Paulius Jankunas is 10th with 1,011.

Pleiss is ranked 16th all-time with 1,400 rebounds. Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos Piraeus is 15th with 1,423 and counting.

Grigonis needs 4 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Jerian Grant is the all-time leader with a 3.2-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Game Videos

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

Shane Larkin has PIRs of at least 11 in five straight and 11 of his last 12 games.

Larkin has scored at least 11 points in four of his last five games.

Larkin has made at least 1 three-point shot in 20 straight games.

Larkin has made at least 1 steal in 10 straight games.

Elijah Bryant has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.

Bryant has made 11 consecutive free throws.

PJ Dozier has made 17 consecutive free throws.

Darius Thompson has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight of his last nine games.

Vincent Poirier has had at least 1 block in six straight games.

 

**Season rankings**

Vincent Poirier finished the regular season ranked third in blocks with 1.1 per game.

Dan Oturu finished the regular season ranked fifth in two-point shooting at 70.8%.

Oturu finished the regular season ranked seventh in offensive rebounding with 2.1 per game.

Elijah Bryant finished the regular season ranked fourth in steals with 1.2 per game.

Shane Larkin finished the regular season ranked fifth in steals with 1.2 per game.

Ercan Osmani finished the regular season ranked third in free-throw shooting at 94.7%.

Rolands Smits finished the regular season ranked seventh in two-point shooting at 69%.

Rodrigue Beaubois finished the regular season ranked eighth in three-point shooting at 45.9%.

Efes leads the league in blocks with 4.0 per game.

Efes ranks third in average PIR with 100.3 per game.

Efes ranks second in two-point shooting at 58.4%.

Efes ranks third in three-point shooting at 38.9%.

Efes allows the fewest total rebounds, 31.6 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Shane Larkin is ranked 10th place all-time in scoring with 3,632 points. Sergio Rodriguez is ninth with 3,772 points.

Rodrigue Beaubois is in 19th place in career scoring with 3,113 points. Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is 18th with 3,179 points and counting.

Larkin is in eighth place all-time in three-pointers made with 562. Rudy Fernandez is seventh with 594 three-pointers. Milos Teodosic is sixth with 595.

Beaubois is in 10th place all-time in three-pointers made with 513. Vassilis Spanoulis is ninth with 518 three-pointers made.

Larkin is in ninth place all-time with 798 free throws made. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is eighth with 799 career free throws made and counting.

Larkin is in seventh place all-time with 4,300 PIR points. Walter Tavares is sixth with 4,301.

Larkin is in 11th place all-time with 1,131 assists. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 10th with 1,204.

Larkin is tied with Nicolo Melli of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul for 12th place all-time with 286 steals. Kyle Hines is in 11th place with 287 steals.

Vincent Poirier ranks eighth all-time in blocks with 221. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos is seventh all-time with 229 and counting.

Poirier is in 10th place all-time with 480 offensive rebounds. Ante Tomic is ninth with 520 career offensive rebounds.

Darius Thompson ranks 10th all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Reigning champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens welcomes 2021 and 2022 title winner Anadolu Efes Istanbul for the decider of a hugely entertaining back-and-forth series.

Game Facts: Panathinaikos vs. Efes

\- Efes forced Game 5 with an 85-82 win in Game 4 in which one of the heroes was Erkan Yilmaz, who made his first start of the season. Yilmaz posted season-highs in points (6), rebounds (4), assists (3), tied his career-high with 3 steals and set a new career-best with a PIR of 11.

\- Panathinaikos took a 2-1 series lead with a 77-81 win in Game 3 as Kendrick Nunn scored 25 points and earned co-MVP of the Round honors with a 31 PIR.

\- In Game 2, Efes rallied to edge Panathinaikos 76-79 as Shane Larkin earned co-MVP of the Round honors thanks to his PIR of 27.

\- Panathinaikos rallied to beat Efes 87-83 in Game 1 behind Juancho Hernangomez, who set career highs in points (20), rebounds (16) and PIR (40) and tied his career best with 3 steals. His 16 rebounds tied the EuroLeague Playoffs record. Hernangomez earned MVP of the Round honors for his performance.

\- Efes center Dan Oturu tied a playoff record and set a career-high with 5 blocks in Game 3 of this series. Vincent Poirier became the first player in EuroLeague Playoffs history to have 5 blocked shots when he did so in Game 1.

\- Panathinaikos beat Efes 104-89 in Round 26 behind Kendrick Nunn, who erupted for 30 second-half points and finished with 36 after going 7 for 10 on two-pointers, 5 for 11 on three-pointers and a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line. Nunn also posted 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 fouls drawn for a 37 PIR, earning MVP of the Round honors.

\- Efes thrashed Panathinaikos 93-67 in Round 15 in Istanbul and in the process set a club record with 8 blocks.

\- Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman was in charge of Efes between 2017 and 2023 and guided the team to EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022. He was named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year in 2021, too.

\- Panathinaikos center Tibor Pleiss, who hasn’t yet played in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs, is set to face Efes for the first time since leaving the club last summer. He spent six seasons there and helped the team win the EuroLeague in 2021 and 2022.

\- Panathinaikos forward Cedi Osman came through at Efes and made his EuroLeague debut there in the 2013-14 season. Efes's former head coach and now assistant Tomislav Mijatovic was also an assistant coach during Osman's entire time with the club.

\- Daryl Macon scored 34 points and made a club-record 9 three-point shots for Panathinaikos in a 95-69 victory over Efes in October 2021.

\- Efes set its EuroLeague club record this century with 33 made free throws against Panathinaikos in April 2005.

\- Panathinaikos recorded 51 total rebounds, which is the most by the Greens in EuroLeague play this century, against Efes in March 2014.

\- Panathinaikos beat Efes 81-71 in the 2000 EuroLeague Final Four semifinals and 74-66 in the 2001 FIBA SuproLeague semifinals.

\- Panathinaikos ousted Efes 2-1 in their best-of-three EuroLeague playoff series in 2005.

\- Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort and Efes center Vincent Poirier have been teammates on the French national team. Together they won bronze medals at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

\- Efes's Dogus Ozdemiroglu, Shane Larkin, Ercan Osmani and Erkan Yilmaz all played under Coach Ataman on the Turkish national team and alongside Panathinaikos players Cedi Osman and Omer Yurtseven.

\- Panathinaikos forward Cedi Osman tied his career high with 22 points in Game 4 against Efes.

\- Panathinaikos center Omer Yurtseven grabbed a career-high 6 offensive rebounds and tied his career-best with 8 rebounds in Game 4 against Efes.

\- Yurtseven had a career-high 3 steals in Game 2 against Efes in this series.

\- Panathinaikos guard Jerian Grant tied his career high with 7 rebounds in Game 4.

\- Efes guard PJ Dozier had career highs in PIR (28) and steals (6) while playing for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade against Panathinaikos in January 2024.

\- Efes's Jordan Nwora grabbed a personal-best 8 rebounds in Round 15 against Panathinaikos this season.

\- Marius Grigonis made a career-high 7 triples and had a career-best PIR of 28 to lead Panathinaikos past Efes, 83-76, last season in Athens.

\- Efes guard Rodrigue Beaubois set a career-high with 4 blocks against Panathinaikos in November 2018.

\- Efes center Vincent Poirier grabbed a career-high 4 steals while playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Panathinaikos in November 2017.

Game Notes: Panathinaikos vs. Efes

The hosts will look to recover the offensive fluidity that marked their victories in the opening two games, having been stifled by Barça’s defense in [Game 4](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-beats-monaco-in-game-4-to-tie-the-series-79-72/) and only making 23 of its 63 field goal attempts (36.5%), while recording more turnovers (19) than assists (16).

Monaco’s quartet of backcourt stars all particularly struggled from beyond the arc in the last meeting, with [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) (1 of 5), [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) (0 of 4), [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) (1 of 5) and [Matthew Strazel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/) (2 of 7) falling well below their usual three-point shooting standards, so Vassilis Spanoulis will be keen to create some early open looks on the perimeter to boost confidence.

Barça’s injury problems have forced coach Joan Penarroya into some improvisations, and [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) has especially flourished in his new point guard role with a series average of 13.8 points on 61.1% three-point shooting.

The Spanish team has also got big performances out of its backup big men in the last couple of games. With [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) and [Chimezie Metu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chimezie-metu/013379/) both sidelined by injury, [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) took over Game 3 before [Youssoupha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/youssoupha-fall/006568/) did the same in Game 4, so Monaco centers [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) and [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/) will look to respond by rediscovering the inside dominance they enjoyed earlier in the series.

Winning three straight games by taking Game 5 on the road will take a massive effort for Barca, so the big personalities and strong shooting potential of [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) and [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) will have to take a key role for the Blaugrana. But with the energy of [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) and [Jaron Blossomgame](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaron-blossomgame/011231/) adding to the backcourt weapons at Monaco’s disposal, the home team will take some stopping.

### AS Monaco

**Streaks**

Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 14 straight games.

James has had 5 or more assists in six of his last seven games.

James has made 12 consecutive free throws.

Elie Okobo has scored 11 or more points and made at least 1 three-pointer in four of his last five games.

Matthew Strazel has made at least 1 three-pointer in nine straight games.

Strazel has scored 10 or more points in four of his last five games.

Alpha Diallo has scored in double figures and had double-digit PIRs in five of his last six games.

Diallo has made at least 1 three-pointer in five of his last six games.

Georgios Papagiannis has made 15 consecutive free throws.

**Season rankings**

Mike James finished the regular season ranked fourth in assists with 5.7 per game.

Georgios Papagiannis finished the regular season as the league leader in blocks with 1.4 per game.

Monaco has committed 10.7 turnovers per game, the second-lowest in the league.

Monaco ranks fourth in scoring with 86.4 points per game.

Monaco ranks fourth in blocks with 2.8 per game.

Monaco has forced a league-high 13.6 turnovers per game.

**Records/Milestones**

Mike James is the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer with 5,222 career points.

James is second all-time with 5,379 index rating points. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is first with a PIR of 5,473.

James is in second place all-time in free throws made with 1,151. De Colo is the all-time leader with 1,181.

James is in fifth place all-time with 1,506 career assists. Vassilis Spanoulis is fourth with 1,607 assists.

James is in fifth place all-time with 605 three-pointers made. Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is fourth with 608, and Sergio Rodriguez is third with 609 three-pointers made.

James is fifth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,128. Ante Tomic is fourth with 1,137.

James is in seventh place all-time with 329 career steals. Theo Papaloukas is sixth with 335 career steals.

Nick Calathes is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in assists with 2,130.

Calathes set the EuroLeague single-season assists record in 2018-19 with 286.

Calathes is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in steals with 459.

Calathes ranks second all-time in games started with 318, behind only Kostas Papanikolaou, who has 338 and counting.

Calathes ranks eighth all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Calathes is ninth all-time with 4,295 performance index rating points. Kyle Hines is in eighth place all-time with 4,299 performance index rating points.

Calathes is ranked 16th all-time in scoring with 3,282 points. Kyle Hines is 15th with 3,339 points.

Georgios Papagiannis is ranked fourth all-time with 252 blocks. Kyle Hines is third with 320 blocks.

Papagiannis ranks 17th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.3%.

Donatas Motiejunas set the EuroLeague single-game record with 18 defensive rebounds on December 7, 2011, while playing for Asseco Prokom Gdynia against Union Olimpija Ljubljana. In that game, Motiejunas pulled down 21 rebounds, the most rebounds in a single game by any active player.

### FC Barcelona

**Streaks**

Kevin Punter has had a PIR of 10 or more in 11 of his last 12 games.

Punter has scored in double figures in 14 of his last 15 games.

Punter has at least 1 steal in 16 straight games.

Punter has made 28 consecutive free throws.

Jabari Parker has scored 10 or more points in seven of his last eight games.

Dario Brizuela has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight and 10 of his last 11 games.

Brizuela has made multiple triples in four straight games.

Brizuela has scored 10 or more points in five straight games.

Willy Hernangomez has had a PIR in double figures in five of his last six games.

Tomas Satoransky has had 5 or more assists in five of his last six games.

Satoransky has had at least 1 steal in four straight games.

Nico Laprovittola has made at least 1 three-point shot in 19 straight games.

Chimezie Metu has scored 10 or more points in 13 of his last 14 games.

**Season rankings**

Kevin Punter finished the regular season ranked seventh in scoring with 16.9 points per game.

Punter finished the regular season ranked third in steals with 1.3 per game.

Jan Vesely finished the regular season ranked ninth in steals with 1.1 per game.

Punter finished the regular season ranked eighth in free-throw shooting at 93.1%.

Punter finished the regular season ranked ninth in three-pointers made with 2.2 per game.

Tomas Satoransky finished the regular season ranked seventh in assists with 5.3 per game.

Youssoupha Fall finished the regular season tied for eighth in two-point shooting at 68.4%.

Barcelona ranks first in scoring with 87.7 points per game.

Barcelona ranks first in steals with 7.3 per game.

Barcelona ranks fourth in assists with 19.6 per game.

Barcelona ranks fourth in three-point shooting at 38.7%.

Barcelona allows 34.1% three-point shooting, the third-lowest in the league.

**Records/Milestones**

Tomas Satoransky ranks fourth all-time with a 2.8-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Jan Vesely is the all-time leader in two-pointers made with 1,567.

Vesely ranks third all-time with 5,123 index rating points. Mike James of AS Monaco is second with 5,379 and counting.

Vesely is seventh all-time with 4,047 points scored. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,068.

Vesely is tied with Rudy Fernandez in third place all-time with 367 steals. Dimitris Diamantidis is second with 434 steals.

Vesely ranks fifth all-time with 1,780 rebounds. Felipe Reyes is fourth with 1,799.

Vesely is in fifth place all-time with 657 offensive rebounds. Bryant Dunston of Zalgiris Kaunas is fourth with 671.

Vesely ranks ninth all-time with 216 blocks. Vincent Poirier of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is eighth with 221 and counting, and Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is seventh with 229 and counting.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 799 free throws made. Juan Carlos Navarro is seventh with 853.

Kevin Punter ranks seventh all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.6%.

Youssoupha Fall ranks 12th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.2%.

Nico Laprovittola needs 3 three-point shots made to reach 300 for his career.

Alex Abrines needs 3 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

FC Barcelona will attempt to complete a historic comeback against an AS Monaco team determined to hold its home court. Both teams have reasons for optimism: Monaco won Games 1 and 2 at home with a degree of comfort, but Barça did manage a strong regular season victory at the Salle Gaston Medecin.

Game Facts: Monaco vs. Barcelona

\- Barcelona edged Monaco 79-72 in Game 4 of this series with Jabari Parker scoring 22 points.

\- Barcelona beat Monaco 100-89 in Game 3 behind Willy Hernangomez's double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, including a career-best 7 offensive rebounds, and a career-high PIR of 31, which earned him co-MVP of the Round honors.

\- In Game 2, Monaco topped Barcelona 92-79 while dishing a club-record 28 assists. Mam Jaiteh tied his career highs in scoring (20) and PIR (27), and he set a career-best with 9-of-9 two-point shooting. He earned his first MVP of the Round honor in the process.

\- Monaco beat Barcelona 97-80 in Game 1 behind a career-high 22 points from Daniel Theis.

\- Monaco guard Matthew Strazel tied his career-high PIR of 21 in Game 1 after he set that mark earlier this season, also against Barcelona, in a Round 20 loss.

\- Barcelona guard Dario Brizuela had a career-best game in an 84-98 win in Monaco in Round 20. Brizuela posted career highs in scoring (27), PIR (25), and minutes played (28:46), and tied his career best with 6 three-point shots made.

\- Monaco center Georgios Papagiannis set the club's single-game record when he blocked 4 shots in Round 20 against Barcelona.

\- Barcelona beat Monaco 86-71 in Round 3 behind 21 points from Kevin Punter, snapping Monaco's three-game winning streak in this series.

\- Monaco beat Barcelona 78-66 in their third-place game at the 2023 Final Four.

\- The two teams met for the first time in the 2021-22 season.

\- Nick Calathes spent two seasons at Barcelona, from 2020 to 2022, and helped it reach two Final Fours, including the championship game in 2021.

\- Monaco forward Petr Cornelie was a teammate of Barcelona's Youssoupha Fall at French club Le Mans during the 2015-16 season.

\- Barcelona forward Joel Parra pulled down a career-best tying 5 offensive rebounds in Game 2 of this series.

\- Barcelona's Jabari Parker had a career-high 6 assists in Game 2 of this series.

\- Barcelona’s injured big man Chimezie Metu tied his personal high with 8 rebounds in a Round 20 win over Monaco.

\- Barcelona guard Kevin Punter made a career-high 11 free throws while playing for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade against Monaco in January 2024.

Game Notes: Monaco vs. Barcelona

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and team captain Yovel Zoosman agreed on a contract extension that will keep them together through the 2027-28 season

Jerusalem, Yovel Zoosman pen 3-year extension

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and team captain [Yovel Zoosman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yovel-zoosman/006625/) agreed on a contract extension that will keep them together through the 2027-28 season. Zoosman (2.00 meters, 26 years old) averaged 9.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 18 games last season, which was his first in the BKT EuroCup. The versatile small forward was [fifth in the competition in steals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=U2024&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=steals) with 1.7 per game.

Yovel Zoosman's top plays from the 2024-25 season

A product of the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, he made his professional debut as a 17-year-old and would go on to play five EuroLeague seasons with the club. He played two more EuroLeague campaigns with ALBA Berlin. Zoosman’s trophy case includes four Israeli championships and one Israeli Cup with Maccabi, the 2022 German League and Cup double with ALBA and the 2024 Israeli Cup with Jerusalem. A longtime member of the Israeli national team, Zoosman starred on the gold-medal winning squad at the U20 European Championship in 2018.

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"I arrived at Hapoel two years ago and found a home here, a united and strong fan community, a club that aims for the highest levels and the best professional situation I have had in my career," Zoosman said after signing. "I heard all the fans who supported me and wanted so much to see me stay and I couldn't be happier to make them happy. When you receive all this love, you can't leave."

The team captain has spent the past two seasons in the Israeli capital

With the series tied 2-2, Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Panathinaikos Athens B.C. will face each other in Game 5 in Athens on Tuesday and if the opening four chapters are anything to go by, another knife-edged encounter is on the cards

Moment of truth beckons for Panathinaikos and Efes

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoff series between reigning champion [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/?season=2024-25) and former holders [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/?season=2024-25) has offered everything basketball fans could ask for and the rivals will lock horns one more time in a decisive battle.

With the series tied 2-2, the two teams face each other in Game 5 in Athens on Tuesday and if the opening four chapters are anything to go by, another knife-edged encounter is on the cards. Each game went down to the wire and none was decided by more than four points, with [Efes coming out on top 85-82 in Game 4](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-beats-panathinaikos-85-82-to-force-game-5-in-athens/) on Friday to force the tiebreaker at the imposing OAKA Altion, where Panathinaikos will have home-court advantage.

It could be a big factor as the matchup with Efes is almost a carbon copy of the Greek giant’s series against [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/?season=2024-25) last season, when [Panathinaikos won Game 5 on home court, 81-72](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-celebrates-after-81-72-game-5-victory-over-maccabi/), before claiming its seventh EuroLeague title at the Final Four in Berlin.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓💥💥<br><br>All tickets were gone in 4 hours overnight! <br><br>Now we’re counting down to Tuesday! <br><br>Be louder than ever before! Make it legendary! 🔜☘️<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://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToAbuDhabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToAbuDhabi</a> <a href="https://t.co/5QSCKd748P">pic.twitter.com/5QSCKd748P</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1918545565924704545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Just like in the current battle against the Turkish outfit, the Greens shared the spoils with Maccabi both at home and away, winning one and losing one at either venue before capitalizing on a fervent atmosphere the club’s fans create in their iconic gym.

It will be the same this time but Efes head coach Luca Banchi was confident that his team was braced for an epic clash after defying the odds to get this far in the first place, as his men made a late surge in the regular season to reach the playoffs.

Banchi also hailed the quality both teams have produced in the opening four games, with the walking wounded of Efes, [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) and [PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/), going the extra mile to help their team grind out a lifeline win in Game 4.

“Another intense game between two teams who’ve already proved what level they are on,” Banchi told the postgame press conference.

“I wish for another great chapter in this playoff in Game 5, but now I just want to congratulate my players for saying calm in yet another do-or-die game. We got here by winning the last eight regular season games and fighting back from a 2-1 deficit in the series against Panathinaikos, which shows character and personality within the team.

“Both teams will invest every effort to win the decisive game after they recuperate. It will be about controlling the emotions and playing the best basketball possible more than about strategy and the best team will celebrate in the end,” added the Italian tactician, who took over at Efes in January and sent shockwaves through the EuroLeague when he propelled the club into the postseason after making a 2-5 start.

Panathinaikos will hope that its top performer and [regular-season MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/202425-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-kendrick-nunn-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/) [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) can find his mojo again when his team needs it most, after struggling in three of the opening four games amid the relentless hustle [the competition’s top scorer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-is-the-2024-25-alphonso-ford-top-scorer-trophy-winner/) has faced.

Apart from Game 3, when Nunn excelled with 25 points, the former NBA guard was given a roasting by his markers in the other three. Nunn combined for 13-of-44 shooting from the floor (29.5%) and a mere 6-of-20 from deep (30.5%), his favorite hunting ground, in Games 1, 2 and 4. In Friday’s loss, he was also 1 of 8 from inside after being scoreless from the field in the first half as he only made 3 out of 4 free throws.

Nunn will want to replicate his Game 3 performance when he gave up excessive shooting from three-point range for drives to the basket which produced a barrage of layups, as he finished on 9-of-13 from inside and 7-of-7 from the foul line.

Some of his influential teammates have also blown hot and cold, namely [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) and [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/) who took turns lifting Panathinaikos and then fizzing out in a series played at a torrid pace throughout.

Hernangomez produced a Game 1 masterclass when he racked up a career-high 20 points and 16 rebounds to help the Greens stage a fourth-quarter comeback for an 87-83 win, but was then reduced to a grand total of 4 points in the next two encounters.

The Spaniard bounced back with a solid display in Game 4, when he amassed 15 points and 7 boards, but playmakers [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) and [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) netted just 3 points between them as Efes applied relentless half-court pressure.

The game also ended on a sour note for Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman, who walked out of the gym after an angry outburst at Efes fans who taunted him in the home stretch of a pulsating clash.

The Turkish tactician, who led Efes to successive EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, gesticulated to the home faithful that he had covered the club in glory just a few years ago before he joined Panathinaikos last summer to engineer the Greek giant’s seventh title.

The controversy led to Ataman’s assistant Christos Serelis taking his boss’s place at the postgame press conference, where he elaborated why one of the competition’s most temperamental coaches did not turn up. 

“He has a huge history with this club and he feels that some of them don’t respect him much,” Serelis told reporters before sharing his views on the hitherto action as well as what he expected in the tiebreaker.

“We knew it was going to be a very tough game against a very good team. We tried to win it on our defense just like in Game 3 but unfortunately we conceded some baskets from our own playbook down the stretch.

“All four games were decided by one or two possessions, Efes made some big shots today so we are headed for one more game in Athens. We will be ready 100 percent to win it and reach the Final Four.”

The captivating playoff series is headed for a final showdown in Athens with a Final Four berth at stake 

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-05-02T17:30:00.000Z)

It is almost impossible to see a team lose so many players during the season and still compete until the end. FC Barcelona has been doing exactly that all season long, and head coach Joan Penarroya has learned how to enjoy the ride. 


Barca always finds the way to fight back 

On Friday night, [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/?season=2024-25) rallied for [a 79-72 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-beats-panathinaikos-85-82-to-force-game-5-in-athens/) over [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/?season=2024-25) in Game 4 in front of a wild atmosphere at Palau Blaugrana to tie the best-of-five series and force a do-or-die showdown on Tuesday to make it to the Final Four.

"The series is over when a team reaches three wins, and that is what we will try to do in Monaco," head coach Joan Penarroya said.

Penarroya's reaction was somewhat reminiscent of what he said on April 11 after Barcelona [clinched a playoff berth](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-fights-off-virtus-91-87-clinches-playoff-berth/) in the regular-season finale with a win over Virtus Segafredo Bologna: ["For Barça, it is not enough to play in the playoffs, but it is a day to enjoy."](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/veterans-made-key-clutch-plays-for-barcelona-to-punch-playoff-ticket/)

Indeed, for a powerhouse like Barcelona, a two-time EuroLeague champ which is playing in the playoffs for the sixth time in a row and has reached the Final Four in three of the last four seasons, these games are not deemed historic. They are just a note in its thick history book.

And, in all honesty, so could end up being the two wins in this playoff series against Monaco.

However, this season in Barcelona has been unlike any other in recent history and injuries are the reasons why. Saying that it has been an injury-troubled season for FC Barcelona would be an understatement. Barcelona has lost players at every position, with season-ending injuries popping up left and right.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pt" dir="ltr">Com t’estimem, Lapro ❤️❤️❤️ <a href="https://t.co/KZAXsztkAB">pic.twitter.com/KZAXsztkAB</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1856347346570797303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Let's go back to the start of the season. Barça brought in Coach Penarroya along with star guard [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/), playmaker [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-nunez/010106/), forwards [Chimezie Metu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chimezie-metu/013379/) and [Justin Anderson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/justin-anderson/012795/), and center [Youssoupha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/youssoupha-fall/006568/). Injuries hit Barça hard from the start of the season, as [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) went down in a Spanish League game against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on October 20. He had taken part in just four EuroLeague games before suffering [ACL and meniscus injuries](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nico-laprovittola-to-undergo-knee-surgery/).

Barça bounced back by starting the season with a 5-1 record. That led to Punter being chosen as the [EuroLeague MVP for October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fc-barcelona-kevin-punter-named-october-mvp/). Punter has been rock-solid all season, averaging 16.6 points on 94.2% free throw shooting and missing only a few games. Punter, however, got injured at the start of the Copa del Rey tournament, in which Barça did not get out of the quarterfinals.

It got worse: Barça signed playmaker [Raul Neto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/raul-neto/013505/) to replace Laprovittola. He was hurt in his first EuroLeague game against Real Madrid. When he returned six games later, Neto was injured again, this time against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade. He played a total of 426 seconds before his contract was terminated by mutual agreement. Barça chose [Thomas Heurtel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-heurtel/klt/) to replace him and start a second stint with the club. The club changed its mind in the very last moment, after Heurtel had landed at the airport.

Injuries kept coming one after the next. [Metu suffered a season-ending leg injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-loses-metu-to-achilles-tendon-rupture/) late in the regular season, in a home game against FC Bayern Munich. It was his second injury of the season, but this was a season-ending one. After playing in pain for several games, [Nunez had knee surgery](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-juan-nunez-done-for-season-after-knee-surgery/) and will miss the remainder of the season.

[Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) was also [sidelined for 10 regular season games with a knee injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-jan-vesely-out-8-10-weeks/). He had been injured and playing in pain since January. Vesely returned in time to face Monaco, but has played a total of 25 minutes in the series and missed Games 3 and 4.

All that forced Penarroya and his coaching staff to be creative and rely on his team's fighting spirit to keep winning games. Its main move was to deploy [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) as a point guard for the first time in his career. Brizuela was able to adjust, showing a great basketball IQ and sharing the ball really well without losing one bit of his [scoring punch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/stats-review-who-have-been-2025s-most-reliable-scorers/).

Barça seemed to be up and down all season, combining stellar performances with sub-par games. A final push, in which it won six of its last seven regular season games, allowed the team to take a fifth-place finish and set up a playoff showdown with Monaco.

Dario Brizuela had to play point guard for the first time in his career, becoming an even more dangerous player.

Brizuela: Barça's X-factor at point guard

Asked about the team's many injuries after beating Monaco to tie the series, Coach Penarroya offered a key: the team's competitive spirit is what keeps Barça going.

"You know what? In the last few weeks, when I enter the locker room and I see the guys, I no longer think about this. What I think about is that I will have five players on the court that will play to their limit. Because we are going to the limit. The team competes and has not looked for excuses throughout the year. We struggled a lot: it is repetitive, we have played bad games and had defeats that have hurt us, but the team has always competed, and it has never looked back. Being fifth in the EuroLeague regular season, in this EuroLeague, is very remarkable but I know this is not enough for Barça. For none of us, being here is enough.

"No team in the competition has had our problems. Everyone has problems because it is a fierce competition, a wild competition, but no team has even been close to having the problems we had throughout the year. What we want now is to go to Monaco, compete and win. We don't think it is enough to be here with the problems we had. We are a small bunch but we are going to war in order to win it. It can be slingshots against bombs, but we can win."

Down 0-2 in the series, Barcelona showed up to Game 3 in a do-or-die situation with just nine senior players. Three juniors - [Raul Villar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/raul-villar/012317/), [Sayon Keita](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sayon-keita/012885/) and [Mathieu Grujicic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathieu-grujicic/012103/) - were called up from the U18 squad. With four players out for the season and no signings to help in any way, Barça has found a way to win and right now, it feels stronger than ever despite its many troubles.

In Game 4, [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) led the way with 22 points. Ironically, after being to hell and back when it comes to injuries over the last few years, Parker is fully healthy and one of only two Barça players, [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) being the other, to take part in all 38 EuroLeague games this season. With Vesely sidelined, [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) stepped up to average 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in his team's back-to-back, season-saving wins.

The next goal? To become the first-ever team in EuroLeague history to come back from a 0-2 start in a playoff series without the home-court advantage. Given what Barça has been through all season long, underestimating Coach Penarroya and his group of players would be a big mistake.

After winning Game 4 at home, Coach Penarroya's charges are one victory from the Final Four

As it has all season, Barça again found a way to fight back 

FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-05-02T18:45:00.000Z)

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Playoffs Game 3 and 4 by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Playoff Games 3 and 4

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary decision pertaining to incidents that occurred in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoff B Game 4

Latest disciplinary sanctions

- FC Barcelona has been sanctioned with a fine of €7,000 for the throwing of objects on to the playing court, on occasion of the Game 4 of the FC Barcelona – AS Monaco playoffs series, under Article 29.2.g) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

A starring performance in a series-clinching win has seen Olympiacos Piraeus forward Evan Fournier secure MVP honors for Game 4 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Playoffs Game 4 MVP: Evan Fournier, Olympiacos Piraeus

A starring performance in a series-clinching win has seen Olympiacos Piraeus forward [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) secure MVP honors for Game 4 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Fournier played an integral role in Olympiacos beating Real Madrid 84-86 to advance to the Final Four by posting 23 points on 5-of-5 two-pointers, 1-of-5 triples and 10-of-13 free throws, 1 steal and 7 fouls drawn for an 18 PIR, the highest index rating of any winning player in Game 4.

The best index rating in Game 4 belonged to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), who had a 26 PIR, but it came in an 85-82 defeat at Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Sloukas finished the night with 14 points on 2-of-2 two-pointers, 1-of-1 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 6 fouls drawn.

[Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/), Sloukas’s teammate, had a 19 PIR in that same game, having tied his career high with 22 points by making 7-of-9 two-pointers, 2-of-8 threes and 2-of-2 free throws, while he also recorded 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 4 fouls drawn. AS Monaco’s [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) also had a 19 PIR in his team’s 79-72 defeat at FC Barcelona, amassing 16 points on 3-of-7 two-point attempts, 1-of-5 triples and 7-of-7 free throws, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 5 fouls drawn.

Rounding out the list of top performers are Panathinaikos’s [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) and Real Madrid’s [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/), both with an 18 PIR, but they were both tasted defeat. Hernangomez had 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 foul drawn, while Hezonja posted 21 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 foul drawn.

### Individual highs: Shane Larkin, Efes, 9 assists

Evan Fournier was the leading scorer in Game 4 with 23 points. Panathinaikos’s [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) is the EuroLeague’s top scorer with 20.6 points per night.

Efes’s [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) led all players in Game 4 with 9 assists. Paris Basketball’s [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) averaged a league-best 7.3 assists per contest.

Barcelona’s [Youssoupha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/youssoupha-fall/006568/) and Olympiacos’s [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) both grabbed 8 rebounds in Game 4, more than anyone else. Juancho Hernangomez tops the rebounding charts with 6.9 rebounds per game.

Four players – Mike James, Real Madrid’s [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/), and Efes duo [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) and [Erkan Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/erkan-yilmaz/006372/) – made the most steals in Game 4 with 3. FC Bayern Munich’s [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) posted 1.5 steals per night.

[Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) of Olympiacos was the only player in Game 4 to block 2 shots. Monaco’s [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) blocks 1.4 shots per contest, the best average in the league.

No players recorded a double-double in Game 4.

His first MVP of the Round came in a closeout series victory



Top 10 Plays | Playoffs Game 4 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Playoffs Game 4: Top 10 Plays

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 40th winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Nikola Kostovic beat everyone else in Game 4 of the EuroLeague Playoffs with his team 'KK Zubin Potok', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 157.65.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Playoffs Game 4 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 40th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Nikola Kostovic beat everyone else in Game 4 of the EuroLeague Playoffs with his team 'KK Zubin Potok', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 157.65.

Nikola had the following starting lineup: Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul as team captain, then Evan Fournier and Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos Piraeus, Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid and Willy Hernangomez of FC Barcelona. His sixth man was Kostas Sloukas of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The rest of the bench consisted of Barcelona's Joel Parra, Real Madrid's Facundo Campazzo and Alberto Abalde, as well as Olympiacos's Sasha Vezenkov. His team's head coach was Barcelona play-caller Joan Penarroya.

The prize for finishing first in this round is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Nikola!

Marko Djukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 6,793.54 points.

Trades are now open for the 41th round of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/), which is Game 5 of the EuroLeague Playoffs, and there are an unlimited number of trades.

The first game of Game 5 tips off on Tuesday, May 6 at 19:00 CEST as AS Monaco hosts FC Barcelona, marking the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner!

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

FC Barcelona avoided elimination with a 79-72 home win over AS Monaco in Game 4 of their best-of-five series. Joan Penarroya's team improved in several key aspects of the game to get the win.

Halftime adjustments proved crucial as Barcelona tied series with Monaco

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) avoided elimination with [a 79-72 home win over AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-beats-monaco-in-game-4-to-tie-the-series-79-72/) in Game 4 of their best-of-five series. Joan Penarroya's team improved in several key aspects of the game to get the win.

At halftime, Monaco led 35-38, making the most out of Barcelona's poor foul management. Monaco excelled at that, as it picked up 10 fouls and only sent the *Azulgrana* twice to the foul line. On the other hand, Monaco drew 13 fouls before the break, hitting 18-of-21 free throws. In other words, Barca got 0.2 free throws per foul and Monaco had 1.62 per foul, going to the free-throw line way too often.

Barcelona also struggled to circulate the ball well, finishing the first half with 7 assists and as many as 13 turnovers. Despite not having great shooting percentages (36.4% 2FG, 28.6% 3FG), Monaco managed to build a three-point lead based on points off turnovers and free throws. All of that changed in the second half, in which Barca improved its foul management and took much better care of the ball.

After the break, Barcelona picked up just 8 fouls and only sent Monaco once to the free-throw line compared to its 21 attempts before the break. That's 0.13 free-throw attempts allowed per foul. On the other hand, Barcelona drew 17 fouls in the second half, taking 23 free throws (1.35 per foul drawn). The hosts ended up hitting 24-of-25 free throws (96%), hitting all 10 of its attempts in the final 5 minutes. [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) and [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) each buried all 6 of their free-throw attempts.

FC Barcelona beat AS Monaco 79-72 in Game 4 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playofs.

Barca turns things around after the break

Barcelona had 9 assists and just 6 turnovers after the break, hitting 8-of-13 two-pointers (61.5% 2FG). Monaco shot the ball much better inside the arc (12 of 20, 60%) but not from three-point territory (3 of 18, 16.7% 3FG), getting 10 second-half turnovers.

"The series is over when a team reaches three wins, and that is what we will try to do in Monaco," head coach Joan Penarroya said after the game. 

"It has been a much closer game but I think we deserved the win. We will not play Game 5 to go to the Final Four, so we have to be physically and mentally ready. We have to be ready for any scenario and any kind of game: low-scoring, high-scoring, with a lot of contact or not, it doesn't matter. We have to be calmed enough to face an extremely difficult game. It could not be any other way."

It all comes down to Game 5 in Monaco next Tuesday evening