Name: Top 10 Plays | Play-In | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

The Spanish team roared into fifth place by winning six of the last seven games, and will believe it has nothing to fear after comfortably beating the Roca Team twice during the regular season – [86-71 at home](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-breezes-past-monaco-86-71/) in October, and [84-98 on the road](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/dario-brizuela-blasts-barca-past-monaco-84-98/) in Round 20.

The sharpshooting of [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) was key to that most recent triumph with 27 points on 6-of-8 three-point shooting, and the shooting guard has become a real offensive leader for a Barca team which will also lean heavily on the scoring skills of [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) and [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/).

Visiting coach Joan Penarroya has also been boosted by the return to fitness of [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/), and the Czech veteran faces an intriguing matchup in the paint against Monaco big man [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/), who has averaged 13.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game since his mid-season arrival.

Vassilis Spanoulis’s team will look for the energy and defensive excellence of [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/), who has just signed [a new three-year contract](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-pens-alpha-diallo-to-long-term-extension/), to unsettle the visiting team. In turn, that could allow playmakers [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) to control the rhythm and create scoring opportunities for dangerous duo [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) and [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/), who is an injury doubt for Tuesday’s series opener.

Game Videos

\- 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 blocked a single-game club record 4 blocks

\- Monaco guard Matthew Strazel posted a career-high PIR of 21 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 Le Mans during the 2015-16 season.

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

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

Game News

After securing a fourth-placed regular season finish, AS Monaco will attempt to defend its homecourt with a visit from increasingly dangerous FC Barcelona.

Game Notes: Monaco vs. Barcelona

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2025-04-23T17:00:00.000Z)

The Greek team’s boss has been critical of his team’s recent defensive efforts, allowing 101 and 96 points respectively against Paris and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, and Luca Banchi’s men are well placed to exploit any weakness in the home team after roaring into the playoffs with a run of eight straight victories.

In fact, Efes’s last defeat came at Tuesday’s venue with [a 104-89 loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-powered-panathinaikos-brushes-aside-efes-104-89/) to Panathinaikos in February, when usual suspect [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) performed predictable heroics by netting 36 points. But the Greens also showed they are far more than a one-man team, with [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) (14 points and 8 rebounds), [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) (13 points and 9 assists) and former Efes forward [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/) (20 points) also shining in that triumph.

Arguably the most important head-to-head battle will take place in the backcourt as Efes leader [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) – who missed that February defeat through injury – attempts to avoid the attention of Panathinaikos defensive ace [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/). Similarly, [PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/) will look to stick like glue to Nunn, while the versatility of [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) can help Efes in many ways at both ends of the floor.

In the paint, [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) will be vital for Efes to win the rebounding battle – a key component of a game featuring so many prolific scorers at both ends.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

 

**Streaks**

Kendrick Nunn has made at least 1 three-point shot in 39 straight games.

Nunn has scored 17 or more points in 11 of his last 12 games.

Nunn has posted PIRs of 20 or more in five straight games.

Nunn has dished at least 5 assists in four straight games.

Nunn has made 15 consecutive free throws.

Juancho Hernangomez has PIRs of 12 or more in 15 of his last 16 games.

Hernangomez has pulled down 6 or more rebounds in 16 straight games.

Hernangomez has at least 1 steal in five of his last six games.

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

Lessort has PIRs of 10 or more in 25 of his last 26 games.

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

Wenyen Gabriel has PIRs of 12 or more in four of his last five games.

Jerian Grant has scored 12 or more points and made at least 1 three-point shot in four of his last five games.

Grant has double-digit PIRs in four of his last five games.

 

**Season rankings**

Kendrick Nunn leads the league this season in scoring with 21.1 points per game.

Nunn leads the league this season in three-pointers made with 3.1 per game.

Nunn ranks fifth this season in average index rating with 20.3 per game.

Juancho Hernangomez ranks second this season in rebounding with 6.7 per game.

Wenyen Gabriel ranks eighth this season in offensive rebounding with 1.9 per game.

Gabriel ranks fifth this season in blocks with 1.1 per game.

Kostas Sloukas ranks ninth this season in assists with 4.8 per game.

Sloukas ranks sixth this season in free-throw shooting at 93.5%.

Panathinaikos leads the league in average PIR with 105.0 per game.

Panathinaikos leads the league in scoring with 88.4 points per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in defensive rebounding with 24.2 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks third in steals with 6.9 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks third in two-point shooting at 58.8%.

Panathinaikos has allowed 10.0 offensive rebounds per game, the third-lowest this season.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Sloukas is in third place all-time with 420 games played.

Sloukas ranks third all-time with 1,859 assists. Sergio Rodriguez is second with 1,874.

Sloukas is in fourth place all-time with 995 free throws made. Vassilis Spanoulis is third with 1,131.

Sloukas is eighth all-time with 3,999 career points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is seventh with 4,037, and Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,068 career points.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 4,990 index rating points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is third with 5,112 and counting.

Sloukas is 12th all-time with 504 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 seventh all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.6%.

Sloukas ranks 15th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.1%.

Sloukas is in 18th place on the all-time charts with 267 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 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 15th all-time with 1,400 rebounds. Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus is 14th 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.

Grant needs 3 steals to reach 100 for his career.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

Shane Larkin has had a PIR of 11 or more in seven of his last eight games.

Larkin has scored at least 11 points in six of his last seven games.

Larkin has made at least 1 three-point shot in 16 straight games.

Larkin has at least 1 steal in six straight games.

Elijah Bryant has scored 11 or more points in seven of his last eight games.

Bryant has made at least 1 three-point shot in seven straight games.

PJ Dozier has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine straight games.

Dozier has made 10 consecutive free throws.

Darius Thompson has at least 1 steal in six of his last seven games.

Thompson has made at least 1 three-pointer in four of his last five games.

Vincent Poirier has made 15 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Vincent Poirier ranks third this season in blocks with 1.1 per game.

Elijah Bryant ranks fourth this season in steals with 1.2 per game.

Shane Larkin ranks fifth this season in steals with 1.2 per game.

Dan Oturu ranks fourth this season in two-point shooting at 70.8%.

Rolands Smits ranks fifth this season in two-point shooting at 69%.

Oturu ranks sixth this season in offensive rebounding with 2.1 per game.

Ercan Osmani ranks third this season in free-throw shooting at 94.7%.

Rodrigue Beaubois ranks eighth this season in three-point shooting at 45.9%.

Efes leads the league in blocks with 3.9 per game.

Efes ranks third in average PIR with 101.6 per game.

Efes ranks second in two-point shooting at 59.0%.

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

Efes allows the fewest total rebounds, 31.0 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Shane Larkin is ranked 11th all-time in scoring with 3,569 points. Georgios Printezis is 10th with 3,599 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 551. Rudy Fernandez and Monaco's Mike James are tied for sixth place with 594 three-pointers apiece.

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 10th place all-time with 784 free throws made. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is ninth with 791 and counting, and Toko Shengelia of Virtus Segafredo Bologna is eighth with 792 career free throws made.

Larkin is in ninth place all-time with 4,220 PIR points. Walter Tavares of Real Madrid is eighth with 4,267 and counting.

Larkin is in 12th place all-time with 1,109 assists. Facundo Campazzo of Real Madrid is 11th with 1,112, and Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 10th with 1,199.

Larkin is tied with Wilbekin for 13th place all-time with 282 steals. Nicolo Melli of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is in 12th place with 284 steals and counting.

Vincent Poirier ranks ninth all-time in blocks with 212. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is eighth all-time with 216 and counting.

Poirier is in 11th place all-time with 466 offensive rebounds. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is 10th with 470 offensive rebounds and counting.

Darius Thompson ranks 11th all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman will continue his quest to win consecutive titles against the very team where he achieved that feat, Efes.

Game Facts: Panathinaikos vs. Efes

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-22T18:30:00.000Z)

\- Panathinaikos beat Efes 104-89 in Round 26 behind Kendrick Nunn who erupted for 30 second-half points as he 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 the Efes bench between 2017 and 2023 and guided the team to back-to-back EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022. He was named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year in 2021, too.

\- Panathinaikos center Tibor Pleiss will 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 grew up with 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.

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

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

\- Panathinaikos recorded 51 total rebounds, its most 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 playoffs 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 Cedi Osman and Omer Yurtseven.

\- Efes forward Derek Willis and Barcelona's Joel Parra were teammates at Joventut Badalona during the 2021-22 season.

\- Efes guard PJ Dozier had career highs in PIR (28) and steals (6) 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.

\- 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 his career-high with 4 blocks against Panathinaikos in November 2018.

\- Efes center Vincent Poirier set his career high in steals with 4 for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Panathinaikos in November 2017.

Game Notes: Panathinaikos vs. Efes

The Turkish team finished second in the regular season standings and will take confidence from already beating Paris twice this season, most recently last month when [All-EuroLeague First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-names-the-202425-all-euroleague-first-team/) selection [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) drained a stunning game-winning triple for [a thrilling 101-100 triumph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nigel-hayes-davis-the-hero-as-fenerbahce-beats-paris-101-100-to-make-playoffs/).

If that meeting is any guide, we are all set for a spectacular series, and sensational Paris playmaker [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) – another all-EuroLeague pick – is undoubtedly ready to take a central role after recording a double-double of 19 points and 10 assists in that recent encounter.

Fenerbahce must pay extra attention to its perimeter defense to subdue the scoring threat of [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) (2.5 three-pointers per game) and all-action forward [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/), who has made multiple triples in seven straight games.

At the other end, the leadership of veteran [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) will be important for Fenerbahce to control the tempo, while the physicality of [Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/), [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) and [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) will also be important in grabbing extra possessions against a Paris team which has allowed more offensive rebounds (12 per game) than any other team in the competition. Similarly, Paris big man [Kevarrius Hayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevarrius-hayes/010390/) can help his team by crashing the boards after averaging 1.8 offensive rebounds per night.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

Nigel Hayes-Davis has made at least 1 triple in 39 straight games.

Hayes-Davis has posted a PIR of 10 or more in nine of his last 10 games.

Errick McCollum has made 31 consecutive free throws.

McCollum has made at least 1 three-pointer in 10 of his last 11 games.

McCollum has scored at least 10 points in five of his last six games.

Wade Baldwin has posted a PIR in double figures in four straight and eight out of his last nine games.

Bonzie Colson has made at least 1 three-pointer in four straight and five of his last six games.

Tarik Biberovic has made at least 1 three-pointer in four of his last five games.

 

**Season rankings**

Nigel Hayes-Davis ranks ninth this season in average index rating with 17.8 per game.

Hayes-Davis ranks eighth this season in scoring with 16.8 points per game.

Hayes-Davis ranks eighth this season in steals with 1.1 per game.

Hayes-Davis ranks sixth this season in three-pointers made with 2.5 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in free-throw shooting at 82.1% points.

Fenerbahce ranks third in rebounding with 35.6 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in offensive rebounding with 11.8 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks second with 11.2 three-pointers made per game.

Fenerbahce has held opponents to 9.9 offensive rebounds, which is the second-lowest in the league.

Fenerbahce has allowed 81.2 points per game, which is third-fewest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Nigel Hayes-Davis set the EuroLeague single-game scoring record with 50 points in a victory over ALBA Berlin in Round 32 last season.

Nicolo Melli is in sixth place all-time in rebounds with 1,629. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fifth with 1,776 and counting.

Melli is in second place all-time in defensive rebounds with 1,215. Paulius Jankunas is the all-time leader with 1,453 defensive rebounds.

Melli is tied with Victor Khryapa for 15th place all-time with 161 career blocks. Mirza Begic is 14th with 163 blocks.

Melli needs 2 assists to reach 500 for his career.

Melli is in 12th place all-time with 284 steals. Kyle Hines is 11th with 287.

Scottie Wilbekin is tied with Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul for 13th place all-time with 282 career steals apiece.

Scottie Wilbekin needs 16 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

Dyshawn Pierre needs 16 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Sertac Sanli needs 11 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

Devon Hall needs 11 rebounds to reach 300 for his career.

Hall needs 7 assists to reach 300 for his career.

### Paris Basketball

 

**Streaks**

TJ Shorts has scored in double figures in all but one of his 34 EuroLeague appearances – including the last 27.

Shorts has posted a PIR of at least 10 in 27 straight games.

Shorts has dished at least 7 assists in six straight games.

Tyson Ward has made at least 1 three-pointer in 14 of his last 15 games.

Ward has posted a PIR of at least 12 in six straight games.

Ward has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.

Ward has pulled down more than 5 rebounds in five of his last six games.

Mikael Jantunen has made at least 1 three-pointer in 12 of his last 13 games.

Jantunen has made multiple three-pointers in seven straight games.

Jantunen has posted a PIR in double figures in seven straight games.

Yakuba Ouattara is perfect in 11 trips to the foul line this season.

Sebastian Herrera has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight games.

Nadir Hifi has scored 13 or more points in seven of his last eight games.

Hifi has made multiple triples in six of his last seven games.

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

 

**Season rankings**

TJ Shorts ranks second this season in average index rating with 23.2 per game.

Shorts ranks fourth this season in scoring with 18.8 points per game.

Shorts leads the league this season in assists with 7.5 per game.

Nadir Hifi ranks eighth this season in three-pointers made with 2.5 per game.

Paris has committed 10.4 turnovers per game, the fewest in the league.

Paris ranks fourth in offensive rebounding with 11.7 per game.

Paris ranks third with 10.7 three-pointers made per game.

Paris has allowed a league-high 12.0 offensive rebounds.

Paris has allowed a league-high 37.9 total rebounds.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Maodo Lo needs 1 rebound to reach 400 for his career.

Yakuba Ouattara needs 4 three-point shots to reach 100 for his career.

Kevarrius Hayes needs 9 steals to reach 100 for his career.

After continuing a memorable debut EuroLeague season by defeating Real Madrid in last week's play-in, Paris Basketball will attempt to steal homecourt away from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

Game Facts: Fenerbahce vs. Paris

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-04-22T17:45:00.000Z)

\- Fenerbahce and Paris never played before March 3; this will be their third meeting in 50 days.

\- In Round 31, Fenerbahce edged Paris 101-100 on a game-winning buzzer-beating triple by Nigel Hayes-Davis. That is the only time Fenerbahce has scored more than 100 points in a game this season.

\- Fenerbahce defeated Paris 83-87 in the French capital in early March in a postponed Round 17 game. It was the first-ever official meeting between the two teams.

\- Fenerbahce's Nicolo Melli and Devon Hall were teammates of Paris guard Maodo Lo at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan last season.

\- Melli and Lo and Paris big man Leon Kratzer were teammates at Brose Bamberg during the 2016-17 season.

\- Paris big man Mikael Jantunen grabbed a personal-best 8 rebounds in Round 31 against Fenerbahce.

\- Paris center Kevarrius Hayes grabbed a career-best 9 rebounds for Zalgiris Kaunas against Fenerbahce in March 2023.

\- Paris's Yakuba Ouattara posted career highs in points (19), three-pointers made (5) and PIR (19) for AS Monaco in a 98-94 overtime road loss at Fenerbahce in January 2023.

\- Fenerbahce guard Devon Hall pulled down a career-high 5 offensive rebounds in Round 17 against Paris.

Game Notes: Fenerbahce vs. Paris

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Play-In by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from the Play-In Showdown 

Old foes will reunite in the EuroLeague Playoffs as Real Madrid, having advanced past FC Bayern Basketball in the play-in, will take on Olympiacos BC.

Real Madrid ready to resume historic rivalry with Olympiacos

[Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) failed to feast from their first bite at the playoffs cherry by [losing at home to Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/paris-stuns-real-madrid-in-play-in-73-81-to-set-up-playoff-date-with-fenerbahce/) on Tuesday, but Chus Mateo’s men made sure they savored their second chance [by dominating FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-crushes-bayern-93-71-to-complete-playoff-picture/) in Friday’s all-or-nothing play-in showdown.

The Spanish giant started fast by scoring on the first possession as [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) hit a three-ball, and it soon raced into a double-digit lead with a 12-0 run featuring 4 and 5 points respectively from offensive leaders [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/). And that was that. Real didn’t look troubled from that moment onwards, with Bayern never getting any closer than 10 points down as the home team controlled the tempo and rhythm throughout to grab a 93-71 victory that was every bit as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.

Accurate shooting from long range played a major part, especially in the first quarter when Real made 7 of its 8 attempts from three-point range, with seven different players on target. And although that pace couldn’t be maintained, the Spanish team recorded more than solid shooting percentages by going 18 of 30 from two-point range (60%) and 15 of 28 from beyond the arc (53.6%), in addition to dishing 24 assists.

And so Real advances as the eighth and final playoff qualifier to face regular-season standings leader [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in a true classic of European basketball.

Real and the Reds have matched up in three title games in the last 12 years, most recently two years ago when [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/)’s buzzer-beater gave *Los Blancos* the crown in the most dramatic fashion possible. There was also a semifinal in Berlin last season, also won by the Spanish team, 87-76, after a 20-point performance from [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐒🍿<a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympiacos_BC</a>🆚<a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> <a href="https://t.co/HjgsCr8YAv">pic.twitter.com/HjgsCr8YAv</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1913328941076558059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But Olympiacos enjoyed a clean sweep in this regular season with [a 79-69 home victory in Round 6](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-beats-real-madrid-79-69-in-rivalry-series-clash/) followed by [an emphatic 86-96 triumph in Madrid in Round 22](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-dominates-real-in-statement-making-win-86-96/), as 25 points from [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) led five Olympiacos players with double-digit scoring.

All told there have been 42 meetings between the teams this century (Real has 23 wins, Olympiacos 19), the sixth-most repeated matchup in competition history – which would rise to third place if the upcoming series goes the distance to five games.

And it’s clear that despite becoming the last team to qualify for the playoffs, and giving up home-court advantage to the team that led the regular season standings, Real will have absolutely no fear of failure as they head to Greece.

Real Madrid forward Mario Hezonja spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat FC Bayern Munich in the second round of the Play-In Showdown.

Mario Hezonja: 'We can do great things'

“Now the most important time of the season starts for us,” said Hezonja, who led his team’s scoring against Bayern on Friday with 19 points.

“We know that we didn’t play beautiful basketball during the year. We tried to find a lot of rhythm with different rotations, and it’s been hard for the staff and the players. But when we get out with the best players and the leaders of the team, everything falls into place and it’s easier to play. Now the most important part is starting.”

Although the turnaround for Real between the play-in and playoffs is just four days, with a Spanish league game in-between, Hezonja has no concerns whatsoever about his team’s preparedness to face Olympiacos.

“We’re absolutely ready,” he insisted. “If somebody’s not ready I don’t know what to tell you! It’s the most important time, a lot of players have been through this type of moment, and that helps us a lot. We need to have everybody on the same page if we want to win EuroLeague this year.”

Winning the EuroLeague looked like a distant prospect for Real during much of the regular season. But now it’s time for the playoffs, and the 11-time champion is on the trophy trail once again.

The Spanish team restored its confidence with an emphatic win over Bayern on Friday

Real Madrid v FC Bayern Munich (2025-04-18T18:45:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2025-04-23T18:30:00.000Z)

Having enjoyed a starring role in guiding his team to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Paris Basketball star TJ Shorts has been secured Play-In MVP honors.

Play-In MVP: TJ Shorts, Paris Basketball

Having enjoyed a starring role in guiding his team to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Paris Basketball star [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) has been secured Play-In MVP honors.

Shorts’s 27 PIR was the highest of any winning player across the three Play-In Showdown games, with Paris beating Real Madrid 73-81 on the road in the first round on Tuesday. The All-EuroLeague First Team guard finished with 23 points on 7-of-12 two-pointers, 1-of-5 threes, and 6-of-7 free throws, 9 assists and 9 fouls drawn, while he had a +10 in the plus/minus column, the second highest of any Paris player. This is Shorts’s fifth MVP award this season, which is tied for first with Olympiacos Piraeus forward Sasha Vezenkov. 

The highest PIR during the Play-In Showdown belonged to [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/), but it came in Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade’s 97-93 first-round defeat at FC Bayern Munich in overtime. Petrusev posted a 32 PIR after amassing a career-high 30 points on 12-of-14 twos, 1-of-3 threes, and 3-of-7 free throws, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn.

During that Bayern win over Crvena Zvezda, [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/) had 21 points on 3-of-9 two-point attempts, 2-of-3 triples, and 9-of-10 free throws, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn en route to a 25 PIR.

Tied with a 24 PIR and rounding out the list of top performers in the Play-In Showdown are Crvena Zvezda’s [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) and Real Madrid’s [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/). 

Kalinic recorded a season-high 20 points on 6-of-9 twos, 2-of-3 threes, and 2-of-4 free throws, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn in the Serbian side’s defeat in Munich, while Hezonja led the way in *Los Blancos’* second-round win over Bayern with 19 points on 5-of-5 two-pointers, 2-of-4 triples, and 3-of-3 free throws, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 foul drawn.

 

### Individual highs: TJ Shorts, Paris, 9 assists

Petrusev scored 30 points for Crvena Zvezda, more than anyone else in the two rounds of the Play-In Showdown. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens star [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) is the league’s leading scorer with 21.1 points per game. 

TJ Shorts dished 9 assists in Paris’s play-in win over Real Madrid, the highest number of dimes made by a player in the Play-In Showdown. Shorts also leads the league in assists with 7.5 helpers per night.

Real Madrid’s [Gabriel Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) and Bayern’s [Vladimir Lucic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vladimir-lucic/001288/) both pulled down 8 rebounds during their teams’ first-round games, the most of any player. Real Madrid’s [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) grabs a league-high 6.9 rebounds per contest.

Lucic and Crvena Zvezda’s [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) made 3 steals each in their teams’ first-round matchup, the most in the Play-In Showdown. Bayern’s [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/), whose team was eliminated in the second round on Friday night, averaged a league-best 1.5 steals per game.

Paris duo [Kevarrius Hayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevarrius-hayes/010390/) and [Leon Kratzer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/leon-kratzer/004512/) blocked 2 shots apiece in their team’s first-round triumph, with the two centers being the only players in the Play-In Showdown to block more than 1 shot. AS Monaco’s [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) posts 1.4 blocks per night, the best average in the EuroLeague.

No players recorded a double-double in the Play-In Showdown.

The first-year guard has now tied Sasha Vezenkov for the most MVP of the Round awards this season

Check out the best plays from the three games of the 2024-25 Play-In Showdown.

Top 10 Plays | Play-In | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

 Check out the best plays from the three games of the 2024-25 Play-In Showdown.

Play-In: Top 10 Plays

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade v Panathinaikos Athens (2022-10-13T17:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco has secured services of one its core pieces during the past four seasons, signing a three-year extension with forward Alpha Diallo, the club announced Saturday. 

Monaco pens Alpha Diallo to long-term extension

AS Monaco has secured services of one its core pieces during the past four seasons by signing a three-year extension with forward [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/), the club announced Saturday. 

Diallo (2.01 meters, 27 years old) is averaging 10.6 points on 40.2% three-point shooting, along with 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals, this season for a Monaco side that is getting ready for its best-of-five playoff series against FC Barcelona.

Alpha Diallo's top plays of the 2024-25 regular season

"I’ve been here since the beginning of the EuroLeague adventure almost four years ago, and it’s incredible to see how far I’ve come", Diallo said for club's website. "Monaco is truly like my second home now. The club, the fans, the city - I’m fulfilled and happy in this environment. At this point, it’s more than just basketball. There’s a real connection, and extending my contract was a no-brainer."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🔒 Alpha Diallo prolonge à Monaco ! 🇲🇨<br><br>🦾 Homme fort de la Roca Team depuis quatre ans et le début de l&#39;aventure Euroleague, Alpha Diallo sera monégasque les trois prochaines saisons ✍️<br><br>🗣 Communiqué et interview à retrouver sur notre site 📝<br>👉<a href="https://t.co/OeP81rqDvy">https://t.co/OeP81rqDvy</a>… <a href="https://t.co/LjZEBku4C0">pic.twitter.com/LjZEBku4C0</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1913503151216296223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Diallo has started in 77 of his 141 appearances over the last four seasons with Monaco, and in each of those the team has reached the EuroLeague Playoffs. He is considered one of the EuroLeague's premier defenders, and he finished third in the voting for this season's Best Defender Trophy. In his four seasons, he has 172 steals, second-most over that four-year span behind only Thomas Walkup.

Before joining Monaco in the summer of 2021, Diallo spent four years playing college basketball at Providence College, then started his professional career with Lavrio of Greece in 2020.

More Monaco News

One of the EuroLeague's best defensive players is staying with Monaco

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 36th winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Ioannis Kontopoulos beat everyone else in the second round of the Play-In Showdown with his team, which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 174.50.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Play-In Showdown second round winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 36th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Ioannis Kontopoulos beat everyone else in the second round of the Play-In Showdown with his team 'ΘΡΥΛΟΣΟΥΠΕΡ', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 174.50.

Ioannis had the following starting lineup: Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid as team captain, then Facundo Campazzo, Alberto Abalde, Dzanan Musa and Walter Tavares, all of Real Madrid. His sixth man was FC Bayern Munich's Shabazz Napier. The rest of the bench consisted of Bayern quartet Andreas Obst, Nick Weiler-Babb, Vladimir Lucic and Johannes Voigtmann. His team's head coach was Real Madrid play-caller Chus Mateo.

The prize for finishing first in Round 36 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Ioannis!

Marko Djukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 6,174.79 points.

Trades are now open for the first round of the EuroLeague Playoffs, and there are an unlimited number of trades.

The first playoff game tips off on Tuesday, April 22 at 19:45 CEST as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul hosts Paris Basketball, 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. 

The dust had barely settled on Real Madrid’s resounding 93-71 victory over FC Bayern Munich on Friday night, and already the Spanish team was starting to look ahead to its next challenge.

Real Madrid already looking forward while Bayern rue missed chances

The dust had barely settled on [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/)’s resounding [93-71 victory over FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-crushes-bayern-93-71-to-complete-playoff-picture/) on Friday night, and already the Spanish team was starting to look ahead to its next challenge.

The outcome sees Bayern’s season end while Real advances from the play-in – [despite losing to Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/paris-stuns-real-madrid-in-play-in-73-81-to-set-up-playoff-date-with-fenerbahce/) on Tuesday night – to set up a potentially thrilling playoff series matchup with [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) starting next week.

And although Real coach Chus Mateo allowed himself some satisfaction at the achievement of reaching the final eight, he made it clear that he wants much more as he told EuroLeague TV: “I’m very happy because that was the goal at the beginning of the regular season.

“It’s very tough to reach this goal of the playoffs and now we are among the best eight. That is something we were looking for from the beginning of the season. I know that Olympiacos is a great opponent, but now we are going to play knowing we’ve got five more victories to be champions again.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🏁 FP: <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> 93 - 71 <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBBasketball</a><a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/pUpNVo9B6I">pic.twitter.com/pUpNVo9B6I</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1913329100149629054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bayern, meanwhile, suffered a big blow in the buildup to the game when key offensive weapon [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) was [ruled out of action with a back injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carsen-edwards-ruled-out-for-bayern-play-in-game-at-real-madrid/), depriving the visiting team of an All-EuroLeague First Team selection who finished second in the regular season’s scoring charts with 20.5 points per game.

Edwards had played in all 35 Bayern games prior to Friday’s encounter, and it was quickly evident how much his teammates missed the guard’s dynamic drives to the basket as the German team netted just one two-point basket in the first eight minutes.

But visiting coach Gordon Herbert did not use that as an excuse, instead reflecting on his team’s poor finish to the regular season which cost the team automatic entry to the playoffs. “It’s tough because we had 32 pretty good games and then the last two of the regular season, but it is what it is,” Herbert said. “We had a chance to finish fifth or sixth but let it slip.

“Give Madrid credit today. They came out very focused in the first seven minutes of the game, got a big lead and they never gave it up. That put us in a big hole and we never got out of it.”

There were mixed emotions after Friday’s Play-In Showdown in the Spanish capital

Real Madrid-FC Bayern Munich | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Real Madrid had no trouble in disposing of FC Bayern Munich, 93-71, in Friday’s Play-In Showdown to set up a mouthwatering playoff duel with Olympiacos BC, starting in Greece on Tuesday.

Real Madrid crushes Bayern, 93-71, to complete playoff picture

Real Madrid had no trouble in disposing of FC Bayern Munich, 93-71, in Friday’s Play-In Showdown to set up a mouthwatering playoff duel with Olympiacos Piraeus, starting in Greece on Tuesday.

Real took quick control for a double-digit first quarter lead, which was stretched to a big halftime advantage, 52-33. Nothing changed after the break, and Real cruised to a resounding victory. Mario Hezonja led the way with 19 points, Dzanan Musa scored 16, Alberto Abalde had 13, Facundo Campazzo scored 12 and Walter Tavares netted 10. Shabazz Napier paced Bayern with 19 points, Andreas Obst scored 12 and Devin Booker added 10.

Three-pointers from Gaby Deck and Booker opened the scoring, before Campazzo scored 4 straight points and Hezonja followed a jumper with a triple for a 12-3 lead. Campazzo knocked down another three-ball before Vladimir Lucic ended the 12-0 run with a corner three. Abalde answered with another deep strike to restore a double-digit lead, which Booker trimmed from mid-range. Tavares and Musa kept pushing Real, before Napier and Serge Ibaka traded triples for a 25-11 margin. Danko Brankovic and Ivan Kharchenkov pulled Bayern closer, but threes from Andres Feliz and Musa kept Real comfortable, 33-17, after 10 minutes.

Usman Garuba continued Real’s three-point party early in the second, with Bayern answering inside through Niels Giffey and Napier. Booker’s three-pointer pulled it back to 36-26, capping a 0-7 run as Real failed to score for more than four minutes. Hezonja reignited Real from the foul line, and close-range finishes for Tavares and Hezonja made it 43-26. Campazzo’s layup was bettered by Obst’s triple, but Hezonja scored the last 5 points of the half for a 52-33 lead.

Booker’s dunk started the second half, but Tavares’s layup and Abalde’s three-ball kept Real comfortable. Johannes Voigtmann scored from long and close-range, but Hezonja’s fadeaway and another Abalde triple made it 64-43. Campazzo and Nick Weiler-Babb traded deep strikes, before Tavares stayed hot with another layup. Hezonja and Abalde maintained a big margin despite 9 points in 3 minutes from Napier, and it was 73-55 after three quarters.

Obst and Musa fired three-pointers early in the final period, and triples from Napier and Obst three weren’t enough to stop the lead from growing to 88-66 as Deck, Musa and Ibaka were all on target. Late three-balls from Obst – his fourth of the night – and Real youngster Hugo Gonzalez completed the scoring, but the outcome had been decided long before.

The Spanish team cruised into the last eight with a comprehensive victory

The final spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs has been taken by Real Madrid following a 93-71 win over FC Bayern Munich at Movistar Arena in the final game of the Play-In Showdown.

*Los Blancos* led by 16 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back, having taken advantage of Bayern being without star guard Carsen Edwards to injury.

Mario Hezonja was Real Madrid's leading scorer with 19 points, followed by Dzanan Musa with 16, Alberto Abalde with 13, Facundo Campazzo with 12, and Walter Tavares with 10. For Bayern, Shabazz Napier poured in 19 points, Andreas Obst added 12, and Devin Booker had 10.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE EUROLEAGUE PLAYOFFS ARE SET✅<br><br>We begin on Tuesday🍿 <a href="https://t.co/Sde5IaDvnR">pic.twitter.com/Sde5IaDvnR</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1913329104365256881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Los Blancos won by 22 points at Movistar Arena

Top 10 Plays | Play-In | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Mario Hezonja: 'We can do great things'

Real Madrid-FC Bayern Munich | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Campazzo’s creative magic! Motorola Magic Moment

Real teamwork from Madrid! Motorola Magic Moment