Name: Bryant, Larkin chat about their Off The RECourt podcast
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo shares his recommendations for this week

Javier Gancedo's fantasy tips for the start of the playoffs

Welcome to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs! The best eight teams in the competition are set to fight for Final Four glory in four outstanding best-of-five series. The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge continues until a champion is crowned in Abu Dhabi. There are unlimited trades, too, and I have some recommendations for all price ranges. Let's see them!

 

### DyShawn Pierre, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (5.8 credits)

A cheaper option to round out your roster. [DyShawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) has played well against Paris this season, getting 6 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 11 in Paris and 7 points and 4 rebounds for a PIR of 11 in Istanbul. Pierre is a great pick-and-roll defender and his experience should allow him to see good playing time in the playoffs. Go for him! 

 

### Dan Oturu, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (10.8 credits)

Looking back, [Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/) played two very good games against Panathinaikos in regular season action and should be an important factor in the series. Efes enters the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak. Oturu struck twice against the Greens, getting 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting for a PIR of 21 in Istanbul and posting 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting for a PIR of 17 in their meeting in Athens.

Mario Hezonja, Kendrick Nunn, Daniel Theis, DyShawn Pierre and Dan Oturu are featured in this week's article.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Playoffs Games 1-2

### Daniel Theis, AS Monaco (13.2 credits)

Barca has done well against Monaco this season, winning both regular season games. [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) was not present in either of those games and he could be a difference-maker in the series. In eight games with Monaco, Theis has averaged 13.8 points on solid shooting (62.2% 2FG, 41.7% 3FG) and 6.1 rebounds for a PIR of 17.0. His toughness and experience gave Monaco exactly what it needed.

### Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid (13.4 credits)

[Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) does not need extra motivation before a playoff series, but the fact that Real plays Olympiacos should give him a boost. Real lost against the Reds twice this season but Hezonja posted solid numbers, averaging 16.0 points and a PIR of 16.0. He played a critical role in the Play-In Showdown final game against FC Bayern Munich with 19 points and 7 rebounds for a PIR of 24. A solid choice!

### Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19.6 credits)

[Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) was crowned the [2024-25 EuroLeague MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/202425-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-kendrick-nunn-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/) after a fantastic regular season in which he averaged a league-best 21.1 points plus 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for a PIR of 20.3. Last season, he brought out his best in the playoffs against Maccabi, averaging 19.2 points on 51.6% three-pointers for a PIR of 16.6. Nunn should be your superstar of choice this week.

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

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

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

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

Referees named for the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs

Euroleague Basketball has released the list of 28 referees who are eligible to officiate during the postseason phases of the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

The EuroLeague Playoffs will begin on Tuesday, April 22 and continue through Wednesday, May 7, should any necessary Game 5s be played. The EuroLeague Final Four will be played on the weekend of May 23-25 in Abu Dhabi.

Daniel Hierrezuelo, Euroleague Basketball Officiating Director, selected the referees based on their performance throughout the 34-game regular season, as well as their experience and consistency at the highest level of European basketball.

The 28 officials represent 17 different countries and combine for over 400 seasons of experience in Euroleague Basketball competitions.

See the full list of selected referees below:

After a standout campaign marked by scoring brilliance, leadership, and clutch performances, Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been named the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP

2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP: Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

After a standout campaign marked by scoring brilliance, leadership, and clutch performances, [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been named the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP. The award, voted on by EuroLeague team captains and head coaches, accredited media, and fans, recognizes the player who had the most outstanding performance over the course of the regular season – and this year, that player was Nunn.

Nunn’s name appeared on more ballots than any other player with the votes of EuroLeague head coaches and team captains each accounting for 35 percent of the tally, media making of 20% of the vote and the fans' choices the final 10%. [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of Olympiacos Piraeus placed second in the voting followed by [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball.

In his second season with Panathinaikos, Nunn led the EuroLeague in scoring at 21.1 points per game, becoming a constant offensive force and the winner of the [Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-is-the-2024-25-alphonso-ford-top-scorer-trophy-winner/). He also topped the charts in three-pointers made with 3.1 per contest and chipped in 4.1 assists and 1.0 steal while appearing in 33 of 34 regular-season games. Nunn’s explosiveness, creativity off the dribble, and smooth perimeter shooting helped Panathinaikos finish the regular season with a 22–12 record and secure home-court advantage in the playoffs.

He stepped up in particular over the second half of the season after the Greens lost All-EuroLeague center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) to a broken leg. After averaging 20.2 points and 3.6 assists for a PIR of 18.9 through Round 17, Nunn upped his production to 21.9 points and 5.1 dimes for a PIR of 21.6 the rest of the way.

Nunn’s season was filled with memorable performances. He scored at least 30 points on four occasions, including [a career-best 39-point eruption](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-enjoyed-record-night-at-oaka/) in Round 16 against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. He drilled 4 or more three-pointers in 12 different games and was named MVP of the Round three times, as well as [EuroLeague MVP of the Month for February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-shines-as-euroleagues-mvp-for-february/). His consistent ability to take over games in critical moments made him a nightmare for opposing defenses and a fan favorite in Athens.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Nunn better it is, official” 🏆😁<a href="https://twitter.com/nunnbetter_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nunnbetter_</a> took care of business with the official post. <br><br>MVP, MVP, MVP 🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/eQg0Fp0OrL">pic.twitter.com/eQg0Fp0OrL</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914277850380722365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Beyond the numbers, Nunn displayed poise and confidence befitting an MVP. Whether leading fast breaks, orchestrating the offense, or sinking tough shots with the game on the line, he proved to be a dynamic and dependable leader for Panathinaikos throughout the season. His impact was felt in more than just the stat sheet; it was in the energy he brought to the floor, the pressure he put on opposing defenses, and the belief he instilled in his teammates.

An [All-EuroLeague First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-names-the-202425-all-euroleague-first-team/) selection in both of his seasons in the competition, Nunn joins an elite list of EuroLeague MVPs. He is the first Panathinaikos player to earn the honor since Dimitris Diamantidis in 2010–11 and becomes the third American player to win the award following [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/2023-24-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-mike-james-as-monaco/) of AS Monaco in 2023–24 and the only two-time EuroLeague MVP, Anthony Parker (2004-05, 2005-06) of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

More on Kendrick Nunn

2024-25 EuroLeague Award winners

Kendrick Nunn captures the EuroLeague’s highest individual honor after a sensational second season with the Greens

Ish Wainright's first season in the EuroCup would be one to remember and it finished with him holding the trophy – for the first championship of his professional career. 

Tribute to the champs: Ish Wainright

No player on the freshly-crowned BKT EuroCup champs has a greater discrepancy between his value and his stats than [Ish Wainright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ishmail-carzell-wainright/013284/). The forward was among the Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv leaders in appearances and minutes, though he did little to stand out in the box score.

What he did, however, was play rugged defense, make clever plays at both ends, stretch the floor with his outside shooting and serve as the ultimate glue-guy on a winning team. Whenever there was a charge to be taken or a loose ball to dive for, Wainright was at the heart of the action.

For the season, Wainright averaged 5.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals over 24 games – including 20 in the starting lineup. His best offensive game came in his second appearance when Wainright totaled 13 points on 3-of-7 three-point shooting and 4 assists against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius. In the penultimate regular-season game, Wainright posted 8 points and a season-high 8 rebounds against Trefl Sopot for a personal-best PIR of 15.

In the postseason, Wainright had a positive plus/minus rating in five of Hapoel's six games, including both games in the finals against Dreamland Gran Canaria. Wainright's first season in the EuroCup would be one to remember and it finished with him holding the trophy – for the first championship of his professional career.

Tribute to the Champs

Hapoel's glue guy won the first championship of his career

Elijah Bryant and Shane Lakrin have been playing together for Anadolu Efes Istanbul for several seasons and they have also joined forces for the Off The RECourt Podcast, in which they interview EuroLeague personalities. 

Elijah Bryant, Shane Larkin chat about their Off The RECourt podcast 

More and more Turkish Airlines EuroLeague players are trying to control their narratives by making their own podcasts. [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) and [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) have been playing together for Anadolu Efes Istanbul for several seasons and they have also joined forces for the [Off The RECourt Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/@OffTheRECourtwithShaneLarkin), in which they interview EuroLeague personalities.

Former Efes teammate [Bryant Dunston](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8c4xjsm1Wg&t=722s) of Zalgiris Kaunas, cross-town superstar [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoTPeGK5bpk) of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, three-time EuroLeague-winning coach [Ergin Ataman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzC_r19bAZs) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer, [Mike James](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEs94pOAYdo), were the first guests on their podcast which started this season.

In this exclusive interview at Euroleague Basketball headquarters in Barcelona, Bryant and Larkin talked about what inspired them to start their podcast, why we are seeing more and more players publishing their own content, how important it is to tell their own story in their own words, the process of choosing guests and what kind of people they hope to bring on the show in the near future.

Bryant, Larkin chat about their Off The RECourt podcast 

The quarterfinals of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague have arrived with no shortage of intrigue.  What can we learn about the action to come from how these teams fared against one another in the regular season?

Stats review: A look ahead at the Playoffs

The quarterfinals of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague have arrived with no shortage of intrigue.  What can we learn about the action to come from how these teams fared against one another in the regular season?

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball

Facing off twice in the month of March due to a scheduling quirk as their first matchup was postponed from December, Fenerbahce beat Paris twice, but only by a total of 5 points.  Not unlike their two losses to Real Madrid — the team that it beat on the road in the Play-In Showdown to get here, Paris established a rhythm offensively in both of those games but could not quite close the deal.  It remains a unique team to defend, playing as much pick-and-roll as any team in EuroLeague history and scored steadily out of ball screens and one-on-one situations against a Fenerbahce team that rose in the standings by virtue of its offensive prowess as it found mixed results guarding on the ball for much of the season. 

As prolific as Paris has been in pick-and-rolls this season offensively, its ability to slow down Fenerbahce in the two-man game and stay out of rotation will likely play a key role in this series as well. Marko Guduric and Errick McCollum combined to score 43 points in Fenerbahce’s win in late March, which saw it erase a 13-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to secure a 1-point win.  Fenerbahce generated 25.5 points per game with passes out of pick-and-rolls in their two games against Paris — well above its 14.9 season average. No EuroLeague defense takes away the three as effectively as Fenerbahce, and, when it is breaking down defenses consistently on the other end, its 41% shooting from beyond the arc in catch-and-shoot situations tips the math of games in a way that has been very difficult for opposing teams to overcome all season.   

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul

No quarterfinal pairing had more uneven regular season encounters than Panathinaikos and Efes. The defending champions lost by 26 in Istanbul back in Round 15 in their worst offensive performance of the season playing without Kendrick Nunn, but had their fourth-most efficient showing in a 15-point win with Nunn scoring 36 in Round 26. 

These are also the EuroLeague's two hottest teams.  While Panathinaikos won 8 of 10 to position itself for home-court advantage in the quarterfinals, Efes has won eight straight with its last loss coming in that game in OAKA Altion in early February.  Both Panathinaikos and Efes have scored 1.13 points per possession over those respective stretches. In a year where efficiency has reached an all-time high and Panathinaikos led the league by scoring 1.07 points per possession on the season overall, these two teams have taken their game to a different level in recent weeks.

Who can stay hot among Elijah Bryant, Shane Larkin, Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas will be something to monitor as both defenses face daunting challenges.

### AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona

Barcelona beat Monaco twice this season as its opportunistic three-point shooting and efforts off the ball defensively allowed it to establish early leads that it never relinquished. Barcelona was one of five teams to allow fewer than 1.00 points per possession this season, but so was Monaco as both teams held their own defensively on the year.

What kind of rhythm Monaco can find is a point of interest as it never really got on track in either of its games against Barcelona. It scored only 20 points in spot-up situations in those contests — roughly half of its average for the season. Neither Elie Okobo nor Jordan Loyd got much going, scoring only 0.76 points per possession — well below the 1.08 points per possession standard they set the rest of the year as their shot-making is a very important part of this offense. Monaco was very potent in ball screens this season and played one-on-one as much as any team in recent EuroLeague history, so how their guards bounce back in the postseason from some of their lower moments earlier in the year is certainly a plotline to follow in this series. The addition of Daniel Theis will certainly help Monaco's cause.

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Real Madrid

Olympiacos beat Madrid by 10 in both of their matchups this season, but have not faced them since they snapped their six-game winning streak in mid-January. Finishing the season winning seven of eight, Madrid has been playing its best basketball of the season recently, but has some things to prove against Olympiacos, which picked them apart in pick-and-rolls during their previous encounters. Olympiacos generated 41 points per game playing out of ball screens in their wins with both Evan Fournier and Thomas Walkup playing especially well. 

On the other end, the Reds held Madrid to just 26.5 points created per game out of pic- and-rolls — some 10 points below its season average.  While Madrid was quite effective in the open floor in those losses, *Los Blancos* struggled to score in the half-court — something they have done very consistently throughout their rise into the playoff picture. Scoring 1.03 points per possession in the half court over its last eight games after averaging only 0.96 points per possession prior to that point, Madrid has done a noticeably better job getting Walter Tavares and Usman Garuba involved inside and taking some pressure off its inconsistent three-point shooting. How well that growth offensively translates will be key against an Olympiacos team led by Sasha Vezenkov that has been extremely tough to beat in Piraeus. 

Sportradar breaks down the exciting showdowns in the quarterfinals

Stats review: A look ahead at the playoffs

Real unleashed its full potential by [thrashing FC Bayern Munich 93-71](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-crushes-bayern-93-71-to-complete-playoff-picture/) in Friday’s decisive play-in, and has gathered plenty of momentum by winning seven of its last eight games. Olympiacos has struggled with injuries in recent weeks but rallied to win its last two regular season games, sending a reminder of its offensive talent by netting 99 and 100 points in those triumphs.

For Real, finding a way to minimize the impact of [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) (20.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game) is vital. One key figure in that quest could be [Gaby Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/), who is getting back to his best after an injury layoff and averaged 8 points in last week’s play-in games.

On the wings, a pair of three-point shooting specialists will attempt to outscore each other as [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) (2.6 triples per game) takes on [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) (1.9), with the likes of [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) and [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) also capable of lighting it up from long-range.

Olympiacos appears to have more backcourt options following the return to fitness of [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/) and the signing of [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/), who could become X-factors in a series opener that will see [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) carry a heavy load in directing the Real offense.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

 

**Streaks**

Sasha Vezenkov has scored in double figures and posted double-digit PIRs in 35 straight games.

Vezenkov has posted a PIR of 14 or more in 31 straight games.

Vezenkov has made at least 1 three-pointer in 20 straight and 29 of his last 30 games.

Vezenkov has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in 11 straight games.

Alec Peters has made 14 consecutive free throws.

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

Kostas Papanikolaou has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven of his last eight games.

Keenan Evans has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight and 21 of his last 22 games.

Evans has posted a double-digit PIR in nine of his last 10 games.

Evans has made at least 1 three-pointer in 17 straight games.

Evans has made 21 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Sasha Vezenkov leads the league this season in average index rating with 24.5 per game.

Vezenkov ranks third this season in scoring with 20.2 points per game.

Evan Fournier ranks 10th this season in scoring with 15.8 points per game.

Vezenkov ranks third this season in rebounding with 6.6 per game.

Nikola Milutinov ranks 10th this season in rebounding with 5.9 per game.

Milutinov ranks fourth this season in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per game.

Moustapha Fall leads the league this season in two-point shooting at 77.2%.

Evan Fournier ranks fifth this season in three-pointers made with 2.6 per game.

Alec Peters ranks second this season in three-point shooting at 54.4%.

Peters ranks fifth this season in free-throw shooting at 94.1%.

Olympiacos leads the league in assists with 21.4 per game.

Olympiacos is second in the league in team PIR with 102.7 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Papanikolaou is the all-time leader in games started with 334.

Papanikolaou is tied with Mike James of AS Monaco in seventh place all-time in steals with 324. Theo Papaloukas is sixth with 335 career steals.

Papanikolaou is ranked 14th all-time with 1,423 career rebounds. Othello Hunter is 11th with 1,424 and Johannes Voigtmann of FC Bayern Munich is 12th with 1,426 and counting.

Moustapha Fall ranks second all-time in two-point accuracy at 73.3%.

Fall is ranked 13th all-time with 165 career blocked shots. James Gist is 12th with 167.

Nikola Milutinov is tied with Ante Tomic for 18th place all-time with 155 blocked shots. With his next block, he will tie Jordan Mickey for 17th place.

Milutinov is ranked sixth all-time in offensive rebounds with 640. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fifth with 656 and counting.

Milutinov is ranked 16th all-time with 1,398 career rebounds. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is 15th with 1,400 and counting.

Sasha Vezenkov needs 5 assists to reach 300 for his career.

Thomas Walkup ranks 19th all-time with a 2.5-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Walkup is ranked 14th all-time in assists with 996. Vasilije Micic is 13th with 1,097 assists.

Walkup is in 15th place all-time in steals with 279. Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Scottie Wilbekin of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul are tied for 13th place with 282 steals apiece and counting.

Alec Peters ranks 11th all-time in free-throw shooting accuracy at 90.2%.

Peters ranks third all-time in three-point accuracy at 46.7%.

Keenan Evans needs 2 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Game Videos

### Real Madrid

 

**Streaks**

Mario Hezonja has made at least 1 three-pointer in 14 straight and 44 of his last 45 games.

Walter Tavares has PIRs in double figures in eight of his last nine games.

Tavares has scored 10 or more points in eight of his last nine games.

Facundo Campazzo has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven of his last eight games.

Campazzo has had at least 1 steal in seven straight games.

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

Gabriel Deck has made at least 1 three-pointer in four straight games.

Alberto Abalde has made 11 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Facundo Campazzo ranks eighth this season in average index rating with 18.2 per game.

Campazzo ranks third this season in assists with 6.3 per game.

Walter Tavares leads the league this season in rebounding with 6.9 per game.

Tavares ranks third this season in offensive rebounding with 2.7 per game.

Tavares ranks second this season in blocks with 1.3 per game.

Tavares ranks second this season in two-point shooting at 74.3%.

Alberto Abalde ranks ninth this season in three-point shooting at 45.6%.

Real leads the league in rebounding with 36.9 per game.

Real leads the league in defensive rebounding with 26.4 per game.

Real leads the league in two-point accuracy at 59.4%.

Real has held opponents to a league-low 51.5% two-point shooting.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Walter Tavares blocked 88 shots in the 2022-23 season to set the all-time single-season record.

Tavares is the competition's all-time leader in blocks with 469.

Tavares is in fourth place all-time in two-point accuracy at 68.6%.

Tavares ranks second all-time with 1,861 rebounds. Paulius Jankunas is the all-time leader with 2,010 rebounds.

Tavares is tied with Felipe Reyes for second place all-time with 705 offensive rebounds. Kyle Hines is the all-time leader with 824 career offensive rebounds.

Tavares is eighth on the all-time list with 4,267 PIR points. Nick Calathes is seventh with 4,295 and counting, and Kyle Hines is sixth with 4,299.

Sergio Llull is the all-time leader in games played with 443 EuroLeague appearances.

Llull is the all-time leader in three-point shots made with 680.

Llull ranks fourth all-time in scoring with 4,181 points. Vassilis Spanoulis is third with 4,455.

Llull is in seventh place all-time with 1,473 assists. Mike James of AS Monaco is sixth with 1,479 and counting, and Milos Teodosic of Crvena Zvezda is fifth with 1,491.

Facundo Campazzo is in 11th place all-time with 1,112 assists. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 10th with 1,204.

Llull ranks 12th all-time with 731 free throws made. Paulius Jankunas is 11th with 748.

Llull ranks fifth all-time with a 2.7-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Facundo Campazzo is tied for 12th all-time with a 2.6-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Game News

A rematch of the 2023 title game will see Olympiacos Piraeus host Real Madrid for the start of a series that promises to offer a full-blooded battle between two true continental giants.

Game Facts: Olympiacos vs. Real Madrid

\- Olympiacos swept the regular season series against Real Madrid, including an 86-96 win in Madrid in Round 22 behind Even Fournier's personal-best 28 points.

\- Olympiacos beat Real 79-69 in Round 6 in Piraeus with Sasha Vezenkov scoring 23 points, while Shaquielle Mckissic pulled down a career-high 9 rebounds.

\- In the 2024 Final Four semifinal in Berlin, Real beat Olympiacos 87-76 behind 20 points from Dzanan Musa.

\- This is a rematch of the 2023 championship game in which Sergio Lull made a game-winning jumper with 3.1 seconds to go for a 79-78 win in Kaunas for Real to win its 11th EuroLeague championship.

\- Real swept Olympiacos during the 2023-24 regular season, including a 71-77 win in Piraeus as Dzanan Musa scored 23 points and tied a career-best with 5 triples made.

\- Last season in Madrid, Real held off Olympiacos 90-85 with Facundo Campazzo collecting 12 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds.

\- Real Madrid downed Olympiacos in the 1995 EuroLeague championship game, 73-61, behind Arvydas Sabonis, who was chosen as the 1995 Final Four MVP.

\- Olympiacos defeated Real Madrid 100-89 for the 2013 EuroLeague championship in London. Vassilis Spanoulis scored 22 points in that game and was named Final Four MVP.

\- Real Madrid routed Olympiacos 78-59 in the 2015 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game in the Spanish capital. Jaycee Carroll led a balanced Madrid attack with 16 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting and Andres Nocioni was named Final Four MVP.

\- Olympiacos and Real Madrid have faced each other three times in the EuroLeague Playoffs. Real advanced to the Final Four in 1996 with a 2-1 win in the best-of-three series and Olympiacos ousted Real 3-1 in 2009's best-of-five series. Real eliminated Olympiacos in the 2014 EuroLeague Playoffs 3-2. Rudy Fernandez led Los Blancos with an average of 17.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and Sergio Llull starred with 20 points in the decisive fifth game.

\- Olympiacos guard Nigel Williams-Goss spent two seasons with Real, from 2021 to 2023, helping it reach the 2022 EuroLeague championship game and win the 2023 EuroLeague crown.

\- Williams-Goss scored a career-high 23 points in an 88-83 Olympiacos win against Real in November 2018.

\- Real swingman Mario Hezonja and Olympiacos forward Kostas Papanikolaou were teammates at FC Barcelona during the 2013-14 season.

\- Olympiacos point guard Luca Vildoza has been a teammate of Real forward Gabriel Deck and guard Facundo Campazzo on the Argentinian national team. Together they won the silver medal at the 2019 Basketball World Cup.

\- Olympiacos guard Luca Vildoza and Real point guard Facundo Campazzo were teammates at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade during the 2022-23 season.

\- In the 2024 Final Four semifinal loss against Real, Olympiacos forward Alec Peters grabbed a career-high 6 offensive rebounds.

\- Olympiacos forward Kostas Papanikolaou posted a career-high 25 points and tied a career-high with 6 triples made in a 90-85 loss against Real in January 2024.

\- Olympiacos guard Naz Mitrou-Long dished a career-high 7 assists against Real in January 2024.

\- Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey had a career game while playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against Real in January 2021, posting a career-high PIR of 36.

\- Hezonja posted his career high with 4 steals while playing for UNICS Kazan against Olympiacos in December 2021.

\- Real’s All-EuroLeague center Walter Tavares had a career-best 4 steals in an overtime win over Olympiacos in April 2021.

\- Real's Facundo Campazzo collected a career-high 5 steals while playing for Crvena Zvezda against Olympiacos in April 2023.

\- Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov recorded a career-best 3 blocks twice against Real Madrid, in December 2017 and November 2018.

Game Notes: Olympiacos vs. Real Madrid

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.

### AS Monaco

 

**Streaks**

Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 straight games.

James has scored 11 or more points in five of his last six games.

James has posted PIRs of 12 or more in five of his last six games.

James has at least 1 steal in five straight and eight of his last nine games.

James has dished more than 5 assists in five of his last six games.

James has made 16 consecutive free throws.

Elie Okobo has scored 12 or more points and made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven games.

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

Daniel Theis has posted PIRs in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Theis has pulled down more than 5 rebounds in six of his last seven games.

Theis has blocked at least 1 shot in seven straight games.

Georgios Papagiannis has made 15 consecutive free throws.

Matt Strazel has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight games.

 

**Season rankings**

Mike James ranks fourth this season in assists with 5.7 per game.

Georgios Papagiannis leads the league this season in blocks with 1.4 per game.

Monaco has committed 10.6 turnovers per game, the second-lowest in the league.

Monaco has forced a league-high 13.5 turnovers per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Mike James is the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer with 5,159 career points.

James is second all-time with 5,303 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 1,139. De Colo is the all-time leader with 1,181.

James is sixth in place all-time with 1,479 career assists. Milos Teodosic of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade is fifth with 1,491 assists.

James is tied with Rudy Fernandez for sixth place all-time with 594 three-pointers made. Milos Teodosic is fifth with 595 triples.

James is fifth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,119. Ante Tomic is fourth with 1,137.

James is tied with Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus for seventh place all-time with 324 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 334 and counting.

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

Calathes is seventh all-time with 4,295 performance index rating points. Kyle Hines is in sixth 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 made at least 1 three-point shot in 21 of his last 22 games.

Punter has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games.

Punter has at least 1 steal in 12 straight games.

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

Parker has scored 10 or more points in four straight games.

Parker has made 15 consecutive free throws.

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

Dario Brizuela has made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven 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 ranks seventh this season in scoring with 16.9 points per game.

Punter ranks third this season in steals with 1.3 per game.

Jan Vesely ranks ninth this season in steals with 1.1 per game.

Punter ranks eighth this season in free-throw shooting at 93.1%.

Punter ranks ninth this season in three-pointers made with 2.2 per game.

Tomas Satoransky ranks seventh this season in assists with 5.3 per game.

Youssoupha Fall ranks sixth this season in two-point shooting at 68.4%.

Barcelona ranks second in scoring with 88.1 points per game.

Barcelona ranks second in assists with 20.1 per game.

Barcelona ranks first in steals with 7.5 per game.

Barcelona's defense has held opponents to 34.0% three-point shooting, which is the second-lowest in the league.

Barcelona has forced 13.1 turnovers per game, the third-most in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Tomas Satoransky ranks fourth all-time with a 2.9-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Jan Vesely is the all-time leader in two-pointers made with 1,566.

Vesely ranks third all-time with 5,112 index rating points. Mike James of AS Monaco is second with 5,303 and counting.

Vesely is seventh all-time with 4,037 points scored. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,068.

Vesely ranks fourth all-time with 366 steals. Rudy Fernandez is third with 367 steals.

Vesely ranks fifth all-time with 1,776 rebounds. Felipe Reyes is fourth with 1,799.

Vesely is in fifth place all-time with 656 offensive rebounds. Bryant Dunston of Zalgiris Kaunas is fourth with 671.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 216 blocks. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is seventh with 229 and counting.

Vesely ranks ninth all-time with 791 free throws made. Tornike Shengelia of Virtus Segafredo Bologna is eighth with 792 and Juan Carlos Navarro is seventh with 853.

Kevin Punter ranks ninth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.2%.

Youssoupha Fall ranks 12th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.0%.

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

Alex Abrines needs 7 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

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 Facts: Monaco vs. Barcelona

\- 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 Notes: Monaco vs. Barcelona

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 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 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)

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)