Anadolu Efes and FC Barcelona are two of the hottest teams in the EuroLeague at present, but which other teams have picked up their form at the tail end of the season?

Stats review: Which teams carry the most momentum?

With one round to go in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the teams advancing to the postseason are already decided, but there are several spots up for grabs above the Play-in Showdown that will shape the quarterfinals. Who claims those spots is worth monitoring as several teams have climbed the standings over the second half of the year. Given the way [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) found another gear during the second half of last season on its way to the championship, it is worth paying attention to who is carrying the most momentum into the postseason.    

No team has played as well as [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) in recent months and it can finish its climb into and above the Play-In Showdown slots with a win over [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) at Palau Blaugrana this week.  With a favorable tiebreaker against [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/), which currently sits in fourth place one win above, Barca will have no shortage of rooting interests across the league with four other teams potentially moving to 20 wins with a victory.  Regardless, Barcelona has been playing at a very high level in recent weeks and its road victory at [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) in Round 33 speaks to how dangerous it could be moving forward. [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) has turned his season around like few players in recent history to add some firepower to this offense on the perimeter, while the now injured [Chimezie Metu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chimezie-metu/013379/), [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/), and [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-parra/007464/) all played well late in the year to fill in the blanks for an offense that is thriving in the half court. 

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) has risen in lockstep with Barcelona in the second half and has notched the key victories to secure the tie breakers over the other four teams currently tied with 19 wins to surge up the standings.  Guard play been the difference as the Turkish club has risen to lead the EuroLeague in overall offensive efficiency thanks in large part to the rhythm [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) and [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) have found in 2025.  

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/), Panathinaikos, and Fenerbahce have spent much of the last few months just above the crowded part of the standings and their consistency has had a lot to do with that. Much like Efes and Barcelona, their performance on the offensive end has been key to their success as it has been increasingly difficult for teams to differentiate themselves defensively during the second half of the year. One of [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/), [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/), and [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) will lead the EuroLeague in overall defensive efficiency at around 0.98 points per possession—a notable rise from the 0.95 points per possession mark Panathinaikos posted to lead the league last year.  

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) and [Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) were both victims of the EuroLeague's parity this season. As well as that duo played recently with Baskonia proving especially formidable at home, timing played a bigger role in the postseason picture than previous seasons.  The two-win margin between fourth and 10th place shows how razor-thin margins have been.

With a lot on the line in the final round of the regular season ahead of what should be an extremely competitive Play-in Showdown, it will be fascinating to see which teams carry the momentum they have built over the last few months in the quarterfinals.  

Sportradar breaks down which teams have been hottest in 2025

The road to glory concludes with a series which offers a fascinating contrast in styles, as Hapoel is powered by an offense averaging 88.1 points per game (third-best in the competition) while Gran Canaria’s approach is based on a rock-solid defense which has allowed just 76 points per night (second best in the EuroCup).

Those tendencies were on full display in the semifinal deciders, as Hapoel triumphed on the road at Valencia Basket, 92-94, blazing 31 points in the fourth quarter including 9 triples – a joint competition all-time high.

The key architect of that long-range barrage was [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/), who netted 5 of his 6 triples in the final period to finish with 32 points, confirming his full return to his best after a quiet end to the regular season. With [Marcus Foster](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-foster/010386/) and [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) also in good form, Hapoel’s backcourt possesses more than enough quality to continue piling on the points.

Gran Canaria, however, will be a tough nut to crack, with the Spanish team again demonstrating its defensive prowess by also winning its semifinal decider on the road at Bahcesehir College Istanbul, 72-76. The Turkish team was held to just 23 converted field goals, and Gran Canaria will focus on ensuring Hapoel has similar difficulties in scoring as ball hawk [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) (1.9 steals per game, best in the competition) smothers the opposition ball handlers.

GAME NOTES

\- Hapoel routed Gran Canaria 64-87 in Round 13 behind a balanced team effort in which Johnathan Motley and Bar Timor scored 14 points apiece.

\- Hapoel defeated Gran Canaria 79-66 in Round 4 led by Patrick Beverley with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.

\- These teams split regular-season games during the 2022-23 season. Gran Canaria edged Hapoel 85-83 at home behind 18 points from John Shurna. Hapoel blasted Gran Canaria 92-70 in the opposite leg in February 2023 with Jordan McRae scoring 25 and grabbing MVP of the Round honors.

\- Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis was the assistant coach at Panathinaikos Athens when Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic played there between 2002 and 2006.

\- Patrick Beverley set Hapoel's single-game club record with 5 steals against Gran Canaria in Round 4 of this season.

\- Hapoel swiped a season-high 13 steals against Gran Canaria in Round 4.

\- Hapoel recorded a season-high 5 blocks against Gran Canaria in Round 13.

\- Gran Canaria grabbed season-highs of 19 offensive rebounds and 41 rebounds against Hapoel in Round 4.

\- This marks the first time Hapoel has played in the finals of any European competition.

\- Gran Canaria is seeking its second EuroCup crown after winning the championship in 2023. It also reached the finals in 2015.

Game Videos

GAME FACTS

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv

**Streaks**

Johnathan Motley has posted a PIR in double figures in 13 of his last 14 games.

Marcus Foster has made at least 1 three-pointer in six of his last seven games.

Foster has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games.

Yam Madar has had PIRs in double figures in 13straight games.

Madar has scored in double figures in eight of his last nine games.

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

**Season Rankings**

Yam Madar is ranked fifth among qualified EuroCup players this season in PIR with 19.2 per game. Motley is sixth with 19.0 per game.

Madar is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 4.2 free throws made per game.

Yam Madar is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in three-point accuracy at 52.5%.

Johnathan Motley is ranked sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season in scoring with 16.1 points per game.

Motley leads the EuroCup in two-pointers made per game this season at 5.9.

Motley is ranked third among qualified EuroCup players this season in fouls drawn with 6.3 per game.

Marcus Foster is ranked ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season in average field goals made with 5.5 per game.

Joe Ragland is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.6. Bar Timor is tied for eighth at 3.0.

### Dreamland Gran Canaria

**Streaks**

Andrew Albicy has recorded at least 1 steal in 16 of his last 17 games.

Nicolas Brussino made at least 1 three-pointer in each of his last seven games.

Brussino has scored in double figures and posted double-digit PIRs in six of his last seven games.

Mike Tobey has scored in double figures and had double-digit PIRs in five straight games.

**Season Rankings**

Andrew Albicy is the league-leader in steals this season with 1.9 per game.

Pierre Pelos is ranked fourth among qualified players in three-point shooting at 50%.

Mike Tobey is 10th in the EuroCup in rebounding with 5.8 per game.

George Conditt is ranked fifth among qualified EuroCup players this season in field-goal hooting percentage at 68.7%.

Conditt is ranked 10th among qualified players this season in Effective Field Goal Shooting percentage at 68.7%.

**All-time Rankings**

Andrew Albicy is ranked fourth on the all-time EuroCup charts in performance index rating with 1,617. Errick McCollum is third with 1,634.

Albicy is ranked second on the all-time EuroCup charts with 686 assists. Stefan Markovic is first with 698.

Albicy is second on the all-time EuroCup charts with 211 steals. He trails Stefan Markovic by 3 steals for first place.

Albicy is ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 185 three-pointers made. John Shurna is eighth with 198. Marko Popovic is seventh with 207.

Albicy is seventh on the all-time EuroCup charts with 141 games played. With his next appearance he will tie Stefan Markovic for sixth place.

Albicy is the all-time leader in games started in the EuroCup with 121.

Shurna is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 1,272 points scored. E.J. Rowland is eighth with 1,275 points.

Shurna is sixth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 524 rebounds. Andrija Stipanovic is fifth with 538.

Shurna is sixth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 361 defensive rebounds. Jaka Blazic is fifth with 367.

Shurna is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 449 field goals made.

John Shurna is ranked third on the all-time EuroCup charts with 146 games played. The all-time leaders, Alen Omic and Toto Forray, each played 148 games.

Miquel Salvo is ranked third on the all-time EuroCup charts in two-point shooting at 66.2%.

**Player Records against Opponent**

Mike Tobey grabbed a career-high 6 offensive against Hapoel in Round 4.

Joe Thomasson grabbed a career-high 5 rebounds against Hapoel in Round 4.

Game News

The BKT EuroCup Finals get underway on Tuesday with Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv hosting Dreamland Gran Canaria for the first game of this best-of-three series. 

Game Notes and Facts: Hapoel Tel Aviv vs. Gran Canaria

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-08T17:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul is on the verge of sealing a playoff berth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after coming out of the wilderness into the postseason picture with a seven-game winning streak, capped by Friday night’s dramatic 96-97 overtime victory at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Anadolu Efes emerges as postseason dark horse after smooth run 

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) is on the verge of sealing a playoff berth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after coming out of the wilderness into the postseason picture with a seven-game winning streak, capped by Friday night’s [dramatic 96-97 overtime victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-beats-crvena-zvezda-96-97-to-boost-playoff-hopes/) at [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/).

Having climbed up to fifth in the standings, Efes faces [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) at home in the final game of the regular season as the battle for playoff berths is headed for a dramatic climax. Four teams, including Efes, are locked on 19-14 records behind fourth-placed [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) (20-13) with three top-six spots up for grabs.

Efes was likely written off by some pundits and many of its own fans after a patchy run plagued by injuries and inconsistency, which spilled over into the early stages of head coach Luca Banchi’s tenure.

The Italian tactician, who was hauled in after he parted ways with [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) earlier in the season, endured a 2-5 start before Efes finally hit top gear when it need to, rekindling the kind of form that saw the club win back to back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022.

The matchup against Zvezda reaffirmed the die-hard spirit that saw Efes become the second Turkish club to win Europe’s premier club competition, following in the footsteps of city rival [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/?season=2024-25) which touched the summit in 2017.

Despite fielding a half-fit [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) who was battling a respiratory infection and losing veteran guard [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/) to [a leg injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/rodrigue-beaubois-out-for-at-least-six-weeks-with-calf-tear/) in the third quarter, Efes stood firm after Zvezda forced overtime with a late comeback.

Much to Banchi’s delight, who singled out both men and the entire team for showing the kind of mettle and character that makes a talent-packed Efes roster unwanted opposition to any of its postseason rivals. 

“I believe the spectators enjoyed a most intense game. We remained focused after Zvezda came back and tied the score at the very end while we approached overtime with great maturity. Small details made the difference in the end, the win giving us the opportunity to look to the future with even more confidence,” Banchi said at the postgame press conference. 

“Unfortunately, we lost one of our pillars in this game because Beaubois suffered a very serious injury but the team responded well to his leadership when he showed the way at the beginning of the third quarter. I also want to underline the effort of our captain Shane Larkin, who led the collective effort. There’s no other way to beat a team like Zvezda in the Belgrade Arena.”

Beaubois sank 10 points in a brilliant individual third-quarter display to spark the visiting team’s 4-20 run, which turned the tide after a 51-44 halftime deficit, forcing Zvezda to play catch-up for the rest of the rip-roaring contest.

The 37-year old Frenchman landed awkwardly after a delightful floater and was carried off the court, forcing Banchi to throw an exhausted Larkin back into the fray after the Efes captain had defied illness to even make the trip to Belgrade.  

‘It didn’t make sense to include him in the roster because he was in no condition to play but he was adamant that he wanted to, especially at the end of the third quarter after the Beaubois injury. That’s what a captain and a leader does, as he and the team went the extra mile to get the win,” said Banchi.

Zvezda, which suffered a second successive home loss following [last week’s 72-78 reverse against Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-edges-closer-to-postseason-with-win-at-crvena-zvezda-72-78/), will be tempted to send early Easter gifts to its former head coach Dusko Ivanovic after he propelled the Serbian team into the postseason.

Ivanovic steered Virtus to [a 90-70 home rout](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/virtus-dominates-italian-derby-90-70-eliminates-milan/) of [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/?season=2024-25) in the Italian derby, handing Zvezda a play-in berth on a silver platter with a game to spare while it also eliminated Milan. Zvezda was also helped by [Zalgiris's 70-66 triumph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-out-of-postseason-after-70-66-loss-at-zalgiris/) over [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/?season=2024-25) on Thursday, as the result knocked out Zvezda’s bitter city foe out of postseason contention.

The combination of those two outcomes spared Zvezda the daunting task of having to beat reigning champion [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/?season=2024-25) on the road in the final game of the regular season, with Zvezda suffering a dip in form during the home straight.

Having climbed into the top six, Zvezda lost five of its last seven games and came perilously close to dropping out of the entire postseason picture. The Serbian side was saved by past merits along with [a shock 73-81 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/center-less-crvena-zvezda-stuns-olympiacos-73-81/) at table-topping [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/?season=2024-25), which briefly snapped the poor run and turned out to be pivotal in Zvezda’s bid to reach the business end of the competition.

Summing up his team’s effort, head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos was relieved to see other results going Zvezda’s way but also lauded his men for a season-long quest that saw the Serbian champs squeeze into the postseason for the first time since [2016](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/standings/?season=2015-16&type=Traditional&phase=TOP%2016).

 “Like I told the players, we’re in the play-in because of other results going our way, but also because of our own results up to this point,” the Greek tactician said.

“This is very promising for our future as we’ve had some great games, both won and lost. We’ve taken the club to another level and we deserve to be in the play-in. This is a big step for the club and we’ll fight hard to reach the playoffs. Hopefully we’ll have some of our injured players back and I want to thank our fans again from the bottom of my heart and on the team’s behalf for their support.”   

Few teams will fancy a knockout clash with the former champs after their impressive streak 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-04T18:00:00.000Z)

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Neal Sako of ASVEL denies Baskonia's Donta Hall

Yanni Wetzell of ALBA Berlin dunks against Olympiacos

Jabari Parker of Barcelona looks to drive past Fenerbahce's Nigel Hayes-Davis

Carsen Edwards of Bayern tries to get by Maccabi's Levi Randolph

Alberto Abalde or Real Madrid corrals the ball in front of Paris's TJ Shorts

Carlik Jones of Partizan emotes after scoring against Zalgiris

Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos dribbles by Monaco's Matthew Strazel 

Zach LeDay of Milan holds of Virtus's Matt Morgan for a score

Filip Petrusev of Crvena Zvezda turns away the shot from Efes's Elijah Bryant

Look back at all the action from Round 33 of the regular season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos of the week: Round 33

Anadolu Efes confirmed on Saturday that guard Rodrigue Beaubois will be sidelined for at least the next six weeks after suffering a partial tear in his calf.

Rodrigue Beaubois out for at least six weeks with calf tear

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) confirmed on Saturday that guard [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/) will be sidelined for at least the next six weeks after suffering a partial tear in his calf.

Beaubois had to be helped off the court with 2:07 to go in the third quarter of [Efes's Round 33 overtime victory at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-beats-crvena-zvezda-96-97-to-boost-playoff-hopes/) in Round 33 last Friday night.

"Our player Rodrigue Beaubois, who injured his left leg in the EuroLeague game against Crvena Zvezda, underwent an MRI scan," read Efes's tweet.

"As a result of the tests, our player was diagnosed with a partial tear in his calf area. Beaubois's rehabilitation process has started and he will be out for at least six weeks."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Kızılyıldız ile oynadığımız Euroleague maçında sol ayağından sakatlanan oyuncumuz Rodrigue Beaubois’nın MR görüntülemeleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. <br><br>Yapılan tetkikler neticesinde, oyuncumuza kalf bölgesinde kısmi yırtık teşhisi konulmuştur. Beaubois’nın rehabilitasyon süreci… <a href="https://t.co/iUTrY9cg34">pic.twitter.com/iUTrY9cg34</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1908485577583841286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The 37-year-old Beaubois is an important part of Efes's rotation, averaging 8.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists this season, and has come up with some big performances of late during his team's seven-game unbeaten run.

Efes, now fifth in the standings with a 19-14 record, faces Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 34 and a win will be enough to clinch a direct spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

In Beaubois's absence, [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/), [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/), [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/) and [PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/) will likely all see an increase in their minutes.

More Efes News

The injury occurred during Efes's Round 33 win at Crvena Zvezda

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-04-11T17:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced on Saturday that Khadeen Carrington has agreed to terms on a contract extension for the 2025-2026 season

Jerusalem pens Khadeen Carrington to extension 

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem announced on Saturday that [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/) has agreed to terms on a contract extension for the 2025-2026 season. Carrington (1.87 meters, 29 years old) has already played three seasons with the club from the Israeli capital. He averaged 16.0 points, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 16 appearances in the BKT EuroCup for Jerusalem this season, including half as a starter. He ranked seventh in the competition in scoring as he helped Jerusalem finish second in their regular season group and reach the quarterfinals. In his time with Jerusalem, Carrington has helped the club win the Israeli State Cup twice.  

Best of Khadeen Carrington 2024-25

"I am happy to stay in a place that at this point has already become my first home," Carrington said in an announcement released by the club. "My connection to the city and the fans is part of who I am and Hapoel Jerusalem is a home and family for me. We still have a lot to achieve and I am sure and believe that we will meet the goals we have set for ourselves. To Hapoel fans, I want to say: believe in us, believe in our path and together we will reach new heights. Yalla Hapoel!"

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">דינו לא הולך לשום מקום! קאדין קרינגטון חתם בהפועל עד סוף עונת 25-26! לכל הפרטים &gt;&gt;&gt;<a href="https://t.co/Itxk3RQDvN">https://t.co/Itxk3RQDvN</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mz8gSGmTI7">pic.twitter.com/Mz8gSGmTI7</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1908572883246293483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This season was Carrington's third in the EuroCup after previous stints with Mornar Bar and AS Monaco. After playing college basketball at Seton Hall University, Carrington began his professional career with Mornar Bar in 2018. He has since played for Limburg United in Belgium, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany, Monaco, Betis Sevilla in Spain, and JDA Dijon Bourgogne in France.

More Hapoel Jerusalem news

The explosive scorer commits to a fourth season in the Israeli capital 

A brilliant performance in a direct battle for home-court advantage in the playoffs has earned Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Kendrick Nunn his third MVP of the Round honor this season.

Round 33 MVP: Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

A brilliant performance in a direct battle for home-court advantage in the playoffs has earned Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) his third MVP of the Round honor this season.

Panathinaikos beat AS Monaco 76-88 and Nunn starred with 37 points, making 9-of-12 two-pointers and 5-of-5 threes. Nunn also made all 4 free throws, had 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal while drawing 6 fouls. The Greens’ guard accumulated 43 PIR, the highest of his career and tied for the second highest in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season. This is the fourth time in his career that Nunn has been the MVP of the Round, and three of those have come over the last eight rounds.

Behind Nunn sit two players with 32 PIR. In a 92-100 win over ALBA Berlin, Olympiacos Piraeus guard [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) had 22 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block. Meanwhile, [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) of FC Bayern Munich netted 33 points on 9-of-18 three-point shooting, along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds, in a 93-90 loss at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

[Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) netted 33 points on 8-for-9 three-point shooting, finishing the game with a PIR of 30. Rounding out the list of Round 33 top performers is [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) of Real Madrid, who had a 29 PIR in a 105-104 win over Paris Basketball, scoring a season-high 26 points and also collecting 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

### Individual highs: Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos, 37 points

Nunn led all scorers with 37 points. He increased his EuroLeague-best average to 20.8 points per game.

FC Barcelona’s [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-parra/007464/) had 12 rebounds, more than any other player in this round. [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade leads the league in this category, averaging 8.3 rebounds per night.

Three players had 10 assists in Round 33: [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball and ALBA's duo of [Martin Hermannsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/martin-hermannsson/008780/) and [Will McDowell-White](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-mcdowell-white/008062/). Shorts is the league leader in assists with 7.5 per game.

Barcelona’s [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) and Parra each had 3 steals, the most in Round 33. Bayern’s [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) remains atop the steals charts with 1.6 per contest.

[Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khalifa-diop/008072/) of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul each had 3 blocks in this round. Real Madrid center [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) is the EuroLeague’s top shot-blocker with 1.4 rejections per game.

There were three double-doubles in Round 33: Shorts (24 points, 10 assists), his Paris teammate [Tyson Ward](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyson-ward/012610/) (18 points, 10 rebounds), and Parra (15 points, 12 rebounds).

This the fourth such award of Nunn’s career

Zavier Simpson of U-BT Cluj-Napoca, Semi Ojeleye and Xabi Lopez-Arostegui of Valencia Basket, Devin Robinson of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Anthony Brown of Turk Telekom Ankara.

2024-25 BKT All-EuroCup Second Team

### Zavier Simpson, U-BT Cluj-Napoca

The playmaking mastery, crafty scoring and defensive tenacity of [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) made him a delight to watch in his first BKT EuroCup season. As Cluj's floor general, Simpson consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to control the tempo of the game, finding teammates in perfect scoring positions while also scoring efficiently himself. He led the EuroCup in assists (8.0 apg.), ranked second in scoring (17.8 ppg.) and third in PIR (20.9). Simpson’s knack for reading defenses and executing precise passes were crucial to Cluj's winning season, which saw it reach the quarterfinals, but only after he whipped up a 26-point, 14-assist gem in the eighthfinals against Wolves. That game was one of Simpson's seven double-doubles and just another reason he earned the well-deserved recognition as one of the EuroCup’s premier guards.

### Semi Ojeleye, Valencia Basket

An ever-present for Valencia this season, [Semi Ojeleye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) has earned All-EuroCup Second Team honors in his rookie season in the competition. Ojeleye was a key contributor as the Spanish side swept aside teams at will en route to the EuroCup Semifinals, going 17-2 to that point. He was the second leading scorer with 11.4 points per game for a Valencia offense that posted 96.4 points per night, the second-highest average in competition history. A forward who was always circled on the opposition’s scouting report, the 30-year-old poured in 10 points or more in 15 of his 19 appearances until the semifinals. The season didn’t have the fairy-tale ending that Valencia fans were hoping for, but Ojeleye’s performances on the court were an important part of the team’s success.

### 

### Devin Robinson, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

A highlight-reel regular who often changed the momentum of the games, Cedevita Olimpija power forward [Devin Robinson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/) has earned his place in the All-EuroCup Second Team. Few big men have been as consistent this season as Robinson, who ranked 10th this season with 14.9 points per game, scoring in double figures in 17 of his 20 appearances, and in 11 of those he posted at least 15 points. Meanwhile, Robinson was coming up big on the boards, too. He posted a team-high 5.9 rebounds and had 13 games in which he pulled down at least 5 rebounds. All of that helped elevate Cedevita to its first winning season in three years and to the quarterfinals, while Robinson deservingly established himself as an All-EuroCup player with his consistent displays.

### Anthony Brown, Turk Telekom Ankara

[Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/)’s well-rounded skillset and scoring proficiency saw him named to the All-EuroCup Second Team for the second time in his career. Best known for his smooth shooting stroke, Brown led the EuroCup in three-pointers made, converting 2.7 per contest, while shooting a remarkable 45.8% from deep. He ranked third in the competition with 17.8 points per game. Brown consistently delivered clutch performances that propelled his team to success. His 39 points and PIR of 45 against Cluj were both season highs in the EuroCup. Brown's combination of experience and talent helped lead Turk Telekom into the postseason and, once there, he shined again with 20 points to lead his team to an eighthfinals victory over Buducnost and solidify himself among the top players of the 2024-25 season.

### Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Valencia Basket

Mr. Do It All for Valencia has made it to the All-EuroCup Second Team for the first time in his four-season EuroCup career. [Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/)’s 13.8 PIR average was the second highest on the team and is a good indicator of the positive – and consistent – way in which he affected games for his side. He was one of five Valencia to average double digits in scoring (10.4 ppg.), while he was also third on the team in rebounds (3.8 rpg.). The Spaniard netted 10 points or more 10 times in 12 games between Round 6 and the quarterfinals to ensure that Valencia locked up the one seed heading into the postseason, with Lopez-Arostegui having had a sizeable contribution on Valencia’s competition-leading offense and rebounding numbers.

The All-EuroCup First Team was announced earlier on Saturday

Check out the best plays of Round 33, and see who had the best of them!

Top 10 Plays | RS Round 33 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

 Check out the best plays of Round 33, and see who had the best of them!

Round 33: Top 10 plays

The 2025 BKT EuroCup Finals are fast approaching, but before a champion is decided, it's time to honor the players who have stood out during the 2024-25 season. The five players named to the All-EuroCup First Team, chosen by fans, media, head coaches, and team captains, are all first-time honorees and played key roles in leading their teams to the BKT EuroCup Playoffs: Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, Jean Montero of Valencia Basket, Johnathan Motley of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, Jaleen Smith of Bahcesehir College Istanbul and Mfiondu Kabengele of Umana Reyer Venice.

2024-25 BKT All-EuroCup First Team

The 2025 BKT EuroCup Finals are fast approaching, but before a champion is decided, it's time to honor the players who have stood out during the 2024-25 season. The five players named to the All-EuroCup First Team, chosen by fans, media, head coaches, and team captains, are all first-time honorees and played key roles in leading their teams to the BKT EuroCup Playoffs.

### Jared Harper, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem

[Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem had one of the best debut seasons in BKT EuroCup history, leading the competition in PIR (27.2) and scoring (22.8 ppg.), which has seen him earn a place in the All-EuroCup First Team. In addition to downing 40.9% of his three-point shots (38 of 93), Harper set a new record for most fouls drawn in a season with 142, while he was deadly from the free-throw line, hitting 174 of 199 attempts. Harper also ranked third in assists (5.7 apg.), leading Jerusalem to a second-place finish in Group B with a 11-7 record and a place in the quarterfinals. Harper scored at least 14 points in each and every game, reaching 30 three times and getting a season-high 35 against Turk Telekom Ankara.

### 

### Jean Montero, Valencia Basket

In the first full season in the competition [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/) has been named to the All-EuroCup First Team. The 21-year-old Montero starred for the offensive juggernaut called Valencia Basket, leading the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game, and he was tied for fifth on the season in assists averaging a team-high 5.3 dimes. But Montero was also a key contributor on the defensive end, ranking fourth in the EuroCup with 1.7 steals per game. Montero’s kept opposing defenses off balanced with his quickness, but also ability to hurt them by both making buckets and putting his teammates in scoring positions. He was one of the main reasons Valencia dominated with a regular-season best 16-2 record and reached the semifinals before being ousted by Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.

### 

### Johnathan Motley, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv

A force in Hapoel’s paint all season long, [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) certainly lived up to the preseason expectations and is a worthy member of the All-EuroCup First Team. Motley netted 11 or more points in 11 of his 14 regular-season appearances, including netting 20 or more on five occasions, while he grabbed 5 or more rebounds in eight regular-season games. The 29-year-old big man leads a finals-bound Hapoel in scoring and rebounding this season with 16.1 points and 5.0 boards per game, respectively, while he is second in average PIR with 19.0 per night. After a strong showing in the semifinals, where he posted 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists against a Valencia Basket side tipped by many to win it all, Motley is now going in search of his first EuroCup title.

### 

### Jaleen Smith, Bahcesehir College Istanbul

Putting his versatility on display throughout the season has earned [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) a spot in the All-EuroCup First Team. The guard played his first season in the competition and proved to be a difference-maker from the get-go, both as a scorer and a distributor. Smith’s production and savvy play were key factors in Bahcesehir’s success as it topped its regular-season group and went on to reach the EuroCup Semifinals. The 31-year-old combo averaged 12.4 points, the second most on the team, and also ranked fourth in the EuroCup this season with 5.5 assists per game, including a single-game season-high 15 assists in a win over Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. On the other end, Smith’s 1.1 steals – the second highest on the team – helped Bahecesehir confirm its status as the competition’s best defense.

### 

### Mfiondu Kabengele, Umana Reyer Venice

[Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) was a dominant force for Reyer throughout the 2024-25 EuroCup season. His blend of athleticism, scoring ability, and defensive prowess made him a cornerstone of Reyer's run to the eighthfinals. With averages of 15.4 points and a competition-best 9.7 rebounds per game, Kabengele showcased his ability to impact games on both ends of the floor, whether through powerful finishes, mid-range shooting, or shot-blocking. His energy and intensity set the tone for Reyer's frontcourt, making him a nightmare matchup for opposing teams. In his first full EuroCup season – Kabengele made two appearances for Reyer the season before – he recorded a PIR of at least 30 in five of his 18 games. He hauled in a EuroCup-best nine double-doubles and was second in the competition with an average PIR of 23.2.

The Rising Star and Coach of the Year have already been announced on Friday

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 33rd winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Greg Korkoliakos beat everyone else in Round 33 with his team 'Montreal3', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 263.35.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 33 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 33rd winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Greg Korkoliakos beat everyone else in Round 33 with his team 'Montreal3', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 263.35.

Greg had the following starting lineup: Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's Nigel Hayes Davies as team captain, then Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens's Kendrick Nunn, TJ Shorts of Paris Basketball, Carsen Edwards of FC Bayern Munich and Vincent Poirier of Anadolu Efes Istanbul. His sixth man was Nigel Williams-Goss of Olympiacos Piraeus. The rest of the bench consisted of Olympiacos's Alec Peters, Filip Petrusev of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, Wenyen Gabriel of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Melvin Ajinca of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. His team's head coach was Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz play-caller Pablo Laso.

The prize for finishing first in Round 33 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Greg!

Marko Djukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 5,674.44 points.

Trades are now open for Round 34. Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first game in Round 34 tips off on April 10, as ASVEL hosts AS Monaco and Bayern welcomes Fenerbahce, both games tipping off at 20:00 CET, 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. 

A strong finish to the EuroLeague regular season has propelled Anadolu Efes into the postseason picture and with one round to go, with the Turkish side downing another key team in the postseason race, KK Crvena zvezda.

Efes rolled on with another impressive road win

A strong finish to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season has propelled [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) into the postseason picture and with one round to go, the competition’s former champs have every chance of securing an automatic play-off berth.

Efes is on the verge of a top-six finish after [a dramatic 96-97 overtime win at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-beats-crvena-zvezda-96-97-to-boost-playoff-hopes/), the Turkish side’s seventh in a row ahead of the final regular-season clash at home to already eliminated Zalgiris Kaunas.

The spectacular see-saw battle in the Serbian capital produced everything a basketball fan could ask for. Audacious off-balance three-pointers from Zvezda’s [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) were countered by monster dunks by Efes big man [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/), who claimed the player of the game accolade as he came up big down the stretch.

Poirier, who racked up 14 points, 4 assists and 3 boards, was level-headed after an absorbing contest in which the lead kept changing hands time and again before Efes came out on top on the back of a 0-7 blitz in overtime.

“It was a great game, we stayed in it all the way and that’s always hard here with the fans getting behind their team,” Poirier said in his postgame comments. ”We knew it was going to be difficult so I am proud of the team and now there’s one more game to go until the end of the regular season.

“Defense was decisive tonight as we conceded 51 points in the first half but we improved in the second. We raked up a lot of rebounds and forced some turnovers and that was the key.”

Efes looks a different team under Italian head coach Luca Banchi, who heaped praise on both sides and lauded his team for staying strong in the face of adversity, having seen Zvezda wipe out a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit.

“Congratulations to both teams and it was amazing how Zvezda came back,” said Banchi. “They never gave up, while we approached the third quarter as a top team after trailing at halftime.”

“I am so proud of the team, especially how they reacted in overtime after the frustration of letting victory slip away from our grasp in regulation. Great focus, great energy coming from some key stops.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">📢 <a href="https://twitter.com/Migros_Turkiye?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Migros_Turkiye</a> ile Kızılyıldız karşılaşmamızın en iyisi Vincent Poirier!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Poirierile%C4%B0yisin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Poirierileİyisin</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MigrosHepimize%C4%B0yiGelecek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MigrosHepimizeİyiGelecek</a> <a href="https://t.co/JMkjqs3gXr">pic.twitter.com/JMkjqs3gXr</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1908255241914482891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite the loss, Zvezda was able to clinch a play-in berth, the club’s first postseason involvement since 2016. Having lost to Efes, Zvezda faced an anxious wait for the Italian derby result to go its way.

The outcome duly played into the Serbian team’s hands, as [Virtus Segafredo Bologna drubbed EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 90-70](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/virtus-dominates-italian-derby-90-70-eliminates-milan/) and condemned its perennial domestic rival to elimination from the business end of Europe’s premier club competition.

Zvezda’s head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos was pleased with his injury-hit team’s effort, as the Serbian outfit missed several key players. The shorthanded roster came close to forcing a final twist and was given a rousing send-off by its fervent 16,000 home crowd.   

Congratulations to the players,” Sfairopoulos said. “I am very proud how we performed as we played really hard despite having so many absentees.”

The Turkish giant got the better of Crvena Zvezda in a spectacular clash 

The picture looks a bit more rosy for Baskonia after six straight home wins, with a big summer awaiting coach Pablo Laso as he looks to make his side a postseason team once again.

Baskonia showing green shoots heading into next season

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) came into Round 33 knowing that it has zero chance of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague postseason, but coach Pablo Laso is already laying the groundwork for a bounce-back campaign next year.

The Baskonia players put on a show for the fans inside Buesa Arena on Friday night, romping away to [a dominant 36-point win (111-75) over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/baskonia-wipes-the-floor-with-asvel-111-75/). That margin of victory is tied for the fourth highest in club history.

What the triumph also meant was a sixth straight win at home. Baskonia started this run with impressive victories over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (91-77) and FC Barcelona (88-86) before downing Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (89-82) and Zalgiris Kaunas (66-65). Before downing ASVEL, its previous home game was another high-scoring affair as Baskonia poured in a season-high 112 points in a 112-89 win over playoff-chasing FC Bayern Munich.

One sign of a Baskonia team that is functioning well is how it performs at Buesa Arena, but things were not going the way of Coach Laso's squad earlier in the season. Amazingly, you have to go all the way back to Round 10, 11 home games ago, to find a time that Baskonia lost by more than one possession. So maybe this is just the law of averages.

Still, the Spanish play-caller was appointed by Baskonia in late June, at which point many players on the roster had already been signed or it was clear that they would not be moving. In that sense, Coach Laso has had to learn how to get the best out of his players... and the last two home wins over Bayern and ASVEL show that progress has been made on that end.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡Ya son 🔟 triunfos consecutivos en casa, baskonistas!<br><br>Nos dais 🔋🔋🔋<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/0RwzmesPAX">pic.twitter.com/0RwzmesPAX</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1908254306454614426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Heading into an important summer for Baskonia, it has everyone under contract apart from [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/), [Luka Samanic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luka-samanic/007579/) (he has an option for next year), [Sander Raieste](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sander-raieste/008850/) and [Ognjen Jaramaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ognjen-jaramaz/004058/). Retaining Moneke, in particular, will be priority number one for the Baskonia front office, but the good news is that Coach Laso has a much better feel for the roster than he did when he first arrived.

What has become clear is how important it is to have a fit and healthy [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/), particularly when he's on fire like he was against ASVEL with 25 points. The same could be said about captain [Tadas Sedekerskis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tadas-sedekerskis/007230/), whose team-first approach and calmness make Baskonia a better team. 

A pleasant surprise has to be the emergence of [Trent Forrest](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/trent-forrest/013367/) into a reliable EuroLeague guard, posting 13 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in Round 33. [Khalifa Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khalifa-diop/008072/) is reminding fans why he was the BKT EuroCup Rising Star as well, recording a career-high 3 blocks in the triumph over ASVEL. [Nikos Rogkavopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikolaos-rogkavopoulos/011085/) and [Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/), when both are locked in, are two important weapons for Baskonia, too.

A fourth season from five without postseason basketball is hardly what Baskonia fans would have wanted before the 2024-25 campaign started, but the team has shown green shoots of late and that has to be a positive for Coach Laso.

It has turned Buesa Arena into a fortress once again

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-04-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos BC returned to the top of the EuroLeague standings after a stellar performance by Alec Peters, who went a career-best 8 for 9 from downtown en route to a career-high 33 points.

Alec Peters thrived in Olympiacos’s enforced small-ball system at ALBA

Georgios Bartzokas saw his frontcourt options run out heading into [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/)'s Round 33 road game against ALBA Berlin. With both Moustapha Fall and Nikola Milutinov sidelined with injuries and Moses Wright having recently returned from long-term absence, [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) was assigned with the tough task to fill in by featuring at center position on Friday night.

Wright did start and netted 8 points in 13:47 on the floor, but it was Peters who carried the team on his shoulders. The Olympiacos forward helped the guests to stretch the floor and thrived in the chaos that was created in ALBA’s defense. Peters went a career-best 8 for 9 from deep, recording a career-high 33 points in just 24:32.

Yet, when asked about his sublime outing at Uber Arena after the game, he demonstrated why his mentality and work ethic have allowed him to compete at the highest level.

“It’s a great game – career high,” Peters told EuroLeague TV. “But I think what’s sticking with me is that I had like 0 rebounds. I know there’s going to be some people that’ll give me sh\*t about that. There’s always stuff to get improved on.”

Surprisingly, his PIR of 30 was not the highest for the visitors, with [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) pulling off another extraordinary performance as Olympiacos’s main floor manager in Thomas Walkup’s absence. The 30-year-old guard registered a season-high 22 points to go with 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals for a career-high PIR of 32.

More importantly, this win saw the Reds climb back to the top of the standings and end a three-game losing slide.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">📸 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Euroleague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Euroleague</a>, Round 33: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEROLY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BEROLY</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/2gu6Ks8GXK">pic.twitter.com/2gu6Ks8GXK</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1908267268414361799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I think we were kind of in a little bit of a funk after three losses,” Peters admitted. “It didn’t matter how we did it, we just needed to get it done. We needed to get the win to put us back in first place to control our destiny in the last game.

“It’s just kind of an energy boost for the team going into the playoffs. You’ve spent this whole season grinding, trying to be the best team, trying to show you’re the best team. Being first after the regular season I think is important for the club.”

A victory at home against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the last round of the campaign will be enough for Olympiacos to clinch the top seed for the second time in three seasons. 

Both Fall and Milutinov are expected to return to action next week, but Peters proved on Friday night that he can thrive in a small-ball lineup that offers Olympiacos an ace up its sleeve – a potential curveball for the Reds' opponents in the playoffs.

The forward featured at the ‘5’ to cover for the absences of Moustapha Fall and Nikola Milutinov

ALBA Berlin v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-04-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna dominated from start to finish, sinking the visiting EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 90-70 on Friday night. The win in the Italian derby improved Virtus to 9-24 ahead of the final round of the regular season, while this loss eliminated Milan, which dropped to a 16-17 record, from postseason contention.

Milan scored the first basket of the game, but that happened to be one of only two field goals in the first quarter, at the end of which Virtus led by double digits and never looked back. Matt Morgan led the scorers on the winning team with 16 points. Tornike Shengelia had 14 points, Will Clyburn and Ante Zizic scored 13 points apiece, while Nicola Akele had 10 points. Zach LeDay led Milan with 19 points, while Stefano Tonut and Giampaolo Ricci scored 10 apiece in the loss.

Freddie Gillespie opened the scoring with a dunk, but that was the only basket Milan scored in the opening 5 minutes. Meanwhile, Will Clyburn scored 7 points on the other end, including a transition triple, to help Virtus open a 9-2 lead. Milan made 5 free throws but no field goals, while Clyburn and Tornike Shengelia scored inside and Matt Morgan from the outside to open an 18-7 advantage. The visitors ended their drought with a put-back layup from Guglielmo Caruso, but Marco Belinelli’s buzzer-beating jumper made it 22-9 after 10 minutes.

Shavon Shields opened the second quarter by making a floater, but Shengelia hit a jumper and set up Momo Diouf for an easy dunk and a 15-point margin. Shengelia had 5 more points, including a triple to open 31-25, before Nikola Mirotic and LeDay hit a triple apiece and Shields drained a long jumper. A three-point play from LeDay cut the deficit to 37-27, but Morgan scored 5 points to end the half, including a three-pointer to make it 44-29 at halftime.

Akele scored 7 points in the first 3 minutes and 20 seconds of the third quarter, including a corner triple, to open a 53-32 margin. A triple from Daniel Hackett gave the hosts a 58-34 lead, before Mirotic, Tonut and Ousmane Diop got the visitors going. However, Isaia Cordinier’s triple helped the hosts take a 65-42 lead into the final quarter, during which the lead grew to 70-42 and 73-45 after a triple from Achille Polonara. Milan never got closer than 19 points the rest of the way.

In its home finale, Virtus registered its biggest home win of the season

Virtus dominates Italian derby, 90-70, eliminates Milan

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-04-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Baskonia guard Markus Howard spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat LDLC ASVEL in Round 33 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Markus Howard: 'We owe everything to our fans'

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz guard Markus Howard spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 33 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Anadolu Efes stretched its hot streak to seven successive wins with a thrilling 96-97 overtime road defeat of KK Crvena zvezda, making a big step towards securing a top-six finish and an automatic playoff berth in the EuroLeague.

Efes beats Crvena Zvezda, 96-97, to boost playoff hopes

Anadolu Efes Istanbul stretched its hot streak to seven successive wins with a thrilling 96-97 overtime road defeat of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, making a big step towards securing a top-six finish and an automatic playoff berth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Despite the loss, Zvezda was able to secure a play-in spot thanks to another result going its way, as EA7 Emporio Armani Milan lost any chance of overhauling the Serbian team after a 90-70 debacle at the hands of Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the Italian derby.

Efes improved to 19-14 ahead of the final round of games in the regular season while Zvezda slipped to 18-15 after a rip-roaring encounter at Belgrade Arena, with big man Vincent Poirier claiming the player of the game accolade on the back of 14 points, 3 boards and 4 assists.

Elijah Bryant paced Efes with 17 points and 8 rebounds, PJ Dozier added 13 points while Ercan Osmani netted 11 to go with 7 boards. Rodrigue Beaubois and Rolands Smits chipped in with 10 points each to underline a smooth team effort from Efes, as the Turkish side rallied from a 51-44 first-half deficit.

At the other end, Filip Petrusev scored 23 points and Isaiah Canaan netted 21 as Zvezda’s dynamic duo shined throughout, with Codi Miller-McIntyre and Nikola Kalinic both amassing 15 each for the Serbian outfit.

Miller-McIntyre generated Zvezda’s fast-paced start as he scored his team’s opening eight points which propelled the hosts into a 15-12 lead and Petrusev followed in his footsteps with a flurry of his own. Zvezda carved out a 24-16 advantage at the end of the first quarter as Petrusev sank 11 points and the high-scoring contest kept fans on their feet in the second, as both teams fired on all cylinders offensively.

Efes was able to turn the tide and nose ahead 36-40 midway through the second period but Canaan hit back with nine straight points, instigating an 11-0 run which enabled Zvezda to jump back into the driving seat at the interval.

The rollercoaster action continued in the third quarter as Rodrigue Beaubois took center stage for Efes, sinking 10 points to mastermind yet another change of momentum as the visitors went on a 4-20 run and took a commanding 55-64 lead. Zvezda replied with its own 9-2 streak, slashing the deficit ahead of the fourth quarter.  

Efes appeared to be in for plain sailing when it surged ahead 66-78 and was still firmly in control after Bryant hit a mid-range jumper to make it 78-85, but Zvezda had other ideas. Three-pointers from Kalinic and Canaan, who was unstoppable in the home stretch, had the hosts breathing down the visitors’ necks again and Yago dos Santos then forced overtime with an audacious coast-to-coast drive to the basket.

A Petrusev dunk gave Zvezda the lead at the start of overtime, 90-88, but Shane Larkin and particularly Vincent Poirier came back with a vengeance to turn the tables once again, as Efes carried a 93-97 advantage into the final minute of the absorbing clash.

There was still time for late drama, though, as Canaan hit another triple to haul Zvezda back and after Efes squandered its final possession, Miller-McIntyre came up short with a tough mid-range shot on the buzzer as the hosts failed to force a final twist.

The former champs ground out a dramatic overtime victory to keep alive their top-six challenge

Top 10 Plays | RS Round 33 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Markus Howard: 'We owe everything to our fans'

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague