Name: Top 5 Plays | Semifinals Game 2 | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Panathinaikos is looking to bounce back from last week’s home loss to Paris, and will focus on improved defense after allowing 101 points in that game. A great offensive showdown will take place between two of the competition’s biggest stars as [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) takes on [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), while the frontcourt will see fit-again [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/omer-yurtseven/005353/) attempt to tame the threat of [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/). Monaco has already beaten the reigning champ once this season, winning 88-91 on the road in November in Vassilis Spanoulis’s first game in charge, and opposing coach Ergin Ataman will know that stopping James’s distribution is vital after he dished 10 assists in that game.

### AS Monaco

 

**Streaks**

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

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

James has had a PIR of 12 or more in seven of his last eight games.

James has had at least 1 steal in six of his last seven games.

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

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

Jordan Loyd has made at least 1 three-point shot in 12 of his last 13 games.

Georgios Papagiannis has made 15 consecutive free throws.

Nick Calathes has recorded at least 1 steal in six of his last seven games.

 

**Season rankings**

Mike James ranks ninth scoring with 15.9 points per game.

James ranks fourth in assists with 5.7 per game.

Alpha Diallo ranks fifth in steals with 1.2 per game.

Georgios Papagiannis ranks second in blocks with 1.4 per game.

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

Monaco has forced a league-high 13.7 turnovers per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Mike James is the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer with 5,133 career points.

James is second all-time with 5,279 index rating points. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is first with a PIR of 5,448 and counting.

James is in third place all-time in free throws made with 1,130. His head coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, is second with 1,131.

James is seventh in place all-time with 1,466 career assists. Milos Teodosic of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade is fifth with 1,491 assists and counting.

James ranks seventh all-time with 591 three-pointers made. Rudy Fernandez is sixth with 594 triples.

James is fifth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,115. Ante Tomic is fourth with 1,137.

James is ranked ninth all-time with 321 career steals. He needs 1 more to tie Pablo Prigioni for eighth place.

Nick Calathes is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in assists with 2,128.

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

Calathes is the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in steals with 458.

Calathes ranks second all-time in games started with 317, behind only Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus, who has 332 and counting.

Calathes ranks eighth all-time with a 2.7-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Calathes is tied with Kyle Hines for seventh place all-time 4,299 with performance index rating points. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milano is sixth with 4,797 and counting.

Calathes is ranked 16th all-time in scoring with 3,282 points. Will Clyburn of Virtus Segafredo Bologna is 15th with 3,318 points and counting.

Georgios Papagiannis is in fourth place 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.

Game Videos

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

 

**Streaks**

Kendrick Nunn has made at least 1 three-point shot in 37 straight games.

Nunn has scored 17 or more points in nine of his last 10 games.

Juancho Hernangomez has had a PIR of 12 or more in 14 straight games.

Hernangomez has pulled down 6 or more rebounds in 14 straight games.

Kostas Sloukas has at least 1 steal in 11 of his last 12 games.

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

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

Omer Yurtseven has scored in double figures in four straight games.

 

**Season rankings**

Kendrick Nunn leads the league scoring with 20.3 points per game.

Mathias Lessort ranks fifth in average index rating with 20.5 per game.

Nunn ranks seventh in average index rating with 19.1 per game.

Nunn ranks second in three-pointers made with 2.9 per game.

Lessort ranks third in two-point shooting at 74.1%.

Lessort ranks third in rebounding with 7.1 per game.

Juancho Hernangomez ranks fifth in rebounding with 6.5 per game.

Lessort ranks second in offensive rebounding with 2.8 per game.

Wenyen Gabriel ranks ninth in offensive rebounding with 2.1 per game.

Gabriel ranks third in blocks with 1.2 per game.

Kostas Sloukas ranks ninth in assists with 4.9 per game.

Sloukas ranks fifth in free-throw shooting at 93.3%.

Panathinaikos ranks second in the league in average PIR with 104.1 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in scoring with 87.7 points per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in defensive rebounding with 24.2 per game.

Panathinaikos has allowed 9.8 offensive rebounds per game, the third-lowest this season.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Kostas Sloukas is in third place all-time with 418 games played.

Sloukas ranks third all-time with 1,852 assists. Sergio Rodriguez is second with 1,874.

Sloukas is in fourth place all-time with 992 free throws made. Mike James of AS Monaco is third with 1,130 and counting.

Sloukas is eighth all-time with 3,992 career points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is seventh with 4,028, and Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,040 points and counting.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 4,987 index rating points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is third with 5,099 and counting.

Sloukas is 12th all-time with 504 three-point shots made. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is 11th with 508 and counting, and Rodrigue Beaubois of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is 10th with 511 and counting.

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

Sloukas ranks 16th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.0%.

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 228 career blocks. Alex Tyus is sixth with 238.

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

Pleiss is ranked 15th all-time with 1,399 rebounds. Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos is 14th with 1,414 and counting.

Grigonis needs 4 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Jerian Grant is the all-time leader with a 3.1-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Grant needs 5 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Game News

A big battle between the two teams currently tied for third place will see Monaco (20-12) host Panathinaikos (20-12), with a top four finish guaranteed for the winner. 

Game Facts: Monaco vs. Panathinaikos

AS Monaco v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-04-03T17:00:00.000Z)

\- Monaco won 89-91 in Athens in Round 12 in the first EuroLeague game on the bench for Coach Vassilis Spanoulis. Monaco dished a club-record 26 assists in that game.

\- Monaco forward Alpha Diallo set his career high in PIR with 35 and tied his career-best with 24 points against Panathinaikos in Round 12.

\- During his legendary playing career, Monaco head of bench Vassilis Spanoulis spent four seasons with Panathinaikos – the 2005-06 season and from 2007 through 2010 – before he joined archrival Olympiacos. Spanoulis helped Panathinaikos win the 2009 EuroLeague, four Greek championships and three Greek Cups.

\- Spanoulis and Panathinaikos guard Kostas Sloukas were teammates at Olympiacos from 2011 to 2015 and again in the 2020-21 season. Together they won EuroLeague championships in 2012 and 2013. The two have also been teammates on the Greek national team.

\- Panathinaikos players Ioannis Papapetrou, Dimitris Moraitis, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis and Konstantinos Mitoglou have all played under Coach Spanoulis on the Greek national team.

\- Panathinaikos crushed Monaco 88-63 last season in Athens with Mathias Lessort scoring 23 points to earn MVP of the Round honors with a career-high PIR of 42.

\- Panathinaikos beat Monaco 90-91 on the road last season on a buzzer-beating triple from Marius Grigonis.

\- In October 2022 in Athens, Monaco beat Panathinaikos 80-83 behind 27 points from Mike James who earned co-MVP of the Round honors with a PIR of 29.

\- In the 2021-22 season, Monaco beat Panathinaikos in Athens 83-91 behind 29 points from James.

\- James played for Panathinaikos for two seasons from 2016 to 2018. He helped the team to back-to-back Greek League championships and a Greek Cup in that time. He was a teammate of Konstantinos Mitoglou in the 2017-18 campaign.

\- James set his career-high with 9 rebounds playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz against Panathinaikos in the 2016 EuroLeague Playoffs.

\- Monaco guard Nick Calathes spent eight seasons with Panathinaikos over two stints - from 2009 to 2012, and from 2015 until 2020. Calathes helped the Greens win the EuroLeague in 2011 and set a series of assist records in the Greens' uniform.

\- During his time at Panathinaikos, Calathes was a teammate of current Greens of Ioannis Papapetrou and Konstantinos Mitoglou.

\- Monaco big man Georgios Papagiannis played for Panathinaikos for five years after re-joining the club in 2018 and stayed there until the summer of 2023. That was his second stint with the club; he first joined Panathinaikos in 2014 and played two seasons there.

\- During his time at Panathinaikos, Papagiannis was a teammate of current Greens Kalaitzakis, Marius Grigonis, Papapetrou and Mitoglou.

\- Calathes and Papagiannis have been teammates of Papapetrou, Mitoglou, Moraitis and Kalaitzakis on the Greek national team.

\- Panathinaikos center Mathias Lessort spent the 2020-21 season with Monaco. Lessort was voted to the All-EuroCup First Team and helped Monaco win the EuroCup.

\- Lessort and Monaco's Matthew Strazel won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics with the French national team.

\- Monaco's Terry Tarpey and Elie Okobo have also been teammates of Lessort on the French national team.

\- Monaco guard Elie Okobo shined in October 2021 in Athens, playing for LDLV ASVEL Villeurbanne against Panathinaikos and leading ASVEL to a 70-84 win by scoring a career-best and a club record 35 points, making a career-high 5 three-pointers and 8 two-pointers, and had a personal-best PIR of 37, to earning MVP of the Round honors.

\- Monaco's Jordan Loyd posted a career-high PIR of 41 playing for Valencia Basket in Athens against Panathinaikos in November 2019.

\- Monaco center Mam Jaiteh scored a career-high 20 points playing for Virtus Segafredo Bologna against Panathinaikos in November 2022.

Game Notes: Monaco vs. Panathinaikos

The Serbian team knows that even winning both its last two games might not be enough to make the play-in, and needs to snap a three-game losing streak on the road. The most recent of those came at Bayern on Thursday despite [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/)’s third double-double of the season (19 points and 10 assists). His backcourt duel with the in-form [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) (19 points and 8 assists at ASVEL last week) will be a highlight. Zalgiris’s season has run out of steam with four losses out of five, and Andrea Trinchieri will be eager to recover his team’s usual defensive meanness after allowing more than 80 points in each of the last four games.

### Zalgiris Kaunas

 

**Streaks**

Sylvain Francisco has made at least 1 three-pointer in 20 straight games.

Arnas Butkevicius has had at least 1 steal in six of his last seven games.

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

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

 

**Season rankings**

Sylvain Francisco ranks ninth in three-pointers made with 2.3 per game.

Zalgiris ranks last in the league in scoring with 77.7 points per game.

Zalgiris has averaged a league-low 15.4 assists per game.

Zalgiris has made a league-low 52.0% of its two-point shots.

Zalgiris's defense has allowed a league-low 79.1 points per game.

Zalgiris's defense has held opponents to a league-low 32.2% three-point shooting.

Zalgiris's defense has held opponents to 53.5% shooting on two-pointers, which is third-lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Bryant Dunston ranks second all-time with 361 blocked shots. Walter Tavares of Real Madrid is the all-time leader with 469 and counting.

Dunston ranks eighth all-time with 1,587 rebounds. Ioannis Bourousis is seventh with 1,603.

Dunston ranks fourth all-time with 669 career offensive rebounds. Tavares is third with 695 and counting.

Dunston is in eighth place all-time with 1,051 two-pointers made. Tornike Shengelia of Virtus Segafredo Bologna is seventh with 1,054 two-point makes and counting.

Dunston is ranked 16th all-time with 275 career steals. Shane Larkin and Thomas Walkup are tied for 14th with 279 apiece and counting.

Edgaras Ulanovas ranks fourth all-time with 271 games started. His former teammate Paulius Jankunas is third with 283 starts.

Arnas Butkevicius needs 3 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Alen Smailagic ranks 15th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.6%.

Dovydas Giedraitis needs 5 assists to reach 100 for his career.

Ignas Brazdeikis needs 5 assists to reach 100 for his career.

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

 

**Streaks**

Tyrique Jones has had a PIR of 10 or more in seven of his last eight games.

Isaac Bonga has made at least 1 three-pointer in seven straight games.

Isaac Bonga has had a PIR of 10 or more in six of his last seven games.

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

 

**Season rankings**

Carlik Jones ranks sixth in assists with 5.4 per game.

Tyrique Jones ranks 10th in rebounding with 6.0 per game.

Tyrique Jones ranks third in offensive rebounding with 2.8 per game.

Aleksej Pokusevski ranks seventh in blocks with 1.0 per game.

Sterling Brown ranks seventh in free-throw shooting at 92.9%.

Isaac Bonga ranks eighth in free-throw shooting at 92.7%.

Brandon Davies ranks third in three-point shooting at 49.1%.

Brown ranks fifth in three-point shooting at 47.2%.

Partizan has committed the third-fewest turnovers with 10.9 per game.

Partizan leads the league in steals with 7.4 per game.

Partizan's defense has allowed 80.1 points per game, whc is the third-fewest in the league.

Partizan has forced 13.1 turnovers, the third-most in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Brandon Davies needs 6 more two-point baskets to reach 1,000 for his career.

Iffe Lundberg needs 15 assists to reach 300 for his career.

A week after seeing its own postseason hopes ended, Zalgiris (14-18) will attempt to derail Partizan’s (16-16) ambitions in Kaunas. 

Game Facts: Zalgiris vs. Partizan

Zalgiris Kaunas v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-04-03T17:00:00.000Z)

\- Partizan has won its last six head-to-head games against Zalgiris, each game by a margin of at least 6 points.

\- Partizan beat Zalgiris 84-78 in Round 13 as Frank Ntilikina posted his career highs in points (15) and PIR (20), while Carlik Jones tied his personal best with a club-record 10 assists.

\- Zalgiris big man Alan Smailagic spent the last three seasons with Partizan. He played under Coach Zeljko Obradovic and was a teammate of Balsa Koprivica.

\- Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri was in charge of the Partizan bench for two seasons, from 2018 to 2020. He led the team to a pair of Serbian Cup triumphs. Partizan's Vanja Marinkovic played under Trinchieri during that spell.

\- Partizan center Brandon Davies spent two seasons with Zalgiris, with which he made his EuroLeague debut and helped the team reach the 2018 Final Four. Davies was there from 2017 to 2019 and earned an All-EuroLeague First Team selection in 2019. Davies was also a teammate of Ulanovas and Birutis.

\- Zalgiris guard Sylvain Francisco and Partizan forward Isaac Bonga were teammates at FC Bayern Munich last season.

\- Partizan guard Iffe Lundberg and Zalgiris center Bryant Dunston were teammates at Virtus Segafredo Bologna last season.

\- Partizan center Tyrique Jones tied his career high with 3 blocks against Zalgiris in Round 13.

\- Sylvain Francisco grabbed a career-high 6 rebounds in Round 13 against Partizan.

\- Zalgiris center Alen Smailagic tied his career high with 6 rebounds against Partizan in Round 13.

\- Partizan's Isaac Bonga had a personal-best 4 steals playing for FC Bayern Munich in a road loss against Zalgiris last season.

\- Zalgiris forward Arnas Butkevicius posted his career high in steals with 4 in a road loss against Partizan in October 2022.

A week after seeing its own postseason hopes ended, Zalgiris (14-18) will attempt to derail Partizan’s (16-16) ambitions in Kaunas.

Game Notes: Zalgiris vs. Partizan

Let's look at the most efficient scorers in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season since January 1, 2025 among players using at least 9 possessions per game.

Stats review: Who have been 2025's most reliable scorers?

With two rounds remaining, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season is nearing its conclusion. Only two teams have locked up their playoff qualification and there are a dozen teams still vying for a chance to advance to the next phase... And every team currently in the postseason picture is still competing for important seeding, so momentum at this juncture of the season is incredibly valuable.

The contributions of the players above have been critical to their team’s performances down the stretch. The table lists the most efficient scorers since January 1st among players using at least 9 possessions per game.

The intrigue at the top here aligns with the ongoing battle at the top of the standings. Despite the efforts of [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/), who has held one of the top spots on every version of the list in all of his recent EuroLeague campaigns, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) leapfrogged [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in Round 32 to rise into first place with two games remaining. [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/) has had a lot to do with that. The 37-year-old did not join Fenerbahce until January and, amid a few quiet nights, has shot the lights out off the bench on numerous occasions late in the year. Like [Marko Guduric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marko-guduric/004004/) further down this list, he gives that offense another X-factor who can run extremely hot offensively. With very little decided in the Play-In Showdown qualification spots, what the difference between the top two seeds means in the short term is difficult to say, but there’s pride and Final Four seeding on the line for the league’s current leaders.

After finishing 2024 at 9-9, [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) has gone 9-5 in 2025 while gaining important ground on several teams around them in the standings for tie-breaker purposes. [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/)’s sudden rise as a knockdown shooter has been an important factor in that turnaround.  After a mini-slump that saw him shoot only 15% from beyond the arc in November, Brizuela has shot 53% from three ever since - a big reason why Barcelona now leads the EuroLeague in bench scoring.

[Sterling Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sterling-brown/012720/)’s placement here is not especially surprising - he’s been one of this season’s most opportunistic three-point shooters while finishing at a 73% clip on the interior.  The same goes for [Nikos Rogkavopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikolaos-rogkavopoulos/011085/) who has made more jump shots over closeouts than anyone on the year.

[Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) and [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) were both in-season pickups for [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) who have both filled significant roles in their late-season battle for home-court advantage in the playoffs. While Loyd’s scoring chops are well-established, Theis last played in the EuroLeague during the 2016-17 campaign. He’s quickly solidified himself as one of the league’s most effective roll men nonetheless.

[Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/) is another player who has returned to the EuroLeague for the first time since the 2016-17 season and while he got off to a modest start, he has starred at times in 2025 for the defending champions.  While [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) is in good shape to secure home-court advantage in the quarterfinals, currently sitting in third place, perhaps the wildest fact of the second half of the season is that they still are technically not assured a spot in the postseason with two games remaining.

[Shabazz Napier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shabazz-napier/011224/) started the season on fire, cooled off mid-year, and then picked his level of play back up in time to keep [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) on the edge of the top four. Napier creates separation for his jumper at a high level and has been very tough to guard when his jumper is falling on top of that.

Whether this group keeps things going through the final two weeks is a point of interest as there’s still a staggering amount on the line with the season winding down.

The most-efficient players in the league have had big roles in their teams' success 

Stats review: Who have been 2025's most reliable scorers? 

The Turkish team has already secured a top-four finish, and coach Saras Jasikevicius along with his players [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/) and [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) will now attempt to harm the playoff ambitions of their former team. Revenge is also in the air after Barca’s crushing 90-63 victory over Fener in December, led by 25 points from the always dangerous [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/). Jasikevicius’s men have a perfect 8-0 home record in 2025, helped by Hayes-Davis netting 19 and 17 points in last week's wins over Paris and Baskonia, and the hosts will look to take its current strong form into the playoffs against an injury-hit opponent which is currently locked in a five-way tie for sixth place.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

Nigel Hayes-Davis has made at least 1 triple in 37 straight games.

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

Hayes-Davis has made 27 consecutive free throws.

Errick McCollum has made 31 consecutive free throws.

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

McCollum has scored at least 10 points and had a double-digit PIR in four of his last five games.

 

**Season rankings**

Nigel Hayes-Davis ranks eighth scoring with 16.5 points per game.

Hayes-Davis ranks sixth in three-pointers made with 2.4 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in free-throw shooting at 81.9% points.

Fenerbahce ranks second in rebounding with 35.8 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in offensive rebounding with 12.0 per game.

Fenerbahce ranks third in defensive rebounding with 23.8 per game.

Fenerbahce has held opponents to 9.6 offensive rebounds, which is the second-lowest 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 1,619. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fifth with 1,774 and counting.

Melli is in second place all-time in defensive rebounds with 1,208. Paulius Jankunas is the all-time leader with 1,453 defensive rebounds.

Melli needs 1 blocked shot to tie Victor Khryapa for 15th place all-time. He enters this week's games with 160 career blocks.

Melli needs 6 assists to reach 500 for his career.

Melli and Scottie Wilbekin are tied in 12th place with 282 steals apiece. Kyle Hines is 11th with 287.

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

Dyshawn Pierre needs 18 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

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

Devon Hall needs 6 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Hall needs 14 rebounds to reach 300 for his career.

### FC Barcelona

 

**Streaks**

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

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

Punter has scored in double figures in 16 of his last 17 games.

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

Dario Brizuela has made at least 1 three-pointer in 18 of his last 19 games.

 

**Season rankings**

Kevin Punter ranks sixth scoring with 17.1 points per game.

Punter ranks fourth in free-throw shooting at 93.6%.

Punter ranks 10th in three-pointers made with 2.2 per game.

Punter ranks third in steals with 1.2 per game.

Jan Vesely is tied for 10th in steals with 1.1 per game.

Tomas Satoransky ranks seventh in assists with 5.1 per game.

Youssoupha Fall ranks sixth in two-point shooting at 71.2%.

Dario Brizuela ranks seventh in three-point shooting at 45.5%.

Barcelona ranks first in scoring with 88.2 points per game.

Barcelona ranks second in assists with 20.0 per game.

Barcelona ranks second in steals with 7.3 per game.

Barcelona ranks first in three-point shooting at 39.1%.

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

 

**Records/Milestones**

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

Jan Vesely is the all-time leader in two-pointers made with 1,564.

Vesely ranks third all-time with 5,099 index rating points. Mike James of AS Monaco is second with 5,279 and counting.

Vesely is seventh all-time with 4,028 points scored. Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is sixth with 4,040 and counting.

Vesely ranks fourth all-time with 365 steals. Rudy Fernandez is third with 367 steals.

Vesely ranks fifth all-time with 1,774 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 669 and counting.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 216 blocks. Tibor Pleiss of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is seventh with 228 and counting.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 789 free throws made. Juan Carlos Navarro is seventh with 853.

Kevin Punter ranks 10th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.3%.

Youssoupha Fall ranks 12th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.1%.

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

Alex Abrines needs 8 rebounds to reach 500 for his career.

In a Wednesday tipoff, Fenerbahce (22-10) will try to maintain first place in the standings against a Barcelona (18-14) side with an even greater need of victory.

Game Facts: Fenerbahce vs. Barcelona

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v FC Barcelona (2025-04-02T17:45:00.000Z)

\- Barcelona thrashed Fenerbahce 90-63 in Round 16 with Justin Anderson scoring a personal-best 18 points.

\- Fenerbahce head coach Saruans Jasikevicus coached Barcelona for three seasons, from 2020 to 2023, and made Final Four appearances in each of those seasons, including the 2021 championship game. Jasikevicius also played at Barcelona for three seasons at the turn of the century and helped the club win the 2003 EuroLeague.

\- When Barcelona beat Fenerbahce 89-81 on its home floor last season, Willy Hernangomez scored 21 points and made a career-high 10 two-pointers.

\- Barcelona blew out Fenerbahce 97-55 at Palau Blaugrana in November 2020 with Coach Jasikevicius on its bench. That marked Fenerbahce's second-biggest loss ever in terms of margin of defeat in the EuroLeague.

\- During its three seasons with Jasikevicius on the bench, Barcelona won five of its six games against Fenerbahce.

\- Fenerbahce center Sertac Sanli spent two seasons with Barcelona, from 2021 to 2023, and helped the team reach a pair of EuroLeague Final Fours.

\- Barcelona center Jan Vesely spent eight seasons at Fenerbahce, from 2014 to 2022, helping the team reach five EuroLeague Final Fours and win the 2017 EuroLeague title.

\- Vesely was a teammate of Melih Mahumutoglu, Marko Guduric, Dyshawn Pierre, Metecan Birsen and Tarik Biberovic during his time with Fenerbahce.

\- Fenerbahce forward Nigel Hayes-Davis played at Barcelona in the 2021-22 season and helped it reach the Final Four.

\- Barcelona's Kevin Punter and Fenerbahce's Wade Baldwin were backcourt mates at Olympiacos during the first part of the 2019-20 season.

\- Baldwin won MVP of the Round honors after accumulating a PIR of 41 while playing for FC Bayern Munich against Barcelona in December 2020.

\- Baldwin made a career-high 10 two-pointers while playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a loss against Barcelona last April.

\- Barcelona forward Jabari Parker grabbed a career-high 3 steals in Round 16 against Fenerbahce.

\- Nigel Hayes-Davis posted a career-high 5 seals in Fenerbahce's 88-74 win over Barcelona last March.

\- Barcelona beat Fenerbahce 88-67 at home in March 2022  behind Alex Abrines, who shot a career-best 6-for-7 from three-point range, scoring 18 points.

\- Sertac Sanli recorded a career-high 8 rebounds while playing for Anadolu Efes Istanbul in a win against Barcelona.

In a Wednesday tipoff, Fenerbahce (22-10) will try to maintain first place in the standings against a Barcelona (18-14) side with an even greater need of victory. 

Game Notes: Fenerbahce vs. Barcelona

Hapoel will probably need to reach similar levels of offensive production again to overcome a Valencia team which has surpassed 90 points in seven of its last eight games, and won the series opener at home 91-82.

Pedro Martinez can call upon scoring threat from all over the court with five different players averaging double-digits in points for the season, led by exciting guard [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/) (12.9 points per game) and experienced forward [Semi Ojeleye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) (11.6 PPG), who has so far failed to score in this series after receiving limited minutes due to injury and will be determined to make his mark if fitness allows.

Hapoel’s success in Game 2 was spearheaded by a huge performance from star center [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), who combined 26 points with 8 rebounds. Motley converted 9 of his 12 free-throw attempts during that game, so Valencia paint patrollers [Jaime Pradilla](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaime-pradilla/010393/) and [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-costello/010444/) will be keen to limit his effectiveness.

Another major influence on Friday’s game was Hapoel guard [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) with 21 points – including 4-of-5 three-pointers – and 9 assists. Crucially, Madar also snared 4 steals as Valencia’s backcourt trio of Montero, [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-jones/010568/) and [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) combined for 8 turnovers. And if Dimitris Itoudis’s team can put similar pressure on the ball again on Wednesday, a road victory may well be within reach.

GAME NOTES

\- Valencia beat Hapoel 91-82 in Game 1, which was the first-ever meeting between these clubs in the EuroCup.

\- Johnathan Motley, Antonio Blakeney and Yam Madar combined for 69 in Game 2 as Hapoel evened the series with a 96-91 victory.

\- Valencia guard Chris Jones was a teammate of Hapoel forward Oz Blayzer during the 2020-21 season at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

\- Hapoel assistant coach Stefanos Dedas was the head coach at Israeli side Hapoel Holon when Nate Sestina played there at the tail end of the 2020-21 season.

GAME FACTS

### Valencia Basket

**Streaks**

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

Montero has posted double-digit PIRs in seven straight games.

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

Montero has collected at least 1 steal in 10 of his last 11 games.

Montero has made 12 consecutive free throws.

Nate Sestina has made at least 1 three-point shot in 11 of his last 12 games.

 

**Player Records against Opponent**

Jean Montero scored a career-high 24 points for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.

Montero made a career high 6 two-pointers for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.

Montero played a career-high 27:35 minutes for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.

Nate Sestina grabbed a career-high 7 defensive rebounds for Turk Telekom Ankara against Hapoel on October 26, 2022.

Brancou Badio made a career-high 5 free throws for Valencia against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.

Nate Reuvers matched his career high in scoring with 12 points in Valencia’s Game 1 win over Hapoel.

 

**Team Record**

Valencia blocked a season-high 6 shots against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.

Valencia made a season-high 30 two-pointers against Hapoel in Game 1 of this series.

 

**Season Rankings**

Jaime Pradilla is ninth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 4.2 defensive rebounds per game.

Pradilla is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in True Shooting Percentage at 75.5%.

Stefan Jovic is sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 5.23 assists per game. Montero is seventh with 5.18.

Jovic is second among qualified EuroCup players this season in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.9.

Montero is third among qualified EuroCup players this season with 1.8 steals per game.

Nathan Reuvers is sixth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 1.2 blocks per game.

Reuvers is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in two-point shooting at 72.6%. Matthew Costello is tied for sixth at 70.8%.

Semi Ojeleye is ninth among qualified EuroCup players with 2.1 three-pointers made per game.

 

**All-time Rankings**

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts in free-throw shooting at 89.3%.

Stefan Jovic is ranked second on the all-time EuroCup charts in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.0.

 

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv

**Streaks**

Johnathan Motley has posted a PIR in double figures in 12 of his last 13 games.

Motley has scored 12 or more points in six of his last seven games.

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

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

Yam Madar has had PIRs of 11 or more in 12 straight games.

Madar has scored in double figures in eight straight games.

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

 

**Player Records against Opponent**

Ish Wainright grabbed a career-high 6 defensive rebounds against Valencia in Game 1 of this series.

Marcus Bingham blocked a career-high 3 shots against Valencia in Game 1 of this series.

Yam Madar grabbed a season-high 8 rebounds, which matches his career high, in Hapoel’s Game 1 defeat to Valencia.

Madar dished a career-high 9 assists against Valencia in Game 2 of this series.

Madar collected a career-high 4 steals against Valencia in Game 2 of this series.

Tomer Ginat grabbed a career-high 8 defensive rebounds against Valencia in Game 2 of this series.

 

**Season Rankings**

Yam Madar is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in PIR with 19.9 per game. Motley is sixth with 19.4 per game.

Madar is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season with 4.6 free throws per game.

Yam Madar is third among qualified EuroCup players this season in three-point accuracy at 54.3%.

Johnathan Motley is ranked fourth among qualified EuroCup players this season in scoring with 16.6 points per game.

Motley leads the EuroCup in two-pointers made per game this season at 6.0.

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

A predictably high-scoring series will be decided in Valencia after a 96-91 home victory allowed Hapoel to make it 1-1 on Friday night.

Game Notes and Facts: Valencia vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv

Valencia Basket v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-04-02T18:30:00.000Z)

That dramatic moment gave Gran Canaria a 69-68 victory after Bahcesehir had taken the opener 74-66, and Wednesday night’s decider is likely to be another low-scoring battle between two teams whose identity is built around strong defense – as shown by the fact that Bahcesehir boasts the best defense in the EuroCup with just 74.3 points allowed per game, while Gran Canaria is ranked second with 76.2 points conceded.

Offensively, Gran Canaria enjoyed a very productive night close to the basket in Game 2, converting 20 of its 32 two-point attempts (62.5%) led by [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) with 4 of 6 (18 points total) and [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/) with 4 of 5 (11 points total). If that kind of effectiveness can be maintained and supplemented by better outside shooting, after the Spanish team shot just 5 triples on Friday, Jaka Lakovic’s men will be well-placed to reach their second final in three years.

For Bahcesehir, Game 2 was an offensive struggle with just 21 of 54 field goals converted (38.9%), and nobody scoring more than the 12 points mustered by [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/). But the Turkish team has a perfect 11 out of 11 record at home this season, and the experience of coach Dejan Radonjic along with players such as playmaker [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) and multipurpose forward [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) will provide plenty of self-belief.

GAME NOTES

\- Gran Canaria outlasted Bahcesehir 66-63 when they met in Round 3 in what was the first-ever game between the sides. Nico Brussino led the way with a season-high 17 points.

\- Bahcesehir was a 73-65 winner in Round 12 behind 16 points from Tai Odiase and a Tyler Cavanaugh double-double.

\- Bahcesehir took Game 1 in this semifinal series 74-66, with Marko Simonovic netting 20 points and Axel Bouteille pouring in 15.

\- Gran Canria evened the series with a 69-68 Game 2 victory on Caleb Homesley’s game-winning three-point play in the closing seconds. Nicolas Brussino scored a game-high 18 points for the winners.  

\- Gran Canaria center Mike Tobey was a teammate of Bahcesehir players Tai Odiase and Mateusz Ponitka at Tenerife during the 2017-18 season.

\- Gran Canaria guard Andrew Albicy was a teammate of Bahcesehir forward Mateusz Ponitka at Zenit St Petersburg during the 2019-20 season.

GAME FACTS

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul

**Streaks**

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

CJ Massinburg has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine straight games.

Tyler Cavanaugh has made at least 1 three-pointer in nine of his last 10 games.

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

Marko Simonovic has made 10 consecutive free throws.

**Player Records against Opponent**

Marko Simonovic posted his career high in Index Rating with 29 for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in Game 1 of this series.

Simonovic scored a career high 20 points for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in Game 1 of this series.

Simonovic tied his career-high 3 steals for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in Game 1 of this series. He also had 3 steals for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in October 2024 and for Besiktas against Gran Canaria in March 2024

Simonovic made a career-high 7 two-pointers for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in Game 1 of this series.

Simonovic grabbed a career-high 6 offensive rebounds for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in Game 1 of this series.

Simonovic grabbed a career-high 9 rebounds for Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul against Gran Canaria in March 2024.

Tyler Cavanaugh made a career-high 5 free throws for Bahcesehir against Gran Canaria in December 2024.

Axel Bouteille made a career high 5 three-pointers 5 for Turk Telekom Ankara against Gran Canaria in May 2023.

**Team Record**

Bahcesehir collected a season-high 20 offensive rebounds against Gran Canaria in Game 1 of this series.

Bahcesehir collected a season-high 10 steals against Gran Canaria on October 9, 2024.

**Season Rankings**

Tyler Cavanaugh is ranked sixth among qualified players this season with 6.3 rebounds per game.

Cavanaugh is fifth among qualified players with 4.6 defensive rebounds per game.

Tai Odiase is ranked fifth among qualified players this season with 2.4 offensive rebounds per game.

Odiase is ranked ninth among qualified players this season with 1.0 blocks per game.

Odiase is ranked eighth among qualified players this season with 4.5 two-pointers per game.

Jaleen Smith is ranked fourth among qualified players this season with 5.7 assists per game.

**All-time Rankings**

Axel Bouteille is ranked seventh on the all-time EuroCup charts with 462 field goals made for his career.

Bouteille is ranked 14th on the all-time charts with 1,200 points scored. Gediminas Orelik of U-BT Cluj-Napoca is 13th with 1,205 and Sammy Mejia is 12th with 1,214.

Bouteille is ranked 15th in career three-pointers made with 170. Todor Stoykov and Jaka Blazic are tied for 13th place with 171 career triples.

Tai Odiase is tied with Ksistof Lavrinovic for 18 place on the all-time charts with 61 blocked shots. D’Or Fischer, Alpha Kaba and Vladimir Veremeenko are tied for 15th with 63 blocks each.

### Dreamland Gran Canaria

**Streaks**

Andrew Albicy has recorded at least 1 steal in 15 of his last 16 games.

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

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

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

**Player Records against Opponent**

Mike Tobey collected a career-high 11 rebounds for Gran Canaria against Bahcesehir on October 9, 2024.

Tobey dished a career-high 5 assists for Gran Canaria against Bahcesehir on December 17, 2024.

John Shurna tied his career high with 4 offensive rebounds for Gran Canaria against Bahcesehir in Game 2 of the series.

**Team Record**

Gran Canaria collected a season-high 41 rebounds against Bahcesehir on October 9, 2024 and matched it against Bahcesehir on December 17, 2024.

**Season Rankings**

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

Pierre Pelos is ranked sixth among qualified players in three-point shooting at 48.8%.

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

George Conditt is ranked ninth among qualified players this season in Effective Field Goal Shooting percentage at 69.1%.

Conditt is ranked 11th among qualified players this season in True Shooting percentage at 70.1%.

**All-time Rankings**

Andrew Albicy is ranked fourth on the all-time EuroCup charts in performance index rating with 1,610. Errick McCollum is third with 1,634.

Albicy is ranked second on the all-time EuroCup charts with 682 assists. Stefan Markovic is first with 698.

Albicy is second on the all-time EuroCup charts with 210 steals. He trails Stefan Markovic by 4 steals for first place.

Albicy is ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 183 three-pointers made. John Shurna is eighth with 197. Marko Popovic is seventh with 207.

Albicy is seventh on the all-time EuroCup charts with 140 games played.

Shurna is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 1,267 points scored. E.J. Rowland is eighth with 1,275 points.

Shurna is sixth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 523 rebounds. Andrija Stipanovic is fifth with 538.

Shurna is sixth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 360 defensive rebounds. Jaka Blazic is fifth with 367.

Shurna is ranked ninth on the all-time EuroCup charts with 447 field goals made.

John Shurna is ranked third on the all-time EuroCup charts with 145 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%.

The action returns to Istanbul after Caleb Homesley forced a decider with a thrilling three-point play at the final buzzer on Friday night.

Game Notes and Facts: Bahcesehir vs. Gran Canaria

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Everything is to play for between Gran Canaria and Bahcesehir College, which will battle in Game 3 for a place in the EuroCup Finals.

Gran Canaria will be ready for another intense battle at Bahcesehir in Game 3

[Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) has extended its BKT EuroCup season for at least one more game and now has set up a winner-take-all Game 3 with Bahcesehir College Istanbul – a matchup which the Spanish side expects to be another battle. 

Gran Canaria evened the semifinal series 1-1 with [a 69-68 home victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-still-alive-after-69-68-win-over-bahcesehir-thanks-to-homesley-heroics/) in a showdown of the best two defenses in the EuroCup. That came after [Bahcesehir took Game 1 at home, 74-66](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-overpowers-gran-canaria-74-66-in-game-1-of-semifinals/). 

So far, all four games between the two teams this season have been won by the home team. Gran Canaria prevailed 66-63 in early October while Bahcesehir registered a 73-65 home win in December as the two teams were together in Group A. 

And the 2023 EuroCup champion Gran Canaria is expecting a similar contest in Game 3 on Wednesday in Istanbul. 

“It was a difficult game, just like the other three games with Bahcesehir because it is a great team. We are happy that we stayed alive in the series. Now we are going for the final game in Istanbul. We’ll be ready,” Gran Canaria head coach Jaka Lakovic said after the Game 2 win. 

And looking ahead to the third game, the play-caller added: “It will be the same type of game. Very physical and hopefully we can get our (shooting) percentages better and win the defensive rebounding like today.”

Protecting the defensive glass was a massive problem in Game 1 for Gran Canaria, which allowed 20 Bahcesehir offensive rebounds that resulted in 16 second-chance points. Bahcesehir managed just 7 offensive rebounds in the second game.  

“We fought hard. We deserve a third game,” said Gran Canaria big man [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/). “We know that the job is not finished. We need to go to Türkiye with the mentality that we want to win. We are very excited. It’s always cool to win a game like that. But the guys are locked in. They know we have one more game if we want to go to the finals.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">aún superando los últimos cinco segundos de anoche… 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/qaZI0fknrD">pic.twitter.com/qaZI0fknrD</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1905966873616777704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tobey knows what it takes to win the EuroCup. He helped Valencia Basket win the championship in 2019. And he is expecting it to be a tough fight in Game 3.

“We know it’s going to be another physical game. Do or die, so both sides will be giving it everything they got. Kind of like today – a super physical game. We’re really excited.”

Tobey scored 11 points in the Game 2 win and another strong performance by him and the team around the basket will be key. Gran Canaria made 62.5% on two-pointers in Game 2, which was much higher than the 51.3% that Bahcesehir had been allowing heading into Friday night, the second-lowest percentage in the competition.

Everything is set for the winner-take-all contest in Istanbul on Wednesday

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-03-28T20:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball continues to surprise in this year's EuroLeague, with its season sweep of Panathinaikos BC keeping its playoff hopes well and truly alive.

Tiago Splitter happy to be making history with Paris

[Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) needed something special to beat reigning champion [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) on the road, and the French club certainly delivered that in a thrilling encounter on Friday night.

Inspired by backcourt leader [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) flirting with a triple-double as he amassed an astonishing combination of 20 points, 14 assists and 9 rebounds, along with 2 steals and 9 fouls drawn, for a PIR of 36, Paris came flying out of the blocks to score 56 first-half points. It then held its nerve to survive a trademark Panathinaikos comeback attempt in the final period.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This match up was 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/rmc0L54zUr">pic.twitter.com/rmc0L54zUr</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1905918308840296516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[The 98-101 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/paris-stuns-panathinaikos-in-thriller-98-101/) – secured when [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) missed an improbable attempt to force overtime at the final buzzer – was even more impressive as it came on the back of demoralizing late collapses and narrow defeats against [Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-edges-paris-83-81-on-franciscos-jumper/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nigel-hayes-davis-the-hero-as-fenerbahce-beats-paris-101-100-to-make-playoffs/) in its previous two road games.

Those heartbreaking losses gave Paris’s doubters plenty of opportunity to extend their argument that Tiago Splitter’s men lack the experience to grind out tough wins when it matters the most in the world’s most competitive league. After stepping up to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague by winning the BKT EuroCup last season, and with a roster largely containing players who had never previously played in this competition, it’s easy to understand those concerns over Paris’s ability to last the pace against most seasoned opposition.

And when the fourth quarter in Athens saw Splitter’s team’s advantage dwindle away from 17 points (69-86) to just 5 points (86-91), with more than half of the final period still remaining and 18,000 Panathinaikos fans creating an intense cauldron of noise with every possession, even the most optimistic Paris player must have struggled to prevent his head from swirling with doubts.

But the French side held its collective nerve, finding just enough at both ends of the court to hold on for a huge victory that could prove to make all the difference between a direct passage into the playoffs and not even making the play-in.

And the scale of his team’s achievement was not lost on Splitter, who was happy to laud his players after watching them beat Panathinaikos for the second time this season.

“It's huge,” admitted the Brazilian. “It’s a big accomplishment. This whole season has been amazing and today we played one more of those games. The guys played their hearts out, some guys with injuries they played through.

“This is the last sprint of the season. We’ve still got two tough games coming, but this one was huge for us. We have a small history in EuroLeague but it feels amazing to be part of this. The fourth quarter was a little tougher for us: they were switching everything, they put you in tough spots, playing with the crowd. It’s really hard to beat them here, but somehow we found a way to get the win.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VIEW AFTER THE WIN AGAINST PANA 👓🤩 <a href="https://t.co/6VtYtquW1y">pic.twitter.com/6VtYtquW1y</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1905967419341881589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Paris must now travel to face the mighty [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) before finishing the season with a seemingly friendly home game against last-placed [ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/ber/), and it’s conceivable that Splitter’s team could finish anywhere between third and eleventh.

Whatever happens, Friday’s Greek drama suggests that Paris will not suffer for a lack of character.

The first-year head coach is making waves, as is his team

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Paris Basketball (2025-03-28T19:15:00.000Z)

Both Hapoel Tel Aviv and Valencia Basket will have learned valuable lessons from Game 2 as they head into Game 3 next Wednesday.

Game 2 showed what Hapoel Tel Aviv, Valencia need to address in Game 3

After two games, there’s nothing to separate [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) and [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) in 2025 BKT EuroCup Semifinals. The series is tied 1-1 and after Wednesday night, one of the clubs will find itself in the finals.

Looking ahead to Game 3 at La Fonteta, both sides will have learned plenty of lessons from Games 1 and 2. Friday night’s battle in Samokov, Bulgaria, certainly will have given Pedro Martinez and Dimitris Itoudis plenty to think about.

Itoudis was the happier of the two coaches after seeing his team come away with [a 96-91 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/hapoel-tel-aviv-forces-game-3-with-96-91-win-over-valencia/), a victory that kept Hapoel’s season alive. There were excellent performances by [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) (21 points, 8 rebounds), [Yam Madar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yam-madar/011052/) (21 points, 9 assists) and [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/) (22 points), who combined for 69 of their team’s points on the night, while [Tomer Ginat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tomer-ginat/010550/) was another who came close to a double-double with 12 points and 8 boards.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;I just wanted to come out, shoot my shots and go down swinging!&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/Moneymot5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Moneymot5</a> 🗣️<br><br>Johnathan Motley delivered a big time performance for <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HapoelTLVBC</a> to force Game 3 in the Semifinals! <br><br>26 PTS | 8 REB | 32 PIR<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/h6xpjb3Epf">pic.twitter.com/h6xpjb3Epf</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1905713819206496729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yet, it wasn’t a headache-free night for the Greek play-caller. Hapoel led for the final 28:36 minutes of the contest and was up by a game-high 17 points (74-57) five and a half minutes into the third period having outscored Valencia 20-9 in the quarter. But then Hapoel took its foot off the gas and almost paid the consequences.

In those final 4:30 minutes of the third frame, Valencia poured in 14 points and held Hapoel to just 2, making it 76-71 heading into the fourth. Suddenly, Valencia’s tails were up and it looked like a nervy finish was on the cards.

Madar and Blakeney made sure that was not the case, though, by coming up with some huge buckets in the first 7 minutes, then Ginat’s three-pointer with 2:21 to go extended Hapoel’s lead to 96-85, which would prove to be unassailable.

That lapse in concentration, or whatever you want to call it, in the latter stages of the third quarter could have been costly for Hapoel, but it found a way to keep the series alive. Still, Coach Itoudis will be drumming home the point that a similar thing happened in Game 1, with his team leading 36-46 late in the second quarter before going on to [lose 91-82](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-outlasts-hapoel-at-home-91-82/). In Game 3, Hapoel will need to be focused for the entire 40 minutes; not 39, not 38, and definitely not 35.

Valencia, however, had some positive things to take away from Friday’s game, despite losing. Big men [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-costello/010444/) (21 points) and [Nate Reuvers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nathan-reuvers/012738/) (13) both put up decent numbers again, the second game in a row they have got into double figures, and veteran playmaker [Stefan Jovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/stefan-jovic/004863/) made a positive impact off the bench (11 points, 5 assists).

But more needs to be demanded of Valencia’s usual go-to scorers. [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/), who scored 24 points in Game 1, was held to 10 in Game 2. Perhaps aware it wasn’t his night, he became more of a playmaker by dishing 9 assists. At halftime, Montero, [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-jones/010568/) and [Brancou Badio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brancou-badio/007527/) had 2 points between them.

Much of Valencia’s scoring comes from Montero and Jones, yet they sat on 4 points apiece after 30 minutes. They are two of the best guards in the EuroCup and, even if Hapoel played good defense on them in Game 2, Valencia needs them to shine. A similarly slow start for Montero and Jones in Game 3 could provide Hapoel with a ton of confidence.

Overall, Coach Martinez will like his chances of advancing to the EuroCup Finals – and of Montero and Jones bouncing back – as his squad will have the La Fonteta crowd roaring them on, but it’d take a brave person to predict who advances from this series. Either way, it’s going to be a lot of fun to see which team prevails, so make sure to tune in to EuroLeague TV on Wednesday night (20:30 CET) to find out.

The two teams meet for a do-or-die showdown in the series decider on Wednesday

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Valencia Basket (2025-03-28T17:30:00.000Z)

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Round 31 and 32 of the regular season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos of the week: Round 31 and 32

Euroleague Basketball has announced the following disciplinary decisions pertaining to incidents that occurred in Semifinal Game 2 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

Latest disciplinary sanctions

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv has been sanctioned with a fine of €4,000 for the offensive chants performed by its fans, on occasion of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals Game 2 between Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Valencia Basket, under Article 29.2.f) of the Euroleague Basketball Disciplinary Code.

Latest disciplinary decisions

Round 32 MVP: TJ Shorts, Paris Basketball

A fantastic all-round performance in a key road game in the playoff race, against the defending champion no less, has earned [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball another MVP of the Round honor.

In a [98-101 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-paris-basketball/E2024/288/) over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Shorts flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 20 points and personal bests of 14 assists and 9 rebounds. He made 6-of-12 two-point shots, 1-of-4 triples and 5-of-6 free throws, while also collecting 1 steal and drawing 9 fouls. This is the fourth MVP of the Round award – and second in a span of seven days – for the first-year guard.

The next-best PIR, 32, belonged to [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. In an [88-98 loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-fc-barcelona/E2024/282/) against FC Barcelona, Mirotic scored 28 points and collected 9 rebounds. Panathinaikos guard [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) had a 31 PIR after collecting 22 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds in a loss against Paris. Rounding out the list of Round 32's best performers are [Tornike Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) of Virtus Segafredo Bologna and [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul, each with a PIR of 28. Shengelia had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 rebounds and a block in a [64-108](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/alba-berlin-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2024/286/) win over ALBA Berlin, while Bryant had 25 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds in a [90-88](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/anadolu-efes-istanbul-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2024/284/) win over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

### Individual highs: TJ Shorts, Paris, 14 assists

Mirotic led all scorers with 28 points in Round 32. Kendrick Nunn remains the league's scoring leader, improving his average to 20.3 points.

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) of Real Madrid had 10 rebounds, the most of any player in this round. [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, who is currently out injured, is the rebounding leader with 8.3 boards per game.

Shorts had 14 assists, more than any player in Round 32. Shorts increased his overall lead in this category, averaging 7.4 assists per night.

[Andre Roberson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andre-roberson/013405/) of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne registered 5 steals in this round. [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) of FC Bayern Munich leads the EuroLeague with 1.6 steals per game.

[Alen Smailagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alen-smailagic/011051/) of Zalgiris Kaunas had a round-high 4 blocks. Tavares is the league's top shot blocker with 1.4 per game.

There were five double-doubles in Round 32: [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/) of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19 points, 10 assists), [Trent Forrest](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/trent-forrest/013367/) of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (12 points, 12 assists), Shorts (20 points, 14 assists), [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) of AS Monaco (11 points, 12 assists), and Tavares (14 points, 10 rebounds).

The EuroLeague rookie has secured his fourth MVP of the Round award of the season

Top 5 Plays | Semifinals Game 2 | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup 

Top 10 Plays | RS Round 32 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Round 32: Top 10 plays

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 32md winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Stelios Zikopoulos beat everyone else in Round 32 with his team 'Z1ste', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 229.90.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 32 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 32md winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Stelios Zikopoulos beat everyone else in Round 32 with his team 'Z1ste', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 229.90.

Stelios had the following starting lineup: Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens's Kendrick Nunn as team captain, then Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's Nigel Hayes Davies, TJ Shorts of Paris Basketball, Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Walter Tavares of Real Madrid. His sixth man was Elijah Bryant of Anadolu Efes Istanbul. The rest of the bench consisted of Milan's Guglielmo Caruso, Mitar Bosnjakovic of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Danko Brankovic of FC Bayern Munich and Malte Delow of ALBA Berlin. His team's head coach was Virtus Segafredo Bologna play-caller Dusko Ivanovic.

The prize for finishing first in Round 32 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Stelios!

Marko Djukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 5,468.44 points.

Trades are now open for Round 33. 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 33 tips off on April 2, as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul hosts FC Barcelona at 19:45 CET. That game marks 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. 