Name: EuroLeague & Friends: Spanoulis's start, the play of Maledon and Shorts...
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

With the end of November approaching, this latest episode of the EuroLeague & Friends podcast -- featuring Milena Martin from Spain, Giulia Cicchine from Italy, Deniz Aksoy of Turkiye, and Lona Jackson of France -- focuses on the upcoming MVP of the Month award, as well as several key topics around the EuroLeague.

EuroLeague & Friends: Spanoulis's start, the play of Maledon and Shorts...

The impact of [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/) in his first few games at [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) is analyzed in the seventh episode of the EuroLeague & Friends podcast, which also looks at the impressive performances of [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/asv/)'s [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) and [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/)'s [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/), in addition to several key topics around the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

This time, the four-person expert panel is made up of [Shani Blatt](https://www.instagram.com/shaniblatt/) from Israel, [Lona Jackson](https://www.instagram.com/lonajackson_/) from France, [Asta Zukaite](https://www.instagram.com/asta_zukaite/) from Lithuania and [Lisa Ramuschkat](https://www.instagram.com/lisa_ramuschkat/) from Germany.

Make sure to check out the video above and enjoy listening about the EuroLeague from a different perspective.

The seventh episode of Euroleague Basketball's brand-new podcast has landed

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Paris Basketball (2024-12-13T20:00:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2024-12-13T19:30:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-12-13T19:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-12-13T17:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Zalgiris Kaunas (2024-12-12T19:45:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-12-12T19:45:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-12-12T19:30:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-12-12T18:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v AS Monaco (2024-12-12T17:45:00.000Z)

AS Monaco Basket has confirmed that small forward Alpha Diallo will miss a minimum of three weeks due to a knee injury.

Monaco loses Alpha Diallo to knee injury

[AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) has suffered a significant injury blow with the news that small forward [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) will miss a minimum of three weeks. Diallo suffered a cartilage injury in his left knee and is out at least until the end of this year.

The 27-year-old has started in eight of the 14 games he has played this season, averaging 25:55 minutes per game, second only behind Mike James. Diallo is posting 12.1 points on 47.8% three-point shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a league-leading 1.6 steals.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">ℹ️ Maillon essentiel de la Roca Team et très performant ces dernières semaines, Alpha Diallo sera éloigné des parquets pour les trois prochaines semaines minimum. ⛑️<br>Notre ailier souffre d’une fracture du cartilage rétro rotulien interne du genou gauche. <br><br>Toute la Roca Family… <a href="https://t.co/pjZfeoaDEX">pic.twitter.com/pjZfeoaDEX</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1866154598341222883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Monaco and new head coach Vassilis Spanoulis lose Diallo ahead of its trip to face Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Thursday, and he is the fourth player from Monaco's rotation that is currently missing in action. 

The team's two biggest summer acquisitions have combined for two appearances, as [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) is yet to play and [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/) has played a total of 20 minutes across two games. [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/), who opened the season as the starting center, is also out.

Monaco currently sits in fourth place in the standings with a 9-5 record going into Round 15.

More Monaco News

The small forward is out until at least the end of 2024

After beginning the 2024-25 EuroCup season with five losses over the first seven games, Reyer Venezia seems to be picking up the pace right when it matters.

Reyer Venezia gearing up and climbing the ranks at the right moment

After beginning the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup Regular Season with five losses over the first seven games, [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) seems to be picking up the pace right when it matters.

Reyer has won its last three games against Turk Telekom Ankara at home and 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys and Aris Midea Thessaloniki on the road to now balance their record at 5-5, build momentum and gain considerable optimism and positivity in the decisive second half of the group stage, which is now in full swing.

While the streak began before the national team break, this interval was quite beneficial to the team as it is now performing as a tighter and more cohesive unit on the floor.

"We’ve had a couple of practices together after the FIBA window, and I think we worked well,” Reyer star big man [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) said just before his squad’s successful trip to Lithuania. “I found my teammates in great shape; they’ve been working hard these past days while I was with the Canadian national team.”

“After this break for the FIBA window, we are fresher, even though some players were busy with their national teams,” commented Reyer coach Neven Spahija. “We’re getting [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) back, and that means a lot to us."

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1755113/reyer-venice-gearing-up-and-climbing-the-ranks-at-the-right-moment/).

The Italian side is in seventh spot in Group B, just on the verge of the playoff spots

Reyer Venice gearing up and climbing the ranks at the right moment

One Team, Euroleague Basketball's social responsibility program, and Motorola have come together for a meaningful initiative called “Bouncing for Good” to support young students and promote the values of sport, teamwork, and inclusion. The second event of this collaboration — after the first event in Sopot, Poland — took part in Milan, Italy, in partnership with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. This collaboration benefitted 150 children, along with additional donations to their schools and local entities associated to One Team.

Local communities in Milan benefit from the One Team-Motorola partnership

One Team, Euroleague Basketball's social responsibility program, and Motorola have come together for a meaningful initiative called “Bouncing for Good” to support young students and promote the values of sport, teamwork, and inclusion. The second event of this collaboration — after the first event in Sopot, Poland — took part in Milan, Italy, in partnership with [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/). This collaboration benefitted 150 children, along with additional donations to their schools and local entities associated to One Team.

The initiative kicked off with a two-day workshop held on November 12 and November 14, 2024, at the Istituto Comprensivo Arcadia in Milan. The workshops, which took place from 10:00 to 12:00 each day, brought together eight classes of 20 students each (a total of 150 children). The sessions were led by the One Team coaches from the EA7 Emporio Armani Milan club and were designed to inspire and empower young minds, fostering life skills through sports and positive social engagement.

The first day saw Milan first-team player [Giampaolo Ricci](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/giampaolo-ricci/001518/) surprise the children connecting through video call for the event before Ricci’s teammate [Ousmane Diop](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ousmane-diop/013385/) brought more smiles to the children’s faces on the second day with yet another dream videocall for the kids.

This very positive social initiative was thanks to the great support of Motorola, which expanded on the sport and life values that EA7 Emporio Armani Milan’s One Team program delivers in its community in association with Laureus Sport for Good Italia. The children were able to learn about the values of teamwork, respect, and resilience, while these workshops align with One Team’s broader mission to enhance social integration through the universal language of sport.

A donation event took place on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, from 9:30 to 10:30, in the same school where the workshops took place, with the participation of representatives from Euroleague Basketball, Motorola and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and the presence of the students and Milan players [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/), Giampaolo Ricci and Ousmane Diop, this time in person. The event included the introduction of a unique basketball designed by the school children during the workshops and replicated in a real basketball for the children and the school to keep along with a selfie photo from the EA7 Emporio Armani Milan team, signed by all players. Also thanks to Motorola, all 150 students received a basketball and another 250 basketballs will be donated to public schools and entities in need, including those involved in the One Team program. This generous gesture will help expand access to sports equipment and encourage physical activity among students, furthering the shared mission of Euroleague Basketball and Motorola to make a positive contribution in local communities.

"Sharing the passion for sports with these young students was truly special," said Ricci. "Events like this show how basketball can unite and teach valuable lessons."

"It was amazing to spend the morning with the students of the Arcadia Institute in Gratosoglio," stated Shields. "I hope that through basketball, we’ve inspired them to follow their dreams."

"Seeing the enthusiasm of the kids was incredible," added Diop. "I hope this experience motivates them to believe in themselves."

This collaborative initiative, powered by Motorola, demonstrates their ongoing commitment to fostering social values through sport. The partnership with the One Team program reflects a shared vision of creating lasting change through sport, supporting the community Milan supports as a club. In collaboration with Laureus Sport for Good, the One Team project helps instill the core values of teamwork, resilience, and community engagement in the next generation.

Javier Gancedo chatted with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward Jordan Usher for this week's EuroCup interview. 

Jordan Usher: 'You will see more from me'

Only 26 years of age, [Jordan Usher](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-usher/013265/) of [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) has seen a thing or two in basketball already. This season is his first in the BKT EuroCup and after a somewhat slow start, he has come around recently to average 16.3 points on 47.0% three-point shooting for a PIR of 17.5 over his last four games. After playing college basketball for two different schools, where he would play alongside future EuroCup and EuroLeague players, Usher began his professional career in Turkiye with Besiktas Istanbul and last season teamed with the eventual No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, Alex Sarr, on the Perth Wildcats in Australia. After those experiences, he has big goals for Bourg.

"I want us to win the EuroCup championship or at least make the finals," Usher told Javier Gancedo of the official EuroCup website. He also explained his recent superb form by saying: "I'm gelling with the team, being able to get to my spots, and they know when I need the ball and how I can help the defense."

**Hello, Jordan. First of all, congratulations on beating Hamburg last week. How important was this win now that you are getting closer to the end of the regular season?**

"Thanks. This was a huge win. We need to have a really good December. We need to have a good month. We need to have a good win coming up here against Cluj and it was good to beat them that second time and just give us some more cushion in the EuroCup standings. We didn't come out with enough fire and they came out hot and gunning. \[Head coach\] Freddy \[Fauthoux\] got into us and pretty much told us what we needed to hear, and we came out and played with more energy."

"We need to have a good month. We need to have a good win coming up here against Cluj."

**This is your first EuroCup season. What are your thoughts on the competition, the opponents and the traveling?** 

"Oh, man, I love it. I love playing as many games as I can and I've got a lot of friends from my childhood or even my college days that play on opposing teams. So it's been fun to see them and play against a bunch of good competition and see some nice places at the same time."

**Speaking of nice places, you are playing in Bourg-en-Bresse. The club made it to the EuroCup Finals and the city is fully devoted to basketball. How is life in Bourg? How much do they like basketball?**

"It's a quaint little town. But like you said, they really get behind us and love their team. And I like that: it's a small town, but they are centered around basketball. If you see our young team players, they are in the gym damn near as much as us, just working out. And I think that's the best, having people with similar work ethics. When you can just be in the gym all day, that's good."

**Your former college teammate Jonah Mathews plays for Besiktas in the other group. Two of your former college teammates, Chimezie Metu and Moses Wright, are in the EuroLeague.** 

"I talk to all those guys all the time still. It is just nice. Hopefully, I can play against Jonah. Moses is out for now, but hopefully, Chimezie keeps having a good season. Jared Harper is from the same city as me. I played against him in high school and watched my college when he was at Auburn. I have a teammate that I played with and we are about to play this week, Orelik on Cluj. It is kind of endless. I can kind of list off a bunch of names here, but there's a bunch."

Best of Jordan Usher, Rounds 1-10

**You have been playing much better in the last month, posting better numbers. Did you need some sort of adjustment to a new club and competition?** 

"I think it was just kind of how Freddy could use me the best and how he can see the best on the court. And now that he's kind of honed in on that, I feel like we are both kind of gelling together and I'm gelling with the team, being able to get to my spots, and they know when I need the ball and how I can help the defense. Big differences."

**You played in Australia last season, in Perth, far away from everywhere, basically. How was the experience?** 

"Yes, it was amazing. It is a bit of a different league, but it was really fun. I got to be with my guy Alex Sarr a lot of the time during the year. Bryce Cotton is a legendary player over there, so we had a fun time. It's a lot warmer because it's summertime in Australia, but it was a good season and it was fun. As for the travel, every flight was more than four hours but it was fun. When it's 90 degrees outside \[32.2 Celsius\] and you are at the beach, it's all good." 

**You have faced all the opponents in your group. Did anybody stand out?** 

"Every team has their moments. Every team has their good players. Obviously, Valencia has just been a powerhouse so far this year, and we hope that we can get them back later in the year. But I have been happy with us as a team evolving throughout the year as well."

"Hugo Benitez is a kind of a guy that you look forward to when he comes in the game, and you kind of feel secure at this point."

**I wanted to ask you about Hugo Benitez, a great player with tremendous upside. How is it to play with him?** 

"He is great. He is really good at running our team. He is kind of like a coach on the court, him and our coach have a really good relationship, and he is a kind of a guy that you look forward to when he comes in the game, and you kind of feel secure at this point. He runs the offense well. He plays defense. He does his part. Whether he scores 10 points or 0 points, we get good production from him."

**Like you said, you will play Cluj next week and will play in front of 10,000 fans. How much are you looking forward to that?** 

"I'm really excited. One, to see Orelik again, but also to go over there and get a win. We have been a pretty good team on the road occasionally so yes, we are excited to go in there and try to get one. They really turned it around. We learned that we need to slow down Zavier Simpson the best that we can and just play team basketball. They are a good team that scores a lot. We just need to get out there and get a win."

**What would make it a good season for Bourg and for you, personally?** 

"I just want us to get pretty much the same as last year, except for a different result. I want us to win the EuroCup championship or at least make the finals and just keep chipping away, and hopefully, everyone benefits from that. Personally, I want to keep improving my game throughout the year. I think I'm a player that continues to progress throughout the year. I'd rather be that way than a guy that starts hot and fizzles out. I think you will see more from me and I will continue to get better."

The latest from JL Bourg

Javier Gancedo chatted with Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse forward Jordan Usher for this week's EuroCup interview

U18 Mega Basket star Ognjen Srzentic was named the MVP of the NextGen Istanbul tournament, but he has big goals ahead.

Ognjen Srzentic: 'I am motivated to finally win a NextGen title'

[Ognjen Srzentic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/ognjen-srzentic/012436/) has been at this place before, knowing he will be playing at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four with [U18 Mega MIS Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/teams/u18-mega-mis-belgrade/jmv/). But this time, Srzentic wants to finally hoist the trophy as the continent’s best junior club when it’s all said and done.

Srzentic was named the Most Valuable Player after Mega [downed the U18 NextGen Team Istanbul 86-70](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/news/jt124-next-gen-istanbul-report-mega-next/) to take the crown at the NextGen Istanbul event and book a ticket for the Finals.

“It means a lot \[to be MVP\]. I put in so much work to be here,” said Srzentic, who collected 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals for an average PIR of 30.5 in helping Mega go undefeated in Istanbul.

“Ognjen is a good guy with a great personality. He also has really great skills at both ends of the court. And he’s definitely a leader of this team,” said Mega head coach Milan Vidosavljevic.

Srzentic was playing his third NextGen qualifying tournament and played his best one by far, scoring 25 or more points three times in Istanbul after totaling 38 points at the NextGen Belgrade tournament last season.

Mega will be playing in the Finals for the ninth straight edition and it will be the third for Srzentic, who played just 1 minute in the 2023 Finals in Kaunas before averaging 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in the 2024 Finals.

“I am extra motivated because I played twice in the Finals and both times only lost one game in the group stage and never played in the championship game. So I am motivated to win it all,” he said.

In Kaunas in 2023, Mega lost 89-81 to the NextGen Select Team in the group stage and was defeated 60-55 against U18 Real Madrid in the 2024 Finals group phase.

One season earlier, the 2017 and 2019 finalist Mega finally claimed its first – and still only – continental trophy in the competition, winning the 2022 crown as it downed the NextGen Select Team in the Championship Game. That was also Srzentic’s first season with Mega. And winning the youth title has been on his mind ever since.

“This is my fourth year in the club. From day one, when I came here, the goal was clear: to play in the NextGen tournament. That was the biggest goal for me as a 14-year-old kid who came to Mega. So it means the world to me to be a part of this tournament, and I would love to help my club win the second title.”

One of the things that makes Srzentic’s performance in Istanbul so much more impressive is that he doesn’t play with the Mega junior team this season. He has been playing on loan with Serbian first league side OKK Belgrade and averaging 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 steals, though he did play in all three of Mega’s games in the U19 ABA League. Still, the NextGen games were a chance to play with his old friends.

“This the fourth year that some of these guys have been my teammates, so I am really happy to be playing with them and I am really proud that we played together for four years,” he said.

But Srzentic has been helped by playing with OKK Belgrade. 

“Playing senior basketball is a really big experience for me. I play against players who are sometimes 20 years older than me, who play for money and have families who they have to support,” he said. “This year is really important for me to get experience at senior basketball.

I am really happy I was able to translate that experience to this level of youth basketball.”

And now Srzentic will get one last chance to lead his Mega teammates at the NextGen Finals – looking for that elusive second continental title for the club.

The 17-year-old is hungry to lead Mega to its second crown following 2022 success

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade bolstered its lineup by signing one of the premier defensive forwards in Europe, John Brown. 

Crvena Zvezda signs defensive ace John Brown

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade bolstered its lineup by signing one of the premier defensive forwards in Europe, [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/). The deal is for the remainder of this season with an option for the 2025-26 season. Brown (2.03 meters, 32 years old) spent the previous two seasons with AS Monaco, but missed the start of the current campaign as he recovered from an injury.

Brown brings a serious resume as a defensive ace; he led the EuroLeague in steals as a rookie with UNICS Kazan in 2021-22 and has also led the Italian and VTB United Leagues in swipes. His trophy case also includes a pair of French League championships with Monaco. Brown began his professional career in Italy with Virtus Rome in 2016 and has since played for Treviso and Brindisi in Italy, UNICS and Monaco.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">Амерички крилни центар Џон Браун III ново је појачање КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет!<br><br>Welcome to Red&amp;White Family, John! 🔴⚪️<br><br>Детаљније: <a href="https://t.co/BJo4g6LTgi">https://t.co/BJo4g6LTgi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/E9d3ACHilx">pic.twitter.com/E9d3ACHilx</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1866185938893729985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Crvena Zvezda news

This season will be his fourth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Javier Gancedo reveals which players, both newly on his radar and longtime aces, he thinks you should consider for the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge.

Fantasy tips, Round 11: newcomers and longtime keepers

Here comes Round 11 in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge and the competition is getting closer and closer to its most exciting stages. The same could be said about the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, as the game is offering a lot of opportunities for managers. There are a lot of players with great potential in the upcoming weeks. Here are five of my top recommendations ahead of this round. 

[Mfiondu Kabengele, Umana Reyer Venice (15.2 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/)

Not only Kabengele is the leading rebounder in the 2024-25 EuroCup, but he is also contributing in many aspects of the game. Kabengele has averaged 16.3 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists for a PIR of 25.0 over his last three games - and has three straight double-doubles and six on the season. If you need a consistent star, you won't get any better than him. 

[Devin Robinson, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (14.6 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/)

Robinson has been a human highlight reel, igniting Cedevita fans with his huge dunks and blocked shots. He has been playing great lately, too, as Robinson has averaged 17.7 points on 20-of-29 two-point shooting and 2.7 steals for a PIR of 22.7. He had season-highs of 25 points and a PIR of 28 against Cluj last week. Buy him now! 

Mfiondu Kabengele, Devin Robinson, Jaizec Lottie, Sharife Cooper and Hugo Benitez are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 11

[Jaizec Lottie, Veolia Towers Hamburg (9.1 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaizec-lottie/013309/)

A hidden gem in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, Lottie has been delivering all season (12.1 ppg.) and is playing some of his best basketball right now. In Round 10 against Bourg, Lottie had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals for a PIR of 20. At less than 10.0 credits, Lottie could be your X-factor in Round 11. 

[Hugo Benitez, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (8.4 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/)

I have always liked Benitez because of his insane assist-to-turnover ratio (3.07). He's also been scoring a lot lately, which makes him even more interesting. Benitez had 11 points against Valencia and 17 against Hamburg. In his last two games, his PIR average has been 19.0 and it looks like Benitez is just getting started. 

[Sharife Cooper, Aris Midea Thessaloniki (12.1 credits) ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sharife-cooper/013500/)

Vassilis Toliopoulos is injured, which is terrible news for Aris. Cooper has stepped up in his absence, averaging 17.0 points on 75.0% two-point shooting and 4.0 assists for a PIR of 15.0. He will be Aris's main point guard for the foreseeable future, so expect him to improve on those numbers in the short run. 

Round 15 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague features a French derby and a battle between second and third in another exciting set of games. Here’s your overview of this week’s action.

At a glance: Lots to get excited about in Round 15

[Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-as-monaco/E2024/127/)

A heavyweight battle will tip off the round as second-placed Fenerbahce (10-4) welcomes Monaco (9-5), one of the three teams tied for third. The hosts can always rely on inspiration from [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/), who powered the Round 14 win at Real Madrid with 33 points to become the weekly MVP. He will be countered by [Vitto Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vitto-brown/013365/), who delivered his best performance of the season with 17 points and 7 rebounds in Monaco’s comfortable win over ALBA on Friday. That game again saw Monaco fulfill the ball-sharing philosophy of Coach Vassilis Spanoulis – who this week has his first-ever coaching duel with former teammate Sarunas Jasikevicius – by dishing 23 assists, so Fenerbahce guards [Arturs Zagars](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arturs-zagars/008104/) and [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) will have to work hard defensively to stop the visiting team from establishing its rhythm.

Round 15 Head-to-Head: Guduric vs. Loyd

[ALBA Berlin vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/alba-berlin-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2024/128/)

Fast-rising Partizan (6-8) will look to make it five straight wins – and potentially climb into the top 10 – with a trip to lowly ALBA (3-11). The German team has young playmaker [Matteo Spagnolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matteo-spagnolo/008173/) in strong form with double digits scoring in three straight games, but the Italian faces a tough task against Partizan dynamo [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/), who continued his great form by averaging 18.5 points and 7 assists in last week’s back-to-back home wins over Zalgiris and Panathinaikos. His namesake [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) is also in great form in the paint, registering a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) against Panathinaikos, so he’ll be a handful for ALBA’s entertaining big man [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/trevion-williams/012604/) – who's averaged 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

[Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2024/129/)

Two teams aiming for a change in direction meet as inconsistent Baskonia (6-8) welcomes last-placed Virtus (2-12). New Virtus coach Dusko Ivanovic will take charge for the first time on familiar territory against his former club, which has been strong in Vitoria with a 5-2 home record. The Italian team’s latest loss, at home to Zvezda on Friday, came despite another good game from forward [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/), who's averaged 22.3 points and 7.3 rebounds over the last three games. Baskonia also suffered defeat last time out, with a big double-double from [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) (25 points, 11 boards) not enough to overcome Bayern in Munich. The power of Moneke and [Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/) against Clyburn and [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) could be key in what’s likely to be a physical battle.

[Real Madrid vs. Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/real-madrid-zalgiris-kaunas/E2024/131/)

Struggling Real (6-8) faces a stern test with a visit from Zalgiris (8-6). A pair of star guards will attempt to outdo each other, with the smooth distribution of [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) (7.9 assists per game) going against the scoring skills of [Lonnie Walker ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/)(16.3 points per night on 44.3% three-point shooting), who was reportedly close to joining Real before signing on with Zalgiris. The Spanish team has struggled for production off the bench, so the visitors will have to be ready to compete for the full 40 minutes through the energy of guard [Dovydas Giedraitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dovydas-giedraitis/007513/), the only Zalgiris player to have started every game. Denying long-range looks to [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) will also be key for a Zalgiris defense that has allowed fewer points than any other team (74.9 per game).

Round 15 Head-to-Head: Deck vs. Smailagic

[FC Bayern Munich vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fc-bayern-munich-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2024/130/)

High-flying Bayern (9-5) will look to make it eight home wins out of eight with a visit from a Maccabi team (4-10) that has won just once on the road all season. The visiting team will have to find an answer for [Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devin-booker/007056/), who has been unstoppable recently and averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5 assists over last week’s two games, so the likes of [Levi Randolph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/levi-randolph/013382/) (11.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game) will need to step up for the visiting team. Maccabi also has to deal with the backcourt threat of league-leading scorer [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) (20.4 points per game) and can try to control the game through pass master [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/), who tops the EuroLeague in assists with 8.6 per night.

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/anadolu-efes-istanbul-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/E2024/132/)

Reigning champ Panathinaikos (8-6) will continue its quest for consistency with a crunch clash against Coach Ergin Ataman and forward [Cedi Osman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/cedi-osman/004088/)’s former club, Efes (7-7). Both teams lost last time out, with the Greens falling at Partizan while Efes was stifled by Zalgiris. The Greens will try to feed off the energy of center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/), who also showed his distribution skills by dishing a personal best 5 assists in the loss at Partizan, so the Turkish team’s big man [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/derek-willis/009664/) will need to show the rebounding power that saw him grab 8 boards in Kaunas last time out. [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) (13 points per game) has been Efes’s go-to guard during the injury absence of [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/), and he needs a big performance against an extremely deep Panathinaikos backcourt.

Round 15 Head-to-Head: Nwora vs. Hernangomez

[FC Barcelona vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fc-barcelona-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/E2024/134/)

Rejuvenated by last week’s much-needed comeback victory at Maccabi, Barcelona (8-6) will try to overcome direct rival and red-hot Milan (8-6) in a key battle between two of the four teams currently tied for sixth place. Former Barca hero [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), who leads the league in PIR with 23.7 per game, will play a central role on his return to Palau Blaugrana, and the host will try to counter him with the scoring skills of [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/), who paired 18 points and 9 rebounds in the win at Maccabi. That game also saw a return to form by former Milan shooter [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/), netting 18 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting, who faces a long-range duel with Milan veteran [Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/), who's averaged 7.7 points on 55.2% three-point shooting.

Round 15 Head-to-Head: Parker vs. Leday

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-olympiacos-piraeus/E2024/133/)

A meeting of two clubs with a long-standing close relationship will be far from friendly as Zvezda (7-7) welcomes Olympiacos (9-5). The Greek giant ended the double-round week by losing its 100% home record against Paris, whereas Zvezda boosted its playoffs challenge with a strong win at Virtus. Former Olympiacos sniper [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) was instrumental to that success with 26 points, but [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) – shining on loan for Zvezda from Olympiacos – cannot suit up for this game. Olympiacos will look to tighten up defensively after allowing 96 points in the loss to Paris, while also hoping that sharpshooter [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) continues to threaten from long-range after netting multiple triples in nine straight games. The visitors will also hope to gain extra possessions through [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/), who tops the league with 3.9 offensive rebounds per game.

[LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne-paris-basketball/E2024/135/)

A French derby will see dangerous ASVEL (5-9) receive a visit from league-leading Paris (11-3). Two of this season’s top performers will go head to head in a mouthwatering backcourt duel as [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) (18.4 points per game) goes up against [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) (18.6 points, 7.9 assists). ASVEL will have confidence after winning three in a row at home, and a key could be whether the home team has success from long-range: ASVEL ranks fifth in the league for three-point conversion (38.1%, led by veteran [David Lighty](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/david-lighty/003526/) with 48.5% of triples made), but Paris has the competition’s third-best perimeter defense (31% of three-pointers allowed). ASVEL will look to slow down the visitors through the excellent defense of [Paris Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/paris-lee/011225/) against Shorts, so [Maodo Lo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/) could also have a key role in keeping the Paris attack rolling.

Round 15 Head-to-Head: Maledon vs. Lo

Two of this season’s top performers will go head to head in a mouthwatering backcourt duel as [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) (18.4 points per game) goes up against [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) (18.6 points, 7.9 assists). ASVEL will have confidence after winning three in a row at home, and a key could be whether the home team has success from long-range: ASVEL ranks fifth in the league for three-point conversion (38.1%, led by veteran [David Lighty](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/david-lighty/003526/) with 48.5% of triples made), but Paris has the competition’s third-best perimeter defense (31% of three-pointers allowed). ASVEL will look to slow down the visitors through the excellent defense of [Paris Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/paris-lee/011225/) against Shorts, so [Maodo Lo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/) could also have a key role in keeping the Paris attack rolling.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

 

**Streaks**

 

Paris Lee has made at least 1 three-point shot in 13 straight and 25 of his last 26 games.

Theo Maledon has scored 10 or more points in eight straight and 13 of his last 14 games.

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

Maledon has made multiple three-point shots in six straight games.

Maledon has PIRs of 24 or more in six straight games.

Joffrey Lauvergne has scored 12 or more points in five of his last six games.

Lauvergne has had PIRs of 11 or more in six straight games.   

Nando De Colo has made at least 1 three-point shot in five of his last six games.

De Colo has made 10 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Theo Maledon ranks second in average index rating with 22.9 per game.

Maledon is tied for fourth in scoring with 18.4 points per game.

Neal Sako ranks eighth in rebounding with 6.0 per game.

Sako ranks sixth in offensive rebounding with 2.4 per game.

Nando De Colo ranks seventh in assists with 5.1 per game.

David Lighty ranks seventh in three-point accuracy at 48.5%.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Nando De Colo is the all-time leader in free-throw accuracy at 93.0%.

De Colo is the all-time leader in PIR with 5,190 index rating points.

De Colo is in second place all-time in scoring with 4,606 points. Mike James leads the all-time charts with 4,809 points and counting.

De Colo ranks second all-time in free throws made with 1,119. Vassilis Spanoulis is the all-time leader with 1,131.

De Colo ranks sixth all-time in two-point shots made with 1,034. Mike James is fifth with 1,049 and counting.

De Colo is in fifth place all-time in steals with 346. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is fourth with 359 steals and counting.

De Colo ranks 10th all-time in assists with 1,122. Dimitris Diamantidis is ninth with 1,255.

De Colo ranks 12th all-time with 473 career three-pointers made. Kostas Sloukas of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is 11th with 475 and counting.

Tarik Black ranks 12th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.1%.

Game Videos

### Paris Basketball

 

**Streaks**

 

TJ Shorts has scored in double figures in seven straight and 13 of his 14 EuroLeague appearances.

Shorts has had a PIR of at least 15 in seven straight and 13 of his 14 EuroLeague appearances.

Shorts has made at least 1 three-point shot in six straight games.

Shorts has dished 5 or more assists in 13 straight games.

Shorts has at least 1 steal in four of his last five games.

Nadir Hifi has made at least 1 three-pointer in 13 of his 14 EuroLeague appearances.

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

Hifi has scored 10 or more points in six of his last seven games.

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

Daulton Hommes has made at least 1 three-point shot in six of his last seven games.

Tyson Ward has made at least 1 three-pointer in five straight and 11 of his last 12 games.

Ward has scored more than 10 points in four of his last five games.

Ward has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in eight straight games.

Ward has had PIRs of 11 or more in five of his last six games. 

 

**Season rankings**

 

TJ Shorts ranks third in average index rating with 22.4 per game.

Shorts ranks third in scoring with 18.6 points per game.

Shorts ranks third in assists with 7.9 per game.

Kevarrius Hayes and Mikael Jantunen are tied for 10th in offensive rebounding with 2.1 per game.

Kevarrius Hayes ranks fifth in blocks with 1.2 per game.

Nadir Hifi is tied for third in three-pointers made with 2.4 per game.

Paris ranks third in scoring with 86.5 points per game.

Paris ranks second in rebounding with 36.9 rebounds per game.

Paris ranks second in offensive rebounding with 12.9 per game.

Paris has committed 10.9 turnovers per game, which are the second-fewest in the league. 

Paris has forced 13.1 turnovers per game, the third-most this season.

Paris has held opponents to 31.0% three-point shooting, the third lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Kevarrius Hayes needs 5 blocks to reach 100 for his career.

Hayes needs 6 offensive rebounds to reach 200 for his career.

Game News

A French derby will see dangerous ASVEL (5-9) receive a visit from league-leading Paris (11-3).

Game Facts: ASVEL vs. Paris

\- This is the first time ASVEL and Paris meet in the EuroLeague.

\- Last season, Paris ousted AVEL 3-2 in the best-of-five French League playoff semifinals.

\- Paris center Kevarrius Hayes spent the 2020-21 season with ASVEL and made his EuroLeague debut there. He was a teammate of Charles Kahudi and David Lighty.

\- ASVEL's Joffrey Lauvergne was a teammate of Monaco guard Yakuba Ouattara during the 2012-13 season at Elan Chalon.

\- Ouattara has been a teammate of ASVEL's Nando De Colo on the French national team.

\- Nadir Hifi of Paris has played alongside ASVEL's Theo Maledon and Nando De Colo on the French national team. 

A French derby will see dangerous ASVEL (5-9) receive a visit from league-leading Paris (11-3). 

Game Notes: ASVEL vs. Paris

Several key matchups between direct rivals highlight Round 11 of the BKT EuroCup, which could go a long way toward deciding progress to the playoffs. Here’s your guide to the action.

At a glance: What to expect from Round 11

[Trefl Sopot vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/trefl-sopot-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2024/101/)

Trefl (0-10) will attempt to end its long wait for a first victory by overcoming Group A’s ninth-placed team, Trento (3-7), which faces a must-win game in its hopes of pushing for the playoffs. The Italian team has not won on the road all season and is on a three-game losing streak, but triumphed 84-76 when the teams met in October behind 20 points from [Jordan Ford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-ford/013270/). This could be a low-scoring game between two teams who struggle offensively, especially from long-range as they’re respectively ranked next-to-last and last in three-point conversion rate (28.8% vs. 28.2%). Trefl will try to control the game in the paint through big man [Geoffrey Groselle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/geoffrey-groselle/013296/), who had 11 points and 9 rebounds in last week’s loss to Ulm.

[Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/veolia-towers-hamburg-valencia-basket/U2024/110/)

It’s bottom against top in Group B, with Hamburg (2-8) hoping to become the first team this season to inflict defeat upon rampant Valencia (9-0), which also leads the competition in scoring with 96.8 points per game. The Spanish side enjoyed a 27-point winning margin when the teams met earlier this season, so Hamburg knows it has to slow down the visiting playmakers after allowing 28 assists in that game – including 11 from rising star [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/). The German team’s resistance on that occasion was led by a season-high 19 points from guard [Brae Ivey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brae-ivey/013308/), who is now targeting a return to form from long-range after only making 2 of his 9 three-point attempts in the last two games.

[Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/turk-telekom-ankara-aris-midea-thessaloniki/U2024/107/)

Turk Telekom (5-5) will attempt to protect its place in the all-important top six by overcoming struggling Aris (2-8). The Turkish team will look to build more momentum after last week’s crucial high-scoring win at Lietkabelis, powered by an MVP of the round performance from forward [Braian Angola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/braian-angola/010465/). Turk Telekom’s more usual blueprint for success is the defense-first victory it took over Aris earlier this season, winning in Greece 63-68 after restricting the dangerous [Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/) to a season-low 8 points. Aris has the worst offensive production in the league, averaging just 74.5 points per game, so it needs its best performance of the season to snap a four-game losing streak and reignite its playoff hopes.

Round 11 Head-to-Head: Brown vs. Nolley

[Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius-hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/U2024/104/)

A key battle between direct Group A rivals will see Wolves (5-5) seek a return to winning ways with a visit from Hapoel (6-4). The Lithuanian team has lost its way with two straight defeats and faces a Tel Aviv team searching for consistency after failing to win consecutive games since October. The visitors will be missing the injured [Patrick Beverley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/patrick-beverley/001927/), but are expected to have star center [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) back. Meanwhile, backcourt signing [Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/), who powered last week’s comfortable victory over Joventut by pouring in 20 points, is rounding into form. Wolves, which must win by 6 to take the head-to-head advantage, will answer him with key guard [Anthony Cowan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-cowan-jr/012003/), who averages more than 30 minutes per game and netted 23 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting in last week’s loss at Bahcesehir.

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/u-bt-cluj-napoca-cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2024/109/)

Another of this week’s many crucial battles in the playoff race sees Group B’s fifth welcome third as Cluj (5-5) takes on Bourg (6-4). Bourg won 84-73 when the teams met in October, so the Romanian team needs a victory of 12 points or more to wrestle back the head-to-head advantage. There should be plenty of points between the second and third highest-scoring teams in the EuroCup, respectively averaging 88.8 and 86.3 points. Expect key roles for Cluj playmaker [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/), who tops the competition in assists with 6.9 per night, and Bourg’s young guard [Hugo Benitez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/hugo-benitez/010449/), who last week had his best game of the season with 17 points, 4 assists and 3 steals to help down Hamburg.

Round 11 Head-to-Head: Simpson vs. Benitez

[Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul-bahcesehir-college-istanbul/U2024/103/)

An Istanbul derby with plenty of significance in the race for postseason qualification sees Besiktas (6-4) welcome Group A leader Bahcesehir (9-1). The visitors have strung together a seven-game winning streak,  recently beating Wolves last week behind 19 points from all-around threat [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/), and boast the best defense in the competition with just 71.9 points per game allowed. But Besiktas is also confident after winning three of its last four and has the EuroCup’s highest three-point shooting conversion rate (39.9%), partly thanks to [Dustin Sleva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dustin-sleva/011927/) shooting an impressive 59.1% from deep including 3-of-4 in last week’s thrilling win over Buducnost. Bahcesehir won 87-66 when the teams met in October – expect this one to be much closer.

Round 11 Head-to-Head: Sleva vs Bouteille

[Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2024/106/)

Hapoel Jerusalem (7-3) will look to maintain second place in Group B by overcoming a Lietkabelis team (2-7) desperate to relaunch its playoff push. Jerusalem is aiming to bounce straight back from last week’s loss at Valencia and will hope that forward [Chris Johnson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-johnson/013277/) repeats his outstanding performance from that game (15 points, 12 rebounds). Lietkabelis has lost three in a row due to a leaky defense which has allowed 100, 100 and 98 points in those games, so improvement is needed against league-leading scorer [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) (22.3 points per game). Offensively, the Lithuanian team will look for guard [Martynas Varnas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/martynas-varnas/005521/) to continue the form which has seen him average 14 points over the last four games.

[Umana Reyer Venice vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/umana-reyer-venice-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2024/108/)

Another vital showdown in Group B will see in-form Reyer (5-5) seek the 6-point victory it needs to overtake Cedevita (6-4) in the standings. Cedevita edged the Round 2 meeting between the teams, 87-82, thanks to 17 points and 9 rebounds from [Devin Robinson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/) – who last week delivered his best performance of the season with 25 points to help overcome Cluj. Reyer has revitalized its challenge by rolling to three straight victories, partly thanks to the return from injury of [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/). The Canadian guard netted 19 points on 7-of-11 two-point shooting in last week’s win over Aris, and his ability to penetrate the paint will be a key factor in this crucial encounter.

Round 11 Head-to-Head: Ennis vs. Jones

[Joventut Badalona vs. ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/joventut-badalona-ratiopharm-ulm/U2024/105/)

Struggling Joventut (3-7) will look to recover lost ground on the top six by overcoming an Ulm team (6-4) battling to at least maintain a share of third place in Group A. The Spanish team is coming off a pair of bad road losses, still unable to find a way of supporting the consistent excellence of big man [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/), and would benefit from more hustle after forcing a league-low 9.6 turnovers per game. Ulm is back in the groove after two straight wins, and teenage guard [Ben Saraf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ben-saraf/011437/) returned to form last week by netting 15 points in the home victory over Trefl. Joventut will also be wary of [Nelson Weidemann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nelson-weidemann/006245/), who netted 17 points when the German team narrowly won in Round 2, 87-83.

[Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2024-25/dreamland-gran-canaria-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2024/102/)

The round concludes with Group A’s second-placed Gran Canaria (8-2) attempting to take a step closer to playoff qualification by overcoming visiting Buducnost (4-6). Gran Canaria has won three games straight and boasts an all-time 10-1 record against the Montenegrin team, which has never won this matchup on the road. To change that, Buducnost needs another strong display from big man [Kenan Kamenjas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-kamenjas/008325/), who posted a career-high 21 points in last week’s narrow loss to Besiktas. Gran Canaria needed overtime to prevail when the teams met in October and will hope that [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) – who has netted 10 triples in the last three games – can help provide a more comfortable victory this time around.

Round 11 Head-to-Head: Conditt vs. Kamenjas

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2024-12-11T20:00:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-12-11T19:30:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-12-11T19:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-12-11T18:30:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2024-12-11T17:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2024-12-11T16:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Valencia Basket (2024-12-10T18:30:00.000Z)

Trefl Sopot v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-12-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2024-12-11T16:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2024-12-11T18:00:00.000Z)

The Greek giant ended the double-round week by losing its 100% home record against Paris, whereas Zvezda boosted its playoffs challenge with a strong win at Virtus. Former Olympiacos sniper [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/) was instrumental to that success with 26 points, but [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) – shining on loan for Zvezda from Olympiacos – cannot suit up for this game. Olympiacos will look to tighten up defensively after allowing 96 points in the loss to Paris, while also hoping that sharpshooter [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) continues to threaten from long-range after netting multiple triples in nine straight games. The visitors will also hope to gain extra possessions through [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/), who tops the league with 3.9 offensive rebounds per game.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

 

**Streaks**

 

Filip Petrusev has scored at least 14 points in six of his last seven games.

Petrusev has had PIRs of 12 or more in seven of his last eight games.

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

Petrusev has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in six straight games.

Mike Daum has made all 21 of his free throws in his EuroLeague career.

Joel Bolomboy has had a double-digit PIR in five of his last six games.

Bolomboy has had at least 1 block in five of his last six games.

Bolomboy has pulled down at least 7 rebounds in six straight games.

Isaiah Canaan has made at least 1 triple in eight of his last nine games.

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

 

**Season rankings**

 

Codi Miller-Mcintyre is tied for fifth in assists with 5.4 per game.

Isaiah Canaan ranks ninth in three-pointers made with 2.3 per game.

Nikola Kalinic ranks ninth in three-point accuracy at 47.7%.

Zvezda ranks third in assists with 20.1 per game.

Zvezda ranks third in three-point accuracy at 38.5%.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Milos Teodosic ranks sixth all-time with 586 three-pointers made. Rudy Fernandez is fifth with 594.

Teodosic is ranked fifth all-time in assists with 1,468. Vassilis Spanoulis is fourth with 1,607.

Teodosic ranks 11th all-time in career points scored with 3,383. Georgios Printezis is 10th with 3,599 points.

Teodosic ranks 13th all-time in free throws made with 703. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid is 12th with 707 and counting.

Nemanja Nedovic needs 3 three-pointers to reach 400 for his career.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

 

**Streaks**

 

Sasha Vezenkov has scored in double figures and had a double-digit PIR in 15 straight games.

Evan Fournier has made at least 1 three-point shot in 13 of his last 14 games.

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

Nikola Milutinov has double-digit PIRs in seven of his last eight games.

Milutinov has pulled down multiple offensive rebounds in 10 straight games.

Milutinov has grabbed at least 6 rebounds in nine of his last 10 games.

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

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

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

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

Evans has made 21 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Sasha Vezenkov ranks fourth in average index rating with 22.1 per game.

Vezenkov ranks sixth in scoring with 18.1 points per game.

Nikola Milutinov ranks fifth in rebounding with 7.1 per game.

Vezenkov ranks 10th in rebounding with 5.8 per game.

Milutinov leads the league in offensive rebounding with 3.7 per game.

Thomas Walkup ranks eighth in assists with 5.1 per game.

Moustapha Fall leads the league in two-point accuracy at 85.7%.

Evan Fournier is tied for third in three-pointers made with 2.4 per game.

Alec Peters is tied for fourth in three-point accuracy at 50.0%.

Olympiacos ranks second in assists with 20.6 per game.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Kostas Papanikolaou is the all-time leader in games started with 316.

Papanikolaou ranks ninth place all-time in steals with 308. Sergio Rodriguez is eighth with 309.

Moustapha Fall ranks second all-time in two-point accuracy at 73.2%.

Thomas Walkup ranks 16th all-time with a 2.5-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Walkup is ranked 15th all-time in assists with 974. Theo Papaloukas is 13th with 977 assists.

Alec Peters ranks 13th all-time in free-throw shooting accuracy at 89.5%.

Peters ranks fifth all-time in three-point accuracy at 45.9%.

Nikola Milutinov is ranked seventh all-time in offensive rebounds with 610. Othello Hunter is sixth with 611.

Sasha Vezenkov needs 5 three-point shots made to reach 300 for his career.

A meeting of two clubs with a long-standing close relationship will be far from friendly as Zvezda (7-7) welcomes Olympiacos (9-5).

Game Facts: Zvezda vs. Olympiacos

\- When Olympiacos beat Zvezda 88-83 in Piraeus last season, Alec Peters scored a career-high 28 points and tied his career-best with a PIR of 31, while Moustapha Fall set a new career-high with 14 rebounds and tied a career-best with 7 offensive rebounds.

\- When Olympiacos edged Zvezda 86-89 in Belgrade last April, it came behind a career-best 20 points and 25 PIR from Moses Wright, who is now out until the end of the season.

\- Zvezda guard Isaiah Canaan spent the last two seasons with Olympiacos; he helped the team reach the Final Four in both seasons.

\- Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopolous coached Olympiacos for three seasons from 2015 to 2018. During his tenure there, Nikola Milutinov and Kostas Papanikolaou played for Olympiacos. They reached the 2017 championship game together.

\- Zvezda point guard Milos Teodosic made his EuroLeague debut with Olympiacos in 2007 and spent four seasons there. He was chosen as the EuroLeague MVP in 2010 and helped lead the team to the 2010 championship game. In Piraeus, he was a teammate of Kostas Papanikolaou.

\- Olympiacos set a club record with 9 blocks against Crvena Zvezda on November 7, 2014.

\- When Zvezda beat Olympiacos 88-81 in Belgrade in December 2019, Lorenzo Brown, now with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, scored 34 points to set Zvezda's single-game scoring record. Brown also set the Zvezda single-game record for two-pointers made with 11.

\- Olympiacos guard Luca Vildoza played for Crvena Zvezda during the 2022-23 season and earned December MVP honors during his time there.

\- Zvezda center Joel Bolomboy played for Olympiacos during the 2022-23 season and helped the team reach the EuroLeague championship game.

\- Zvezda center Filip Petrusev played for Olympiacos last season and is currently at Zvezda on loan from Olympiacos.

\- Zvezda's Dejan Davidovac, Ognjen Dobric and Petrusev, and Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov won silver medals together with the Serbian national team at the 2023 Basketball World Cup. The four, along with Zvezda center Uros Plavsic, won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

\- Milutinov and Davidovac spent last season playing together at CSKA Moscow.

\- Milutinov has been a teammate of Zvezda's Nemanja Nedovic and Nikola Kalinic on the Serbian national team.

\- Olympiacos guard Keenan Evans made his EuroLeague debut under Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv during the 2021-22 season.

\- Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey played under Coach Sfairopoulos at Maccabi for two years, from 2019 to 2021.

\- Zvezda forward Nikola Kalinic scored a career-high 25 points and had a career-best PIR of 27 against Olympiacos in December 2021.

\- Filip Petrusev had a career-best 4 blocks in Crvena Zvezda's 86-90 road win over Olympiacos in December 2022.

\- Zvezda's Joel Bolomboy had his career-highs with 12 rebounds and 32 PIR in an 86-89 home loss against Olympiacos last April.

\- Zvezda guard Nemanja Nedovic collected a career-high 3 steals playing for Valencia Basket against Olympiacos in November 2014.

\- Olympiacos guard Tyler Dorsey posted his career high in steals with 4 playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against Crvena Zvezda in April 2021.

A meeting of two clubs with a long-standing close relationship will be far from friendly as Zvezda (7-7) welcomes Olympiacos (9-5). 

Game Notes: Zvezda vs. Olympiacos

Former Barca hero [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), who leads the league in PIR with 23.7 per game, will play a central role on his return to Palau Blaugrana, and the host will try to counter him with the scoring skills of [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/), who paired 18 points and 9 rebounds in the win at Maccabi. That game also saw a return to form by former Milan shooter [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/), netting 18 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting, who faces a long-range duel with Milan veteran [Fabien Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/), who's averaged 7.7 points on 55.2% three-point shooting.

### FC Barcelona

 

**Streaks**

 

Jabari Parker has made at least 1 three-point shot in 14 straight games.

Parker has collected at least 1 steal in 12 of his last 13 games.

Kevin Punter has made at least 1 three-point shot in 13 of his last 14 games.

Jan Vesely had at least 1 steal in 10 straight games.

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

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

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

 

**Season rankings**

 

Kevin Punter ranks ninth in scoring with 16.1 points per game.

Punter ranks fourth in steals with 1.4 per game.

Jan Vesely is tied for sixth in steals with 1.3 per game.

Willy Hernangomez ranks ninth in two-point accuracy at 69.2%.

Barcelona leads the league in assists with 20.8 per game.

Barcelona leads the league in steals with 8.4 per game.

Barcelona's defense has forced 13.8 turnovers per game, the second-most in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

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

Jan Vesely is the all-time leader in two-pointers made with 1,541.

Vesely is in third place all-time with 650 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is second with 705.

Vesely ranks fourth all-time with 1,753 rebounds. Felipe Reyes is third with 1,799.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 215 blocks. Tibor Pleiss is seventh with 228.

Vesely is sixth all-time with 3,976 points scored. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid is fifth with 4,027 and counting.

Vesely ranks second all-time with 5,045 index rating points. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne is the all-time leader with 5,190 and counting.

Vesely ranks fourth all-time with 359 steals. Rudy Fernandez is third with 367 steals.

Vesely ranks eighth all-time with 786 free throws made. Juan Carlos Navarro is seventh with 853.

Kevin Punter ranks 11th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 89.7%.

Youssoupha Fall ranks 14th all-time in two-point accuracy at 64.8%.

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

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

 

**Streaks**

 

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

Mirotic has made multiple three-point shots in nine of his last 10 games.

Mirotic has scored 17 or more points in 10 of his last 11 games.

Mirotic has had PIRs of 12 or more in 13 straight games.

Mirotic has pulled down 5 or more rebounds in eight of his last nine games.

Zach LeDay has scored at least 13 points and had a PIR of 16 or more in eight straight games.

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

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

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

 

 

**Season rankings**

 

Nikola Mirotic leads the league in average index rating with 23.7 per game.

Zach Leday ranks seventh in average index rating with 20.1 per game.

Mirotic ranks second in scoring with 18.7 points per game.

Leday ranks 10th in scoring with 15.6 points per game.

Mirotic ranks third in rebounding with 7.4 per game.

Mirotic ranks eighth in offensive rebounding with 2.1 per game.

Mirotic is tied for third in three-pointers made with 2.4 per game.

Fabien Causeur leads the league in three-point accuracy at 55.2%.

Leday ranks second in three-point accuracy at 52.4%.

Causeur ranks third in steals with 1.4 per game.

Leandro Bolmaro ranks fifth in steals with 1.3 per game.

Milan ranks second in scoring with 87.9 points per game.

Milan ranks second in free-throw shooting at 82.8%.

Milan leads the league in three-point shooting at 40.4%.

Milan has allowed 9.7 offensive rebounds per game, which is the second-fewest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

Nikola Mirotic is ranked fifth all-time with 4,517 index rating points. Kostas Sloukas of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens is fourth with 4,733 and counting.

Mirotic is ranked eighth all-time in scoring with 3,799 points. Sloukas is seventh with 3,803 points.

Mirotic is in sixth place all-time with 906 free throws made. Sloukas is fifth with 936.

Stefano Tonut ranks sixth all-time in three-point accuracy at 45.7%.

Josh Nebo ranks 10th all-time in two-point accuracy at 65.7%.

Nebo needs 9 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Shavon Shields needs 5 two-point shots made to reach 500 for his career.

Zach LeDay needs 59 points to reach 2,000 for his career.

Rejuvenated by last week’s much-needed comeback victory at Maccabi, Barcelona (8-6) will try to overcome direct rival and red-hot Milan (8-6) in a key battle between two of the four teams currently tied for sixth place. 

Game facts: Barcelona vs. Milan

\- Last season, Milan won in Barcelona 86-90 with Shavon Shields scoring 19 points while tying his career high with 5 triples made.

\- In that Round 14 win, Milan guard Diego Flaccadori had career-highs in points (15) and PIR (16).

\- In the 2021 Final Four semifinals, Barcelona edged Milan 84-82 on a Cory Higgins jumper with 0.8 seconds on the clock.

\- Milan set a club record with 21 steals against FC Barcelona in December 2005.

\- Milan forward Nikola Mirotic spent four seasons at Barcelona between 2019 and 2023 and helped the team reach three EuroLeague Final Fours.

\- Mirotic and Barcelona center Willy Hernangomez were teammates at Real Madrid during the 2012-13 season. They reached the 2013 championship game together. The two were also teammates on the Spanish national team with which they won gold medals at EuroBasket 2015 and bronze medals at the 2016 Olympics.

\- Barcelona's Alex Abrines also won a 2016 Olympic bronze medal alongside Mirotic and Hernangomez.

\- Milan's Leandro Bolmaro joined Barcelona as a teenager and spent three years there, from 2018 to 2021, making his EuroLeague debut with the team.

\- Bolmaro and Barcelona guard Nicolas Laprovittola have been teammates on the Argentine national team.

\- Barcelona guard Kevin Punter played the 2020-21 season with Milan. He helped the team reach the 2021 Final Four. Punter played under head coach Ettore Messina and was a teammate of both Shavon Shields and Zach LeDay.

\- Punter and LeDay have also been teammates at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade the past three seasons.

\- Milan guard Neno Dimitrijevic played under current Barcelona head coach Joan Penarroya at Valencia Basket in the 2021-22 season.

\- Milan playmaker Niccolo Mannion played under Coach Penarroya at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz at the start of last season.

\- Barcelona's Joel Parra and Dimirijevic were teammates at Joventut Badalona during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

\- Barcelona big man Jan Vesely set a career-high with 8 assists while playing for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in a 92-100 road win against Milan in March 2021. He also collected 13 points and 10 rebounds on that night.

Rejuvenated by last week’s much-needed comeback victory at Maccabi, Barcelona (8-6) will try to overcome direct rival and red-hot Milan (8-6) in a key battle between two of the four teams currently tied for sixth place.

Game Notes: Barcelona vs. Milan

Both teams lost last time out, with the Greens falling at Partizan while Efes was stifled by Zalgiris. The Greens will try to feed off the energy of center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/), who also showed his distribution skills by dishing a personal best 5 assists in the loss at Partizan, so the Turkish team’s big man [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/derek-willis/009664/) will need to show the rebounding power that saw him grab 8 boards in Kaunas last time out. [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) (13 points per game) has been Efes’s go-to guard during the injury absence of [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/), and he needs a big performance against an extremely deep Panathinaikos backcourt.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

 

**Streaks**

 

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

Darius Thompson has posted PIRs in double figures in 11 of his last 12 games.

Vincent Poirier has had a PIR of 11 or more in six of his last seven games.

Poirier has had at least 1 block in seven of his last eight games.

Ercan Osmani has made all 20 of his free throws in his EuroLeague career.

Shane Larkin has had a double-digit PIR in five of his last six games.

Rolands Smits has made 16 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

Elijah Bryant ranks 10th in steals with 1.2 per game.

Vincent Poirier is tied for second in blocks with 1.4 per game.

Dan Oturu ranks sixth in blocks with 1.0 per game.

Oturu ranks fifth in two-point accuracy at 71.4%.

Rodrigue Beaubois is tied for fourth in three-point accuracy at 50.0%.

Efes leads the league in blocks with 3.8 per game.

Efes' defense has held opponents to 52.8% two-point shooting, the third lowest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Larkin is ranked 12th all-time in scoring with 3,369 points. Milos Teodosic of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade is 11th with 3,383 and counting, while Georgios Printezis is 10th with 3,599 points.

Shane Larkin ranks ninth all-time in three-pointers made with 515. Vassilis Spanoulis is eighth with 518.

Rodrigue Beaubois is in 10th place all-time in three-pointers made with 484.

Vincent Poirier ranks 10th all-time in blocks with 193. Ioannis Bourousis is ninth all-time with 194.

Poirier is in 13th place all-time with 422 offensive rebounds for his career. Bourousis is 12th all-time with 439 offensive rebounds.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

 

**Streaks**

Mathias Lessort has pulled down at least 5 rebounds in eight straight and 20 of his last 21 games.

Lessort has had a PIR of 10 or more in 23 straight games.

Lessort has scored 10 or more points in seven straight games.

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

Kendrick Nunn has scored at least 10 points in 20 straight and 35 of his last 36 games.

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

Nunn has had a double-digit PIR in 19 of his last 20 games.

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

Kostas Sloukas had at least 1 steal in six straight games.

Sloukas has made 23 consecutive free throws.

 

**Season rankings**

 

Mathias Lessort ranks sixth in average index rating with 21.4 per game.

Kendrick Nunn is tied for fourth in scoring with 18.4 points per game.

Lessort ranks fourth in rebounding with 7.2 per game.

Lessort ranks fifth in offensive rebounding with 2.6 per game.

Lessort ranks third in two-point accuracy at 77.2%.

Nunn is tied for third in three-pointers made with 2.4 per game.

Jerian Grant is tied for 10th in three-point accuracy at 46.9%.

Panathinaikos leads the league in average PIR with 103.2 per game.

Panathinaikos ranks second in two-point shooting at 59.5%.

Panathinaikos allows 9.9 offensive rebounds, the third-fewest in the league.

 

**Records/Milestones**

 

Kostas Sloukas ranks third all-time with 1,763 assists. Sergio Rodriguez is second with 1,874.

Sloukas is in fifth place all-time with 936 free throws made. Felipe Reyes is fourth with 967.

Sloukas is seventh all-time with 3,803 career points. Jan Vesely of FC Barcelona is sixth with 3,976 and counting.

Sloukas is ranked fourth all-time with 4,733 index rating points. Mike James of AS Monaco is third with 4,950 and counting.

Sloukas ranks 17th all-time in free-throw accuracy at 88.9%.

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

Grigonis needs 4 steals to reach 100 for his career.

Jerian Grant is second all-time with a 2.9-to-1 career assist-to-turnover ratio.

Mathias Lessort ranks 19th all-time in two-point accuracy at 63.7%.

Reigning champ Panathinaikos (8-6) will continue its quest for consistency with a crunch clash against Coach Ergin Ataman and forward Cedi Osman’s former club, Efes (7-7).

Game Facts: Efes vs. Panathinaikos

\- The last time they met, Panathinaikos beat Efes 83-76 in Athens behind Marius Grigonis who made a career-high 7 triples and had a career-best PIR of 28.

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

\- Cedi Osman grew up with Efes and made his EuroLeague debut there in the 2013-14 season. Current Efes head coach Tomislav Mijatovic was an assistant coach during Osman's entire time with the club.

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

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

\- Panathinaikos recorded 51 total rebounds, its most in EuroLeague play this century, against Efes in March 2014.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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