U-BT Cluj-Napoca kept its playoff chances alive with an 87-83 win over Frutti Extra Bursaspor in which veteran forward Jalen Jones had arguably his best game in the competition. Jones matched his season high with 14 points, hitting a pair of two-pointers and a pair of threes. He pulled down 8 rebounds to go with 2 assists and 2 steals, all tying his career-highs. Jones finished the game with a career-best PIR of 20 and Cluj lived to see another day in the Group A playoff race.
EuroCup Round 15 roll call
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A vintage Tomic carried Joventut
Veteran center Ante Tomic had a PIR of 31, the second best in Round 15, after putting on a vintage performance in Joventut Badalona's 65-86 statement win at Mincidelice JL Bourge en Bresse. In just 21 minutes on the floor, Tomic scored 22 points by making a career-high 10-of-11 two-point shots. He also pulled down 8 rebounds and dished 5 assists. His PIR, scoring and rebounding marks all tied his EuroCup career bests, too. Nearly a month after turning 36 years old, Tomic keeps shining like he was in his prime.
Brussino paced first-place Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria kept its firm grasp on the first place in Group B, and the best record in the competition, with a 94-88 win over Dolomiti Energia Trento. Nicolas Brussino paced the hosts with 16 points while also collecting 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, all in just 23 minutes of action. He finished with a game-high plus/minus of +16 and accumulated a performance index rating of 28, matching his career high.
Spagnolo shined against the leaders
In that same game, Trento's youngster Matteo Spagnolo flashed all his talent with another all-round game. Spagnolo had 23 points, making 6-of-10 two-point shots and 2-of-3 threes. He also had 4 rebounds and 4 assists, while drawing 6 personal fouls, finishing the game with a PIR of 29. The Trento guard shattered his previous highs in scoring (15) and PIR (19).
Parks played a big role for Reyer
Umana Reyer Venice booked its place in the playoffs with a dominating 90-64 win in its all-Italian derby against Germani Brescia. Many players had a hand in that big win, and one of them was Jordan Parks, who had 9 points, 4 rebounds and a block. His PIR of 12 tied his career high, set in early February. What stood out was Parks having a +28 plus/minus in just 18 minutes on the floor, helping Reyer's charge into the playoffs.
In the five games since Gediminas Orelik joined 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys, the team has won the last four. Orelik was at it once again against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, leading Lietkabelis to an 87-94 road win to book a place in the playoffs. Orelik netted 22 points by making 3 of 6 two-pointers and 5 of 9 threes. He also had 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He also stepped up midway through the fourth quarter, when he nailed his fifth triple and followed it with a three-point play that opened a 77-84 lead, after which Lietkabelis never looked back.