EuroLeague Live Blog: Fenerbahce vs. Zalgiris, Virtus vs. Real Madrid, Monaco vs. Valencia, Partizan vs. Olympiacos, Milan vs. Bayern

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Thursday Blog: Barca clinches home-court for playoffs; Efes, Maccabi also win

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-03-30T18:05:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v ALBA Berlin (2023-03-30T18:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-03-30T17:30:00.000Z)

 Donate now for Turkiye, Syria earthquake relief 

In the pre-dawn hours of Monday, February 6, a terrifying earthquake struck Turkiye and Syria, killing and injuring tens of thousands of people and leaving many more homeless.

While our thoughts are with all those affected by the earthquake and its heart-rending consequences, Euroleague Basketball would like to encourage everyone to help them by cooperating with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and OXFAM.

You can donate by clicking on the following links.

UNHCR: [HERE](https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/turkiye-syria-earthquake-emergency) 

OXFAM: [HERE](https://www.oxfam.org/en/emergency_donations/earthquake-emergency-fund) 

Before all this week's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games, a moment of silence will be held to honor the earthquake victims. Euroleague Basketball also decided to postpone the One Team Games celebration planned for this week in all EuroLeague and EuroCup arenas out of respect for those affected by the tragedy.

**About UNHCR**

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.

**About OXFAM**

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Across regions, from the local to the global, OXFAM works with people to bring change that lasts. Its work is grounded in the commitment to the universality of human rights. Driven by diversity and founding their asks in evidence and experience, OXFAM takes sides against poverty and injustice everywhere.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🇹🇷🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/glrSRc7onM">pic.twitter.com/glrSRc7onM</a></p>&mdash; Shane Larkin (@shanelarkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanelarkin/status/1623038829786501134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/6Ocn1C4liO">pic.twitter.com/6Ocn1C4liO</a></p>&mdash; Erten Gazi (@thekingazi) <a href="https://twitter.com/thekingazi/status/1622996290735841280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Başta Kahramanmaraş olmak üzere Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Adana, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Adıyaman ve Şanlıurfa ile birçok şehrimizi etkileyen depremde hayatını kaybeden vatandaşlarımıza Allah’tan rahmet, yaralanan vatandaşlarımıza acil şifalar diliyorum. <a href="https://t.co/jKlojlGMKz">pic.twitter.com/jKlojlGMKz</a></p>&mdash; Melih Mahmutoğlu (@melihmahmutoglu) <a href="https://twitter.com/melihmahmutoglu/status/1622529111414525953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Coach Erdem Can&#39;s comments after the game.<a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TT_Basketbol</a> <a href="https://t.co/1dD5IHj8Qu">pic.twitter.com/1dD5IHj8Qu</a></p>&mdash; 7DAYS EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1623064832345010176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Geçmiş olsun Türkiye 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 <a href="https://t.co/clQOgIwc30">https://t.co/clQOgIwc30</a></p>&mdash; Itoudis Dimitris (@ItoudisD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ItoudisD/status/1622532328965738499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Kulübümüzün deprem bölgelerine yardım kampanyasına destek vermeye devam ediyoruz!<br><br>Basketbol Operasyonları Genel Direktörümüz Maurizio Gherardini, Genel Menajerimiz Derya Yannier ve Başantrenörümüz Dimitris Itoudis ile Ülker Stadyumu&#39;ndayız!<br><br>Yaraları hep birlikte saracağız! <a href="https://t.co/l83FxBVUcn">pic.twitter.com/l83FxBVUcn</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1623313194151297026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Oyuncularımız, <a href="https://twitter.com/TBF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TBF</a> tarafından Sinan Erdem Spor Salonu&#39;nda oluşturulan yardım noktasını ziyaret etmeye ve ürün desteği yapmaya devam ediyorlar. <a href="https://t.co/9vSzMGGKZO">pic.twitter.com/9vSzMGGKZO</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1623270648704376832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Destekleriniz Barış Spor Salonu&#39;nda toplanmaya devam ediyor📦<br><br>Onuralp Bitim&#39;den yardım çağrısı🎙️ <a href="https://t.co/Z59LVjo4a6">pic.twitter.com/Z59LVjo4a6</a></p>&mdash; Frutti Extra Bursaspor (@BsBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BsBasketbol/status/1623257830059917312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🧡 Stay Strong, Turkish People! <a href="https://t.co/fy9rDEZvvW">https://t.co/fy9rDEZvvW</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1622690594551173214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Abans de l’entrenament, minut de silenci en memòria de totes les víctimes del terratrèmol que ha afectat Turquia i Síria.<a href="https://twitter.com/SanliSertac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SanliSertac</a> estem amb tu! <a href="https://t.co/gi778BPiQG">pic.twitter.com/gi778BPiQG</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1623334971279638528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stay strong 🙏🏾 <a href="https://t.co/enyU8qMDla">https://t.co/enyU8qMDla</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1622691758617333814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our deepest condolences to everyone who lost loved ones in the terrible earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquakeinturkey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquakeinturkey</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@olympiacosbc) <a href="https://twitter.com/olympiacosbc/status/1622658463594696710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are devastated by the news of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims🙏 Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you 🙏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1622545004701827073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="art" dir="ltr">🙏🏼🙏🏼 <a href="https://t.co/sUBZ6BkxWa">https://t.co/sUBZ6BkxWa</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1622698425631313995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🙏🏻 Nos pensées sont dirigées vers les personnes touchées par les séismes intervenus aujourd’hui en Turquie et en Syrie.</p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1622602511562547202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Nos condoléances aux familles des victimes et aux peuples turc et syrien. Nos pensées pour ceux qui viennent en aide aux sinistrés. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Turkeyearthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Turkeyearthquake</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syriaearthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Syriaearthquake</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1622638825603231744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Maccabi Tel Aviv BC wishes to express its deepest condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that hit the region today. Our hopes and prayers with all those affected by this terrible disaster 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/ogmMNiPWYg">pic.twitter.com/ogmMNiPWYg</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabitlvBC/status/1622556936938962944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Donate now for Turkiye, Syria earthquake relief

Barely a month ago, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv looked unlikely to challenge for a postseason berth in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague but a run of six successive wins propelled the Israeli powerhouse to a 19-13 record with two regular season games remaining. 

Maccabi rolled again with Sorkin at center stage

Barely a month ago, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv looked unlikely to challenge for a postseason berth in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague but a run of six successive wins propelled the Israeli powerhouse to a 19-13 record with two regular season games remaining. 

Maccabi is almost assured of a playoff spot after a pair of resounding victories against Italian rivals this week, having thumped Virtus Segafredo Bologna 111-80 on Tuesday before [Thursday’s 85-66 rout of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/E2022/281/).

With Wade Baldwin shining against Virtus and Lorenzo Brown playing the main role versus Milan, forward Roman Sorkin emerged as the unsung hero of both victories after a pair of majestic performances.

Well, not entirely unsung, as he drew heaps of praise from his teammates, none more so than from fellow forward Jake Cohen. 

"[Maccabi fans] are the best fans in the EuroLeague and probably the world."

"He had a 3-minute stretch in the second quarter when he was just carrying us," Cohen told reporters as Maccabi’s players rejoiced in the locker room, having been given a standing ovation by their passionate fans after seeing off Milan. 

"He’s been terrific and he deserves all the accolades he got tonight. 

Those were really good big guys he played against tonight – Kyle Hines, Brandon Davies, that’s a really tough front line, among the best in Europe. He’s really improved and it’s great being his teammate, it’s a lot of fun seeing him succeed," Cohen added.

Sorkin, who averages 7.3 points per game, scored 13 against Virtus on

5-of-7 shooting from the floor and then elevated his game to sink 18 points against Milan, 16 of them in a rampant first half when Maccabi raced into a 53-36 lead.

Sorkin shot 8 of 9 from the floor and ran Milan’s defense ragged with intelligent movement all around the opposition half, which made it easy for his teammates to create open shots for the big man.

One of the unlikeliest men to steal the show from the likes of Brown and Baldwin, Sorkin was as humble as ever after the game and his assessment personified his selfless approach on the court.

"Our defense was a big part of this game," he said. "They got close to us in the third quarter, but we had a game plan. My teammates found me in the right spots so I didn’t have to do too much by myself. All the credit goes to them."

Roman Sorkin (18 points) Highlights vs. AX Armani Exchange Milan, 03/30/2023

Roman Sorkin shined with 18 points against Milan

Sorkin personifies an unbreakable team spirit and unselfish mindset which Maccabi is famous for, meaning that the team’s deep roster has a variety of players who can step up to the plate on any given night. That trait will be so important if Maccabi reaches the playoffs and it could happen as early as Friday if just one of three results plays into the Israeli side’s hands.

Last but not least, the fervent support Maccabi gets in every home game could also be a telling factor in the club’s bid to go beyond the quarterfinals and reach the May 19-21 Final Four in Kaunas.

"What makes this place so special is the fans," Sorkin said. "They are part of us and give us the energy, they are the best fans in the EuroLeague and probably the world."

As for Milan, their challenge fell short as a late revival could not salvage a season plagued by injuries, a factor its head coach Ettore Messina reflected on at the post-game press conference.

"Our two starting guards played five games together," Messina said. "Shavon Shields has played seven games all season, Gigi Datome four or five. Kevin Pangos was out for a long time, Billy Baron too. Devon Hall out for two and a half months. Things kind of piled up. Then again, we lost four games out of six against the bottom three teams in the standings. But that’s life, that’s competition, sometimes you just don’t have the tools."

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv cruised to an 85-66 home rout of EA Emporio Armani Milan on the back of a cohesive team effort that saw the hosts flourish in assists and rebounds, the same departments which saw them vanquish Virtus Segafredo Bologna 111-80 earlier this week.

Assists and rebounds epitomized Maccabi’s team spirit

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv cruised to an 85-66 home rout of EA Emporio Armani Milan on the back of a cohesive team effort that saw the hosts flourish in assists and rebounds, the same departments which saw them vanquish Virtus Segafredo Bologna 111-80 earlier this week.

Having produced a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague record of 38 assists against reigning champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Maccabi completed a perfect Italian job as it dished out 21 assists against Milan and contained the visitors to just 13, with the rivals committing 7 turnovers each.

Maccabi also racked up 10 boards more than Milan (37-27) and shot 25 of 36 from two-point territory, while the visiting team made 12 of 23.

Crucially, Maccabi was more resourceful as Roman Sorkin (18 points) turned out to be the trump card, with Lorenzo Brown (17 points, 8 assists) and Wade Baldwin (15 points, 6 assists) doing their part to great effect.

Game Videos

What hurt Milan the most is that four other Maccabi players netted 8 points each, while Shabazz Napier (15 points) and Shavon Shields (14 points, 5 rebounds) cut lonesome figures in Milan’s effort to keep alive its postseason hopes.

The other key players misfired as Nicolo Melli, Billy Baron and Brandon Davies scored 10 points between them, with Milan head coach Ettore Messina offering a realistic assessment of the night’s action.

"In the first half, we didn't have the level of competitiveness that was required," Messina said at the post-game press conference. “Second half, we found our old chemistry and good defense. Two moments decided the game – first when we missed a pair of completely open threes when we were down by 6 and had momentum. The second was when were down by 10 and missed 4 free throws. Maccabi has remarkable athleticism and that can make a lot of difference in the EuroLeague. On top of a good system, they have guards who can create at any moment."

Game News

FC Barcelona cruised to a 72-56 home victory over ALBA Berlin in Round 32 to secure home-court advantage for the playoffs. Its team depth was critical, as new players stepped up in this important game.

Kyle Kuric did not step on the court against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 32. In that game, Nikola Kalinic and Sertac Sanli combined for 6 points in their team's 80-89 road victory. Kuric started against ALBA and scored 5 of his 7 points early in the second half, when Barca struggled to score. 

"Kyle \[Kuric\] showed today that he is ready to get on the court at any time and give a good performance," Barca coach Sarunas Jasikevicius said after the game. "He is practicing well, with a good attitude. It is not easy for a player who doesn't play, but there is no other way. You have to be ready, this is it."

Kyle Kuric, Sertac Sanli and Nikola Kalinic combined for 29 points in FC Barcelona's 72-56 home win against ALBA Berlin in Round 32.

Kuric, Sanli, Kalinic step up in Round 32

Sertac Sanli led Barca with 12 points and Kalinic added 10. Both players combined for 11 rebounds and a PIR of 27. When ALBA got within 43-42, Kalinic and Sanli made the difference. They combined for 17 points in a 19-3 run that broke the game open. Kalinic scored all of his 10 points in that run. Both went from playing a minor role in Round 31 to arguably be the best players on the floor in Round 32 and that, of course, is good news for Barca.

Coach 'Saras' praised Sanli after the game. 

"Sertac knows what the coach asks for and what the systems need. He is always there, very solid. Then the difference for many of you is if he scores the ball or not. Not for us, because our opponents are not silly and will not let him shoot. Lately, the difference is that he is hitting some more shots and everything looks nicer, but basketball is way more than scoring the ball or not," he said. "He gives us different things than Jan \[Vesely\], Mike \[Tobey\] and James \[Nnaji\]. We are very happy with him."

Barca's Kuric, Sanli were ready when needed against ALBA

victory over Virtus Segafredo Bologna at Sinan Erden Sports Hall on Thursday night. 

Zizic boosted Efes's key runs

Ante Zizic became an unstoppable weapon for Anadolu Efes Istanbul on its way to a 19-point victory over Virtus Segafredo Bologna at Sinan Erden Sports Hall on Thursday night. The Croatian center not only finished as the game's top-scorer with 24 points -tying his career best- in only 17:51, but also provided Efes with the boost it needed in key moments of the game.

Zizic didn’t start, but when he took the floor, he had an immediate impact. He scored his first bucket late in the first period and collected 8 more points in a 13-2 spark early in the second to help Efes amass a double-digit lead for the first time in the game, 26-15. 

He remained under the radar in the third, but showed up again when Virtus threatened to come back to lead a 9-2 run that established a 60-38 entering the last stanza. And finally, when the visitors found Niccolo Mannion and Marco Belinelli on the perimeter, Zizic took over again to score 8 points in a row that definitely put the game to bed, 76-50, with 4 minutes to play.

"Twenty-four \[points\] seems nice, but tonight we did a great team effort. First half, second half, we stuck with the plan, we are on a mission”, he said after the game. "We are trying to win every single game and tonight it just broke out great. I started very good and my teammates and the coaching staff just saw that and they just kept up running plays for me."

FC Barcelona had to battle hard to overcome a halftime deficit and beat ALBA Berlin 72-56 in Round 32. With this victory, Barca secured the home-court advantage for the playoffs.

It was not a good shooting day for Barca, but it managed to protect the paint well. ALBA made just 12 of 36 two-point shots in this game. Its 33.3% two-point shooting percentage was the club's season-low and the fourth-lowest mark in the EuroLeague this season. ALBA made only 5 of 19 two-pointers (26.3% 2FG) after the break. On the other hand, Barca sank 24 of 48 two-pointers (50% 2FG), not great, but more than enough to win the game.

The hosts did a great job at cutting down on turnovers, finishing the game with just 7, which matched a season-low. It previously had 7 turnovers in a 93-74 home victory against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 26. Barca finished the game with 19 assists, which means it dished 2.71 assists per turnover. ALBA had more turnovers (17) than assists (15). Rokas Jokubaitis circulated the ball better than anyone else with 5 assists and no turnovers.

Barca protected the paint, limited mistakes

in the second half, the home team was much better, making 6 threes on only 10 attempts (60%). 

 Efes upped its offensive game in the second half to beat Virtus

Anadolu Efes Istanbul had no room for mistakes coming to the game against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 32. Efes needed to win to keep its chances alive for a ticket to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs and it grabbed it thanks to a major improvement in the second half, mainly offensively.

"We missed a lot of three-point shots in the first half," said head coach Ergin Ataman at halftime. "We need to take shots with more confidence."

And that’s what his team did.

Efes finished the first two periods with a below-average percentage from deep (18.7%), after making just 3 out of 16 attempts. But in the second half, the home team was much better, making 6 threes on only 10 attempts (60%). Its offensive improvement was also confirmed by how it moved the ball, as Efes registered 18 dishes in the last 20 minutes, going for 15-of-18 (83.3%) on two-point shooting. 

"All game we made excellent defense, aggressive defense, and in offense, we shared the ball, we played the running game," Ataman stressed in the press conference. "But in the first half, we missed shots, open shots, and that’s the reason we found the break. In the second half, when we started to make shots coming from good plays, with a great sense of sharing the ball and we made those shots, we got a big difference."

Barca clinches home-court advantage, 72-56

FC Barcelona clinched home-court advantage for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs by downing ALBA Berlin 72-56 in Round 32 at Palau Blaugrana on Thursday. Barca improved to 22-10 after recording its fourth consecutive victory. It is also on a six-game home winning streak. ALBA dropped to 9-23 and has been out of the playoffs race for several rounds already.

Sertac Sanli paced the winners with 12 points off the bench. Nikola Mirotic added 11 while Nikola Kalinic had 10 for Barca, which committed only 7 turnovers and pulled down 14 offensive rebounds. Yanni Wetzell led the way for ALBA with 9 points.

Jan Vesely, Mirotic and Kyle Kuric each buried a jumper in a 6-0 run that gave Barca an early 10-5 lead. Tomas Satoransky's three-point play soon boosted his team's margin to 15-9. Johannes Thiemann and Jaleen Smith rescued ALBA and when Ben Lammers added a three-pointer and a couple of layup, the visitors were in charge, 19-21, after 10 minutes. 

Yovel Zoosman and Malte Delow each hit a triple to cause Barca to call timeout at 21-27. Sertac Sanli and Mirotic stepped up for the hosts and Nico Laprovittola's consecutive layups put Barca ahead, 34-33. Delow hit a wild buzzer-beating jumper for a 34-35 ALBA edge at the break.

Kuric buried a three-pointer soon after the break and followed Mirotic's layup with a jumper for a 41-39 Barca lead. Nikola Kalinic took over with a three-point play and got help from Rokas Jokubaitis and Sanli to establish a 50-42 Barca lead after 30 minutes. 

Kalinic followed a layup with a triple, and an unstoppable Sanli boosted the hosts' margin to 60-45 with over 7 minutes left. LIttle changed after that as Barca kept a double-digit margin all the way until the final buzzer, cruising to an important win.

Barca tops ALBA, 72-56, to clinch home-court advantage

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv took a huge step towards securing a postseason berth after an 85-66 home win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Thursday propelled it to a 19-13 record with two games remaining. 

Maccabi on the verge of playoffs after beating Milan, 85-66

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv took a huge step towards securing a postseason berth after an 85-66 home win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on Thursday propelled it to a 19-13 record with two games remaining. Maccabi could seal a playoff spot as early as Friday, as it needs just one of three results to go its way to finish in the top eight. In contrast, Milan (14-18) has been eliminated after a second successive defeat this week, having also suffered an 89-69 reverse at Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Tuesday.

Forward Roman Sorkin capped a big week with a stellar first-half performance for Maccabi, having paced the hosts with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. Sorkin nailed 16 points in the opening two quarters and playmaker Lorenzo Brown finished with 17 points and 8 assists. Wade Baldwin had 15 points and 6 assists for Maccabi, which fended off a third-quarter fightback from Milan to come out on top. At the other end, Shabazz Napier paced Milan on 15 points and Shavon Shields added 14, but the duo lacked support as the other key players failed to step up to the plate in a crunch game for the visitors.

Like it so often does on its home court, Maccabi got off to a flying start and carved out a 10-point lead early on (23-13) thanks to Sorkin, who tormented Milan’s defense in different ways. A pair of slam dunks, a three-pointer and some incisive execution in the paint by the forward galvanized Maccabi, with Milan’s defense in tatters throughout the first half. The visitors had no reply for Milan’s quick transition of the ball while they were reduced to one-on-one plays at the other end, as Maccabi’s aggressive half-court pressure gave Ettore Messina’s men preciously little room to operate.

It was all too obvious that Milan faced a mammoth task in the second half after Maccabi took a 53-36 halftime lead, but the visiting team roared back in the third quarter and cut the gap to just 60-54 on the back of an 18-7 run, with the hosts beginning to struggle on offense.

However, the fightback was short-lived as Maccabi regained its momentum late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, having taken a decisive 71-60 lead with 6:45 minutes left on the clock. The advantage soon soared to 78-62 and there was no way back for Milan, which now has only pride to play for in the last two regular-season games.

Maccabi’s players and staff are likely to be glued to their TV sets on Friday and keenly follow the action elsewhere to find out if they’ve done enough to qualify for the playoffs. But even if it doesn’t happen on the back of other results going their way, they still have every chance of sealing a playoff berth in their last two games, against Zalgiris Kaunas on the road and Real Madrid at home.

Coach Jasikevicius, Barca: We dug deeper'

### FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius:

"Congratulations to our players, congratulations to our fans. I thought it was a great win after Belgrade and a double week in the EuroLeague, it was a very difficult game. ALBA came with a lot of motivation, a lot of speed, a lot of ball movement, and we were not able to stop them in the first half. And then I thought the guys really dug deeper. I thought we found a lot of solutions, and we have to be happy for a lot of players today. It is a very long season and we look for goals, and it is important to achieve this one \[home-court advantage\]. Clearly, this doesn't guarantee anything but is a little bit better. We have guaranteed to play one more game at home if we have to get to that moment \[Game 5\]. It's good."

### ALBA Berlin head coach Israel Gonzalez:

"I think we had a good game, generally speaking, competing against a great team. Congratulations to Barca. We were trying to compete against them but in the end of the third quarter and in the fourth quarter, we couldn't match their energy to find a way to score, because they improved their defense very well and for us, it was difficult. But I think we are in a good line, doing good things, and I hope these games in the EuroLeague helped us improve at the end of the season in our domestic league. Barca is a great team with physicality and talent and a good coach. The key is to arrive well to the playoffs and compete well."

### FC Barcelona center Sertac Sanli:

"In the first half, we played basketball with ALBA and played their basketball. In the second half, it completely changed: we played our basketball, showed our character, our team basketball, and won easily. But it is really tough, if you play against ALBA, with them, it is a very dangerous team. They beat Efes last week and I am happy that we cleared this victory.

"I am trying to help my team, and the game was coming to me today. I made the shots and tried to help my teammates, so that it was good. Today it was me, next week is a different player. It doesn't matter, we are playing team basketball and everybody is happy right now. I am happy for the win, that's all."

### FC Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic:

"It was a great performance by our team, especially this second half, especially on defense. We stepped up. We knew we needed to slow down ALBA because they played great basketball, especially offensively, and I am happy with how we approached especially this second half of the game. It is an important win at home after a couple of tough wins away. It was important to win at home, with these fans."

Coach Jasikevicius, Barca: 'We dug deeper'

The action is getting hotter than ever as Round 32 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague brings us ever closer to the playoffs. Here's your guide to Thursday and Friday's action.

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/anadolu-efes-istanbul-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2022/280/)

After giving its playoff hopes a big boost with a convincing win over Milan on Tuesday, Efes (15-16) must now protect its home court for the second time in a week against already-eliminated Virtus (13-18) in a meeting of the current EuroLeague and EuroCup champions. Key to Efes's triumph on Tuesday was a return to form by Shane Larkin, who netted 18 points after only averaging 9.3 in the previous four games. The Turkish team would love to see their shooting star continue that streak in Thursday's opening tipoff.

[Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/E2022/281/)

After setting the all-time EuroLeague record by dishing 38 assists in Tuesday's crushing win over Virtus, red-hot Maccabi (18-13) will aim to protect the best home record in the competition (13-2) against a Milan team (14-17) desperate to bounce back after a costly loss against Efes earlier this week. Maccabi will qualify if it wins and one of three other teams – Partizan, Zalgiris or Baskonia – loses in this round. Maccabi has now won five consecutive games and scored at least 85 points in the last four, so Milan needs a big performance to have any hope of staying in the playoff race.

Round 32 at a glance: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

[FC Barcelona vs. ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/fc-barcelona-alba-berlin/E2022/282/)

Playoff-bound Barcelona (21-10) will look to seal home-court advantage in the playoffs with a visit from ALBA (9-22), which has never won at Palau Blaugrana. The game will feature an intriguing duel between two of the competition's best power forwards, with in-form reigning EuroLeague MVP Nikola Mirotic – who is averaging 22.0 points in the last six games – going up against the uniquely talented Luke Sikma, a perennial triple-double threat with averages of 7.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

[FC Bayern Munich vs. AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/fc-bayern-munich-as-monaco/E2022/287/)

Eliminated and injury-hit Bayern (11-20) will play for pride against a Monaco (20-11) team heading for the playoffs and looking to seal home-court advantage. Monaco has won all three previous meetings between the teams, including an 80-79 thriller in November when Bayern scored 13 points in the last minute – including 9 from Andreas Obst alone – to threaten a remarkable comeback. Monaco will have to remember to play to the final buzzer on this occasion.

[Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/zalgiris-kaunas-valencia-basket/E2022/283/)

In Friday's opening tipoff it's essentially do-or-die at Final Four venue Zalgirio Arena, where host Zalgiris (16-15) and visiting Valencia (14-17) are in equal need of a victory to boost their playoff qualification hopes. Valencia has lost five of its last six games to see its playoff ambitions slowly evaporate, while Zalgiris grabbed a vital home win over Monaco on Wednesday – in large part thanks to 22 points from Ignas Bradzeikis – and now needs a second home win in three days to keep pushing for the top eight.

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-real-madrid/E2022/288/)

Partizan (17-14) will look to bounce back from Tuesday's home loss to Barcelona with another serious visitor in Real Madrid (22-9), which has already qualified for the playoffs and sealed home-court advantage. Partizan can qualify for the playoffs with a win if either Zalgiris or Baskonia lose their games this round. The Serbian team will be keen to regain offensive fluidity after only dishing 5 assists against Barcelona. The game features a mouth-watering personal battle between two of the league's top big men, with the athletic Mathias Lessort looking to dominate Real's tower in the paint, Walter Tavares.

[Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/cazoo-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2022/286/)

Another game with plenty of playoff implications takes place at Buesa Arena, where Baskonia (16-15) hosts Fenerbahce (18-13). To pull off a big road win and secure playoff qualification, Dimitris Itoudis's men will need to improve their perimeter defense against the league's most prolific three-point shooting team. Baskonia averages 10.7 triples per night – led by Markus Howard with 2.8 per game – and Fenerbahce is ranked 16th in the competition after allowing opponents to convert 37.5% of shots from beyond the arc.

Round 32 at a glance: Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Panathinaikos Athens

[Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Panathinaikos Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/olympiacos-piraeus-panathinaikos-athens/E2022/285/)

A Greek derby at Peace and Friendship Stadium will give Olympiacos (22-9) the chance to warm up for the playoffs in the best possible style by testing itself against fast-improving but already-disqualified local rival Panathinaikos (11-20). The Reds have won the last three local derbies in the EuroLeague, including a colossal 71-95 victory in Athens in December powered by 19 points and 9 rebounds from Moustapha Fall. Panathinaikos has nothing to play for except pride…but there is no greater pride for the Greens than defeating its local rivals, so this will be as intense as ever.

[LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2022/284/)

Another busy week of action concludes in France, where ASVEL (8-23) will look to give its fans reason to celebrate with a visit from Zvezda (14-17) which must win to keep its season alive. This has historically been a very closely contested matchup, with all seven of the previous meetings decided by 6 points and five of those games settled by a single-possession. Most recently, Zvezda enjoyed a 71-67 triumph in Belgrade in November on the back of 16 points from Nikola Ivanovic.

Round 32: The playoff push continues

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Real Madrid (2023-03-31T18:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v AS Monaco (2023-03-31T17:00:00.000Z)

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-03-31T18:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Panathinaikos Athens (2023-03-31T18:30:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-03-31T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Valencia Basket (2023-03-31T17:00:00.000Z)

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Barca protected the paint, limited mistakes

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Maccabi on the verge of playoffs after beating Milan, 85-66

Coach Jasikevicius, Barca: 'We dug deeper'