Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 17 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 17

## Friday, December 19

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Dubai Basketball (18:30 CET)

**Pablo Laso, Efes head coach**

"Of course, it will be a difficult game, as all games in the EuroLeague are. Dubai Basketball has had a great season so far. Although it is their first year in the EuroLeague, they have several experienced players who have played at this level in EuroLeague for years, along with some who have NBA experience. So, no doubt it would be a tough game for us. Personally, this will be my first home game, and I am very happy to experience the incredible atmosphere. With our busy schedule, it’s possible that Dubai will arrive in Istanbul even before we do. We need to move past whatever just happened - good or bad - and quickly prepare ourselves for another big game. As I’ve said before, we need everyone ready, because this will be a long journey and we must be prepared every game."

**Jordan Loyd, Efes guard**

"Dubai is a great team with a lot of weapons. Obviously, we need to be locked in on individual defensive assignments, but collectively we must also be on the same page. Right now, we feel we can build on our previous games, and our goal is to keep moving in the right direction, day by day. Ultimately, it’s more about us and the progress our team is making, step by step. We appreciate our fans for their constant support, and we can’t wait to see them against Dubai."

**Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach**

"Every opponent in the EuroLeague is the same, very tough. They are injured, but some of them have come back, which for sure is very important for them. So they are playing lately very good with a different energy, with a different system, I would say. So we're going to need to be very physical, need to be very, very good in the closing our rebounds and try to run as much as we can. On the road, it's very important to get easy baskets."

**McKinley Wright, Dubai guard**

"It's going to be tough. It will be great atmosphere, I'm assuming. \[Efes has\] a new coach, a new style of basketball they're playing. They're moving the ball a lot. They got a lot of talented guys over there, got a really good big man down there in the center of the paint. I'm sure it'll be physical. It'll be a tough environment. We got to just try to be more physical and get out of this run and transition as much as possible. They're sharing the ball really well right now. I watched them play, they got a big road win at Zalgiris last night. I know it's hard to win there. They play team collective basketball. So we just got to try to take them out of transition, take their shooters away, make them drivers, and make their drivers shoot."

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19:00 CET)

**Mirko Ocokoljic, Partizan head coach**

"We have a tough game ahead. We’re playing against a team that includes top Lithuanian players along with several international players, led by Nigel Williams-Goss, Sylvain Francisco and Moses Wright. They were the biggest surprise at the start of the EuroLeague season. However, they had a slightly weaker performance \[on Wednesday\], similar to us. We need to analyze our mistakes and approach the game differently than we did \[against Virtus\]."

**Shake Milton, Partizan guard**

"We need to prepare for Zalgiris by watching the game footage. It’s a long season, so we have to stay focused and find the right energy. We need to play smarter and make sure we don’t repeat the same mistakes."

### AS Monaco vs. FC Bayern Munich (19:30 CET)

**Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco head coach**

"We're going through a rough patch right now. We're not playing at the level we want to be at, and we're not producing good basketball. We need to find a solution, and that starts with bringing the right energy to the court from the get-go. We need to find consistency and rise up together. That's how we'll rediscover our basketball and our principles of play. A season is long, and it's normal to have ups and downs."

**Gordon Herbert, Bayern head coach**

"It's about how we execute our attacks on offense; we finally have to take better care of the ball. We have to value possession more, and allow fewer easy baskets on defense. Monaco is one of the most talented teams in the EuroLeague and they're playing at home. It's going to be a tough challenge. The guys always give their all and fight hard, but we definitely need to improve a few things."

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:15 CET)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach**

"ASVEL is a solid team, a team that plays hard. Many of the games they have lost were decided in the final three to five minutes. They fight everywhere; you saw that they beat Bayern, they never give up in any game. I think it’s unnecessary to say it every time, but every EuroLeague game is difficult, every game hides traps. You have to play well if you want to win, and I think everyone can draw that conclusion from \[Round 16's\] results as well. There is no easy game, and that’s how we need to approach it."

**Frank Ntilikina, Olympiacos guard**

"It’s always nice to play against familiar faces. It will be a big game, especially for us since we need the win, particularly at home. We always talk in the locker room and with the coaching staff about how to improve, whether we’ve won or lost. There is always room for improvement."

### FC Barcelona vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:30 CET)

**Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach**

"We have to follow this line of being ambitious, of having this motivation to win every game, and knowing how to do it well, too. When you win several games in a row, you also have to continue wanting to win another time and not to relax mentally. If you relax a little bit in the EuroLeague, or the Spanish League, the other team can beat you. Beyond that, each game has different characteristics. We have to play against a rival that is doing very well. In the last 10 games Baskonia has been 6-4, with a winning record. By beating Monaco, they have proved they are in a great moment, with very good scorers, with good players, a very difficult team that we will have to face on Friday at Palau. We are a team. Everyone has to contribute, everyone has to be there. It is a very long season and we need everyone here, and everyone is doing it. When it's their turn, they do it. I am very happy about that. We are in the month of December, there is no possibility of dropping any player, much less. On the contrary, we need all of them. Toko \[Shengelia\] needs a little more time. Jan \[Vesely\] is questionable until the last moment, I don't know if we will have him or not. And for Lapro \[Nico Laprovittola\], we are more optimistic, but we will also wait until the last moment. Let's see how today's practice goes to be able to decide."

**Will Clyburn, Barcelona forward**

"Everybody is on the same page here. We are playing well together. It's always good when you win. Everybody is always there for you when you win. Obviously, we are just in a good level right now and that's how the season goes sometimes. The team is doing a great job this year. We are fighting, playing for each other and buying into the coach's system, doing exactly what he tells us to do, and we are finding a way to get wins. And anytime you can do that, it's always a great year. We know that we can't give up 100 points or 90 points to win games. Obviously, always our offense is not going to be the best, so we have to kind of depend on the defensive end to get stops and try to stop them as much as possible, even when we are having tough scoring nights. We are going to have guys that are going to have off days, off weeks, and it was always for the next guy to step up and do their thing. So it's always next guy up, in my opinion. And that's what a team is for, to watch each other's back and pick up when other guys are kind of slacking. So hopefully one day when I'm slacking or not playing the best, someone else is going to pick up from me as well."

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Virtus Bologna (20:45 CET)

**Sasha Obradovic, Crvena Zvezda head coach**

"We need to rest well, because we need energy compared to this schedule and a slightly shorter rotation. We did one training session after \[the game in\] Jerusalem, where you can't go into too much detail. Although Virtus is a very demanding opponent. The way they play can cause you problems. Not only for us, they have beaten many teams already. They have serious chemistry. They immediately found an answer after the defeat in Milan and played really dominantly on Wednesday. They are versatile on offense, although we know that the X-factors are \[Carsen\] Edwards and \[Matt\] Morgan. We have to be careful on defense."

**Jared Butler, Crvena Zvezda guard**

"On a three-game losing streak, we just have to stay calm. This is not the time for us to panic, we have to pull ourselves together and continue together. Even the best teams have to suffer at some point in the season, this is a chance for us to learn. Our goal is still to be the best at the end of the season."

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach**

"Tomorrow we will face a completely different team from the one we faced yesterday. After the change on the bench, they are playing really well: they already had a good team and now they are playing with a lot of energy, with clear ideas on how to attack. Red Star is a team that manages to create play from many one-on-one situations, with many players who can hurt you in isolation; they are probably the best team in transition and also have good solutions inside the area. To beat Red Star, we will need to play even better than yesterday."

**Alessandro Pajola, Virtus guard**

"We're definitely in for another battle, as this is another very heated ground, perhaps even more so than yesterday's. They're a team in absolutely top form. I had the opportunity to watch Red Star's match against Hapoel, a game in which they fought until the very end despite being away from home. Certainly, since they changed coaches, they have gained an extra gear in terms of energy and confidence on the court. They have also added a very important player in Jared Butler. As always, we will have to focus on ourselves, our game plan and our choices."

## Thursday, December 18

### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Valencia Basket (20:05 CET)

**Jean Montero, Valencia guard**

"No EuroLeague game is easy. Any team can beat you on a day when you're low on energy. We have to stay focused, keep our feet on the ground, and try to win the game in Israel as well. Above all, we have to try to impose our shooting rhythm. That's going to be very important, along with defense and intensity, for the entire 40 minutes of the game."

**Neal Sako, Valencia center**

"We know they play a bit like us. I think we need to play very well together as a team and with intensity to hope to win and stop their three-game winning streak. We are a team with a lot of rotations, so we have energy until the end of the game because we play with 12 players. Other teams usually play with 10 or nine players. So I think everyone knows that this allows us to make a comeback like we did yesterday."

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (20:15 CET)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach**

"So far they are the best team and they are in first place. It will be a difficult game, with experienced players and a very good coach. They score a lot in the paint with \[Johnathan\] Motley and \[Dan\] Oturu. The big shots will be the key. We have to start from the first minute — everyone, players, coaches and fans — being aggressive, so they can feel they are playing at the Telekom Center Athens, a very tough arena. Everyone likes playing in this arena and in this atmosphere. Everyone must be aggressive and we must play the right basketball. We see that \[Richaun Holmes\] is healthy now. He hasn’t played for six or seven weeks, so tomorrow we’ll see if he will be on the roster and how many minutes he can play. He needs more games. It’s a difficult match and we will think about how to use him tomorrow."

**Kenneth Faried, Panathinaikos center**

"We approach it like every game. We never want to lose — the goal is always to win. We know they are first in the standings and they are a very good team, but we will play our game and go for the back-to-back. This double week has been tough for Panathinaikos, with only one day in between games, including travel and practice — basically no rest."

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach**

"We’re playing against Panathinaikos, one of the best EuroLeague teams of the last decades. It’s a very challenging game for us, and we accept that challenge. Both teams are coming off a win, but what matters most is the structure of the game. Panathinaikos has everything, and in the great atmosphere of OAKA, with their fans, it won’t be easy at all. Finally, it always feels special for me to come back to OAKA. The arena has been beautifully renovated, but more than that, it’s the feeling - this was my home for 13 years. So, it’s always special."

**Tyler Ennis, Hapoel guard**

"This game is a great test for us to continue improving, continue building as a team, and hopefully come out with a win."

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CET)

**Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach**

"It will be another extremely challenging test for us against the defending champions. Fenerbahce has the best defensive organization in the entire EuroLeague, is well-coached, and has a high level of physicality that they know how to use. Our ability to have a good pace and rhythm will be crucial for us."

**Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach**

"Milano is a team that's playing very good basketball. They're on a roll. For us, it's very important to have a better game than we did against the Panathinaikos to try to react."

**Khem Birch, Fenerbahce center**

"Just got to be focused. We came off a bad loss last night. I feel like you just gotta stay focused and do what we usually do and not turn the ball over. Less turnovers and defense will be the keys for winning."

### Real Madrid vs. Paris Basketball (20:45 CET)

**Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach**

"Paris Basketball is a very special team, very different from many others. It is the team that scores the most, has the most pace and speed, scores the most from the three-point line, and is the best at offensive rebounding. It has tremendous offensive potential and great speed. In close games like the ones we've been playing lately, the first challenge will be just that: to be able to contain their transition, especially with \[Nadir\] Hifi and \[Justin\] Robinson's acceleration, and to be able to do so without losing sight of the others because Paris has many good shooters who can receive and shoot from the perimeter. That's the task at hand, and offensively, we have to be alert because Paris defends very aggressively, all over the court, throughout the game, using the “two-on-one,” and we have to be able to move the ball well. Tomorrow we have a game in which we will have to use the dribble intelligently, not abuse it, give prominence to the fast pass to find the open player, and trust in achieving a three-point shooting percentage that allows us to compete against all these teams with great shooting ability from midrange, such as Paris Basketball."

**Facundo Campazzo, Real Madrid guard**

"We expect a fast-paced game. Paris Basketball is a team that plays a lot of possessions, the most in the EuroLeague. They also score the most points and make the most three-pointers... We know what it means to play against a team like this because more and more teams are opting for this style of play. We have to try to set our pace to control the game and play good defense. When we control the defense and are aggressive at the back, we always attack fluidly and good things happen. I expect it to be a beautiful game for the fans to watch and very demanding for us. We have a good challenge ahead of us to improve on what we did yesterday."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 17 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season

Pregame quotes, Round 17: 'This is a chance for us to learn'

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Virtus Bologna (2025-12-19T19:45:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-12-19T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-12-19T19:15:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Bayern Munich (2025-12-19T18:30:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-12-19T18:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Dubai Basketball (2025-12-19T17:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Paris Basketball (2025-12-18T19:45:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (2025-12-18T19:15:00.000Z)

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv v Valencia Basket (2025-12-18T19:05:00.000Z)

From zero to a million, Sergio Scariolo has seen it all in the EuroLeague. Literally. Having coached in the EuroLeague's first-ever game, he witnessed Theo Maledon score the competition's millionth point on Thursday night.

Sergio Scariolo savors Theo Maledon-inspired success on milestone evening

From zero to a million, Sergio Scariolo has seen it all in the EuroLeague. Literally.

On October 15, 2000, a new era of European basketball tipped off as [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) hosted [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) in the Spanish capital.

The first points of the night – and therefore of the new-look EuroLeague – were scored by visiting big man Dino Radja, but Real went on to win a tight game 75-73 to the delight of their coach… a certain Mr. Scariolo.

Fast forward more than 25 years to Thursday night, and Scariolo was there again, directing Real from the sidelines as [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) recorded a significant milestone by scoring the millionth point in EuroLeague history.

Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | Round 17 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

The French star’s historic three-pointer late in the first quarter was just one of his many contributions in a total of 21 points that helped Real enjoy a narrow victory – just as it did against Olympiacos all those years ago – over the visiting [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/), 95-90.

After the game, Scariolo was happy that he had found the right combination of players to mount a fourth-quarter comeback and claim the win, saying: “Even though they were playing for a long stretch of minutes, I felt tonight those were the guys.

“In the end I think we picked up the right matchups for our isolation in the last seconds after their switches. It’s not only a matter of heart, but also of lucidity and cold blood in the last minutes.”

And linking back that comment back to his involvement in the competition’s beginnings, he teasingly added: “For someone who was in the first game overall of the EuroLeague, the lucidity is still there!”

However, asked whether he will still be around when the two millionth point comes around perhaps a couple of decades from now, Scariolo had a decidedly short answer, laughing: “No, thank you!”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From the first basket until the 1.000.000th point 🔄<br><br>Sergio Scariolo when asked about the milestone reached today 👇 <a href="https://t.co/OscJwoiNAP">pic.twitter.com/OscJwoiNAP</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/2001776270884167925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And that’s an understandable reaction after a back-and-forth game that left the hosts' nerves frayed and their energy drained, as Paris produced an excellent performance to lead for the majority of the contest.

With [Jared Rhodes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jared-rhoden/014178/) in the driving seat – including a sensational slam over [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) – the French team led 49-50 at the break and 70-74 after three quarters, only succumbing when Maledon, [Trey Lyles](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/trey-lyles/014117/) and [Usman Garuba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/usman-garuba/007630/) combined for all Real’s points in an 18-4 charge that put the hosts in front for good midway through the final period.

Scariolo was keen to praise Paris for the part it played in the evening’s entertainment, and particularly highlighted one key statistic: his team’s ability to grab more rebounds (41 to 38) than arguably the continent’s most dangerous unit underneath the glass.

 “These guys \[Paris\] are really playing with a super high pace,” he said. “Everybody can shoot, everybody can drive and especially everybody can rebound, and I think we deserve credit for having gotten more rebounds than them. 50-50 balls, floor balls, long rebounds, character rebounds were ours.”

The ball still needed to be scored, and Maledon took care of that responsibility by pouring in 21 points on 7-of-11 two-point shooting and 6-of-8 from the foul line, including a crucial scooped score that finally gave Real the breathing room of a two-possession lead with 9 seconds remaining.

Fittingly on a night when he scored that milestone millionth point, 24-year-old Maledon’s performance was enough to underline his potential to become not only Real’s key offensive leader but also one of the most dominant players in the EuroLeague.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The milestone basket captured LIVE here 🎥 <a href="https://t.co/rCdA0mZGkE">pic.twitter.com/rCdA0mZGkE</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/2001759558125945085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He was not alone, though, with Lyles knocking down 10 points in the final quarter in his total of 14, also providing 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots to show that Maledon isn’t the only summer arrival in Madrid who could help deliver a record 12th continental crown to *Los Blancos*.

The win came after a setback at Milan just two days previously, and Lyles admitted that was forefront in his teammates’ minds as he said: “We were really eager, it was a big game. It was a tough loss \[at Milan\], but we were able to bounce back which just shows the resilience of the team.

“We played against a really good Paris team who were making shots, running and played very hard, so it was good to get the win.”

A win that will certainly never be forgotten by Theo Maledon… and most probably, all those years later, by Sergio Scariolo.

Game News

Real Madrid’s veteran coach goes back in time to recall where it all began

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul bounced back from a home loss to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the previous round with an emphatic 72-87 road win at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, which saw the reigning champions improve to 10-6 while the Italian outfit dropped to 9-8.

Fenerbahce steamrolls Milan as dynamic duo shines

[Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) bounced back from a home loss to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in the previous round with an emphatic 72-87 road win at [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/), which saw the reigning champions improve to 10-6 while the Italian outfit dropped to 9-8.

It was a 13th win in the last 14 games in all competitions for Fenerbahce, as the Turkish side took the game by the scruff of the neck from the offset and shot the lights out from deep, sinking 12 of 24 from beyond the arc.

[Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/talen-horton-tucker/014124/), who scored 22 points in a 77-81 to Panathinaikos on Tuesday, carried his good form into the Milan game and paced the winner on 23 points, earning the player of the game accolade. His input was complemented by [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) as the versatile forward added 20 points on 5-of-5 shooting from downtown, including a clutch four-point play which held Milan at bay.

Colson rounded off his effort with a masterclass defensive performance which drew heaps of praise from head coach Saras Jasikevicius, as Fenerbahce held Milan to 8 of 26 from deep and forced 13 turnovers from the home team while allowing just 11 assists.

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Round 17 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Milan head coach Peppe Poeta, who has enjoyed a smooth run since taking over from the legendary Ettore Messina as the Italian side had won seven of their previous nine EuroLeague games, conceded that his men were second-best on the night.

“We never found the right rhythm on offense,” Poeta said. “Fenerbahce played one hell of a game. They were physical for 40 minutes, we tried to compete, but we lost the flow.”

With Colson and [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) (14 points, 4 of 6 from deep) hitting nothing but net from long range, Milan was forced to play catch-up throughout but looked capable of turning the tide after [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/) sank a sweet three to beat the third quarter buzzer and slash the deficit to 55-56 ahead of the final 10 minutes.

That turned out to be as good as it got for Milan with Horton-Tucker continuing to do the damage from inside while Colson and Biberovic provided the long-range artillery which blew away the hosts. There was no way back for Milan after Fenerbahce opened up a 65-78 lead in the home straight, leaving Jasikevicius purring with the delight, although he insisted there was room for improvement.

“It’s very nice to win in Milan but I thought that at some points we didn’t control the pace,” the Lithuanian tactician said. “Then again, Milan is a very good team on a roll, so to score 87 points while not playing our best basketball gives us hope that we can go for more.”

“It was a very good defensive performance by our guards, but I think we can do more. Teams are going to start figuring us out so we have to adjust, which means we have to improve in every department.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Maçın ardından bizim takım! 💛💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/oFdxLJ4p44">pic.twitter.com/oFdxLJ4p44</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/2001772496274506027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Horton-Tucker turned out to be a handful for Milan’s backcourt with his piercing drives to the basket, shooting 10 of 17 from inside as he also racked up 5 boards and 2 assists. “We were coming off a loss at home that we didn’t really need, so regaining focus and executing the game plan was the most important thing for us,” he said.

“We were able to make them shoot more threes than they wanted to and I am happy we got the win.”

Colson produced one of his most mature performances in a Fenerbahce jersey, refraining from forcing the issue from long range but rather picking his spots when he was open and executing with lethal precision. He also pointed out it was the defensive effort which allowed Fenerbahce to pull away in the early stages, as the visitors carved out an 11-19 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.

“It was a great defensive game for all of us and on offense I took what their defense gave me,” he said. “We got the stops we needed and it’s a great team win for us. Our group is never satisfied, we’ve got a lot to prove and get better with. Now we have to carry this momentum forward.”

The champs led from start to finish thanks to effervescent performances from Talen Horton-Tucker and Bonzie Colson

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens came into the double-round week on the back of two straight losses. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going. This week, Panathinaikos has demonstrated again what this team is made of.

Panathinaikos’s defense suffocates Hapoel as Greens end double-round week in style

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) came into the double-round week on the back of two straight losses against Valencia Basket and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. It wasn't about to get any easier either, as the Greens had to lock horns with defending champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on the road before hosting EuroLeague leader [Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/hta/) at home.

But when the going gets tough, the tough get going. This week, Panathinaikos has demonstrated again what this team is made of.

Less than 48 hours after [holding Fererbahce to 77 points in a 77-81 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-steers-panathinaikos-past-champs/), Ergin Ataman’s side managed to suffocate one of EuroLeague’s best offenses, ending the week with a 93-82 victory over Hapoel.

The Panathinaikos head coach set the tone from the off by leaving his star guard trio of [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/), [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) on the bench. In came [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/) and [Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/), who were assigned with the mission of containing [Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) and Round 16 MVP [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/).

A back-and-forth affair in the opening stages was followed by a 13-0 run by the hosts, who held Hapoel scoreless for 4 minutes to grab a 20-8 lead.

“In the beginning of the game, our plan was to be aggressive against their two key players, Micic and Bryant, and we were successful in this with Kalaitzakis and Grant,” Ataman told the post-game press conference. “We made perfect defense, we didn’t let them find their usual baskets on the pick-and-roll shots, their penetrations in the paint.”

The contest would turn into a game of runs as Hapoel bounced back, demonstrated its offensive prowess and secured a 41-45 advantage before the break.

At halftime, Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis stressed that his players needed to “play like there’s no tomorrow on defense”. Yet, it was his former team that would do so in the second half.

Panathinaikos held the visitors to just 16 points in the third quarter, taking a 65-62 lead into the fourth which they opened with a 15-4 surge to practically finish the game off.

The Greens forced Hapoel into 13 turnovers on a night that Itoudis’s team made just 9 of their 29 three-point attempts and missed as many as 11 free throws, despite boasting a league-high 83.7% from the line heading into Thursday’s clash. Bryant went 1 for 4 from the line and Micic scored just 4 points, with the two men combining for 4 turnovers.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE FISTS ARE BACK! ☘️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://t.co/yJw9NBGv7M">pic.twitter.com/yJw9NBGv7M</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/2001768354219196848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Panathinaikos’s mentality coming into this week was personified in Nunn, who shook off an ankle injury he picked up the day before the game against Fener and barely trained the next few days but pulled off back-to-back MVP outings, scoring a combined 44 points in this week’s games.

“First and foremost, I just want to thank God for my ability,” Nunn told EuroLeague TV after netting 13 of his 19 points in the second half against Hapoel. “I was hobbling around for the last two, three days with the ankle, but when game-time comes, adrenaline gets going and I’m bringing whatever I can to the game. 

“We played Fener, the reigning champs, and Hapoel, they’re no.1 in the standings right now. So, two big games. The lights are bright, I’m going to get out there. As long as I’m not on crutches, anything like that, God willing, I’m going to play if I’m able, for sure.”

The Greens are set to travel to Lithuania, where they’ll take on Zalgiris Kaunas next week in their bid to bag their third straight victory. 

Panathinaikos does boast offensive talent in abundance and should it manage to consistently defend as it did this week, their fans can dream big again this season.

The hosts held the EuroLeague leader to 36 second-half points as they clinched their second win in a row

Don’t look now but Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv has won four straight games and finds itself not too far from the playoff positions after taking down one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. 

Maccabi gets lucky against Valencia, now wants to stay humble after fourth straight win

Don’t look now but [Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/tel/) has won four straight games and finds itself not too far from the playoff positions after taking down one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. 

Maccabi survived a frantic final comeback from [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) to register an 85-82 victory and improve to 7-10, as it played its second game this season back in Israel. 

“Super proud about our team, the effort they gave. That (Valencia) team is really talented – one of the best in the EuroLeague for a reason. We managed to compete with them, to keep our composure, and we showed our heart tonight for 40 minutes. It wasn’t pretty but I’ll take an ugly win over a loss any day of the week,” said [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/), who was one of five Maccabi players in double figures with 12 points and 7 assists. 

[Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/) led the way with 14 points, [Jimmy Clark](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jimmy-clark-iii/013699/) and [TJ Leaf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tj-leaf/014012/) both scored 11 points and [Marcio Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marcio-santos/013289/) added 10 points in the game played at Pais Arena in Jerusalem. 

“We had some good minutes defensively against a great team. Most of the game we did a good job to give ourselves a chance. The last four or five minutes we should be more experienced, more aggressive on rebounding. They really punished us on rebounding and second chances,” said Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash. “But it’s special for us. It’s a great atmosphere. The crowd was amazing. We loved it.”

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv-Valencia Basket | Round 17 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Coming off [a road victory over Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-shows-character-in-handing-dubai-first-loss-at-coca-cola-arena/), Maccabi fell behind by eight points in the first quarter before taking the lead and going into the break 47-41 ahead. The home side extended the cushion to as many as 10 points and the advantage was 12 points at 85-73 with 4:43 minutes left.

Maccabi could not get anything going offensively and did not score the rest of the way. And Kattash’s men watched as the league’s number one scoring offense rushed back into the game. [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matthew-costello/010444/) made it nine straight points with a layup to make it 85-82 with 27 seconds left. 

Maccabi then turned the ball over two seconds later and Valencia missed three three-point attempts in the closing seconds. 

“Sometimes you have to be lucky and we were lucky in the end,” Kattash admitted. 

Leaf scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and said the team is starting to find itself. 

“It’s been a process for all of us, individually and as a team. And you’re starting to see those things come to fruition,” he said.

The four-game winning streak coincides with the arrival of Lundberg, who joined the club prior to Round 13 from Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. The 29-year-old veteran guard has averaged 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the four wins.

“I’m just trying to get acclimated into the concepts and system. I’m just trying to win games, ultimately. That’s what we’re doing right now, so I am very happy,” said Lundberg. 

Still, both Leaf and Lundberg don’t want to get too excited about things just yet.

“We’re just going to keep our heads down and block out any noise we might hear – good or bad – and keep the process going,” said Leaf, before Lundberg added: “We just have to stay humble and keep working every day. We have a really talented group and if we just stay even-keeled and work hard every day, we can compete this season.”

<center>
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Valencia came into the game on a five-game winning streak, but head coach Pedro Martinez now has material to work on with his team after dropping to 11-6, including 4-5 on the road. 

“We have to give credit to their defense. It was good defense. We didn’t find good open shots. And that is because Maccabi played good defense and we need to understand that sometimes it will be more difficult,” said the coach. 

Valencia shot just 25.6% on three-pointers, well below its average of 38.0% coming into the game. But defending the perimeter has been one of Maccabi’s strengths defensively, allowing teams to shoot just 33.5% – good for fourth-best in the league.

[Kameron Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kameron-taylor/011217/) scored 15 points and [Brancou Badio](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/brancou-badio/007527/) had 14 points, but the duo combined for only 5 of 15 from long range. And Valencia could not take advantage of 18 offensive rebounds. 

It was just Maccabi’s special night. 

Oded Kattash's side knocked off a Valencia team which had won five in a row. 

The EuroLeague has officially reached a historic milestone with the scoring of the 1,000,000th point in competition history. Since the competition’s debut on October 16, 2000, EuroLeague teams amassed a total of 999,737 points across 6,358 games heading into the start of Round 17 on Thursday night. The landmark 1,000,000th point was scored by Theo Maledon during Real Madrid's game against Paris Basketball on December 18, 2025.

EuroLeague celebrates 1,000,000th point in competition history

The EuroLeague has officially reached a historic milestone with the scoring of the 1,000,000th point in competition history.

Since the competition’s debut on October 16, 2000, EuroLeague teams amassed a total of 999,737 points across 6,358 games heading into the start of Round 17 on Thursday night. The landmark 1,000,000th point was scored by [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) during [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/)'s game against [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) on December 18, 2025.

The first-ever points of the modern EuroLeague era were scored by [Dino Radja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dino-radja/aha/) of Olympiacos Piraeus in the opening game between Real Madrid and Olympiacos on October 16, 2000. Since then, countless iconic moments have led up to this landmark achievement. Some key moments on the way to the 1,000,000th point include:

The 138,044th point, when [Derrick Sharp](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/derrick-sharp/aou/) hit a legendary three-pointer for Maccabi Tel Aviv against Zalgiris Kaunas in the Top 16 on April 8, 2004, helping Maccabi on their road to the title.

The 392,858th point, when [Georgios Printezis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/printezis-georgios/amm/) made his game-winning shot for Olympiacos against CSKA Moscow in the 2012 Championship Game, sealing one of the most dramatic comebacks in EuroLeague history.

The 500,000th point, when [Caleb Green](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/caleb-green/003326/) of Unicaja Malaga drained a three-pointer on March 13, 2015.

The 853,315th point, when [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/llull-sergio/tgb/) hit a game-winning jumper for Real Madrid against Olympiacos in the 2023 Championship Game.

The identity of the player who scored the 1,000,000th point is none other than Real Madrid's Theo Maledon, whose basket came with 43 seconds in the first quarter against Paris as he knocked down a three-pointer. This moment also emphasizes how far the game has come over the past 25 seasons.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THE ONE MILLION SHOT 🎯<br><br>Theo Maledon scores a three-pointer that becomes the 1.000.000th point in EuroLeague history!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MotorolaMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MotorolaMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Moto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Moto</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> <a href="https://t.co/5XqRpmN2I8">pic.twitter.com/5XqRpmN2I8</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/2001752145020809460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The 2010-11 season stands as the lowest-scoring campaign of the era, with teams averaging 74.25 points per game. In contrast, the current season is on pace to be the highest-scoring in EuroLeague history, with teams averaging 85.67 points per game entering Round 17.

Across these 25 seasons, [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) has scored the most points of any EuroLeague club, followed by [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/). The competition has also witnessed unforgettable games, from high-scoring shootouts to defensive battles.

For example, the highest-scoring game in EuroLeague history occurred on January 5, 2024, when [Real Madrid edged out Anadolu Efes Istanbul 130-126](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2023/170/#box-score) in a quadruple-overtime thriller. On the flip side, the lowest-scoring game occurred on March 10, 2005, when [Efes defeated Benetton Treviso 52-43](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2004-05/efes-pilsen-benetton-basket/E2004/191/#box-score).

As the EuroLeague celebrates this major achievement, the competition's future looks brighter than ever, with more thrilling moments and record-breaking performances surely on the horizon.

Who would have thought that, 25 seasons after Dino Radja's opening basket, we’d reach this historic milestone? Here's to the next million points of EuroLeague magic!

From Dino Radja’s first basket in 2000 to Theo Maledon's milestone moment, 25 seasons of EuroLeague action have produced unforgettable shots and a million points of magic

Round 16 MVP: Elijah Bryant, Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv

A huge individual performance in yet another victory allowed [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) of Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv to earn Round 16 MVP honors with a PIR of 37.

Bryant led Hapoel to an 84-78 home victory over Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade with 28 points on 2-of-4 two-pointers, 6-of-11 three-pointers and 6-of-6 free throws. He added 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block and 5 fouls drawn for a PIR of 37, the highest for all winning players in this round. It is Bryant's third MVP of the Round honor and his second this season, having also achieved this accolade in Round 10 with a career-high PIR of 38.

The highest PIR in this round belonged to [McKinley Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) of Dubai Basketball, but it came in a losing effort. Wright had a monster performance in his team's 95-97 home loss against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv: 26 points on 7-of-9 two-pointers, 2-of-4 three-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 block and 8 fouls drawn, good for a PIR of 42.

[Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) of FC Barcelona amassed a PIR of 33 in his team's 69-85 road victory over Paris Basketball. He finished the game with 19 points on 5-of-6 two-pointers, 2-of-5 three-pointers and 3-of-3 free throws, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 6 fouls drawn.

[Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) of Olympiacos Piraeus, with a PIR of 31, and [Jared Butler](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jared-butler/014163/) of Zvezda, who had a PIR of 29, complete the top individual performances in Round 16. Milutinov finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks and 9 fouls drawn in Olympiacos’s 92-99 loss to Valencia Basket, while Butler had 27 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 fouls drawn as Zvezda lost to Hapoel.

### Individual highs: Nick Weiler-Babb, Efes, 13 assists

Elijah Bryant of Hapoel led all scorers with 28 points. Nadir Hifi of Paris Basketball leads the overall standings with 20.5 points per game.

Will Clyburn of Barcelona topped all rebounders by pulling down 12. Nikola Milutinov of Olympiacos is the competition's best rebounder with 7.6 boards per night.

Nick Weiler-Babb of Anadolu Efes Istanbul dished a round-high 13 assists. Sylvain Francisco of Zalgiris Kaunas ranks first overall with 7.0 assists per game.

Derrick Alston Jr. of Virtus Bologna collected 5 steals, more than anyone else, in Round 16. Alpha Diallo of AS Monaco is the EuroLeague’s steals leader this season with 1.8 per night.

Isaac Bonga of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade had 4 blocks in this round, the best figure in this round. Walter Tavares of Real Madrid leads everyone with 1.9 blocks per game.

Wright (26 points, 10 assists) and Clyburn (19 points, 12 rebounds) were the only players to register a double-double in Round 16.

The action keeps on coming in the last double round of 2025, with Round 17 providing another batch of exciting matchups in the race for the playoffs. This is everything you need to know about Thursday and Friday’s games.

At a glance: An emotional reunion and a mouth-watering clash in Athens highlight Round 17's action

The action keeps on coming in the last double round of 2025, with Round 17 providing another batch of exciting matchups in the race for the playoffs. This is everything you need to know about Thursday and Friday’s games.

## Thursday, December 18

### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Valencia Basket (20:05 CET)

Two red-hot teams go head-to-head in Jerusalem as Maccabi (6-10) welcomes Valencia (11-5). The hosts have won three games straight and will look to continue climbing towards the playoff places by showing the same kind of spirit that held on for victory at Dubai two days ago, when Jaylen Hoard again underlined his importance by pouring in 21 points. He will be confronted by one of the architects of Valencia’s impressive win at Olympiacos, Nate Reuvers, who also scored 21 points in that game. The visitors' backcourt will be led by rising star Jean Montero, who had 13 points and 8 assists in Piraeus, while Maccabi hopes that recent signing Iffe Lundberg will follow a strong display in Dubai by continuing to exert a growing influence.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (20:15 CET)

A thrilling encounter looks guaranteed as two of Tuesday’s winners meet, with fourth-placed Panathinaikos (10-6) welcoming league leader Hapoel (12-4). The Greens snapped a two-game losing streak by triumphing at Fenerbahce behind 25 points from usual suspect Kendrick Nunn, and another boost was the Cedi Osman’s return after injury. Hapoel made it three straight wins by outlasting Zvezda as late scores by Chris Jones finished a job that had been started by 28 points from the outstanding Elijah Bryant, whose matchup with Nunn promises fireworks. Hapoel’s all-round efficiency is demonstrated by its shooting stats: 59.1% from two-point range (second in the league) and 39.3% for three (third best), so Panathinaikos will need to be ready to answer that versatility – and hope others can step up to support Nunn’s scoring heroics at the other end.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another SOLD OUT at our home awaits. One more important game. Another night where YOU will set the tone. ☘️<br><br>Stand up, be loud, be there. This is OUR house, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAOFans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAOFans</a>! 💚<br><br>Watch the full album on CLUB 1908: <a href="https://t.co/IJffh0iB5l">https://t.co/IJffh0iB5l</a> 📲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://t.co/RzC8fAKJtr">pic.twitter.com/RzC8fAKJtr</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/2001318223124279651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CET)

A battle of direct rivals will see Milan (9-7) seek a second victory this week against a Fenerbahce (9-6) determined to avoid two losses. The hosts will be confident after taking a solid victory against Real Madrid on Tuesday, when Marko Guduric warmed up for a reunion with his former team by netting a season-high 22 points. He faces a good matchup with Fener’s most in-form player, Talen Horton-Tucker, who has scored 24 and 22 points in the last two games. The reigning champ’s home loss to Panathinaikos earlier this week was partly explained by 22 turnovers, so Saras Jasikevicius will be looking for a more controlled performance against a Milan team which will hope to maintain its record as the league’s most accurate three-point shooters (39.5% from deep).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">SuperMarko<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/sYcaf8Z1rc">pic.twitter.com/sYcaf8Z1rc</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/2001358512287363203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Real Madrid vs. Paris Basketball (20:45 CET)

Real (9-7) is targeting a swift return to winning ways with a visit from a Paris side (5-11) attempting to escape free fall. The Spanish team needs better shooting accuracy after making just 36.7% of its field-goal attempts in Tuesday’s loss at Milan, but will look to show similar effectiveness crashing the glass after grabbing 19 offensive rebounds in that game. Paris is better than anyone in that respect, averaging 15.7 offensive boards per night, but also needs to find its range after making just 6-of-22 three-point attempts in defeat to Barcelona earlier this week. Big man Alain Dokossi gave his best performance of the season with 14 points and 9 rebounds in that contest, and he will look to again subdue Walter Tavares and Alex Len after they scored just 2 points apiece in Milan.

## Friday, December 19

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Dubai Basketball (18:30 CET)

Efes (6-10) will look to make it two wins out of two this week by overcoming direct rival Dubai (7-9). The Turkish team made a perfect start under Pablo Laso by crushing Zalgiris, with the return of big man Vincent Poirier from injury making a big difference as he paired 14 points with 6 rebounds. He faces a good battle with the hugely consistent Filip Petrusev, who ranks fifth in the league with an average PIR of 19.8. In the backcourt, Dubai will hope McKinley Wright can stay hot after an astonishing performance – 26 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds – in Tuesday’s last-gasp loss to Maccabi, while Efes will be led by the playmaking of Nick Weiler-Babb, who dished 13 assists in Kaunas.

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (19:00 CET)

Two teams eager to bounce straight back meet in Kaunas with Zalgiris (9-7) welcoming Partizan (6-10). Partizan’s two-game winning streak was brutally snapped by a heavy home loss to Virtus, when 15 points from Sterling Brown was not enough to compensate for a team total of 20 turnovers. Zalgiris suffered a similarly tough night on Wednesday with a 23-point reverse against Efes, with nobody managing to score more than Nigel Williams-Goss’s 11 points. Shooter Deividas Sirvydis is among the home team players looking for an upturn in form after going 2-of-12 from three-point range in the last three games, while Jabari Parker will be hoping for an opportunity to shine after receiving no playing time for Partizan last time out.

### AS Monaco vs. FC Bayern Munich (19:30 CET)

Bayern’s (5-11) seven-game road odyssey finally concludes with a tough trip to face Monaco (9-7). Both teams are looking for a revival, with Bayern’s losing streak reaching seven games after suffering a second consecutive one-point defeat at ASVEL on Wednesday. Monaco – one of five teams currently tied for sixth place – has slipped to two straight losses after suffering a poor night offensively earlier this week at Baskonia, where only Mike James (21 points) could score more than 10 points. Vassilis Spanoulis’s men particularly need to rediscover their long-range accuracy after going 4-of-19 from three-point range in that defeat, while Bayern’s chief challenge is to find better penetration after converting just 44.7% of its two-pointers in the loss at ASVEL.

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:15 CET)

ASVEL (4-12) will seek its first road win of the season as it travels to face an Olympiacos (8-7) team hoping to emerge from a three-game losing slide. The French team could have to cope without Nando De Colo after he limped out of Wednesday’s win over Bayern, which saw fellow veteran backcourt star Thomas Heurtel step up to sink the late game-winning basket. Olympiacos will look to dominate physically through Nikola Milutinov and Sasha Vezenkov – respectively ranked first and second in the league in PIR – who combined for 37 points and 16 rebounds in Tuesday’s loss to Valencia. Staying at home with an extra day to recover and rest should work in the Reds’ favor, but ASVEL will feel it has nothing to lose.

### FC Barcelona vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:30 CET)

Red-hot Barcelona (11-5) hopes to extend its four-game winning streak with a visit from a Baskonia (6-10) aiming for a first road win. The hosts hope Will Clyburn continues his spectacular form after averaging 23.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in the last three games, while Baskonia will look for center Eugene Omuruyi to control the paint after debuting in Wednesday’s win over Monaco. That game also saw influential playmaker Trent Forrest consolidate his return from injury with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and Barca needs Tomas Satoransky to contain him. Watch out for a great duel between a pair of in-form scorers: Kevin Punter (20.8 points in the last four games) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who has scored between 18 and 21 points in seven games straight.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Virtus Bologna (20:45 CET)

Zvezda (9-7) is desperate to snap a three-game losing streak as it welcomes a Virtus team (8-8) targeting a perfect week in Belgrade. The Italian team was impressive in a big win at Partizan on Wednesday, when Derrick Alston maintained his form by knocking down 4-of-5 three-pointers – he now has five straight games with multiple triples. Injury-hit Zvezda’s latest loss came at Hapoel on Tuesday despite Jared Butler maintaining his strong form by pouring in 27 points, and the host will look for better ball circulation after only recording 11 assists in that game. These are two of the best defensive teams in the competition (Zvezda ranks second with 81.9 points per game allowed; Virtus fourth with 82.7 points), and this could become an intense physical battle.

There are four games on Thursday night, followed by six on Friday

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 16 winner

EuroLeague fans, we have our 16th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Milos Trajkovic beat everyone else in Round 16 with his team KK Zuca Mitic, which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 244.50.

Milos had the following lineup: Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv0s Elijah Bryant as team captain, then his teammate Dan Oturu, Armoni Brooks of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, McKinley Wright of Dubai Basketball and Roman Sorkin of Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv as his starters. Will Clyburn of FC Barcelona was his sixth man. Milos's bench players were FC Bayern Munich duo of Leon Kratzer and Oscar Da Silva, and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade duo of Dejan Davidovac and Stefan Miljenovic. Barcelona play-caller Xavi Pascual was Milos's head coach.

The prize for finishing first in Round 16 is a VIP EuroLeague TV Subscription for the 2026-27 Season, and an automatic entry to a lottery to win two tickets to the 2027 Final Four.

Trades are now open for Round 17 of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/). Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first game of Round 17, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Valencia Basket, is scheduled to tip off on Thursday, December 18 at 20:05 CET. This marks the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner! To help with that, watch the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge podcast weekly on the [EuroLeague's YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@euroleague) and on all audio platforms.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager. 