Zalgiris Kaunas returned to winning ways in the EuroLeague with an ultimately comfortable 82-67 home victory against Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, as the Lithuanian side put behind a tough 100-99 loss at Real Madrid in the previous round and improved to 8-5.

Sylvain Francisco remains on fire to propel Zalgiris past Baskonia

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) returned to winning ways in the EuroLeague with an ultimately comfortable 82-67 home victory against [Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/), as the Lithuanian side put behind a tough 100-99 loss at Real Madrid in the previous round and improved to 8-5.

[Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/), the competition’s October MVP, once again took center stage, racking up 23 points and 11 rebounds as Zalgiris put together a 20-2 run in the fourth quarter to blow away Baskonia, which dropped to 4-9 after leading for the lion’s share of the contest.

For Francisco, it was merely business as usual after he amassed a season-high 33 points and 11 assists at Real, but Zalgiris looked disjointed for much of the game after trailing 12-24 late in the first quarter and picking a single offensive board in the first half.

Zalgiris Kaunas-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 13 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

However, Zalgiris shored up the leaks in the second half, allowing the visitors only 25 points while nailing an impressive 14 of 23 from downtown through the contest.

“We are super happy as we set the tone and after three straight losses away, we won and it’s amazing. We let in less than 70 points tonight as we converted good defense into offense and I am really happy with the guys,” a delighted Francisco said in his post-game comments after Zalgiris ran riot in the fourth quarter. 

“That’s my quarter and |I know where I can be efficient for my team too,” he said. “It’s a super important win and it’s really good to have it.”

Head coach Tomas Masiulis acknowledged the run of defeats had taken their toll on Zalgiris as the home team looked out of sorts for much of the first half before it got going in the second and steamrolled Baskonia.

“We were nervous after three straight losses and gave too much away in the first half, but we are happy to go into the \[international\] break with a victory,” he said. “Now we can rest a little beat without the ball for three or four days and then it’s back to work.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MVP MVP MVP 🔥<br><br>📊: 23 PTS | 11 AST | 32 EFF <a href="https://t.co/BE2aNEIfWF">pic.twitter.com/BE2aNEIfWF</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1993427183537471868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Ignas Brazdeikis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ignas-brazdeikis/011983/) also played a key role in the outcome, contributing with 13 points, 2 rebounds and a steal to complement the efforts of Francisco and [Azuolas Tubelis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/azuolas-tubelis/008192/), who stood out among the support cast as he netted 15 points to go with 7 boards.

Brazdeikis, who made 3-of-4 three-point attempts, stressed that ramping up the fourth-quarter defense was crucial.

“I think we really picked up the defensive intensity in the fourth quarter, went for loose balls and the rebounds we needed. We competed hard and that made the difference,” he said. “Francisco is such a talented player, he affects the game in so many ways and we are hoping he can continue that.”

The home team’s impressive shooting from downtown compensated for a mere 16 of 40 from inside, as Zalgiris also dished out 19 assists against 11 turnovers and restricted Baskonia to just 6 of 27 from long range and forced 16 turnovers.

Game News

The French guard produced yet another stellar performance as he registered an impressive double-double

Zalgiris Kaunas v Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-11-25T18:00:00.000Z)

“This team has been through a little bit of adversity, so coming out of November with perfection, heading into the break is a morale booster, an upward swing for this team,” stated Wade Baldwin, minutes after he led his Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul team to a 66-64 win over Virtus Bologna.

Fenerbahce finishes perfect November with victory over Virtus

“This team has been through a little bit of adversity, so coming out of November with perfection, heading into the break is a morale booster, an upward swing for this team,” stated [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/), minutes after he led his [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) team to a 66-64 win over [Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/).

The nail-biting victory moves the reigning champion Fenerbahce to 8-5 for the season, marks its fifth win on the bounce and bolsters the hopes of a title defense. After falling to 3-5 to start the season, a 5-0 record in the month of November has turned the tide for Saras Jasikevicius and his men. The Lithuanian coach was a little surprised by the style of game that played out.

“We expected a very difficult game, we didn’t expect such a difficult and ugly game,” Jasikevicius said. “But when you go home with a win, it makes everything better.”

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Virtus Bologna | Round 13 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

As he mentioned, the crowd at Ulker Sports and Event Hall was not treated to an aesthetically pleasing contest. Defense won out, as the game remained cagey throughout, with both teams struggling to put the ball in the hole, but locking in on the other side of the floor. The game remained close until the nail-biting final moments, when a [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) tip-in clinched the 2-point victory.

Baldwin stood out with 18 points to drag his team over the line. He was also the only winning player to reach double figures, but [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/) backed him up with 9 points of his own, all scored from beyond the arc.

The result was tough on Virtus's [Matt Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matthew-morgan/012585/), who offered a 13-point scoring punch from the bench. Their primary offensive weapon, [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/), struggled from the field, making just 3 of his 16 attempts. The loss makes it five road losses in a row for Virtus, as it slips to 6-7.

<center>
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The score was uncharacteristically low for both teams and Baldwin alluded to a potential reason for that – schedule fatigue.

“It’s very tiring,” Baldwin said. “The competition has gotten tougher, with the schedule, adding two teams. An undefeated November was exactly what we needed, after a shaky start.”

Jasikevicius seemed to agree but appeared enthused by the way his team gutted this one out. “We have a couple of days to regroup, refresh and hopefully keep working, keep getting better. Third game in five days, legs were not there, it’s one of those games in a 10-month season, where you have to dig deep, find a way and the guys did.”

As they enjoy their well-earned rest, both teams can’t afford to get too comfortable. Fenerbahce is set to travel to Greece to face Olympiacos Piraeus next Thursday, while Virtus will face off against Dubai Basketball the following evening.

Wade Baldwin stood out for the winners with 18 points

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Virtus Bologna (2025-11-25T17:45:00.000Z)

In desperate need of a response, Filip Petrusev delivered 11 second-quarter points as Dubai Basketball outscored Paris Basketball 29–13 to take a 46–45 lead into halftime. After the break, and especially down the stretch, McKinley Wright took over, guiding the UAE-based side to a 90–89 victory.

McKinley Wright’s career night pulls Dubai past Derek Willis-led Paris

Things did not look good for [Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/dub/) after the first 10 minutes against [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/).

Trailing 17–32, with Paris setting its season high for points in a quarter, Dubai was stuck in third gear.

In desperate need of a response, [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) delivered 11 second-quarter points as Dubai outscored Paris 29–13 to take a 46–45 lead into halftime. After the break, and especially down the stretch, [McKinley Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/) took over, guiding the UAE-based side to a 90–89 victory.

Wright, who entered the final frame with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, showed why Dubai was so keen to bring him in last summer. He erupted for 16 fourth-quarter points, plus 2 rebounds and 2 assists, finishing with career highs in points (24), rebounds (5) and PIR (30).

Dubai Basketball-Paris Basketball | Round 13 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

“Huge win for us,” Wright told EuroLeague TV afterward. “They’re a different type of team – they have the fastest pace in the EuroLeague for a reason.

“As you could see in the first quarter, they had a great start. All they do is run and gun, so it’s very difficult to defend that.

“But we did a great job of staying together for 40 minutes. They made runs, we made runs, and we did a great job of coming out at the end.”

Wright’s heroics ultimately overshadowed an excellent showing from Paris’s [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/derek-willis/009664/), who kept his team in the fight with a career-high 22 points. Wright and Willis traded blows early in the fourth, but as the game tightened, it was Wright who provided the more decisive contributions – helped in key moments by his teammates.

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[Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/)’s buzzer-beating three with less than one second remaining made the final score look closer than the game felt, as Wright had repeatedly got to the line and converted. Inside the final minute, a crucial [Justin Anderson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/justin-anderson/012795/) triple was followed by four free throws from Wright as Dubai flipped an 83–86 deficit into a 90–86 lead.

“Justin and our captain \[[Klemen Prepelic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/klemen-prepelic/002661/)\] did a great job,” Wright added. “We were down 15 in the first quarter, and they kept telling us there were three quarters left and it’s a long game – just stay together and weather the storm. It showed at the end.”

With the win, Dubai maintained its perfect record at Coca-Cola Arena this season, improving to 5–0 at home. Its only “home” loss came against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv in a game played in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Paris, meanwhile, dropped to 2–4 on the road, suffering a similar fate to its Round 12 game at Olympiacos Piraeus: a fast start followed by a late fade.

The week-long FIBA break will give both teams a moment to reset. Paris visits AS Monaco next Thursday, December 4, while Dubai travels to Italy to face Virtus Bologna next Friday, December 5.

The guard stepped up in the second half to maintain his team’s 100% record at Coca-Cola Arena

Dubai Basketball v Paris Basketball (2025-11-25T16:00:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan announced on Monday that Ettore Messina has stepped down as the club head coach and that Peppe Poeta, formerly Messina's assistant, has been promoted to take his place

Ettore Messina steps down as Milan head coach, to be replaced by Peppe Poeta

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan announced on Monday that Ettore Messina has stepped down as the club head coach and that Peppe Poeta, formerly Messina's assistant, has been promoted to take his place. 

The decision was made by mutual agreement with club president Leo Dell’Orco. Messina will remain within the organization in an executive capacity, ensuring continuity and leadership.

Messina leaves the bench after guiding Milan through one of its most successful modern eras. Since joining the club in 2019, he led the team to two Italian championships, three Italian Cups, and three Supercoppa titles, while also steering Milan to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2021, its first appearance in nearly three decades. Widely regarded as one of Europe’s most accomplished coaches, Messina previously won four EuroLeague crowns with Virtus Bologna and CSKA Moscow.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Ettore Messina lascia l’incarico di allenatore; Peppe Poeta subito Head Coach<br><br>🇮🇹 Comunicato ufficiale 👉🏻 <a href="https://t.co/ICxBxXOWhb">https://t.co/ICxBxXOWhb</a><br><br>Ettore Messina stepped down; Peppe Poeta takes the Head Coach position<br><br>🇬🇧 Official statement 👉🏻 <a href="https://t.co/rdVZ5KIh76">https://t.co/rdVZ5KIh76</a> <a href="https://t.co/jo7hHaGMJ4">pic.twitter.com/jo7hHaGMJ4</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1993036703423144019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Poeta, 40, now takes the reins in his first head coaching role at the EuroLeague level. A former Italian national team guard, Poeta enjoyed a distinguished playing career spanning nearly two decades, including stints with Virtus Bologna, Turin, and Reggio Emilia. Known for his leadership and basketball IQ on the court, Poeta transitioned to coaching after retiring in 2022. He served as an assistant on the Italian national team and with Milan before taking over head coaching duties with Brescia last season. Poeta returned to Milan this summer to apprentice under Messina with an eye to eventually replacing him. His appointment marks a new chapter for the club as it looks to build on recent successes.

Team president Leo Dell’Orco expressed gratitude for Messina’s contributions: “I want to sincerely thank Ettore Messina for the successes we achieved together, from league titles to cups and reaching the Final Four in 2021. At the same time, I wish Peppe Poeta the best, confident he will lead the team with passion and determination.”

Poeta will make his head coaching debut on Wednesday night in Belgrade against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv.

More Milan News

Messina will remain with the club in an executive capacity

Ettore Messina steps down as Milan head coach, replaced by Peppe Poeta

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-11-26T17:00:00.000Z)

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast debates all the hot-button issues as we head into a short week for Round 13 games. Co-hosts Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs of EuroLeague.net and Sport 24's Vasiliki Karamouza talk about Round 12's winners, losers and question marks to help us all prepare for this week's clashes. 

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Is it time to move on from Vezenkov? 

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast debates all the hot-button issues as we head into a short week for Round 13 games. Co-hosts [Javier Gancedo](https://x.com/ganchetto) and [Frankie Sachs](https://x.com/MrEuroleague) of [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) and Sport 24's [Vasiliki Karamouza](https://x.com/karamouza_vas) talk about Round 12's winners, losers and question marks to help us all prepare for this week's clashes.

The topic of whether it is time to move on from [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of Olympiacos or [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos was discussed, as well as if Real Madrid's [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) and Panathinaikos big man [Kenneth Faried](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kenneth-faried/011284/) were must-have players. Javi, Frankie and Vasiliki talk about their favorites for the MVP and MVP of the Month awards, too!

Like every week, the trio of hosts share their own fantasy teams – and comment on each other's – and react to questions and comments sent in by Fantasy Podcast viewers in the “Get Featured, Get Rewarded” segment. If you need help preparing for Round 13 and want a few laughs while doing so, you have come to the right place.

Sasha's Corner is back this week on the Fantasy Challenge Podcast

One of your favorite podcast hosts recommends doing exactly that!

FC Barcelona v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-11-26T19:30:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-11-26T18:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-11-26T18:30:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v FC Bayern Munich (2025-11-25T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-11-25T19:15:00.000Z)

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv v Real Madrid (2025-11-25T18:00:00.000Z)

Javier Gancedo shares his recommendations for Round 13 in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge

Fantasy tips, Round 13: Another chance to improve

All of a sudden, we are heading into Round 13 of the EuroLeague Regular Season. At the end of it, more than one-third of the round-robin stage will be in the books. Of course, another round is another opportunity for all EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge managers to improve in the overall standings and in hundreds of private leagues featuring friends, family teammates and maybe even people you may not like that much and you want to beat badly.

Before I share my recommendations for Round 13, let's see how my tips worked out last week. Well, TJ Leaf of Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv was injured and did not play. That is not my fault, so I won't count him. Nick Weiler-Babb of Anadolu Efes Istanbul had 12 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and a fantasy core of 20.9. He earned 0.3 credits. Kenneth Faried of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens had another rock-solid performance (9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks), for 25.3 fantasy points and gained 0.6 credits.

Aleksa Avramovic of Dubai Basketball was hurt in the first half of his team's game against Panathinaikos and ended up getting a negative score of -1. Bad call. Ognjen Dobric of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade saw less playing time and lost -0.1 credits. So that's two wins, two losses and one DNP. Take into account that I have not been recommending superstars lately, so I would say it was a 50-50 week.

Theo Maledon, Azuolas Tubelis, Ercan Osmani, Kobi Simmons and Armoni Brooks are featured in this week's article. 

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Round 13 

Here are five players I like this week, leaving room for you to keep your most expensive players:

### Theo Maledon, Real Madrid (14.1 credits)

All of a sudden, [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) looks exactly like the player he was in ASVEL last season: fast, aggressive, getting to the foul line a lot and being extremely productive. He had 25 points and a PIR of 34 in less than 22 minutes against Zalgiris. Playing against high-scoring Hapoel should help, too.

### Azuolas Tubelis, Zalgiris Kaunas (10.0 credits)

When it comes to basketball, versatile left-handed forwards are my weak spot. [Azuolas Tubelis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/azuolas-tubelis/008192/) is exactly that, a very mobile forward who is able to do a little bit of everything. In the last two games, Tubelis averaged 20.5 points on 14-of-15 two-point shooting and 5.0 rebounds for a PIR of 23.5. Just sensational!

Ercan Osmani is a must-have player!

### Ercan Osmani, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (9.4 credits)

Owned by almost 20.0% of fantasy teams, [Ercan Osmani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ercan-osmani/012710/) is proving everybody right this season, going from 6.3 to 9.4 credits so far this season. Efes has frontcourt injuries and he is seeing more playing time, averaging 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and a PIR of 18.0 in the last three games. A must-have player!

### Kobi Simmons, Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (9.6 credits)

It is no coincidence that Baskonia has improved a lot since [Kobi Simmons](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kobi-simmons/014152/) joined the team. He has been extremely effective, giving his team the extra scoring punch it needed. In seven games, Simmons has averaged 10.3 points on great shooting (67.9% 2FG, 40.0% 3FG, 90.9% FT), 4.0 assists and a PIR of 11.7.

### Armoni Brooks, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (8.3 credits)

A scoreless night against Efes was a turning point for [Armoni Brooks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/armoni-brooks/013384/), who has done great since then. Over the last three games, Brooks has averaged 16.7 points on 10-of-21 three-point shooting (47.6% 3FG) and 3.7 rebounds for a PIR of 15.3. If he starts getting to the foul line more often, his value should skyrocket.

More EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge News

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv announced on Monday afternoon that Jeff Dowtin Jr. will be sidelined for approximately six weeks after suffering a torn ligament in his foot 

Maccabi: Jeff Dowtin out six weeks with foot injury

[Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/tel/) announced on Monday afternoon that [Jeff Dowtin Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jeffrey-dowtin-jr/014123/) will be sidelined for approximately six weeks after suffering a torn ligament in his foot during the Israeli League game against Hapoel Holon on Sunday night. The guard is scheduled for a follow-up examination in about three weeks to assess his recovery.

Dowtin, 28, is in his first season with the club and in the EuroLeague and comes off another strong showing on the road last week in which he scored 18 points at Virtus Bologna. He has averaged 9.9 points on 42.9% three-point shooting and 2.9 assists over 11 EuroLeague appearances this season as a key backcourt contributor and an important piece in the rotation.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">עדכון לגבי כשירות שחקנים &gt;&gt; <a href="https://t.co/DTS1GJFVNu">https://t.co/DTS1GJFVNu</a> <a href="https://t.co/6T9LI5KUKO">pic.twitter.com/6T9LI5KUKO</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1992925307238793461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/) could step into Dowtin’s role as he continues to practice with the squad and will travel to Belgrade for Wednesday’s game against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. The Danish guard, who joined the club earlier this month, is a game-time decision. Lundberg’s presence could provide much-needed depth with Dowtin out.

[T.J. Leaf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-leaf/014012/), who was already dealing with a calf strain before the team’s trip to Bologna, will undergo another evaluation on Tuesday. The results will determine the next steps in his recovery plan.

More Maccabi News

The club also provided updates on the status of Iffe Lundberg and TJ Leaf 

This week’s sole round of games takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, including the league leader aiming to stay hot against a traditional giant. This is what to expect from Round 13 of the EuroLeague Regular Season, the final round before the week-long FIBA break.

At a glance: Entering the break on a high

This week’s sole round of games takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, including the league leader aiming to stay hot against a traditional giant. This is what to expect from Round 13 of the EuroLeague Regular Season.

## Tuesday, November 25

### Dubai Basketball vs. Paris Basketball (17:00 CET)

Two teams currently tied just outside the playoff places meet as Dubai (5-7) welcomes Paris (5-7). With Dwayne Bacon suffering a thumb injury, the hosts need recently signed guard Boogie Eillis to deliver the scoring skills that saw him net 15 points in last week’s loss at Panathinaikos, while the team collectively must improve its long-range accuracy after making just 4-of-23 three-point attempts in that game. Paris – which will hope that league leading scorer Nadir Hifi can return from his absence – also has a newcomer looking to make an impression as Jared Rhoden prepares for his second game with the team. Dubai’s chief defensive task is to slow down the scoring of Justin Robinson, who has netted at least 22 points in three of the last four games.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Virtus Bologna (18:45 CET)

Fast-improving Fenerbahce (7-5) will look for its fifth consecutive win by piling more road misery on Virtus (6-6). The Italian team has lost four straight on its travels, and needs to replicate the excellent offense displayed in last week’s home win over Maccabi. As ever, the long-range shooting of former Fener star Carsen Edwards will take a central role – he ranks second in the league with 3.0 triples made per night. The home team also poses plenty of threat from deep, shown by downing 15 three-pointers in Friday’s victory at Partizan, which saw Nicolo Melli continue his fine form with 11 points on 3-of-5 three-pointers. Virtus has not won at Fenerbahce since 2002, and can only change that by playing with great efficiency against a home team which boasts the best defensive record in the league (79.8 points allowed per game).

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (19:00 CET)

Baskonia (4-8) will seek its first away win of the season against a Zalgiris team (7-5) which will enjoy home comforts following three straight road losses. The Lithuanian team must lift its spirits following last week’s heartbreaking loss in Madrid, which saw Sylvain Francisco continue his magnificent season by pairing 33 points with 11 assists. His duel with another undersized guard, Markquis Nowell, will be vital after the Baskonia man combined 12 points and 8 helpers to overcome Bayern on Friday. Inside the paint, home team forward Azoulas Tubelis will look to maintain his outstanding form after shooting 14-of-15 two-pointers in the last two games. He will be countered by the strong inside presence of Tadas Sedekerskis, who is coming off his best game of the season (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists).

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Real Madrid (19:00 CET)

League-leading Hapoel (9-3) will seek a fifth home win of the season against Real’s (6-6) road strugglers. The Spanish team has only won once on its travels, but can increasingly rely on the leadership of last week’s MVP, Theo Maledon. He faces a good battle with one of the season’s best EuroLeague rookies, Antonio Blakeney (14.6 points per game), who is one component of Hapoel’s league-best three-point conversion rate (40.8%). Real ranks third from last in that category (33%), so it needs the likes of Mario Hezonja (25% from deep) to find his range. The visitors also need veteran big man Walter Tavares – who has recorded two straight double-doubles – to contain home center Dan Oturu, who combined 20 points and 7 assists in last week’s impressive win at Milan.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:15 CET)

In-form Panathinaikos (8-4) is seeking a fourth straight win against a floundering Partizan (4-8) desperately needing a change in fortunes. The Greens' offense has hit top gear, averaging 97 points in the last three games, and was led by 22 points from reigning MVP Kendrick Nunn to blitz Dubai last week. Partizan, in contrast, has won just one of the last seven, and hopes that Panathinaikos legend Nick Calathes can face his old club by returning to form and controlling the backcourt. Sterling Brown will need to replicate his recent form (20 and 27 points in the last two games), but Partizan has the worst perimeter defense in the league (41.8% of opponent’s three-point shots converted), so must improve to contain the likes of Nunn and Cedi Osman (13.4 points per game on 44.2% from deep).

### Valencia Basket vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:30 CET)

A fifth straight home win is the target for Valencia (7-5) as it welcomes struggling Bayern (5-7). The German team has lost the last two of its mammoth seven-game stretch on the road, with Spencer Dinwiddie’s third straight double-digit scoring night nowhere near enough to overcome Baskonia in Round 12. Usually-prolific Valencia showed it can also win ugly by edging out Zvezda on Friday, and it will continue to rely on the consistency of Kameron Taylor, who has scored at least 12 points in five of the last six games. Bayern has never won at Valencia, and it will only enjoy a happy first trip to Roig Arena if it can contain the offensive rebounding of a Valencia team which averages 13.0 per game, so Vladimir Lucic needs a big game against his former club.

## Wednesday, November 26

### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (18:00 CET)

Returning to winning ways is the mission as struggling Maccabi (3-9) hosts a Milan team (6-6) seeking a return to the playoff places. Both need defensive improvement after being on the receiving end of high-scoring defeats last week, and that has been the story of the season for a Maccabi team which has allowed more points than anyone else (94.0 per game). Hoping to profit from that weakness is a Milan offense powered by fit-again Zach LeDay, who will be desperate for a sustained run of fitness after only playing five games so far this season. At the other end, Jeffrey Dowtin stepped up with 18 points in last week’s loss at Virtus, and Maccabi will need him to deliver another strong performance against Milan’s rising star Quinn Ellis.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (19:30 CET)

It might be a traditional ‘friendly’ red and white derby, but there will be maximum intensity as second-placed Zvezda (8-4) hosts third-placed Olympiacos (8-4). A game of stellar matchups all over the floor includes a big battle at power forward, with Chima Moneke (14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game) attempting to overcome Sasha Vezenkov (16.1 points, 7.3 boards). Fit-again Zvezda forward Jordan Nwora (18.9 points, 5.3 rebounds) will attempt to continue his spectacular season by outscoring a rejuvenated Evan Fournier, who hit a season-high 18 points to down Paris last week. A pair of do-it-all guards will attempt to control the tempo as Codi Miller-McIntyre faces Thomas Walkup, and the hosts will hope the shooting range of Donatas Motiejunas can unsettle the league’s leading rebounder, Nikola Milutinov (8.2 rebounds per night).

### AS Monaco vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (19:30 CET)

Monaco (7-5) will attempt to break into the top four by overcoming an injury-hit but dangerous Efes (5-7). With Shane Larkin joining PJ Dozier and Rodrigue Beaubois on the injury list, the Turkish team will have to show the same kind of defensive resilience – powered by the consistent inside presence of Ercan Osmani (12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) – that earned last week’s win over Barcelona. Efes also needs last season’s Best Defender award winner Nick Weiler-Babb to be at his best against all-time leading scorer Mike James, who masterminded last week’s easy win over ASVEL by combining 12 points with 7 assists. Monaco is the best team in the league at protecting the basketball (10.0 turnovers per night), so Efes will need great efficiency to grab a road win.

### FC Barcelona vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CET)

Xavi Pascual hopes to enjoy the first home game of his second stint in charge of Barcelona (7-5) with a visit from ASVEL (3-9). The French team, currently winless on the road, will want to play with pride after a historically bad performance last time out, losing 52-84 to Monaco with no player scoring more than 7 points. Barca is also looking to respond from a tough road loss at Efes, where veteran big man Jan Vesely continued his upsurge in form with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Fit-again ASVEL playmaker Thomas Heurtel is sure to receive a lively welcome as he faces his former club, and Barca dynamo Nico Laprovittola will look to win the battle of the backcourt by gathering more momentum in his return to full fitness.

This is the final round before the week-long FIBA break

Sportradar explores how Olympiacos Piraeus, Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv and Crvena Zvezfa Belgrade's ball-screen defense has led to their sports near the top of the table

Stats review: The correlation between winning and ball-screen defense 

Four teams have managed to stay above the fray in the EuroLeague, tallying eight or more wins through Round 12. While there’s no shortage of routes to victory on both ends, given how much the little things matter in a league with several one-possession games every week, this season’s top three teams share one particularly key strength on the defensive end: their ball-screen defense.

It is no secret that ball screens and the offense created with passes out of them hold a very prominent role in high-level professional basketball at the moment. The possessions used by ball handlers, roll men, and those created with passes out of pick-and-rolls make up 39% of all possessions in the EuroLeague this season, including 45% of those used in the half-court. Not only are pick-and-rolls the basis for much of what teams do on the offensive end, they have resulted in 1.01 points per possession on the year — just ahead of the league average for all possessions and notably higher than the average for other half-court sets.

It tracks, then, that the teams doing the best job of slowing opposing teams in ball screens would be giving themselves a good chance to win games, and with the top four teams here sitting in the top five in the standings, that has certainly translated this season. A great deal of nuance goes into defending ball screens in the EuroLeague as teams make constant adjustments and tweaks on both sides of the ball. Just because a team uses one coverage successfully one game does not promise much the next, but most of the teams atop the standings have come out on the right side of that chess match more frequently than the rest of the league.

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) has been this season’s top pick-and-roll defense thus far, thanks in large part to the work it has done along the perimeter. While the Reds have not been overwhelmingly effective guarding screeners, they have done a great job of contesting shots by opposing ball handlers and being in spots off the ball.

[Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/hapoel-ibi-tel-aviv/hta/) has taken a different approach, giving opposing ball handlers a bit more latitude, but taking away opportunities off the ball for shooters, cutters, and roll men as consistently as any team in recent history. The team's efforts to stay at home off the ball are a big reason it has faced fewer possessions created out of ball screens than all the other teams above — Hapoel is doing enough to force teams to look elsewhere for scoring opportunities.

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) has done its best work guarding screeners, giving up just 5.1 points per game, next to nothing in pick-and-pop situations, and doing a good job making timely swipes when the ball does go to an opposing roll man inside.

While some teams are decidedly more aggressive guarding ball screens than others — both at the point of attack and away from the action — the results are key and the three teams at the top of the pick-and-roll defensive leaderboards are the same three at the top of the standings as the regular season barrels towards its mid-point.

Sportradar shows how excellence at defending the pick-and-roll is resulting in teams' success