Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv came out of the national team break with a strong performance in surprising second-placed Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 94-76

Short-handed Maccabi surprises Fenerbahce, 94-76

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv came out of the national team break with a strong performance in surprising second-placed Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 94-76. Maccabi overcame the absences of Tamir Blatt, Rokas Jokubaitis, Jaylen Hoard and Rafi Menco to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 7-20. Maccabi, which had lost seven of the last eight games, did what it couldn’t do in Round 6 when it lost 84-82 at Fenerbahce.

Roman Sorkin led the winners with 21 points, Jasiel Rivero scored 18 points, Levi Randolph had 16 and Jimmy Clark collected 7 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists in his first game with Maccabi.

Fenerbahce converted just 12 of 45 three-pointers (26.7%) in falling to 17-9 after having won seven of its last eight games.  Nigel Hayes-Davis scored 12 points but made just 3 of 18 shots and Wade Baldwin also scored 12 points against his former team in his first game since Round 16.

Game Videos

Maccabi’s first 5 points of the game were matched by 5 from Fenerbahce before the host’s Jimmy Clark hit a triple for his first points with his new team. Maccabi has struggled this season defensively but went on an 8-3 run over nearly 4 minutes to lead 16-11. Former Maccabi star Baldwin converted a three-point play and triple to get the visitors within 18-17. But it was Maccabi that was ahead after 10 minutes 25-21.

Fenerbahce’s Tarik Biberovic opened the second quarter with a four-point play to even the game and Nicolo Melli’s triple gave Fenerbahce its first lead 28-30. Maccabi punched back with the next 9 points - 6 by Rivero - over more than 4 minutes to pull ahead 37-30. Fenerbahce answered with 2 three-pointers and then scored the final 10 points of the first half to go into the break ahead 41-46.

Game News

Maccabi came out of the locker room with more good intensity and Rivero and Clark both had 4 points in a 10-3 start to reclaim the lead, 51-49. Fenerbahce temporarily moved back in front only to see Sorkin convert back-to-back three-point plays and Maccabi was up 57-52. After Fenerbahce trimmed the deficit to 61-60, Maccabi’s 18-year-old Omer Mayer sank 4 free throws and a triple as the hosts went up 69-60. It was 72-63 after three quarters.

A John DiBartolomeo triple to start the fourth quarter increased the advantage to 75-63. Arturs Zagars hit a long ball for the visitors, but Randolph drained a triple at the other end and the cushion was 81-67. Fenerbahce had one push left with Devon Hall scoring 5 points to close within 81-74 with 5 minutes to go. Randolph drained another three-pointer to stop the run and Fenerbahce did not get closer than 9 points the rest of the way.

Maccabi had lost seven of eight games but got the job done defensively 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-02-27T20:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid outlasted FC Barcelona in a tense Clasico battle on Thursday night, forcing its way to a 96-91 victory to end a three-game losing streak

Real Madrid battles past Barcelona for key Clasico win, 96-91

Real Madrid outlasted FC Barcelona in a tense Clasico battle on Thursday night, forcing its way to a 96-91 victory to end a three-game losing streak. The Spanish rivals are now tied at 14-13 on the fringes of the playoff zone.

A closely contested first half saw Barca lead most of the way, going into the interval 40-43 ahead. But Real was better after the break, and finished strong to seize the win. 

Mario Hezonja led the way with 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Facu Campazzo (18), Dzanan Musa (16) and Alberto Abalde (16) also contributed well for Los Blancos. A career-night from Joel Parra paced Barca with 20 points, while Jabari Parker scored 18, Chimizie Metu added 17 and Justin Anderson netted 15.

Tomas Satoransky and Campazzo both struck from deep as the early scoring was evenly traded. Satoransky was also on target from midrange for a 6-9 lead midway through the first, and Dario Brizuela scored twice to keep his team ahead. Parker netted three quick scores to make it 14-21, but Hezonja’s deep strike sparked a 7-0 run to pull Real closer. Willy Hernangomez and Parra kept Barca ahead at the end of the first, 23-25.

Parra scored a strong layup in an otherwise slow start to the second quarter, but 4 points from Hezonja sent Real ahead, 28-27. Metu’s three forced another lead change, before Anderson and Parker kept the visitors ahead, 30-34. Serge Ibaka scored twice to tie it up, but Satoransky and Parra were on target for another Barca lead. Campazzo’s steal and score was followed by Musa’s triple for another tie, but Anderson’s buzzer-beating three made it 40-43 at the interval.

Walter Tavares opened the second half scoring before Alex Abrines and Usman Garuba threw down big slams. Abalde’s four-point play sent Real ahead, but Parker’s skillful three tied it up, 48-48. The scoring was evenly shared before Musa’s floater, Tavares’s dunk and Abalde’s three-pointer gave Real breathing room at 61-54. Musa and Hezonja were also on target from long-range, but 7 fast points from Metu kept Barca in contention, 70-67, at the end of the third.

Abalde’s fastbreak finish and Bruno Fernando’s power layup were answered by Metu’s triple and Brizuela’s slam, but Hezonja hit another triple to make it 80-72. Metu stayed hot with a mid-range strike as Barca kept fighting, before the scoring dried up as crunch time approached. Parra’s three-pointer helped make it 82-81, before Parker’s triple tied it, 86-86, inside the last 2 minutes. Campazzo’s layup and Abalde’s free throws pushed Real back ahead, and that was enough.

'Los Blancos' returned to winning ways by downing archrival

Real Madrid v FC Barcelona (2025-02-27T19:45:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan returned from the break with a hard-fought 86-80 win over AS Monaco at Unipol Forum on Thursday night

Mirotic, Shields lift Milan over Monaco, 86-80

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan returned from the break with a hard-fought 86-80 win over AS Monaco at Unipol Forum on Thursday night. The visitors took an 18-19 lead into the second quarter, when Milan bounced back and outscored Monaco 31-23. Vassilis Spanoulis’s side grabbed a 77-78 edge with 1:51 remaining, but Milan remained calm from the line to clinch the win. Ettore Messina’s team improved to 15-12, while Monaco maintained the head-to-head tiebreak advantage but dropped to 16-11.

Nikola Mirotic led all scorers with 22 points, Shavon Shields recorded 19 and Zach LeDay added 10. Elie Okobo paced Monaco with 16 points, 14 of which were scored in the last quarter, with Mike James netting 15.

A red-hot Jordan Loyd nailed 3 triples, with James and Jaron Blossomgame opening their accounts too for a 4-13 lead. But Milan tied things up, as Shields and Mirotic replied with a three each, with Nico Mannion and Fabien Causeur netting a layup apiece to make it 14-14. But Matthew Strazel scored 5 straight points off the bench for an 18-19 edge after 10 minutes.

Causeur and Georgios Papagiannis traded triples to open the second quarter before Armoni Brooks drilled one of his own for a 24-22 lead. Petr Cornelie responded with 5 straight points including a one-handed slam to posterize Freddie Gillespie, 26-29. A trade of blows followed, with Papagiannis taking his tally to 5 points as the visitors maintained a 33-34 lead. Daniel Theis opened his Monaco account with a slam, but Mirotic, Shields and Stefano Tonut drained a triple each to put Milan ahead, 44-38. James ended Milan’s 9-0 run with a midrange jumper, but Shields nailed one from deep and Mirotic scored inside for a 49-42 cushion at halftime.

Mannion added 5 points to his tally for Milan’s first double-digit lead of the night, 54-44. Shields netted three buckets in a row for a 62-52 cushion. Back-to-back baskets from Gillespie were followed by inside scores from Papagiannis and Okobo, who trimmed the deficit to 68-61 heading into the closing quarter.

The visitors started strong in the fourth, as Okobo bagged 5 consecutive points before a three by Strazel and another 5 points from the former tied it at 74-74. Mirotic answered with one from downtown, but Okobo made 2 of 2 from the line and Alpha Diallo scored inside to put Monaco in front, 77-78. Mirotic completed a three-point play on the other end, but Okobo responded from the charity stripe, 80-80. Shields, LeDay and Mirotic stayed ice-cold from the line to seal the outcome.

The hosts remained calm from the line to clinch it in the closing stages

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v AS Monaco (2025-02-27T19:30:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas rekindled its hopes of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague postseason after earning a thoroughly deserved 80-86 road win at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Zalgiris springs upset to beat Crvena Zvezda, 80-86

Zalgiris Kaunas rekindled its hopes of reaching the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague postseason after earning a thoroughly deserved 80-86 road win at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, improving to 13-14 while the home team dropped to 16-11.

Sylvain Francisco served up a masterclass as he sank a game-high 25 points, shooting 6-of-9 from downtown, while Alen Smailagic chipped in with 15 and Deividas Sirvydis added 12 for the Lithuanian outfit.

At the other end, Filip Petrusev paced Zvezda with 16 points but 10 of them came in the first quarter, after which Zalgiris did a grand job containing the Serbian side’s clutch player. Nemanja Nedovic netted 14 points for the hosts, Joel Bolomboy scored 12 and Codi Miller-McIntyre added 11.

Zalgiris swung the contest its way late in the third quarter when it carved out a 56-64 lead and never looked back, with the game being a rollercoaster up to that point as the lead changed hands time and again in the cauldron of the Belgrade Arena.

Carried by fervent home crowd support, Zvezda overcame a slow start and managed to stay in touch thanks to the versatile Petrusev and Bolomboy, whose power in the paint compensated for 6 turnovers in the first quarter.

Zalgiris was effervescent from long range in the opening half as the visiting team sank 7 of 11 from deep, with Francisco netting 12 points and the fired-up Smailagic adding 10. Smailagic drew offensive energy from his personal rivalry with Zvezda as a longtime former player of archrival Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

The big man was flawless from the floor as he was 6 of 6, sinking 3 three-pointers and as many shots from inside.

A 2-9 run late in the third quarter allowed Zalgiris to pull away and having led 60-67 ahead of the final 10 minutes, the Lithuanian team stayed in control as Francisco hit one clutch shot after another to keep Zvezda at bay.

A four-point play from Nedovic gave Zvezda a glimmer of hope as the home team slashed the deficit to 70-75 in the home stretch, but Zalgiris held firm to grind out a precious win keeping the Lithuanian champion in contention for a postseason berth.

The visitors enjoyed a fantastic performance by Sylvain Francisco who was lethal from long range 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-02-27T19:00:00.000Z)

Paris grabbed its 16th win and the potential tie-break advantage over Bayern

Shorts leads Paris past Bayern, 93-88! 

Paris Basketball took another step towards the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague postseason by topping FC Bayern Munich 93-88 in the City of Lights in Round 27 on Thursday.

Paris improved to 16-10 in the standings, while Bayern dropped to 16-11. TJ Shorts led the winners with 27 points. Maodo Lo added 14 and Daulton Hommes scored 12 for Paris. Carsen Edwards paced Bayern with 29 points. Andreas Obst added 20, Shabazz Napier 14 and Johannes Voigtmann 11 for the visitors.

Mikael Jantunen got Paris going with a three-pointer from the corner. Edwards stepped up with a reverse layup and Nick Weiler-Babb added a jumper to bring Bayern within 5-4. Nadir Hifi struck from downtown and Yakuba Ouattara erased Elias Harris's jump hook with a power layup for a 10-6 Paris lead. Napier tried to change things for the visitors. Hommes and Obst traded triples before Hifi boosted his team's lead to 16-11. Lo took over with a driving layup, but Harris and Voigtmann got Bayern within 18-15. Jantunen struck from beyond the arc and Kevarrius Hayes's dunk gave Paris a 23-15 lead after 10 minutes.

 

Shorts followed a three-pointer off the dribble with a fastbreak layup that prompted Bayern to call timeout at 28-15 early in the second quarter. Edwards took over with a layup off a wild spin move and Weiler-Babb made a jumper. After Shorts and Vladimir Lucic traded layups, Edwards followed a driving basket with a jumper, causing Paris to stop the game at 30-25. Hommes and Leopold Cavaliere fueled a 9-0 run that Lo capped with a layup for a 39-25 Paris lead. Obst followed a catch-and-shoot triple with a layup-plus-foul, giving Bayern hope at 40-33. After Bandja Sy found his first points, Edwards followed a triple with a coast-to-coast layup. Shorts made it 47-38 at the break. 

Jantunen struck from beyond the arc right after the break and Tyson Ward bettered Voigtmann's jumper with another triple for a 53-40 Paris lead. Edwards followed a layup in transition with a corner triple. Ward and Niels Giffey traded baskets before Napier got Bayern within 55-49. Lucic silenced the crowd with a show-stopping slam and Voigtmann matched Hifi's layup with a reverse slam. Hommes and Obst traded threes before Lo boosted the hosts' lead to 65-56. Obst insisted from three-point range, but Cavalieri took over with back-to-back layups. Napier struck twice from beyond the arc to make it 69-65 score. Voigtmann bettered Shorts's jumper with a three-pointer that got Bayern even closer, 71-68, at the end of the third quarter.

 

Shorts sank a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter. Voigtmann dunked before Ward and an unstoppable Shorts made it 78-70. Napier stepped up for Bayern and Edwards matched Shorts's driving layup with an off-balance basket. Edwards kept pacing the visitors, but Lo made a three-pointer. Napier's hook shot made it a 5-point game with more than 4 minutes left. Ward finished a three-chance Paris offense with a put-back basket that Edwards erased with a reverse layup. After Shorts banked in a floater, Obst fired in a triple in transition to make it 87-84. Hayes scored down low and Lo's driving layup all but sealed the outcome, 91-84, in the next-to-last minute. Shorts iced his team's win from the foul line.

The win gives Paris the potential tie-break advantage over Bayern

Shorts leads Paris past Bayern, 93-88

Paris Basketball v FC Bayern Munich (2025-02-27T19:30:00.000Z)

The February break is over and EuroLeague action finally resumes this Thursday, so here are five questions heading into the final eight rounds of the 2024-25 regular season.

Five questions ahead of the final lap of the regular season

The February break is over and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague action finally resumes this Thursday. With just eight rounds remaining in the regular season, the #EveryGameMatters motto will be truer than ever.

Everyone agrees that this is the tightest regular-season race they can remember, as every outcome for almost all scenarios in the standings is wide open.

Here are five questions for which we’ll be seeking – and getting – answers for in this last lap of the 2024-25 regular season.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1790735/five-questions-ahead-of-the-final-lap-of-the-regular-season/).

The 38th Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in the history of the EuroLeague will be unlike any of those before.

'El Clasico' like never before

The 38th *Clásico* in the history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will be unlike any of those before. When [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) and archrival [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) meet, the sporting world takes notice. It is always a game of immense prestige. And often – as has been the case five times at the Final Four and twice more in the playoffs – the opponent is standing in the way of achieving glory.

This time, neither team can yet think of glory. Both have their minds set on survival.

Never before have these teams met this late in the season under the modern format, with neither in the top eight in the standings. Real is 11th with a 13-13 record. We can split hairs and point out that Barcelona, which is ninth with a 14-12 record – the same as eighth-placed [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) – could theoretically be eighth since it won its only game against coach Zeljko Obradovic's men this season and apply that as a tiebreaker, but c'mon. Is that really the point?

No. The point is that for teams usually mapping out their road to home-court advantage in the playoffs, both Real and Barca are now worried about making sure they at least reach the Play-In Showdown. And the type of animalistic attitude needed to survive in the middle of the pack is much different than the regal perspective of a team seeking its place at the peak.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔜🏀 El Clásico | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/COdqSx1AqV">pic.twitter.com/COdqSx1AqV</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1894739466700349513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There is more troubling news for both teams on the eve of this *Clásico*. Barcelona is dealing with injuries. Leading scorer [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcas-punter-sidelined-by-shoulder-injury/) will miss the game due to a shoulder injury, [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/juan-nunez-suffering-with-knee-injury-could-miss-rest-of-season/) is out with a knee injury and [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/), one of the team’s shining lights over the past month-plus, is questionable with an Achilles tendon problem. Meanwhile, the guard Real added mid-season to bolster the backcourt, [Dennis Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dennis-smith-jr/013666/), has left the team.

That sets the stage for *El Clásico* like never before.

So what can we expect to see? First of all, a hard-fought game where character matters more than ever before. Sure, both teams have talented stars who have fought through adversity to get where they are. But with the pressure heightened like we can expect at Movistar Arena this week, mental and physical toughness take on a new meaning.

For the visitors, figuring out who will step into Punter's shoes is critical. Will [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) enshrine himself in the history books with a majestic *Clásico*? Is [Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/) lying in wait for a big game? Can [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) carry the extra load with his backcourt mates down?

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🔜 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElCl%C3%A0ssic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ElClàssic</a> <a href="https://t.co/gDAmEBO4Ky">pic.twitter.com/gDAmEBO4Ky</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1894819721461277019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Real Madrid has lost its last three games in the EuroLeague and faltered in the Spanish Cup final. The issue there is not talent; Real is one of only two teams this season to have not lost a game by more than 15 points (the other is top-ranked [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/)). That is just one of many underlying stats showing how good the team is.

So what is the problem? Is it a lack of focus? Just bad luck? And will the last week and a half – in which [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/), [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/), [Hugo Gonzalez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/hugo-gonzalez/011649/) and [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andres-feliz/011247/) were among those who played well for their national teams – be enough to get *Los Blancos* on track to win this game and make a climb in the standings?

Who knows? What I can tell you is that because of – and despite – these teams' records and spots in the standings, this *El Clásico* will be like never before. And for true fans of the game, that makes it must-see basketball.

The historic rivalry between the top two teams in Spanish sports continues on Thursday in Madrid with a different feel 

El Clásico like never before

Olympiacos Piraeus addressed its banged-up backcourt by signing guard Saben Lee just before Wednesday's EuroLeague signing deadline

Olympiacos pens deal with Saben Lee 

Olympiacos Piraeus addressed its banged-up backcourt by signing guard [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/) just before Wednesday's EuroLeague signing deadline. Lee (1.88 meters, 25 years old) joins a EuroLeague club for the second-time this season after averaging 12.0 points and 2.5 assists in eight games with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. Saben started the season in Turkiye with Manisa Basket and after his stint with Maccabi returned there until now.

He was second in the Turkish League in scoring with 18.7 points per game and tied for second in assists with 6.0 per game. Lee was worth 24.8 points, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals in the Basketball Champions League with Manisa, including tying the competition's scoring record with a 43-point showing in his second-ever game.

Saben Lee's best plays with Maccabi Tel Aviv

Lee started his professional career with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA, where he played 85 games between 2020 and 2022. He also played two games for the Philadelphia 76ers and 47 for the Phoenix Suns. His NBA career averages stand at 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 134 appearances. In addition to his time in the NBA, Lee spent time in the G League with the Motor City Cruise, Delaware Blue Coats and Raptors 905. He played college basketball at Vanderbilt University.

The latest on Olympiacos

The guard played in the EuroLeague earlier this season with Maccabi

ALBA Berlin announced that it has finalized the signing of big man Robert Baker only hours before the deadline for registering players this season

ALBA Berlin registers Robert Baker before deadline

ALBA Berlin announced that it has finalized the signing of big man [Robert Baker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/robert-baker-ii-/013774/) only hours before the deadline for registering players this season. Baker (2.11 meters, 26 years old) arrives from the Osceola Magic of the G-League, where he averaged 8.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 17 games this season. He has spent a total of four seasons in the G-League, during which he also played for the Stickton Kings and College Park Skyhawks. Baker has previous experience outside the United States with stints in Slovakia, Puerto Rico and Japan. He played college basketball at Harvard University.

The latest on ALBA Berlin

The big man is set to make his EuroLeague with the German side