The second 2024 Final Four semifinal between Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus saw several Final Four records broken or tied in Los Blancos' 87-76 win on Friday night.

Real, Olympiacos made it a record-setting night

The second 2024 Final Four semifinal between Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus saw several Final Four records broken or tied in Los Blancos' 87-76 win on Friday night.

By scoring 56 points before halftime, Real tied a single-game Final Four record for points in the first half, matching Montepaschi Siena's output in the third-place game in 2004.

Real's 9 first-half three-pointers tied the mark set by FC Barcelona last season. Los Blancos added just 3 more after the break. It was Olympiacos that finished the night with 14 triples, tying the all-time single-game mark at the Final Fours.

Game Videos

The two teams combined, however, had 26 threes, which set the new Final Four mark, besting 25 triples made by CSKA Moscow and Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the 2019 championship game.

Walter Tavares and Sergio Rodriguez made sure to add to the record setting night.

Tavares had 3 blocks, which made him the sole Final Four leader in blocked shots, with 19 to his name.

Rodriguez is now the leader in three-pointers made at Final Fours this century with 32, after going 2-for-2 against Olympiacos. He also moved into second place on the Final Four scoring charts with 198 points, passing J.R Holden (194) along the way. Sergio Llull tops the list with 207. 

Game News

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-24T19:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos BC had a first quarter to forget against Real Madrid, before outscoring Los Blancos the rest of the way. Yet, it wasn't enough as Real won the game.

Olympiacos dug itself too big a hole to get out of against Real Madrid

For anyone who tuned in at halftime of Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus’s semifinal bout at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, they will have seen a second half that featured a very impressive performance by the Reds.

The problem is that Georgios Bartzokas’s side had such a bad first half that the writing was already on the wall. Real Madrid erupted for 56 points in the first 20 minutes compared to just 37 for Olympiacos, as the Greek outfit found itself down by 19.

Although the second quarter was closely fought, with Real outscoring Olympiacos 28-27, it was in the first quarter where the wheels fell off for the Reds as *Los Blancos* closed the opening 10 minutes with a 28-10 lead.

“We got down so big and against a lethal team like that, it’s going to be tough to come back,” [Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) said in the mixed zone after the game. “You’ve got to give them a lot of credit with the way they started the game, I’m just disappointed with the way we came out and we didn’t really execute our game plan.”

Looking solely at the second half, Olympiacos increased its intensity and managed to outscore Real 31-39 in the final 20 minutes, but the [reigning EuroLeague champion still came away with an 87-76 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/semifinals-live-real-madrid-vs-olympiacos/). When Williams-Goss cut the deficit to eight points, 77-69, with 5:38 to go, it looked like a famous comeback was on. However, Real managed to raise its game again to secure its third straight championship game appearance.

For some of the Olympiacos players, they were left feeling frustrated at what could have been after Bartzokas’s men outscored Real 59-66 for the last three quarters.

“We proved there in that second half that we know what it takes, we just didn’t do it for the entirety of the game,” [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) commented in the mixed zone. “It’s a difficult one to swallow, just because we proved that we could do it \[in the second half\].”

“We cut it to like seven \[points\] and I think we had the opportunity for a split second,” [Shaq McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/) noted. “But you can’t make any mistakes against this team.”

That’s something Olympiacos knows all too well.

Olympiacos Piraeus guard Nigel Williams-Goss (right) is guarded by Real Madrid playmaker Facu Campazzo in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Semifinals.

The Reds were vastly improved from the second quarter onward, but they came up short against the reigning champion

After a season marked by injuries, the Panathinaikos veteran forward continues to be a key factor in the postseason.

Ioannis Papapetrou: 'I'm in the best shape of my life'

Ioannis Papapetrou returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2017, and made sure his presence was noticed when Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens topped Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 73-57 in the semifinals.

Papapetrou joked about his time away from the Final Four the day before the game. "It feels great. I hope it doesn't take another seven years because I will be too old for the next one!" he kidded.

Once he stepped on the court, Papapetrou was ready to deliver as he has done often lately. After averaging 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in nine regular season games, Papapetrou left his injuries behind, averaging 10.0 points on 57.9% three-pointers and 2.4 rebounds in the five-game playoff series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

"Everybody understands that what I've been through and the situation, how it goes. But in moments like this, I understood that I had to run a marathon the fastest that I could. And this marathon was to come back to the best shape that I can," Papapetrou said after the game. "And I feel like I am now in a great shape. I said that before even the playoffs. I feel in good shape, I feel healthy, I feel that I'm giving everything that I can. I honestly feel like I'm in the best shape of my life and, I have sacrificed a lot."

Papapetrou got the ball rolling early with a mid-range jumper and didn't stop until that, being the Greens' X-factor again with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a PIR of 11.

Papapetrou makes things happen

Papapetrou got the ball rolling early with a mid-range jumper and didn't stop after that, serving as the Greens' s-factor again with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a PIR of 11. Down the stretch, he picked up a 50-50 ball and flexed his right arm to ignite the green sector in the crowd. He immediately drew an unsportsmanlike foul on Nick Calathes that allowed Panathinaikos to seal the outcome.

Papapetrou is now going to his third championship game, after previous experiences with Olympiacos Piraeus in 2015 and 2017, but he'll be looking for his first EuroLeague title. Of course, he believes that third time's a charm.

"I understand that I'm prepared. I understand that the team is prepared. I know that all that matters is to go in and give everything. If the shots fall, if the shots don't fall, it doesn't matter. You have to play hard and always the next play is more important in these games," he said. "If we give everything and we put our heart and soul in the game, I will be very proud with all the results.

"Having said that, let's go to win the EuroLeague."

Panagiotis Kalaitzakis was one of Panathinaikos BC's surprise stars as they beat Fenerbahçe Beko to reach the EuroLeague Championship Game.

Kalaitzakis made all the right plays on the biggest stage

The history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four has taught us that we should expect unsung heroes. On Friday evening, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard [Panagiotis Kalaitzakis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/panagiotis-kalaitzakis/011209/) fit that exact description with his performance in [the Greens' 73-57 semifinal victory against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/game-blog-panathinaikos-vs-fenerbahce/) in Berlin, Germany.

Kalaitzakis finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 drawn fouls and a PIR of 11. In fact, he was one of five Panathinaikos players who recorded a double-digit PIR.

What's more, the large majority of his production – and all 5 of his points – came in the final 50 seconds of the third period and the first 54 seconds of the fourth quarter. Those points came as a part of a 9-0 run which the Greens used to finally pull away.

In the biggest moment of his career, the 25-year-old Kalaitzakis nailed a catch-and-shoot triple late in the third, his only field goal attempt of the night, to make it 56-50, then had an offensive board which he followed up by making both free throws and opening a 60-50 margin.

"It is about work," Kalaitzakis said after the game. "I work really hard for this one shot, and I am glad today it went. It was a great pass from Jerian \[Grant\]."

That's in addition to his trademark aggressive perimeter defense on opposing guards, which is what helped Panathinaikos hold Fenerbahce to 57 points and just 7 in the fourth quarter, in which Kalaitzakis played 5 minutes and 52 seconds.

Great majority of Kalaitzakis's production and all 5 of his points came in the final 50 seconds of the third, and the first 54 seconds of the fourth quarter as a part of a 9-0 run which the Greens used to finally pull away.

Kalaitzakis came up big in key Panathinaikos run

Making such a crucial impact with his team's season on the line was nothing new for Kalaitzakis.

The Panathinaikos guard had several big plays in a do-or-die Game 4 of the playoffs against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, playing the final 60 seconds of that crucial road game. He then followed it up with 13 minutes of action in Game 5, where he had 2 points and 2 steals and kept making defensive pressure on the perimeter.

Kalaitzakis says that his job is, actually, an easy one.

"I don't have pressure, there are a lot of guys on my team that have pressure," Kalaitzakis told [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) after the win on Friday. "I am talking about \[Kostas\] Sloukas, Kendrick \[Nunn\], Mathias \[Lessort\], our main players. I don't have pressure, just have to enter the game and energy 2, 3, 4, 5 minutes.

"That is what I do and so far, so good. I am happy I am helping my team, and we have one more to go."

That one will be on Sunday, a championship game with EuroLeague glory on the line.

Panagiotis Kalaitzakis (center) is congratulated by Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens teammate Juancho Hernangomez after their team's semifinal triumph against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

The Greek guard made his presence count as the Greens reached the championship game

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-24T16:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid and Olympiacos BC face off in the EuroLeague Semifinals, with a spot in the championship up for grabs.

Semifinals LIVE: Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos

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Los Blancos never trailed and led by as many as 25 before holding off a late rally to advance to Sunday's championship game

Real overpowers Olympiacos 87-76 in second semifinal

Panathinaikos BC is the first team into the 2024 EuroLeague Championship Game after beating Fenerbahçe Beko 73-57 on Friday evening.

Panathinaikos comes out on top against Fenerbahce in semis, 73-57

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The Greens have reached their first championship game since 2011

The Players' View on EuroLeague TV offers special coverage of the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four starting with two-time champion Tibor Pleiss of Anadolu Efes Istanbul coming aboard to call the first game from Berlin. He will be joined by regulars of The Players' View, former champion Tyrese Rice and Michael Roll.

The three of them offer insights that only players can serve up for the clash between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

There's no better way to get the low-down on what's happening on the court than to listen to the live insights of current and former pros, all of whom have played at Final Fours. The Players' View is available exclusively to EuroLeague TV subscribers. Get your pass now to make sure you don't miss any of the action.

Enjoy triple-team coverage by the players who know the game best when Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce square off in the first game at the 2024 Final Four

Tibor Pleiss joins The Players' View for Friday's first semifinal!

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four is about to start and there is a perfect plan to follow right before the games. 

Tune in to the Final Four's pregame show!

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four is about to start and there is a perfect plan to follow right before the games. Coming LIVE from Uber Arena and starting at 16:45 CEST, the [YouTube Pregame Show Live](https://www.youtube.com/live/_KsbrQocUoQ) will be hosted by Deniz Aksoy, featuring two-time EuroLeague champion head coach Dimitris Itoudis, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz star forward Chima Moneke and basketball influencer Leigh Ellis. Dane Arlauckas will tune in live from the VIP room to offer flash interviews as soon as legends and basketball stars arrive to the arena. Today's show will run until 17:45 CEST. The [YouTube Pregame Show Live](https://www.youtube.com/live/_KsbrQocUoQ) returns on Sunday at 18:45 CEST to take fans right into the championship game. There will be a third show starting right after the championship game to talk to the winners seconds after being this season's EuroLeague champions.

Don't miss the [YouTube Pregame Show](https://www.youtube.com/live/_KsbrQocUoQ) for insights, data, fresh content and a lot of fun! 

Final Four volunteers discover the power of One Team

Each year, many individuals who have signed up as volunteers for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four participate in the One Team Welcome session, and this year was no different. During the session held on Thursday, 23 May, the volunteers got to learn the ins and outs of what the One Team program is.

They gained a greater understanding of social inclusion and its many benefits, while the One Team Coaches and Manager from ALBA Berlin took center stage by explaining the One Team methodology in more depth.

#### Markus Friedrichsen – EuroLeague Final Four Volunteer 

*From Munich - third One Team experience 2015, 2022 and 2024*

"It’s always a lot of fun. You meet people from all over the world, have great experiences and have a chance to look behind the scenes. It’s such a great event. I can recommend it to anyone. "

Former players involved in the One Team program offered their advice to the volunteers in order to ensure they are the most prepared they can be. It became clear that teamwork will be crucial, with all involved encouraged to create a positive atmosphere that puts the One Team methodology front and center.

#### Meritxell Wu Lu – EuroLeague Final Four Volunteer

*From Barcelona - first time*

"It’s a really good experience to connect with my fellow volunteers. We have a really big team. We didn’t know each other that well so this was a really good experience to get to know each other through our common passion, which is basketball, and share our experiences. 

It’s a great experience to know more about EuroLeague and not just the tournament but also what’s behind it. "

There were five stations where the volunteers took part in life skills tasks, which were led by ALBA’s One Team Coaches and Manager, as well as three Final Four Ambassadors: Joe Arlauckas, Patrick Femerling and David Rivers.

To close the session, the Final Four Volunteers took the opportunity to take some pictures with the treasure everyone wants to get their hands on in Berlin this weekend – the EuroLeague trophy.

They learned all about the program upon their arrival in Berlin