AS Monaco Basket and Olympiacos B.C. grabbed wins in the final EuroLeague games of 2023. 

Game Center: 2023 comes to a close in style

### Friday, December 29

[ALBA Berlin 67-94 Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-alba-berlin-vs-olympiacos-bc/)

Olympiacos Piraeus overcame early struggles to cruise to a comfortable road win, 67-94, over ALBA Berlin in Round 17 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. The Reds improved to 9-8 while ALBA dropped to 3-14 at the midway point of the regular season. The hosts had the better of the opening exchanges to lead by 11 points midway through the second quarter, but Olympiacos soon improved its defense and started to take over. The visitor surged into a double-digit lead early in the third quarter and was never troubled again.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Final 🏀 ALBA Berlin - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> 67-94 (40&#39;) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEROLY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BEROLY</a> <a href="https://t.co/HDlnrr7lkV">pic.twitter.com/HDlnrr7lkV</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1740835320080593176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[AS Monaco 91-71 FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-as-monaco-basket-vs-barca-basket/)

AS Monaco Basket (10-7) romped to an impressive 91-71 home win over FC Barcelona (11-6) in Round 17 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague campaign, drawing a close to the first half of the regular season with a brilliant performance to boost its hopes of finishing in the top six. The result epitomized Barca's patchy form, as the Spanish side slipped to its third defeat in the last six games after a bloodless performance against a galvanized home side.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✅️ QUELLE VICTOIRE ! 🥵<br><br>📣 Dans une ambiance de feu, la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> s&#39;impose face au <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBbasket</a> 🔥<br><br>🥂 L&#39;ASM conclue l&#39;année 2023 dans le top 5️⃣ de l&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>, au bout d&#39;une magnifique soirée à Gaston-Médecin 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGame</a> <a href="https://t.co/XWU2hpWxBc">pic.twitter.com/XWU2hpWxBc</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1740855024606138857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul 84-89 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-fenerbahce-beko/)

Fenerbahce earned bragging rights in the Istanbul Derby by beating host Efes 84-89 to raise its record to 10-7 and a perfect 4-0 under Sarunas Jasikevicius while Efes dropped to 7-10. Nigel Hayes-Davis led Fenerbahce with 24 points while Nick Calathes added 17, including a late dagger three-pointer, and Georgios Papagiannis chipped in 12. Efes guard Shane Larkin was the game's top scorer with 28 points. Dan Oturu netted 19 and Rodrigue Beaubois 10 in a losing effort.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A win in the Turkish Derby 🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> get the Dub and the team surrounds <a href="https://twitter.com/Nick_Calathes15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nick_Calathes15</a> 👏🏼 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/7dXXDM5NiR">pic.twitter.com/7dXXDM5NiR</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1740454000141508770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 75-77 Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleauge-live-blog-kk-partizan-vs-virtus-bologna/)

In a thriller that came down to the final shot, Virtus edged Partizan 75-77 in the Serbian capital to hold on to at least a share of second place at 12-5. Partizan dropped to 9-8. Iffe Lundberg paced the winners with 16 points. Marco Belinelli added 14 while Toko Shengelia, Awudu Abass and Daniel Hackett each had 10 for Virtus. James Nunnally led Partizan with 19 points. Kevin Punter and Ognjen Jaramaz each scored 12 while Frank Kaminsky and Bruno Caboclo had 10 apiece for the hosts.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE 🖼️🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/KaySXd3Odn">pic.twitter.com/KaySXd3Odn</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1740463272003039462?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

[Zalgiris Kaunas 70-78 Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/zalgiris-kaunas-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/149/)

Maccabi bounced back from last week's defeat to beat host Zalgiris 70-78 and improved to a 10-7 record Zalgiris dropped to 5-12. Josh Nebo led all scorers with a career-high 22 points. Tamir Blatt scored 14, with Lorenzo Brown, Roman Sorkin and Bonzie Colson adding 11 each. As for Zalgiris, Keenan Evans scored a team-high 18 points and Edmond Sumner added 14. Zalgiris led 33-32 at halftime but Maccabi dominated the third quarter, 16-29, and cruised after that to the win.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Away from 🏠 win for <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaccabiTLVBC</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xlbt5O4QIb">pic.twitter.com/Xlbt5O4QIb</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1740460992340054417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

[LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 76-77 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne-real-madrid/E2023/148/)

Standings leader Real used a 0-16 start to the fourth quarter to eke out a 76-77 win at last-place ASVEL. Real watched ASVEL cut the game to one point in the closing minute but improved to 16-1. Vincent Poirier had 17 points and Edy Tavares scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the winning side. ASVEL dropped its ninth straight game for a 2-15 record despite Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot’s 20 points with Paris Lee chipping in 17 points and 7 assists in the loss.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🙌 ¡Los nuestros cierran con 16 victorias en 17 partidos este 2023 en la <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Euroleague</a>! 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalaMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalaMadrid</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/wxaSpVqFcf">pic.twitter.com/wxaSpVqFcf</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1740478547733500389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

[Panathinaikos Aktor Athens 82-65 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2023/150/)

Panathinaikos improved to 10-7 with a comfortable home win over Zvezda, staying on course to reach the post-season after the Greek giant stifled out the visitors with ironclad defense from start to finish. Dinos Mitoglou paced Panathinaikos with 15 points, Jerian Grant scored 14 and Mathias Lessort chopped in with 13 as the Greens racked up their fourth straight win to remain firmly in the upper half of the table. At the other end, Nemanja Nedovic and Joel Bolomboy posted 15 points each for Zvezda.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE.THE.GREENS ☘️💚<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://t.co/EMHQnI9j0V">pic.twitter.com/EMHQnI9j0V</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1740485959626731721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

[EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 76-67 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2023/146/)

Milan returned to winning ways by topping Baskonia at home on Thursday. Milan improved to 7-10 in the standings while Baskonia dropped to 9-8. Nicolo Melli led the winners with 21 points and 3 blocks. Johannes Voigtmann posted a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds while Diego Flaccadori had 14 points for Milan. Chima Moneke led Baskonia with 14 points. Tadas Sedekerskis added 12 while Vanja Marinkovic had 10 for the guests.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">L&#39;Olimpia chiude il 2023 davanti ai 12mila spettatori del Forum con una vittoria!🔥Grazie ad uno straordinario Nicolò Melli da 21 punti.<br><br>76 - 67 il punteggio finale.<br>(Melli 21 pts, Voigtmann 19, Flaccadori 14)<br><br>⚪️🔴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/olimpiamilano?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#olimpiamilano</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/gsQOShKaCo">pic.twitter.com/gsQOShKaCo</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1740486625346597137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

[FC Bayern Munich 85-84 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-bayern-munich-valencia-basket/E2023/147/)

Bayern continued its impressive record at BMW Park by beating Valencia. Bayern improved to 6-2 on its home floor and 8-9 overall, while Valencia fell to 9-8. Leandro Bolmaro and Devin Booker paced Bayern with 13 points apiece. Vladimir Lucic and Andreas Obst each had 12, Danko Brankovic added 11 and Carsen Edwards contributed 10 in the win. For Valencia, Brandon Davies scored a game-high 21 points and Chris Jones finished with 19, but it proved to be in vain.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a thriller! What a victory in the last <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> home game of the year!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAYVBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAYVBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogehter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogehter</a> <a href="https://t.co/yaVQie5PW4">pic.twitter.com/yaVQie5PW4</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1740487353557209520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Another fascinating round of action in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season is officially in the books. See you in 2024 for more basketball from the most exciting league in the world!

Game Center: Olympiacos, Monaco close 2023 in style with 20-point wins

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2023-12-28T19:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-12-28T17:30:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-12-28T17:30:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Olympiacos Piraeus (2023-12-29T19:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2023-12-29T20:00:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Valencia Basket (2023-12-28T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-12-28T19:15:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Real Madrid (2023-12-28T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-12-28T18:00:00.000Z)

Join the Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes S.K. players on the court for the EuroLeague's latest installment of the Istanbul derby.

 MindFly's referee cams went inside the Istanbul Derby 

Have you ever wanted to know what it feels like to really be part of the action of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game?

Well, feast your eyes and ears on what a revolutionary MindFly AI ultralight-powered bodycam embedded in the referee's jersey sees and hears!

Game officials Sreten Radovic and Uros Nikolic wore the MindFly's POV Cam during the Istanbul Derby between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko as part of Round 17 of the regular season.

Now, you not only can watch the game action from closer than ever through the cameras in their jerseys, but also hear them talking with the players, coaches and each other throughout the game. It's a fascinating look at the professionalism that is at the very heart of the EuroLeague game experience.

Euroleague Basketball and MindFly started their collaboration during the last Final Four held in Kaunas, where all fans had the possibility to re-live some of the best moments of the EuroLeague's final phase as if they were inside the court. This season's debut of the same technology let fans experience [El Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/experience-el-clasico-like-never-before/)like never before and later follow the [French Derby between AS Monaco and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/go-right-on-court-with-monaco-and-asvel/). as well as the [Italian one between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/join-virtus-bologna-olimpia-milano-on-the-floor-euroleague-derby-ditalia/).

The 2023-24 season will continue this collaboration even further as all fans will have more opportunities during the regular season to experience what happens inside the court.

Have you ever wanted to know what it feels like to really be part of the action of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game?

Well, feast your eyes and ears on what a revolutionary MindFly AI ultralight-powered bodycam embedded in the referee's jersey sees and hears!

Game officials Sreten Radovic and Uros Nikolic wore the MindFly's POV Cam during the Istanbul Derby between Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahce Beko as part of Round 17 of the regular season.

Now, you not only can watch the game action from closer than ever through the cameras in their jerseys, but also hear them talking with the players, coaches and each other throughout the game. It's a fascinating look at the professionalism that is at the very heart of the EuroLeague game experience.

MindFly's referee cams went inside the Istanbul Derby

Experience the thrilling Istanbul Derby between Efes and Fenerbahce like never before thanks to MindFly's bodycams on the game's referees!

MindFly's referee cams went inside the Istanbul Derby 

The duel between two of last season's Final Four teams will also complete the first half of the regular season.  

AS Monaco hosts Barça Basket in 2023's last EuroLeague game

Salle Gaston Medecin is already sold out to see [this highly-anticipated showdown between AS Monaco and FC Barcelona on Friday](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-fc-barcelona/E2023/152/). It is the first game between these teams since last season's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

### Barca is undefeated in Monaco

Monaco and Barca lost in the EuroLeague semifinals last season against Olympiacos Piraeus and Real Madrid, respectively. It was Monaco's first-ever Final Four appearance. For Barca, it was the third consecutive Final Four after having not qualified since 2014. In the Third Place Game, [Monaco topped Barca 78-66](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/as-monaco-fc-barcelona/E2022/329/) behind 15 points from Matthew Strazel.

After rising to second via a triumphant evening at Real Madrid, Monaco pursue further ascendancy when they challenge a Barça outfit in seek of reprieve since a shock loss to LDLC ASVEL, one which triggered public criticism from head coach Šaras Jasikevičius.

AS Monaco vs FC Barcelona - Round 13 - Highlights

Before that game, Barca had dominated Monaco the last couple of seasons, winning all four regular season games. They met for the first time on October 15, 2021. Barca edged Monaco 81-85 on the road behind 27 points from Brandon Davies, who was playing against his former team. Last season, Barca beat Monaco at Salle Gaston Medecin, 63-69, to remain undefeated in this building. Nikola Mirotic led the way with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

### Mike James's struggles against Barca

[Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) has a 5-10 career record against Barcelona, including losing 10 of his last 13 games. Barca recorded five consecutive road victories against James's teams over the last six years. Added to its two wins in Monaco, Barca beat CSKA Moscow twice in the Russian capital and defeated EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 85-90 on January 9, 2019. James's last home win against Barca was with Panathinaikos Athens, 71-65, on January 24, 2017. He had 10 points and a PIR of 9 in over 28 minutes that night.

Catch up on AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan vs FC Barcelona Lassa from Round 17 of the 2018/19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, 9th January 2019

AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan vs FC Barcelona Lassa - Round 17 - 9th January 2019

Statistically speaking, James is one of the best players in competition history, with averages of 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and a PIR of 16.6 in 259 EuroLeague career games. He has struggled a bit against Barca, though. His career-best effort against Barca is 20 points with Milan in an 85-90 home loss at Mediolanum Forum. In 15 games against Barca, James has averaged 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and a PIR of 13.6, making just 17 of 65 three-point shots (26.2% 3FG). All those numbers are below his career averages.

### Telling numbers

Both teams have different basketball brands and whoever excels in what it usually does well should have a better chance to win the game. Monaco leads the 2023-24 EuroLeague fewest turnovers committed with just 9.9 per game and no team has registered double-digits in steals against it. Entering Round 17, It ranked fourth in offensive rebounds with 11.6 per night, second in fouls drawn (21.1 per game) and fourth in free throws made (241). As such, keeping its trademark aggressiveness should be critical in this difficult game.

Barca is more of an offensive-minded team, ranking fourth in scoring (83.2 ppg.), assists (19.3 apg.) and defensive rebounds (24.9 drpg.). Barca is also fourth in two-point shooting (56.4%) and fifth in three-pointers (37.4%), generally shooting the ball better than Monaco (51.1% 2FG, 35.8% 3FG). Barca, however, is last in free throw percentage (73.5%), which could be an issue in a close game. Surprisingly, James is Monaco's leading rebounder (4.4 rpg.) and [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) (4.5 rpg.) is right behind [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) (4.6 rpg.) and [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/) (4.6 rpg.). Controlling the boards should be the biggest key to this exciting showdown.

Two of the best four teams from last season meet for the first time in the 2023-24 campaign, trying to finish the year with a prestigious win. What's not to like? Tune in on Friday at 21:00 for the final EuroLeague game of 2023!

Monaco hosts Barca in 2023's last EuroLeague game

Virtus Segafredo Bologna added depth and talent to its roster by inking guard Rihards Lomazs for the remainder of the season, the club announced 

Virtus signs guard Lomazs 

Lomazs (1.90 meters, 27 years old) arrives from Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket, where he averaged 14.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 12 Turkish League games this season, in his second stint with that club. He brings in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague experience, as he took part in 33 games with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, averaging 4.6 points. He started his professional career in his native Latvia, playing for Talso, Ventspils Augstskola, Jurmalas Sports Fenikss and Ventspils before joining ASVEL in 2019. Lomazs also played for Spanish side Casademont Zaragoza. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔊 𝐑𝐈𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐒 𝐄&#39; 𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐎<br>Welcome to Bologna &quot;Lomi&quot; ⚪️⚫️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/OURfaEcvn7">pic.twitter.com/OURfaEcvn7</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1740719350246703593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
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### Back with Coach Banchi

Lomazs has already worked for Virtus head coach Luca Banchi, who also runs the Latvian national team. He helped Latvia qualify to the 2023 World Cup, averaging 15.6 points and 4.0 assists in 10 games. He led his national team to a 9-1 record and a ticket to the World Cup, in which Latvia finished fifth overall without Lomazs, who was injured. He also helped Ventspils win the Latvian League title in 2018 and become the Latvian-Estonian League's original champion in 2023.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna added depth and talent to its roster by inking guard Rihards Lomazs for the remainder of the season, the club announced Friday. 


Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) looked certain to miss his team's Round 17 home game against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade after having suffered a heavy fall in the closing stages of a Round 16 win at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan last week.

With around 3 minutes left in that contest, Lessort landed awkwardly on his back and eventually had to be helped off the court after having scored 16 points [in that 68-76 road victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/E2023/141/).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mathias Lessort couldn’t walk on his own and got carried to Panathinaikos’ bench after a rough landing in the final minutes against Milano. <a href="https://t.co/0tupBd9bD9">pic.twitter.com/0tupBd9bD9</a></p>&mdash; Cesare Milanti (@cesaremilanti) <a href="https://twitter.com/cesaremilanti/status/1738310332915802400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Six days later, Lessort came off the bench [in Thursday's 82-65 home rout of Zvezda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2023/150/) to post 13 points and 4 rebounds in 29 minutes despite playing through pain for a telling contribution to his team's emphatic victory.

"Believe me, I am in pain," Lessort said in a halftime interview when it was suggested he had already shaken off his back injury.

The big man's grimaces during and after the game said it all, but Lessort showed steel will to ignore the setback as Panathinaikos racked up its fourth successive win in Europe's premier club competition.

Mathias Lessort (13 points) Highlights vs. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, 12/28/2023

Unyielding Mathias Lessort showed grit against Zvezda

The Greens also owed their win, in no small part, to ironclad defense on Zvezda's star player Milos Teodosic, who was stifled out and kept scoreless after winning last week's MVP award with a blistering performance against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. Teodosic shined with 27 points and 14 assists in Zvezda's 92-98 win at the Israeli giant, giving him five-game averages of 15.4 points, 7.8 assists and 22.6 PIR.

But in the OAKA Altion Arena he was a non-factor, and Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman singled out one of the game's unsung heroes in containing the playmaker.

"The plan was to put full pressure on Teodosic," Ataman told the post-game press conference. "Last week, he was the MVP and tonight \[Panagiotis\] Kalaitzakis did a great job on him.

"We didn't play a great game on the offensive end, but the defense was excellent. I am very happy because we are \[ranked\] fourth halfway through the regular season and it's a great result for us."

The Greens now face a stern double-round test of their credentials in Spain next week, when they will visit Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on January 3 before taking on Valencia Basket two days later. Ataman will hope to have a fully fit roster after the New Year's Eve festivities in a bid to extend the Panathinaikos winning streak.

The Panathinaikos center played through severe pain while an unsung teammate helped shut down a legend.

The Greens kept streaking behind the grit of Lessort

Danko Brankovic had a career night as FC Bayern Basketball beat Valencia Basket 85-84 in Round 17 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Danko Brankovic showed what he can offer FC Bayern Basketball in win over Valencia Basket

When it became clear that Serge Ibaka would not be available for FC Bayern Munich against Valencia Basket, a few doubts may have crept into the heads of some fans. Well, given how [Danko Brankovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/danko-brankovic/007639/) ended up performing, those doubts were well and truly put to bed as [Bayern came away with an 85-84 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-fc-bayern-basketball-vs-valencia-basket/).

### A big step in the right direction

Playing in his rookie season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the 23-year-old center had his best performance to date in his brief 12-game career in Round 17. Not only did Brankovic have a career-high PIR of 16, the second-highest total of any Bayern player, but he also had career-best totals of 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists in a personal-best 19:14 minutes on the floor. Add in his 1 steal and 1 block and it made for a very impressive night by Bayern’s No. 22.

“Playing without Serge wasn’t easy,” stated Bayern boss Pablo Laso in the post-game flash interview. “We suffered today without Serge probably more than any other game, because they are very strong inside and we needed someone to protect our rim. I think Danko did a great job, Devin \[Booker\] suffered a lot against their big guys, and Brandon \[Davies, Valencia’s starting center\] is a very good player.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a thriller! What a victory in the last <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> home game of the year!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAYVBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAYVBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogehter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogehter</a> <a href="https://t.co/yaVQie5PW4">pic.twitter.com/yaVQie5PW4</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1740487353557209520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Making an early impact

In fact, Brankovic’s energy and hustle was felt throughout the night and even in the absence of such a dominant player such as Ibaka, the Croatian big man found ways to impact the game. In case there were some Bayern fans who were not too aware of Brankovic’s talent, they got to see what he can offer in the first moments of the game.

Brankovic showed his court awareness early on by picking out Booker for a corner three in what was Bayern’s first score of the game, then he got out in the open floor for a fastbreak layup before grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring a put-back layup. Those three scores all had Brankovic’s name written all over them, as Bayern opened a 7-4 lead.

After, there was a put-back dunk in the second quarter and a couple of scores in the third as he moved to 10 points and 7 rebounds, of which 3 came on the offensive end. In the fourth and final quarter, Brankovic blocked Josep Puerto’s jumper with the score 69-71 in Valencia’s favor with 5 minutes to go, before stealing the ball from Davies, which led to a Leandro Bolmaro dunk on the fastbreak.

The Croatian’s night ended up coming to a premature end with 3:09 remaining in the fourth quarter and Bayern up 76-71, but he had made such an impact that the German side was then able to piggyback on his good work and see the job over the line, 85-84.

Danko Brankovic had 11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block as FC Bayern Munich beat Valencia Basket 85-84 in Round 17 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Brankovic's highlights vs. Valencia

### Laso has been tough with him

As Coach Laso noted afterward, the training staff have been working their socks off to get Brankovic up to speed in the EuroLeague, and the Spaniard even admitted to being particularly tough with the 23-year-old during training camp. He did, however, make sure to praise his impressive performance against Valencia first.

“I only have good words for Danko. He’s been doing a great job during the whole year,” Laso added. “I’m going to say it here, but I killed him in preseason. I went like, ‘Welcome to the EuroLeague.’ It’s not easy for him to adjust to this competition, but he played very good.

“All my assistants and all my staff are doing a great job of making him grow up. We believe a lot in him and he gives us that confidence back. In games like today, we’re very happy to have him because we know that it’s important a young kid steps up in these kinds of moments and these kinds of things, so I’m very happy for him and for the victory.”

Ibaka won’t be missing too often this season, but Brankovic, who started for just the second time in Round 17, has shown that he has what it takes to step into the shoes of the three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection.

More Bayern News

Danko Brankovic scores for FC Bayern Munich against Valencia Basket in Round 17 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The young center got just the second start of his early EuroLeague career in Round 17.

Danko Brankovic showed what he can offer Bayern in win over Valencia

Iffe Lundberg, Awudu Abass and Devontae Cacok all had important roles as Virtus Bologna beat KK Partizan 75-77 in Round 17 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Second unit helped Virtus Bologna silence KK Partizan at Stark Arena

Virtus Segafredo Bologna improved to 12-5 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings on Thursday night, having gone to the home of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, where the Serbian side was on a six-game winning streak, and won 75-77. Last season, the Italian team reached the regular season's halfway mark with an 8-9 record, so it's been quite the improvement under the orders of head coach Luca Banchi.

### Role players were key in win at Partizan

Virtus controlled the game early and quickly built a double-digit lead, 10-21. However, Partizan came back to tie the game, 23-23, early in the second quarter. In need of a go-to guy, Virtus found Awudu Abass, who came off the bench and needed just 18 seconds to bury his first three-pointer. Iffe Lunbderg also struck from downtown and Abass downed another triple to give Virtus plenty of fresh air at 25-34.

The guests never trailed after that, but James Nunnally managed to bring Partizan within 72-73 with 1:11 remaining in the contest. Virtus called a timeout and Coach Banchi brought Lundberg back on the court. The Dane delivered by hitting a critical basket, going one-on-one against Zach LeDay and banking in a close shot with 18.9 seconds remaining.

Devontae Cacok, Iffe Lundberg and Awude Abass combined for 30 points in Virtus Segafredo Bologna's road win against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

Virtus's second unit makes the difference

When the dust settled, Lundberg led Virtus with 16 points off the bench. Abass had 10 points, his second double-digit scoring effort of the season, in less than 14 minutes. Virtus also got a solid contribution from backup center Devontae Cacok, who had 4 points, 5 rebounds and a PIR of 8 in over 13 minutes on the floor..

"It is always difficult to stay calm, especially in an atmosphere like this, a really hostile environment," said Lundberg after the game. "We knew coming in here that the victory tonight would give us a really good chance in terms of the standings. 

"We tried to keep our composure throughout the end of the game and luckily it was in our favor. We always wanted to finish the first half of the season with a win, and against the toughest crowd in Europe. You couldn't ask for more!"

More Virtus News

Iffe Lundberg of Virtus Segafredo Bologna celebrates after scoring against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 17 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Luca Banchi's side grabbed its 12th win of the season, with its bench players stepping up in critical moments of the game. 


Second unit helped Virtus silence Partizan at Stark Arena

Nick Calathes continued his resurgence at Fenerbahçe Beko with a stellar performance against Anadolu Efes S.K. in the EuroLeague's Istanbul derby, which included two clutch threes in the fourth quarter.

The Nick Calathes redemption arc continued in the Istanbul derby

Nick Calathes has had a tough few months.

First, it looked like [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/carousels/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22ulk%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Fenerbahce%20Beko%20Istanbul) was going to part ways with the legendary point guard last summer when it signed Raul Neto, only for the Brazilian to suffer an injury at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. As such, Calathes was forced to stick around.

Then, following the surprising dismissal of Dimitris Itoudis, Calathes was reunited with his former head coach at FC Barcelona, Saras Jasikevicius. Infamously, the two didn’t leave on the best of terms during the 34-year-old’s final year at Palau Blaugrana, so many thought the appointment of Jasikevicius would spell the end of Calathes’s time in Istanbul. But, instead, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s all-time leading assists provider is thriving under the Lithuanian tactician.

### Calathes came to the fore in the Istanbul derby

That was particularly evident during Thursday night’s Istanbul derby, as Calathes came up clutch for Fenerbahce in [an 84-89 win at cross-city rival Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-fenerbahce-beko/). In 25:40 minutes on the floor, the Greece international recorded 17 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists and 3 steals, good for a 24 PIR, while he also had a +9 in the plus/minus category.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Bizimkiler! 😎💛💙<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/mAKZPfTMxv">pic.twitter.com/mAKZPfTMxv</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1740461872820957318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Importantly, in the closing stages of the contest, Calathes showed up to halt Efes’s momentum and all but silence the crowd inside Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. His dish to fellow backcourt starter Scottie Wilbekin, who drained a three-pointer, saw Fenerbahce regain the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter with just over 5 minutes to go. From there, it became the Calathes show.

It's worth noting that Calathes had made just 8 triples coming into Thursday evening’s contest, but he already had 1 from beyond the arc early in the first quarter and another deep two in the opening 10 minutes, which was centimeters away from being a three. So, with that in mind, Calathes appearing with 2 clutch threes in the fourth quarter wouldn’t have been predicted by many beforehand. Yet, it happened.

Nick Calathes had 17 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists and 3 steals as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul 84-89 in Round 17 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Calathes's highlights vs. Efes

### Silencing the Efes crowd

As the shot clock wound down to the final seconds, Calathes came back out and sized up Shane Larkin before knocking down a deep, deep three over the Efes guard’s outstretched arm to make it 78-82 with 3:46 left. That was a big momentum swing, but what came next proved to be the dagger.

Tarik Biberovic received a pass from Georgios Papagiannis and quickly found an open Calathes on the perimeter, before Fenerbahce’s No. 33 hit his second triple of the fourth quarter to set an 82-87 score with 29.2 seconds remaining. The collective sigh in the Efes gym was palpable, while the Fenerbahce players all came together in celebration.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A win in the Turkish Derby 🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> get the Dub and the team surrounds <a href="https://twitter.com/Nick_Calathes15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Nick_Calathes15</a> 👏🏼 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/7dXXDM5NiR">pic.twitter.com/7dXXDM5NiR</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1740454000141508770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fenerbahce managed to see an 84-89 win over the line, and afterward Calathes was embraced by his teammates. From being ushered towards the exit to coming up with game-winning plays in the Istanbul derby, the veteran guard has shown that he not only has incredible talent but an equally impressive force of will.

It hasn’t been an easy few months for Calathes, but he continues to go from strength to strength under Jasikevicius. And on Thursday evening, another page was written in the Calathes redemption arc story.

More Fenerbahce News

Nick Calathes of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has possession against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Round 17 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Fenerbahce guard came up big against Efes to secure the win for his team.

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan excelled in all hustle stats against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, finishing the game with 9 offensive rebounds, 11 steals and 4 blocked shots. It was Milan's third-best mark in steals this season. Its best was 14 steals in an 84-61 home victory over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Milan was also 1 block shy of matching a season high: it previously had 5 blocks three times this season.

Baskonia only pulled down 5 offensive rebounds against Milan's 29 defensive boards. In other words, Milan grabbed 85.3% of all boards under its own rim. Things were very different on the other side of the court. Baskonia allowed 9 offensive boards and grabbed 27 defensive one - 75% of all total rebounds.

Baskonia had fewer steals (9) and more turnovers (16). Five Baskonia players had multiple turnovers in this game. Baskonia matched its highest number of turnovers since Dusko Ivanovic returned to coach the team.

Game Videos

Milan's three-point defense was another key to this important victory. Baskonia only made 1 of 11 three-point shots (9.1% 3FG) in the first half, in which Milan took a double-digit lead, 46-31. The visitors did not do much better after the break, finishing the game with 3 of 17 three-point shooting (17.6% 3FG). Milan did not excel from behind the arc, but made 8 of 23 three-point shots (34.8% 3FG), which was significantly better than its opponent.

Finally, looking for advantages in the paint was decisive for Milan to win this game. Nicolo Melli, Johannes Voigtmann and Kyle Hines combined for 48 points on 14 of 22 two-point shooting (63.6% 2FG). On the other hand, Matt Costello, Chima Moneke, Maik Kotsar and Khalifa Diop combined for 28 points on 7-of-15 two-point shooting (46.7% 2FG).

Game News

Milan had five key players either injured or unavailable in Round 17 but still registered a 76-67 home victory over Baskonia.


Game Center: Olympiacos, Monaco close 2023 in style with 20-point wins

MindFly's referee cams went inside the Istanbul Derby

Monaco hosts Barca in 2023's last EuroLeague game

Virtus signs guard Lomazs

The Greens kept streaking behind the grit of Lessort

Danko Brankovic showed what he can offer Bayern in win over Valencia

Second unit helped Virtus silence Partizan at Stark Arena

The Nick Calathes redemption arc continued in the Istanbul derby

Milan's hustle paid off against Baskonia