Scoring great Keith Langford announces retirement

One of the best scorers in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history, [Keith Langford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/keith-langford/001887/), announced his retirement on Twitter on Thursday night.

Langford, 39, played a total eight seasons in the EuroLeague. He made his debut in 2009-10 with Khimki Moscow Region and he would go on to play also with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Olimpia Milan, UNICS Kazan and Panathinaikos Athens. During those eight seasons, Langford played a total 143 games for 2,289 points (16.0 ppg.), 444 rebounds and 367 assists.

During that time, Langford won the EuroLeague Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy twice, in 2013-14 with Milan (17.6 ppg.) and in 2016-17 with UNICS (21.8 ppg.). In 2013-14, Langford was also named to the All-EuroLeague First Team.

Langford also had two seasons in the 7DAYS EuroCup playing with UNICS from 2014 to 2016 for a total 25 games.

In his tweet, Langford made reference to an Achilles tendon surgery he underwent in May of 2022, from which he was having a hard time recovering. This situation led him to take the decision of leaving professional basketball after a 17-year career, during which he left a deep mark in our league and set a high standard for future scorers.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">May of 2022 I had surgery for an Achilles tendinopathy that for the previous 10 months, I tried to conservatively rehabilitate. <br><br>In what turned out to be an extremely trying time period, I was consumed by denial, anger, depression and bargaining.</p>&mdash; Keith (@keith_langford) <a href=https://twitter.com/keith_langford/status/1654212817518579712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>May 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

Maccabi's hustle plays before the break broke the game

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv dominated AS Monaco for the final 30 minutes for [a 104-69 win on Thursday](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-as-monaco/E2022/320/) to force a fifth and deciding game for a ticket to the Final Four. Over the last three quarters, the score was 87-45. 

There are so many stats and numbers to show how well Maccabi played, especially during a 20-0 run to open the second quarter. That gave Maccabi the lead for good. But it would not be fair to say that it decided the game. Because right after that run, Monaco had a 0-10 surge in which Elie Okobo drained back-to-back three-pointers to get within 39-36 with just less than 2 minutes to go until halftime. 

After the second of those threes, the arena was a little deflated as Coach Oded Kattash called for a timeout. At that point, it was anybody’s game. But what Maccabi did for the final 2 minutes of the half put the game on a different trajectory. 

Not only did the hosts score the last 8 points of the quarter to rebuild a double-digit advantage at the break, they did so but out hustling Monaco. 

The first bucket of that run was a Bonzie Colson stick-back after Darrun Hilliard missed a three. Then Josh Nebo's quick switch on defense forced Okobo into a turnover. Maccabi capitalized on that with a Nebo tip-in, which was the third offensive rebound of that possession.

Hilliard then made things tough on Mike James, who missed a jumper. At the other end, Colson fought for an offensive rebound, which became a jump ball. He won the tip and eventually scored again. And finally, after Yakuba Outtara missed from deep in the final seconds of the quarter, Alex Poythress sprinted downcourt, drew a foul with 2.2 seconds left and sank 2 free throws.

Maccabi's 8-0 finish to the second quarter

Maccabi s 8-0 finish to the second quarter

All 8 points were the direct result of hustle plays. And after them, Maccabi went into halftime far more confident.

"We programmed our game, we made it a little simpler, defensively and offensively. And our domination came from the way we played," Coach Oded Kattash said afterward. "We were much more aggressive, we ran, we controlled the rebounds. And when our shot choices are correct, after some kind of movement or creating some sort of advantage, we were able to punish them with 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, which was huge for us." 

Monaco knew it had to solve the rebounding problem. And, in fact, Monaco did by limiting the home team to 4 offensive rebounds in the second half. But the second momentum shift seemed to break Monaco for good and after the visitors failed to generate points in the first few possessions of the third quarter, the game quickly became one-sided.

Speaking in place of head coach Sasa Obradovic, who was ejected from the game in the third quarter, Monaco assistant coach Milenko Bogicevic said: "We did not respond to their aggressiveness, and I think this was the biggest problem in this game... They played really aggressive, with lots of energy. We did not respond in our best way, so they really deserved this win today."

All the other numbers, such as Maccabi coming up with its second-highest point tally, second-most assists and second-best offensive efficiency of the season illustrate how dominant Maccabi was. But where it broke its opponent and won the game for good were those key hustle plays in the last 2 minutes of the first half.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Maccabi Tel Aviv in a do-or-die game tonight<br><br>🔥 104 points: season 2nd highest<br>🔥 136.8 offensive efficiency: season 2nd highest<br>🔥 46 rebounds: season 3rd highest<br>🔥 22 assists: season 2nd highest</p>&mdash; 3StepsBasket (@3StepsBasket) <a href=https://twitter.com/3StepsBasket/status/1654217805414248450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>May 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v AS Monaco (2023-05-04T18:05:00.000Z)

After 10 minutes of play in Game 4 between Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and AS Monaco at Menora Mivtachim Arena, the French side had a 17-24 lead and looked on course to wrap up the series, having entered Thursday night's contest leading 2-1. But, Maccabi flipped the script at the beginning of the second quarter by going on a 20-0 run – a club record in a playoff game – to make it a 37-24 game.

Maccabi's best-ever playoff scoring run gave it life against Monaco

After 10 minutes of play in Game 4 between Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and AS Monaco at Menora Mivtachim Arena, the French side had a 17-24 lead and looked on course to wrap up the series, having entered Thursday night's contest leading 2-1. But, Maccabi flipped the script at the beginning of the second quarter by going on a 20-0 run – a club record in a playoff game – to make it a 37-24 game.

From there, Maccabi largely had control of the game – a late push from Monaco in the second quarter aside – as it went on to win 104-69 to force a Game 5 at Salle Gaston Medecin next Wednesday night. Those 104 points by Maccabi are the second most ever recorded in a EuroLeague playoff game, with the all-time record belonging to the 113 points Kinder Virtus Bologna posted against Adecco Estudiantes in 2001.

During that 20-0 run to start the second quarter, Lorenzo Brown made 3 threes, Jake Cohen struck twice from behind the arc, Wade Baldwin scored a two-pointer and John DiBartolomeo went 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. It took Monaco more than 5 minutes to score its first basket of the quarter, by which point the Menora Mivtachim Arena crowd was already in a frenzy.

Monaco was able to cut the gap to 3 points, 39-36, but Maccabi closed out the half strong before putting its foot on the neck of its opponent after the break. Now, looking ahead to Game 5 in Monaco, Baldwin is expecting a tough fixture: "This series has gone back and forth – we need one more. We need to win one more and go to Kaunas, but Wednesday's going to be a battle and I can't wait for it."

For fans of both teams, as well as neutral observers, this series has been a lot of fun – and Game 5 should provide a similar level of entertainment.

Game Videos

Game News

At Stark Arena on Thursday night, Real Madrid showed the grit and mettle of a club which had won the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague a record 10 times, as it ground out a 78-85 road win at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to tie their playoff series at 2-2 and force a decisive Game 5 in the Spanish capital next week.

Real Madrid back on level terms after another crucial road win

At Stark Arena on Thursday night, Real Madrid showed the grit and mettle of a club which had won the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague a record 10 times, as it ground out a 78-85 road win at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to tie their playoff series at 2-2 and force a decisive Game 5 in the Spanish capital next week.

Trailing 2-0 after dropping Games 1 and 2 on its home court, Real came to Belgrade earlier this week with the mammoth task of tying up the series. Yet, last season’s runners-up stepped up to the challenge in the cauldron of Stark Arena, although Game 4 was played in adverse circumstances.

The first half produced a subdued atmosphere and muted cheering on Thursday as Partizan fans paid their respects to the victims of Wednesday’s mass shooting in a Belgrade elementary school, with many of the home faithful lighting candles and laying wreaths in front of the venue before the game.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Before the game in Belgrade...<br><br>We would like to extend once again our heartfelt condolences to the victims and families🙏🇷🇸 <a href="https://t.co/y5tjSFSzZu">pic.twitter.com/y5tjSFSzZu</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1654202435177533464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Real dominated much of the first half before a late surge by Partizan saw the home side level the score 42-42 shortly before the end of the second quarter, after it wiped out an early 14-point deficit. Real led 42-45 at halftime.

Partizan looked capable of turning the game on its head when it took a 51-49 lead midway through the third quarter, but Real forced another twist thanks to mature performances from veteran Sergio Rodriguez and towering center Walter Tavares, who followed up on his huge display in Game 3 when the visitors ground out an 80-82 victory.

Having trailed 55-61 at the end of the third quarter, Partizan was a whisker away from having the last laugh after a pair of quickfire steals from Yam Madar slashed the deficit to 78-80 with 54 seconds left on the clock.

However, Tavares grabbed a huge offensive rebound at the other end and completed a three-point play which sealed the contest, as he drew a foul while tipping the ball in. Game 5 is set to produce another classic, with Real surely hoping to finally make its home-court advantage count, while Partizan will bank on the return of team captain Kevin Punter from suspension.

The best plays of Walter Tavares in Real Madrid's 78-85 Game 3 win against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Walter Tavares's highlights vs. Partizan

Real, in contrast, will in all likelihood miss Gabriel Deck, who appeared to suffer a serious knee injury in the fourth quarter, but Guerschon Yabusele remains suspended after his role in the on-court brawl in Game 2.

When they look back at Game 4, the hosts will be frustrated with a poor shooting night from the foul line (10-of-19, 52.6%) and three-point range (6-of-23, 26.1% 3FG), while Real benefited from a balanced team effort which saw Tavaves and Adam Hanga score 15 points each, while Dzanan Musa and Deck added 14 apiece.

Zach LeDay paced all scorers with a game-high 25 points for Partizan, Ioannis Papapetrou netted 18 and Mathias Lessort added 11, but the supporting cast failed to step up to the plate as Dante Exum and James Nunnally managed a combined total of 8 points, shooting 2-of-21 from the floor.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Real Madrid (2023-05-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv swingman Darrun Hilliard played his best game of the series on Thursday in helping his team blast AS Monaco 104-69. But it was something that Hilliard did on his way into the arena that both embarrassed and honored his head coach and got him started on the right foot.

Darrun Hilliard's gesture made Oded Kattash smile

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv swingman Darrun Hilliard played his best game of the series on Thursday in helping his team blast AS Monaco 104-69. But it was something that Hilliard did on his way into the arena that both embarrassed and honored his head coach and got him started on the right foot.

Hilliard wore an authentic signed Oded Kattash No. 10 jersey from his coach’s Maccabi playing days in the late 1990s. Kattash starred for Maccabi, his boyhood club, from 1995 through 1999.

"I thought it was fly and it's the last EuroLeague game \[at home\]. I just wanted to pay my respects to both Coach and all of Maccabi," Hilliard explained later.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mind you it&#39;s an original signed jersey 👀<a href=https://twitter.com/DHilliard6X?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>@DHilliard6X</a> <a href=https://t.co/4zcdADjZPD>pic.twitter.com/4zcdADjZPD</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC (@MaccabitlvBC) <a href=https://twitter.com/MaccabitlvBC/status/1654169453582483467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>May 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

"Those who know me know that gestures like that embarrass me a little, but I took it with the warmth and love that was intended. Darrrun has his way to show love and I loved it. It made me smile," Kattash reacted when asked about it after the game.

Whether it was because of the jersey or not, Hilliard was in a groove – like the rest of the Maccabi players – on Thursday and went for 11 points, all scored in the fourth quarter, plus 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal for a PIR of 12 in 20:36 of playing time.

Darrun Hilliard (11 points) Highlights vs. AS Monaco, 05/04/2023

Darrun Hilliard highlights from Game 4 vs AS Monaco

So far in this series, Maccabi is 2-0 when Hilliard scores in double figures. He is shooting 50% from downtown in the series, too, but has made 5 triples in the team’s two wins and 1 in each of the losses.

Although everyone seemed to love Hilliard wearing the Kattash jersey, he knows that his and his teammates' Game 5 future will be decided by something else.

"I don’t want to say \[that\] when we play this way we’re gonna blow everybody out, because that’s not gonna happen. They’re gonna come back and play even harder," he summed up. "As long as we keep that same level of intensity and continue to get better, it’s gonna be a great game for Game 5." 

Chus Mateo, Real Madrid: 'We managed to stay consistent'

### Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach

“It’s not easy to win in Belgrade. We did it twice and now we need to be focused in the next game because it’s going to be another close one. We have to recover physically with too many people injured and away.

"Firstly, I feel for the families of victims of the school shooting in Belgrade. It’s a sad day for everybody, surely for Serbian people but for Spanish people, too. This is the worst thing that can happen. Talking about the game, we played consistently in the first quarter and build an advantage, but we know it’s not easy against Partizan. They are fighters, they came back into the game, but we stayed focused. \[Zach\] LeDay had an amazing performance today and \[Ioannis\] Papapetrou was very good today, but we managed to stay consistent. I am also sad that our player Gabriel Deck was injured today, I don’t know what will happen but it doesn’t look like it’s long-term.

“We’ve regained home-court advantage, but that in itself is nothing. We will need to stay focused. We won two games in Belgrade, but Partizan had won the opening two in Madrid.”

### Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach

“One rebound decided the game. We didn’t play smart and we have to figure out as well as whether we can change something before Game 5.

“Congratulations to Real. Much like two nights ago, it came down to one rebound, which \[Walter\] Tavares put away and decided the game. We put up a fight and did everything we could, but it wasn’t enough. We had 10 possessions more, but we missed too many open shots and lacked patience. We have to play smarter in Game 5. This game was played in unfathomable circumstances and I hereby thank the fans for turning up in droves again, despite Wednesday’s tragedy. All I can promise is that we will do our best to prepare well for Game 5 in Madrid. We will need to shoot better from three-point range, otherwise it’s going to be very difficult. We were poor from the foul line tonight, too. We have to figure out what went wrong."

### Walter Tavares, Real Madrid center

“We knew it was going to be hard as they have the best fans in Europe. We stayed focused, we played every second as if it’s the last and it helped us win the game.”

### Sergio Rodriguez, Real Madrid guard

“First of all, I want to extend my condolences to all the people here in Belgrade. The atmosphere was very emotional. We were ready from the beginning and had our rhythm. Now we have to rest for a couple of days and be ready \[for Game 5\]. The energy will be crucial. We have been preparing ourselves from the beginning of the season for this moment and we now want to make the home-court advantage count.”

Wade Baldwin, Maccabi: 'Game 5 is going to be a battle'

### Oded Kattash, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach

"It was special, it was special today. I mean, we played really well, we adjusted and it was the perfect execution of the game plan – on both sides \[of the ball\].

(On potentially making Final Four): "That's special. Yes, that's really special. I think we deserve it. We can't now feel like it's going to be easy because of that win, we know it's going to be a battle in the fifth game.

"Great win for us. We adjusted, we executed our game plan perfectly – on offense and defense. Even though they had their run at the end of the first half, we kept concentrated on our game plan. Obviously, it starts from our defense, controlling the boards against a really good rebounding team. I'm happy for the players, I'm really happy for the crowd – they were amazing all season long, and especially in the last two games."

### Milenko Bogicevic, AS Monaco assistant coach

"Congrats to Maccabi for the win. We did not respond to their aggressiveness, and I think this was the biggest problem in this game.

"They deserved this win from the first moment of the game. They played really aggressive, with lots of energy. We did not respond in our best way, so they really deserved this win today. Big congrats one more time.

"This is more or less what we wanted: to bring Game 5 to our court. I think the players will also be aware of this, so for sure there's some certain pressure that exists, but mental toughness needs to be one of the factors in a decisive game. But, I think this is for both teams. This is not just for our team.

"For sure \[the final scoreline was a bit misleading\]. I think also in one moment the game looked like everything is finished, so I think this lead is not realistic. But, how they played with their aggressiveness, with their mental preparedness, they deserved this win."

### Lorenzo Brown, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard

"I just believed in my teammates, that's what it's all about: teamwork. We came out tonight and fought, and I think that's what we were missing in Game 3. We shared the ball a lot more and put a lot of pressure on the defensive end.

(On being a special player): "I wouldn’t say it's just me. I have a guy over here to the left of me \[Wade Baldwin\] who does the exact same thing as me, so I'm just grateful to have him, grateful to have the rest of my teammates out here and we're pushing for the championship.

(Goal of reaching Final Four): "That's what we're planning on, so we've just got our fingers crossed right now."

### Wade Baldwin, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard

"As leaders, me and Lorenzo \[Brown\], we had a poor shooting night in Game 3. Monaco, they were very aggressive and they took the battle to us. Backs against the wall, and everything who played tonight had that back against the wall feeling. We executed and we got a big win, but we've got to go back to Monaco for Game 5 and it'll be the fight for our lives to go to the Final Four.

(Difference between Games 3 and 4): "The pace, the pace. We were running, we were energetic. I think in the last game they were able to slow us down a little bit, be physical, and make us play in the half court. Today, we just wanted to sprint, make them run, cause confusion. It's not too many times that the leaders of the team are going to have bad games, so we stepped up and had a better game the next night.

(Message for fans ahead of possible Final Four trip): "We've got a Game 5 that we've got to prepare for on Wednesday. This series has gone back and forth – we need one more. We need to win one more and go to Kaunas, but Wednesday's going to be a battle and I can't wait for it."

It's all square between Real Madrid and Partizan after four games, as Los Blancos led all night and sealed a crunch win in Belgrade to take the series back to Madrid. In the wake of Wednesday's mass shooting in a Belgrade elementary school, Partizan put up a valiant effort but came up short in the end as Real's big man Walter Tavares effectively decided the contest with a huge offensive rebound, which resulted in a three-point play in the final minute of the game.

Real Madrid takes series to a Game 5 with 78-85 win at Partizan

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There will be a fifth game to this incredible series on Wednesday in Monaco after Maccabi romped in Game 4 to a 104-69 victory to even things at 2-2. It’s been the only one-sided game of the series. Monaco actually led early, but after the home team scored 17 straight points to start the second quarter, the game was all but over.
Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin led five Maccabi scorers in double figures with 22 and 19 points, respectively. They also dished 6 assists apiece. Mike James was Monaco’s top performer with 13 points and 8 rebounds and John Brown added 12 points in defeat.

Maccabi dominates Monaco, 104-69, to force a Game 5

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