Heroic Tavares lifted Real to Game 3 win

In one of the toughest road venues to play at in the world of basketball, and on the brink of elimination, down 2-0 in the best-of-five series, Real Madrid needed some heroics to keep its season alive. And Los Blancos got them from star center [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) who led the team to [a dramatic 80-82 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-real-madrid/E2022/317/) over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in a packed Stark Arena, cutting the series deficit to 2-1.

Tavares, who had a knee injury that caused him to miss the better part of the second half of Game 1 and all of Game 2, not only made a recovery that allowed him to play his first full game of this series, but he had one of the greatest single-game performances in EuroLeague Playoffs history.

Tavares scored 26 points, tying his personal career-best and tying Real's individual single-game playoff record. He was 11-for-14 on two-point shooting, another career-high and the second-best mark for two-pointers made in EuroLeague Playoffs history.

The Real Madrid big man also pulled down 11 rebounds, including 4 on the offensive glass, and delivered 3 blocks and 3 assists. Tavares's performance index rating of 41 tied the second highest in a playoff game since 2005, behind only Luis Scola's record of 43, which came on the first night ever in the modern playoffs.

What was remarkable for Tavares was that he spent 35:45 on the floor due to Real losing a fellow big man Vincent Poirier during the warmups. And not everything went smoothly.

Walter Tavares (26 points) Highlights vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet, 05/02/2023

Walter Tavares erupted for 26 points in Game 3

Partizan jumped to a 12-0 lead and led by as many as 15 points on three occasions in the second quarter before Tavares got it going.

"We fed Tavares a lot, in pick and roll, in low-post, and we started to come back," Coach Chus Mateo said after the game. 

After only attempting, and making, a single shot in the first quarter, Tavares dominated inside in the second, going 6-of-7 and collecting 7 rebounds before halftime.

His performance obviously changed the game's complexion and even though Partizan did not relinquish the lead until the midway of the third quarter, and Real never led by more than 5 points in this game, Los Blancos got back into the game and started having its way inside.

And with the game going down to the wire, Tavares scored a pair of key buckets, a dunk to make it 72-75, and a tough basket inside to tie it at 77-77 entering the final 2 minutes.

Tavares played the entire second half, apart from the final 3.4 seconds, and will now have 48 hours to recover for Game 4.

"I know I am tired but the win always helps", Tavares admitted after the game. "I tried to do my best to come back. I've got to try to recover, be with a physio, they help me a lot to recover as fast as I can."

On Tuesday night, Tavares just showed how much he means for Real Madrid. The 10-time champions and last year's runner-ups will need all of that if they want to become the first team ever to overcome a 0-2 series deficit.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Real Madrid (2023-05-02T18:30:00.000Z)

For the second time in a matter of days, Anadolu Efes Istanbul has announced that one of its veteran big men has been hospitalized. This time, it is forward Chris Singleton, who experienced chest pain that led to rounds of tests and exploratory angiography surgery.

 Chris Singleton of Efes hospitalized with chest pains 

For the second time in a matter of days, Anadolu Efes Istanbul has announced that one of its veteran big men has been hospitalized. This time, it is forward [Chris Singleton](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chris-singleton/006614/), who experienced chest pain that led to rounds of tests and exploratory angiography surgery that discounted a heart blockage. Doctors discovered that Singleton had inflammation of the heart lining and an abnormal accumulation of fluid between the heart and lungs. Singleton will stay in the hospital for further evaluation, the club stated. Euroleague Basketball wishes him a full and speedy recovery.

Besides being a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion with Efes each of the last two years and a [standout playoff performer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/legends-of-the-euroleague-playoffs/) over the years, [Singleton is distinguished by his remarkable record of health over the years](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/chris-singleton-efes-i-see-myself-as-old-school/). Last season, he broke the EuroLeague's consecutive games record, which he stretched to 214. All told, he was injury-free from his first EuroLeague game, on October 16, 2015 with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasondar until he sat out a game for the first time on December 13, 2022, with Efes.

The news on Singleton came just three days after his teammate, [center Bryant Dunston, was involved in a traffic accident](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efess-dunston-in-good-general-health-after-car-accident/). Dunston has since been released from the hospital.

Chris Singleton of Efes hospitalized with chest pains

AS Monaco was aware that it would take something more than just an outstanding individual performance to beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on the road. [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) went 5-for-5 on two-pointers, 5-for-9 from behind the arc and 8-for-9 on free throws for a career-high 33 points to inspire Monaco to a Game 2 win, but the visitors were assigned the tough task of coming out victorious in Tel Aviv after losing at home in the first game of the series.

This means that Monaco needed one win to get back the home-court advantage and this victory had to come on a court where Maccabi lost just two of their 17 Turkish Airline EuroLeague games to date this season. Boasting the best home record in the regular season, Maccabi saw its fans again create an incredible atmosphere at Menora Mivtachim Arena on Tuesday night. Yet, Monaco didn't hold back, with all their players pitching in throughout the game to celebrate a well-earned road victory.

"In each part of the game, there was someone who contributed," Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic explained at his post-game press conference. "In the first half, it was [Mike \[James\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), later Jordan, then [Elie \[Okobo\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) in some moments in the last quarter together with [\[Alpha\] Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/). It was a pretty good team win."

Indeed, James got off to a great start, scoring 9 points in each of the first two quarters to set the tone for Monaco, who took a 32-41 lead into halftime. Maccabi was able cut the deficit down to 42-46 after the break, but Loyd scored his third three-pointer in the game for a 42-49 Monaco lead and helped his team maintain it after taking his tally to 13 points.

With the series tied at 1-1,  Maccabi hope that the regular season's best home record – 15 wins with just 2 losses – will again hold firm against Monaco, as Game 2 MVP Jordan Loyd again looks to inspire the Roca Team after he poured in a career-high 33 points.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs AS Monaco - Playoffs Game 3 - Highlights

Meanwhile, Okobo was having a quiet night in the first half, when he registered just 2 points. But the Monaco guard stepped up in the last two quarters, when he scored 10 points, including some important free throws to keep the guests on the front foot. As for Diallo, he went just 1-for-6 from the field, but he was money from the foul line, downing 7 of his 8 shots free throws (87.5%), including a pair with the score at 78-81 with 00:06 to play to put the game to bed.

"We did a pretty good job offensively and defensively," Monaco center [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/) said after. "We were in control for most of the game. I am really proud of our guys. Everyone contributed something – some more, others less – but everyone put their hearts and souls on the court. This brought us the win."

Motiejunas was solid, too. He paired his 9 points with 6 boards and 2 assists for a PIR of 16 – tied for the team's best along with James. All but one of the 11 Monaco players who featured in Game 3 scored at least 1 point, while as many as 9 players recorded at least a rebound apiece. Monaco's hustle paid dividends as the visitors managed to complete a series turnaround despite their Game 1 home loss by grabbing victory on a court where leaders Olympiacos Piraeus, third-placed Real Madrid and another 13 teams failed to do so in the regular season.

If Monaco can do that again on Thursday, it will qualify for the Final Four already. If not, Monaco has at least assured itself Game 5 back in the principality. Either way, winning two games after losing an opener has flipped Monaco's odds. First-game losers in the playoffs have gone on to lose 88.6% of the 44 five-game series since 2009. Teams that started with home-court advantage and lead 2-1, however, have made the Final Four 24 out of 24 times.

Multiple protagonists were key to Monaco's win in Tel Aviv

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v AS Monaco (2023-05-02T18:05:00.000Z)

Monaco star Mike James stepped up when his team needed him most. 

James set the tone for Monaco's key road win

Despite taking to the Menora Mivtachim Arena court with its back against the wall, a spirited AS Monaco showed an impressive reaction on Tuesday to gain the lead, 2-1, for the first in its playoff series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. Jordan Loyd may have not followed up his heroics in Game 2 with an equally extraordinary display, but this time Monaco star Mike James stepped up when his team needed him most.

James hit the ground running in the first quarter, in which he scored 9 of his 21 points to set the tone for his teammates. The key to the win was Monaco’s strong start and its players' ability to control the tempo despite playing in a hostile atmosphere in Tel Aviv. And the guests were aware that James was just the right person to call on in big moments. After missing 6 of the 7 three-pointers that he attempted in Game 2, James sank 3 triples in the first two quarters and finished the first half with 18 points.

"Mike \[James\] had a hell of a half. We followed his lead," Jordan Loyd said at halftime.

Mike James (21 points) Highlights vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, 05/02/2023

Mike James set the tone for win in Tel Aviv

Monaco took a 9-point lead into the second half, but Maccabi bounced back after the break and pushed for a comeback with Bonzie Colson taking his tally to 10 points and bringing the hosts within 40-43 one and a half minutes into the third quarter. Yet, James came into the fore again, this time burying a huge three-pointer to give Monaco a 6-point cushion and, most importantly, end Maccabi’s momentum.

The Monaco star did not score any more points for the rest of the game, but his defensive contribution was huge in the fourth quarter when Maccabi pushed for a comeback. In fact, his defensive achievements did not go unnoticed by his coach, Sasa Obradovic, who hailed his player in the post-game press conference: "We can talk about Mike being great on offense, but we will also have to underline how good he was on defense," Obradovic said. "Especially in the end, he did a great job."

Game Videos

Game News

Nigel Williams-Goss could hardly have chosen a better night to play his best EuroLeague game in a Real Madrid jersey.

Williams-Goss stepped up for Los Blancos

Nigel Williams-Goss could hardly have chosen a better night to play his best EuroLeague game in a Real Madrid jersey, a dramatic 80-82 Game 3 win over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to keep their season alive.

*Los Blancos*' point guard starred on Tuesday night in a packed Stark Arena, scoring 22 points, including a game-deciding three-pointer with 24.8 seconds to go that broke a 77-77 tie.

"My teammates battled all game long and I just wanted to make a play for them", Williams-Goss said after the game.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NigelWG5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NigelWG5</a> is CLUTCH🎯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/B1SLWSG66S">pic.twitter.com/B1SLWSG66S</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1653496796428095494?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That was Williams-Goss's third triple on 6 attempts, and he also made 4-of-6 two-pointers. The Real point guard scored 16 points in the second half - including 9 in the third quarter when Real grabbed its first lead of the night.

Williams-Goss committed his fourth personal foul with 6:41 to go, but returned in the finish and still managed to sink what essentially turned into a game-winning three-pointer.

This is only the ninth time Williams-Goss has scored in double figures in his 51 games with Real. On this night, he also had 2 steals and 2 assists in a massive performance that cut the series to 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday.

Hezonja, Tavares set playoff rebounding mark

Real Madrid pulled out a thrilling 80-82 win at a packed Stark Arena on Tuesday night against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. *Los Blancos* lost the turnover battle 12-7, but 6 of those 7 turnovers, the visitors forced in the second half. What also helped nullify the turnover margin was Real's 40-34 rebounding advantage.

More than half of those were pulled down by Mario Hezonja, who had a career-high 14, and Walter Tavares who collected 11. It is only the second time in modern playoffs, since 2005, that two teammates had 11 or more rebounds in a single game.

The 25 rebounds between the two are also tied for most rebounds by two teammates in a playoff game in that period. 

The two players barely came off the floor. Hezonja played 37 minutes and 10 seconds, while Tavares played 35 minutes and 45 seconds.

Mike James, Monaco: 'I knew that I had to step up'

### AS Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic:

"Especially in these circumstances, it’s always hard to play. We had this pressure in the first game. Now the pressure was on Maccabi. And you could see this, as Maccabi was not the same as it was in the first game. We were more into the game. In each part of the game, there was someone who contributed. In the first half, it was Mike \[James\], later Jordan \[Loyd\], then Elie \[Okobo\] in some moments in the last quarter together with \[Alpha\] Diallo. It was a pretty good team win. This is just one game. We really need to be focused on the next one and play the same way. On the defensive end, we did a great job. Maybe we can complain about some transition points that Maccabi made. In set plays, we did a great job defending their main players and controlling the result almost all game.

"We can talk about Mike being great on offense, but we will also have to underline how good he was on defense. Especially in the end he did a great job. And not just Mike. We were really tough in any situation and especially in any kind of set play. Most teams want to run and in Game 1 you could have surprises. We were shocked in the first game. Then you are more ready. It’s very hard to play here, but I really believe in my team’s character and that the team chemistry recreated all this period from the beginning of the season. We deserved home-court advantage. That was a great reward in the end.

"In the regular season, we could have won too here, but for some reason we stopped playing. I think we were 18 or 19 points up in the first half, if I’m not mistaken. But this doesn’t mean anything. The regular season is the regular season, this is a much more emotional game in which you need to have calmness, patience and a clear mind to find good solutions. Both teams were a bit nervous, Maccabi even a bit more as you could see from their three-pointer and free-throw figures. From our free throws you could see that we were more locked in to win the game. Mental war continues and we have to forget this one and focus quickly on the next one. I expect a strong and aggressive Maccabi in the next game.

Maccabi is an institution that belongs to EuroLeague history with this kind of fans and this kind of history. You should always respect this kind of opponent and these kinds of fans. They are emotional. I understand this. I come from an emotional country too. It was good that we kept our focus on the game.

"We weren’t relaxed. In this kind of situation, you can’t be relaxed. But we started well and each possession we got more and more confidence. We were never affected by this kind of atmosphere and we somehow stayed focused."

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

"We knew before the game that it was not going to be easy, as we saw. We knew that we had to play our A-game to beat a team like Monaco. We were struggling offensively in the first half, in which we hit 1-for-10 from three. We couldn’t get our rhythm on offense. We had some turnovers, some bad shots. In the second half, we were fighting. We got back into the game, but in some moments we missed some open shots and they hit big shots. I think we did a better job on Mike James in the first half than in the second one. It was a great atmosphere. Our fans were amazing, but I think that we really disappointed them. We want to make them happy. Hopefully, we will do it on Thursday."

### AS Monaco guard Mike James:

"We fought hard. We needed to come here and take back home-court advantage. We’ve only got two wins in the series. We’ve got a lot more to do and we’ll try to get one more. They \[Maccabi\] guarded me differently tonight. In the first two games, there were a lot of double and triple teams. They tried to get the ball out of my hands and every shot I took was kind of forced with all those people around me. Today they guarded me a little bit one-on-one and I could be more myself, exploit some mismatches and get the rhythm going. We needed to win and I knew that I had to step up for us to do it, so I came with that mindset."

### AS Monaco center Donatas Motiejunas:

"We did a pretty good job offensively and defensively. We were in control for most of the game. I am really proud of our guys. Everyone contributed something, some more, others less, but everyone put their hearts and souls on the court. This brought us the win. The series is not over. It’s 2-1 and we actually need to win the next one, get a 3-1 lead and get some rest.

"We are trying to think one game at a time. I think that the Final Four is still far away. Maccabi is an amazing team and they can play great basketball. They showed it in Game 1 at our court and I’m pretty sure they are going to bring their A-game in two days."

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard John DiBartolomeo:

"It was a tough game. We were playing from behind the entire game. Every time we made a run, we were just not able to push through. We kept cutting the lead and they kept pushing back. They’re a good team. They have lots of weapons on the offensive end. It’s a tough loss for us, but we need to get over it and focus on Thursday.

"I think that everyone understands the importance of Game 4. Our backs are against the wall now. This will test our character, but we have been preparing for this moment all year. We’ve worked to get here, so we need to be focused, ready and positive."

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

Nigel Williams-Goss, Real Madrid: 'This is what we play for'

### Real Madrid head coach Chus Mateo

"We knew it was gonna be a tough game, that it was going to be tough until the end and that we needed to survive in bad moments. We had very bad moments in the beginning, but we came back into the game, we started to feed the low post, to play with Tavares inside, and we got an opportunity to come back. At the end it was tied, the same as Game 1. They could have won, we could have won, I am very happy right now.

"We started the game hesitating a little bit, we were not consistent, especially on defense. Probably this beautiful basketball environment made us make mistakes, but we came back into the game. Using our strength inside with Tavares. We lost Poirier during the warm-up and we could not use him in the game. We fed Tavares a lot and we started to come back. We improved our defense and our alternative defense, a 2-3 zone, and we were able to go in front. In the last moments, we were tied, and the shot from Nigel Williams-Goss gave us the advantage. It was a great effort of all the players. I am very proud because it is not easy to win here. This is still far \[for the series\] going back to Madrid, we need to fight a lot in the next one, but it is one step.

"We played a basketball game today. The environment was good, security was good, the fans supported their players and their team. That is what should happen on the basketball court. Everybody is sad for what happened the other day. That is not going to happen anymore, for sure. Everybody's got to apologize, me first, and we've got to think only about basketball. All these players deserve it. They are good players, they are not fighters. That was not good for anybody, they apologized, too. That's enough, let's talk about basketball."

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach Zeljko Obradovic

"Congratulations to Real Madrid on the victory. Small details decided the game. We started very good, but the more important thing is that we did not move the ball good offensively, and because of our bad offense we lost the game. We have one more game over here in our court in front of our people, and I want to thank them for one more incredible night.

"I am very proud of our people and that the picture that is leaving Belgrade. Everyone was expecting this game, and some people were making comments that it is going to be hell, many bad things, but finally, nothing happened. I am very proud. I will ask them to continue that way. It is important to play good basketball, it is important to win the game, but it is more important to show hospitality so everyone understands how people in Serbia are. We are proud of this.

"My game plan was against Real Madrid, not against Tavares. They have another 11 players. We play five against five, not one on one. Of course, we had a plan, and of course, it is important when you miss a big guy, and we know how Mathias \[Lessort\] is important to us. But I don't think that was as important, that our problem was offensive. We did not share the ball good, we did not take good shots and because of that, we lost the game. We played too slow in general in the second half.

"I believe in what we can do and I believe in these wonderful guys. We will try to play our best possible games in 48 hours."

### Real Madrid center Walter Tavares

"This is one of the toughest arenas in Europe. We knew we had to stay focused to try to win the game and we did. This is now in the past and we've got to stay ready and focused for the next one, it is going to be harder than this. It is in two days, so we have to try to recover as well as we can. I am feeling good. After the win, you are always feeling good. I know I am tired but the win always helps. I tried to do my best to come back. I've got to try to recover, be with a physio, they help me a lot to recover as fast as I can."

### Real Madrid guard Nigel Williams-Goss

"I rely on faith a lot. I trust my faith, I trust my work. My teammates battled all game long and I just wanted to make a play for them. We knew we are coming here in a tough environment against a great team. It was going to be a war, as you can see it came down to the end. But we got one now, and we are looking forward to Game 4. Yes, \[we will be ready\]. This is playoff time, this is what we play for, and there is no choice."

### Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid forward

"The team has responded well. We truly competed to win the game and we did that, but it doesn't matter now. We have to win again and bring the series back to Madrid. \[After the bad start\] Chacho \[Sergio Rodriguez\] came in and began screaming like a true veteran. We have to listen more to those people and use what them way more in these occasions, use their experience. First Chacho raised me up and then he raised up the whole team."

Live Blog, EuroLeague Playoffs: Game 3, Partizan vs. Real Madrid

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Heroic Tavares lifted Real to Game 3 win

Chris Singleton of Efes hospitalized with chest pains

Multiple protagonists were key to Monaco's win in Tel Aviv

James set the tone for Monaco's key road win

Williams-Goss stepped up for Los Blancos

Hezonja, Tavares set playoff rebounding mark

Mike James, Monaco: 'I knew that I had to step up'

Nigel Williams-Goss, Real Madrid: 'This is what we play for'

Real Madrid triumphs in Belgrade, 80-82, to force Game 4