FC Barcelona grabbed its 21st win of the season by downing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 80-89 in the Serbian capital in Round 31. Sharing the ball better than its opponent was arguably the biggest key to this game.

Barca finished the game with 25 assists - 1 shy of its best mark this season. It previously dished 26 assists in a 93-74 home win against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 26. On the other hand, Partizan finished the game with just 5 assists, the lowest mark for any team in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. It is also Partizan's worst assist mark in the EuroLeague since getting 5 against Virtus Rome on March 11, 2009.

Three-pointers and rebounds were also a big part of Barca's success at Stark Arena. The visitors outrebounded Partizan 24-34. Defensive rebounds made the difference: Barca pulled down 26 and Partizan only grabbed 15. Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius's team buried 11-of-18 three-pointers. Its shooting percentage (61.1% 3FG) is the third-best mark in the EuroLeague in the present campaign and the club's season-high. Partizan made 6-of-19 three-pointers (31.6% 3FG).

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Barca's ball circulation was key 

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v FC Barcelona (2023-03-28T18:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul beat EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 89-69 on Tuesday night to keep alive its playoff chances. Efes dominated on both ends of the floor, but its defense clicked from the start.

It was the first time in three months, since Round 15, that Efes allowed fewer than 70 points. The reigning champs forced 17 turnovers and picked up 10 steals, including a career-high 5 by Will Clyburn, which was also the most by any Efes player this season.

On the other hand, Efes committed just 9 turnovers, and Milan managed to finish with just 3 steals, tied for the team's fewest this season.

Also important, Efes won the rebounding battle, allowing just 5 offensive rebounds while pulling down 12, giving Milan just a handful of second chances. It all set a foundation for a big win that kept the team's playoff hopes alive.

Efes defense came to play

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-03-28T17:30:00.000Z)

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz kept alive its hopes of reaching the post-season after a hard-fought 93-87 home win over ALBA Berlin thanks to huge performances from Maik Kotsar and Darius Thompson, who paced the Spanish side against a spirited opponent which nearly staged a second successive upset. 

Baskonia stays in the hunt after beating ALBA, 93-87

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz kept alive its hopes of reaching the post-season after a hard-fought 93-87 home win over ALBA Berlin thanks to huge performances from Maik Kotsar and Darius Thompson, who paced the Spanish side against a spirited opponent which nearly staged a second successive upset. Estonian center Kotsar produced a career-high of 23 points and 10 rebounds for a PIR of 40, while Thompson racked up 21 points and 11 assists for a PIR of 38, on the back of a flawless fourth quarter when Baskonia fired on all cylinders.

Markus Howard endured another tough night, shooting 2-of-10 from the floor for 11 points after he netted only 3 in the previous round’s defeat at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, while Vanja Marinkovic turned out to be Baskonia’s trump card as he netted 15 points – 9 of them in the first quarter after he came off the bench. The result lifted Baskonia's record to 16-15 to remain in eighth place.

ALBA, which stunned reigning champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul 95-93 in Round 31, had seven scorers in double figures against Baskonia but the German team’s effort fell just short this time as the hosts had more gas left in the tank down the stretch. Maodo Lo paced the visitors with 15 points, Yanni Wetzell had 13, while Tamir Blatt and Gabriele Procida chipped in with 11 each. Jaleen Smith, Louis Olinde and Luke Sikma scored 10 points apiece for the visitors.

Baskonia made the brighter start in the fast-flowing encounter and opened up a 25-15 lead late in the first quarter before ALBA replied with a whirlwind 19-0 streak which turned the game on its head midway through the second.

Kotsar and Marinkovic were unstoppable for Baskonia early on but once the visitors closed them down, the home side began to struggle as Howard and Thompson had a quiet first half. Lo pulled the strings at the other end, enabling ALBA to take a 44-48 lead into the locker room at halftime, with Baskonia regaining its composure late in the first half to slash the 9-point deficit.

The hosts then swung the momentum again midway through the third as they engineered a 12-2 run while trailing 51-56 to retake the lead and with ALBA fighting back, Baskonia carried a slender 68-67 advantage into the final 10 minutes.

Like a pair of heavyweight prize fighters dug in at the center of the ring, the two teams traded blows from inside the paint and beyond the three-point arc, as ALBA nosed ahead 80-81 down the stretch. Baskonia then forced the final twist, producing a 9-0 run which allowed the home team to have the last laugh. Kotsar again came up big at crunch time to complement Thompson who carried the backcourt's effort with a sublime second-half performance.

The visitors kept fighting until the bitter end but eventually, they ran out of time and Baskonia emerged as the worthy winner of an enthralling contest.

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v ALBA Berlin (2023-03-28T18:30:00.000Z)

Papagiannis marks milestone with career night

[Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) celebrated the milestone of 150 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in Panathinaikos Athens’s 86-76 victory over FC Bayern Munich on Tuesday, and he certainly made sure the occasion was properly marked by delivering by far the best performance of his career.

The 25-year-old, who has spent his whole professional career with the Greens after first debuting in the competition in the 2015-16 season, got the scoreboard moving on his team’s first possession with a jump hook and that set the tone for a dominant first quarter.

Papagiannis continued to control the paint, including the highlight of a huge alley-oop connection with Paris Lee, and finished the opening quarter with 11 points on perfect 4-for-4 two-point and 1-of-1 three-point shooting, along with 3 rebounds and 2 blocked shots for a very impressive first-quarter PIR of 17.

Georgios Papagiannis (24 points) Highlights vs. FC Bayern Munich, 03/28/2023

Georgios Papagiannis's highlights vs. Bayern

He was then relatively quiet until the final period, stepping up when his team needed him the most. After Bayern went on a 0-10 run to reduce the deficit to 7 points, Papagiannis responded with a pair of three-pointers to ensure the visiting team’s comeback would not continue. Fittingly, he then ended the game in style with a mid-range strike on the final buzzer.

That took him to a career high of 24 points on perfect shooting – 7 of 7 from two-point range, 3 of 3 from long distance and 1 of 1 at the foul line – plus 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots for a new personal best PIR of 40.

Panathinaikos Athens v FC Bayern Munich (2023-03-28T17:30:00.000Z)

Darius Thompson, Baskonia: 'Every win is huge'

### Joan Penarroya, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz head coach

"I am happy for a very important win for us. ALBA played a good game, we had a lot of problems to achieve this victory... After we took a 25-15 lead, we collapsed at both ends of the court. ALBA was able to score a lot of easy baskets as we lost control of the game. We talked things over at halftime and agreed that we needed to improve our defense. The game was close until the end. We’ll enjoy the victory tonight and tomorrow we go back to work.”

### Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach

"We played a good game against a very good team and I am happy with my team’s performance. We played with a high spirit and this is very important for us. Congratulations to Baskonia, they did a great job and Thompson was very good in the last quarter. He probably decided the game."

### Maik Kotsar, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz center

"It was a much-needed win. The whole team fought really hard and I am glad we got the win."

 

### Darius Thompson, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz guard

"Every win in the EuroLeague is huge. We played with energy in the second half. The last few games we weren’t our normal selves and we hadn’t been having fun so the key was to enjoy the game and play hard."

Sarunas Jasikevicius, Barca: 'This atmosphere is magical'

### FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius

"I think Partizan scored around 30 points in the second half, something around that, while in the first half it was 44 or something like this. I thought our physicality went up. I thought we responded to their runs very well. The crowd was out of it, which here is one of the most important things. And yes, it is a very good win. This atmosphere is magical, there is no other way to put it, possibly the best atmosphere in the world. It is incredible, 20,000 people with this... what they have going here is something special."

"As far as the game goes, I think we have to be very happy with how we played. I think we played very good basketball in the first half but we were not playing hard enough. We were not matching Partizan's intensity and a couple of loose balls and some situations in which we didn't simply pick up the ball, we were steps slower, cost us 8 or 9 points, which is a lot. I thought that in the second half, we managed to play a lot harder. I thought our defense was much better, we came out with very good physicality in the third quarter and started to take a little bit control of the game. Then I thought we responded to every run that Partizan made very good, with some very crucial shots."

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach Zeljko Obradovic

"\[We played\] under an incredible atmosphere, one more time, Barca played a great game, congratulations to them but also, I want to congratulate my players because I believe that we tried to do everything. Today, it was not possible, so we turn the page and start to think about the next game."

### FC Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic

"It was a tough game, an emotional game here in Belgrade, as always with those fans. It was a huge win. Especially, we played amazing basketball in the second half. It is a big win for us. It was a good test for us, because we were playing good basketball and now on the road, it was an important game for us to win because there are now three games left. Always \[like to play in Belgrade\], it is a big pleasure. I love the people, this country, as everybody knows. I am very happy that both teams are here, playing, Partizan and Zvezda, and I am wishing both of them to be in the EuroLeague for many years because European basketball needs these clubs."

### FC Barcelona guard Nicola Laprovittola

"After a win, we always feel good. It is always a challenge when we play two games in the same week, and I think to start the week like this, in this atmosphere, with this kind of win, for us is very important. I think to come here and see the people, the crowd and play \[was the biggest challenge\]. I think these are some of the best fans in the league and we prepared to play against them and against Partizan, and I think we made a good job."

FC Barcelona took an important step towards clinching home-court advantage in the upcoming Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs by downing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 80-89 in the Serbian capital on Tuesday. Already-qualified Barca raised its record to 21-10 while Partizan dropped to 17-14 and is still fighting to clinch a playoffs berth. Nico Laprovittola led the winners with 25 points while Nikola Mirotic added 19, Jan Vesely 14 and Tomas Satoransky had 10 for Barca. Dante Exum led Partizan with 24 points against his former team.

Laprovittola leads Barca past Partizan, 80-89

FC Barcelona took an important step towards clinching home-court advantage in the upcoming Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs by downing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 80-89 in the Serbian capital on Tuesday. Already-qualified Barca raised its record to 21-10 while Partizan dropped to 17-14 and is still fighting to clinch a playoffs berth.

Nico Laprovittola led the winners with 25 points while Nikola Mirotic added 19, Jan Vesely 14 and Tomas Satoransky had 10 for Barca. Satoransky and Laprovittola combined for 12 assists and just 2 turnovers. Dante Exum led Partizan with 24 points against his former team. Kevin Punter added 16 and Zach LeDay had 10 for the hosts.

Laprovittola struck twice from downtown in a 2-8 opening run for Barca. Yam Madar and Punter stepped up for Partizan, getting their team within 10-11. Satoransky swished a mid-range shot, then Vesely followed a jumper with a dunk for a 16-19 Barca lead. Sertac Sanli scored down low, getting help from Nikola Kalinic to give the guests a 21-25 lead after 10 minutes. Partizan found a go-to guy in Exum, who sank a couple of triples and scored in the low post to put the hosts in charge, 32-27. Exum stayed on fire and Mathias Lessort's layup made it a 40-32 Partizan advantage, but Laprovittola and Cory Higgins brought Barca within 45-44 at halftime.

Vesely dunked right after the break, then Alex Abrines followed a jumper with a triple that made Partizan call timeout at 45-51. Satoransky buried a three-pointer, then Mirotic and Vesely boosted Barca's lead to double digits, 49-61. Exum and Punter joined forces to bring Partizan closer, 58-66, after 30 minutes. Exum single-handedly brought Partizan within striking distance, 70-73, with under 6 minutes left. But Laprovittola hit a three-pointer and Mirotic added an off-balance tip-in to give Barca fresh air, 70-78. Satoransky buried a critical triple and Mirotic sealed the outcome with a tip-in, 73-83, in the next-to-last minute.

EuroLeague Live Blog: Fenerbahce vs. Zalgiris, Virtus vs. Real Madrid, Monaco vs. Valencia, Partizan vs. Olympiacos, Milan vs. Bayern

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Tuesday Blog: Maccabi, Efes, Baskonia take pivotal home wins

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-03-28T16:00:00.000Z)

Two-time defending champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul kept alive its playoff chances by running past visiting EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 89-69 on Tuesday night at Sinan Erdem Dome. The victory raised Efes's record to 15-16 while Milan fell to 14-17 record. Shane Larkin led five double-digit Efes scorers by downing 11 of his 18 points in the second quarter, while Will Clyburn had 11 of his 16 points in the first and finished with a career-high 5 steals. Vasilije Micic scored 15, while Rodrigue Beaubois and Elijah Bryant had 12 apiece. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had a game-high 19 points for Milan, and Johannes Voigtmann netted 12.

 On-the-ropes Efes blows past Milan, 89-69 

Two-time defending champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul kept alive its playoff chances by running past visiting EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 89-69 on Tuesday night at Sinan Erdem Dome. The victory not only got Efes back on the winning track and to a 15-16 record with three regular season games remaining, but also completed an important sweep of Milan. Efes took the lead for good with a run late in the first quarter, made it a double-digit affair in the second, and led by as many as 23 points in the third. Milan, which entered this game having won eight of its last nine games, never got closer than 13 points, dropping to a 14-17 record.

Shane Larkin led five double-digit Efes scorers by downing 11 of his 18 points in the second quarter, while Will Clyburn had 11 of his 16 points in the first and finished with a career-high 5 steals. Vasilije Micic scored 15, while Rodrigue Beaubois and Elijah Bryant had 12 apiece. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had a game-high 19 points for Milan, and Johannes Voigtmann netted 12.

The teams traded blows with eight early lead changes as Voigtmann netted 3 triples and Shavon Shields another to put Milan up 12-14. Efes had good energy from the start before a pair of block by Beaubois led to Clyburn making back-to-back three-pointers in an 8-0 run to take a 22-16 lead after 10 minutes. Brandon Davies scored a pair of tough baskets for Milan early in the second, but Larkin got going with 3 three-pointers followed by a corner triple from Bryant at 38-27. Shabazz Napier hit from deep late in the second quarter for his first points, but a corner triple from Bryant opened a 47-32 halftime lead for Efes.

A three-point apiece from Napier, Voigtmann and Billy Baron gave Milan hope at the start of the third quarter, and the visitors kept Efes without a single point for more than 2 minutes. But a three-point play from Beaubois got Efes clicking, before he and Larkin buried long-range shots to boost the lead to 66-43 with 3 minutes left in the third. Luwawu-Cabarrot hit a buzzer-beating triple to end the third and his layup made it 68-53 with 8 minutes remaining. But Micic snapped a 0-8 run with a tough shot-clock-beating triple, then took the ball to the rim. His second triple restored a 20-point margin, 80-60, with 4 minutes left, and Efes cruised the rest of the way.