Name: Magic Moment: Juwan Morgan with a big dunk!
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Morgan rocks the rim after Ferrell cut through the home team’s defense!

Magic Moment: Juwan Morgan with a big dunk!

 Morgan rocks the rim after Ferrell cut through the home team’s defense!

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2024-09-25T17:00:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius-Bahcesehir College Istanbul | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2024-09-25T16:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija rallies to stun Cluj in a thriller

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana hit 14 three-pointers, including a pair in the final minute of the game, to beat U-BT Cluj-Napoca 86-93 on Wednesday, getting its 2024-25 BKT EuroCup campaign in Group B on the right foot.

Cedevita Olimpija overcame a 12-0 fourth-quarter spurt by the home team, and after being down 78-71, used a 2-9 run to catch up, before scoring the final 8 points of the night to register a win in which it had five scorers in double figures. Devin Robinson had 20 points, Brynton Lemar scored 18, Devante Jones collected 15 points, 7 assists and 4 steals, while Aleksej Nikolic scored 14 and DJ Stewart 13 points. Zavier Simpson had 16 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds for Cluj. Adam Mokoka also scored 16, Zach Hankins had 15 an Kevin Hervey 14 points plus 7 rebounds in defeat

Game Videos

Cluj had the better start, repeatedly going inside first to set the tone with an early 8-2 margin, then to put together a 10-3 run which gave the hosts a 22-14 lead as they made 10 of 12 two-point shots in the opening quarter. But Nikolic came off the bench and hit his first triple and help cut the margin to 24-19 after 10 minutes, then his second triple tied the game at 27-27 inside the first 4 minutes of the second quarter.

Cedevita went in front after a 0-6 run, capped by Robinson's basket in transition. A triple from Jones followed, and a long-distance dagger from Lemar made it 38-46 at the break.

Game News

Cluj halved the gap right away in the third quarter, then Simpson scored all the points in a 6-0 run to give Cluj a 57-56 lead after a fastbreak layup. But Nikolic nailed his fourth triple, and Lemar hit one of his own, before Stewart banked one to help make it 66-71 after 30 minutes.

But Cluj scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter, a run sparked by a triple from Patrick Richard on his first shot of the game, and two baskets from Mareks Mejeris, also his first points of the night. Hervey's triple and a dunk from Mejeris made it 78-71 with 7 minutes to go in the game. However, Jaka Blazic beat the shot-clock with a three-pointer, before three consecutive baskets from Robinson made it 80-80.

The two teams exchanged leads four more times, with Hervey hitting a three-pointer to make it 86-85 entering the final minute. But Lemar quickly answered with a three-pointer for the visitors, then Jones beat a shot-clock with an off-balanced triple with 13.6 seconds to go to seal the outcome.

The visitors rallied after losing the lead in the fourth quarter

Cedevita Olimpija rallies to stun Cluj in thriller

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-09-25T16:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj Napoca-Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana | Round 1 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Philipp Herkenhoff with the nice save before Ben Saraf delivers the fine pass for an Isaiah Roby dunk.

Magic Moment: Saraf feeds Roby for the dunk!

Trefl Sopot v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-09-25T17:00:00.000Z)

Terry in time and space to score with a monster dunk after a sublime assist by Needham!

Magic Moment: Emanuel Terry hammers it home!

Aamir Simms misses an off-balance shot but fixes it with a one-handed put-back dunk! 

Magic Moment: Simms puts it back!

Aamir Simms misses an off-balance shot but fixes it with a one-handed put-back dunk!  

Umana Reyer Venice v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2024-09-25T18:00:00.000Z)

In the first-ever meeting between these two teams, Bahcesehir College Istanbul pulled out a convincing road win over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius on Wednesday night. 

Bahcesehir suffocates Wolves on the road, 69-80

In the first-ever meeting between these two teams, Bahcesehir College Istanbul pulled out a convincing road win over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius on Wednesday night. Despite trailing 26-23 at the end of the first quarter, the visitors adjusted their defense to give up only 17 points in the second period and just 13 in each of the third and fourth quarters.

Axel Bouteille paced the winners with 17 points - with 13 of them coming after the intermission. Tai Odiase followed with 14 points and 5 boards, Tyler Cavanaugh chipped in 13 and CJ Massenburg finished with 12. Anthony Cowan led all scorers with 20 points plus 4 assists and Jeffery Taylor and Tre-shawn Thurman scored 10 apiece in the losing effort.

Fueled by Odiase and Cavanaugh the visitors amassed a 3-9 advantage early in the game. With Taylor as the only player to reply so far, the hosts tried to change the trend by putting Marek Blazevic on the court. The reaction ended up coming from the backcourt, though, as Cowan chained together a couple of buckets and an extra free throw to make it 12-13 right before the first timeout of the game. Cowan and Cavanaugh continued firing on each side, going for 12 and 11 points respectively when the score was 19-21. Taylor took over later to make it all square from the line and drawing an offensive foul that gave Cowan an opportunity to close the first period with a three-point play and put the home team in front, 26-23.

Kristupas Zemaitis opened fire after the break with a three, the fourth for his team, to raise the difference to 29-23. By contrast, all Bahcesehir players had combined for 0-for-6 shooting from behind the arc so far. It was Jaleen Smith who converted the first, followed by another bomb by Marko Simonovic that got the guests closer, 32-31. Even though Wolves kept punishing the rim, mainly from the perimeter, Simonovic had already found his momentum on offense and enabled a 0-11 run that turned the tables, 35-42. Taylor showed up again to help this team stick to the game, right before Cowan returned to the scoring ways to make it 43-45 at halftime.

Wolves found unexpected help from Garrison Brooks, who scored 6 points in a row to open the second half and return the lead to the visitors, 49-47. Bouteille and Massinburg combined in offense to prevent the hosts from continuing the rally, as Simonovic’s return to the Bahcesehir frontcourt turned into a perfect fit. A three-point play by Massinburg and a three by Bouteille pushed the visitors back in front, 56-60. The French forward beat the shot-clock and repeated from downtown before Oliase completed a 0-8 run that left the Lithuanian side in shock, 56-65, entering the last stanza.

Wolves ended a 6-minute scoring drought bridging the third and the fourth quarter with a baseline dunk by Regimantas Miniotas to reduce the distance to 58-65 and force a timeout by the visitors. The hosts kept rocking inside with Blazevic, who brought his team within 62-65 midway through the quarter with consecutive baskets. His fourth foul helped the visitors not to panic, though, and later found timely shooting accuracy from Jaleen Smith and Massinburg that cooled it down, 62-70. Cavanaugh, after going scoreless for the previous two periods, showed up with a corner jumper that granted a 9-point advantage to Bahcesehir and sent the home team to the ropes with 3 minutes to go. Despite Andrews’s effort to bring the home team back, Mateusz Ponitka opened his bag of tricks to score 4 points and send the game to bed. 

The visitors allowed only 26 points in the second half

Tyler Ennis connects with Jordan Parks for a high-flying alley-oop slam!

Magic Moment: Parks's alley-oop dunk! 

Robinson receives a pass and continues to the rim for a huge dunk.

Magic Moment: Massive dunk by Robinson!

Big man Kamejas slam-dunks with authority after a pick & roll with Wright!

Magic Moment: Kenan Kamenjas rocks the rim!

 Big man Kamejas slam-dunks with authority after a pick & roll with Wright! 

Happ drove to the basket, but Wiley rose to reject him with force!

Magic Moment: Austin Wiley rejects Ethan Happ!

 Happ drove to the basket, but Wiley rose to reject him with force!

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Valencia Basket (2024-09-25T17:00:00.000Z)

Jaleen Smith feeds Tai Odiase for a big alley-top slam!

Magic Moment: Smith & Odiase combine for a big alley-top dunk!

 Jaleen Smith feeds Tai Odiase for a big alley-top slam!

Robinson goes on a fast break and tosses it up for a big dunk for Beringer.


Magic Moment: Exciting Robinson-to-Beringer alley-oop!

 Robinson goes on a fast break and tosses it up for a big dunk for Beringer.


The Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament, featuring Panathinaikos BC, Anadolu Efes SK, KK Partizan and Maccabi Tel Aviv BC, saw 42,000 fans embark upon the legendary Panathenaic Stadium for an incredible preseason tournament.

A night to remember: 42,000 in attendance for a preseason tournament in Athens

Last weekend saw one of the most impressive events in the recent history of European basketball.

On Saturday, September 21, a preseason tournament organized by [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carousels/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/?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%22pan%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Panathinaikos%20AKTOR%20Athens) – named the Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament – was held at the Panathenaic Stadium, which hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and was first constructed around the year 330 BC. Alongside the Greens, fellow Turkish Airlines EuroLeague clubs [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carousels/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/?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%22par%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Partizan%20Mozzart%20Bet%20Belgrade), [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carousels/anadolu-efes-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%22ist%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Anadolu%20Efes%20Istanbul) and [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carousels/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/?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%22tel%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Maccabi%20Playtika%20Tel%20Aviv) also featured.

Some 42,000 fans embarked upon Athens' most famous arena for a fun-filled day of basketball. Even the players themselves were in shock at the beauty of the Panathenaic Stadium and the fact that they could play in front of an audience like this – and even more so in an outdoor setting.

Basketball like never before at Panathenaic Stadium | EuroLeague Preseason Show

Efes and Maccabi were the first to get a taste of the atmosphere, with everyone being ever so quick to get out their mobile phones and record footage of what they were seeing. They knew that this is something they may not get to experience again. Efes went on to win the game 89-66, with [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/) netting a game-high 16 points. [Ercan Osmani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ercan-osmani/012710/) and [Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/) had 14 points apiece for Efes, while [Jaylen Hoard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jaylen-hoard/006835/) was Maccabi's leading scorer with 14.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Best tunnel <a href="https://twitter.com/shanelarkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shanelarkin</a> has ever seen? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnderTheStars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnderTheStars</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnadoluEfesSK</a> <a href="https://t.co/QHKGCvIr2z">pic.twitter.com/QHKGCvIr2z</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1837515614526587042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Later that night, it was the turn of the home team Panathinaikos to take center stage. The reigning EuroLeague champion received a warm reception from the crowd as the players and coaches made their way onto the court, as did former Greens boss Zeljko Obradovic, who won five EuroLeague titles while at OAKA and now coaches Partizan. Although [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) scored 16 points, more than anyone else, Partizan grabbed a 64-75 victory on the back of 13 points by Duane Washington and 12 by [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/).

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An UNBELIEVABLE pre-season tournament in Athens 🇬🇷 <a href="https://t.co/oNEuJuM8IO">pic.twitter.com/oNEuJuM8IO</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1837584569899372811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite the impressive performances on the court, the real stars of the show were the fans. [Partizan hosted a stunning outdoor event](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-gifts-fans-a-preseason-night-to-remember/) during preseason last year, but as several players were insisting after the Pavlos Giannakopoulos tournament, hopefully this will not be the last time we see something like this.

Panathinaikos hosted fellow EuroLeague teams Partizan, Efes and Maccabi at the Panathenaic Stadium

Joventut Badalona secured a Round 1 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv on the back of its impressive frontcourt, led by Ante Tomic, Artem Pustovyi and Kaiser Gates.

Joventut’s frontline was too much for Hapoel

There has been much talk about the quality of the frontline that Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv put together, with players arriving from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the NBA. But on opening night, Joventut Badalona’s bigs made the difference in leading their team to [a 78-75 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs1-report-jov-hta/).

Thirty-seven-year-old center [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/) turned back the clock as he set a EuroCup career-high in PIR with 32. He scored 17 points with just one missed shot and grabbed 12 rebounds. Both of those numbers were game-highs. 

There was no drop off in production when Tomic rested as [Artem Pustovyi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/artem-pustovyi/004834/) stepped up with 11 points and 5 rebounds. Meanwhile, newcomer [Kaiser Gates](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kaiser-evan-bray-gates/013287/) poured in 4 three-pointers in amassing 16 points and 4 rebounds from the power forward spot.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Anteeeeee Tomic 🙌<br><br>Màxim anotador: 17 punts 🎯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badalona%C3%89sFutur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BadalonaÉsFutur</a> <a href="https://t.co/Er2JczXfcx">pic.twitter.com/Er2JczXfcx</a></p>&mdash; Club Joventut Badalona (@Penya1930) <a href="https://twitter.com/Penya1930/status/1838695036168605730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“It was a good test for us, opening the season in front of our crowd against probably the best team in the EuroCup,” Tomic said after the game. “An important game for us to see where we stand at this moment. I am very, very proud of these guys for what we did today.”

With the game in the balance entering the fourth quarter, Joventut’s big men answered the bell. Tomic scored 6 points in the last quarter, including the first two baskets of the stanza to increase the pressure on Hapoel. When the visitors closed the gap to 63-62, Gates responded with a clutch triple. Then Pustovyi came to the fore with a three-point play.

Their play led to Joventut outrebounding Hapoel 40-38, which helped overcome the 14 turnovers that the hosts committed. The trio was a combined 10 for 10 on free throws (Pustovyi made 5 of those and Gates 4).

On the other side, the entire Hapoel team was just 8 of 15 (53.3%) from the line. [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) posted 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals in defeat and [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/) had 11 points and 6 boards before leaving the game late with an apparent leg injury, but starting power forward [Ben Bentil](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/benjamin-bentil/009818/) had just 6 points on 0-for-4 three-point shooting and 1 rebound.

While Hapoel will have to go back to the drawing board as it seeks its first win of the season next week against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, Joventut will head to Germany next week to face ratiopharm Ulm armed with the knowledge that its frontline has proven itself already to be among the most dangerous in the competition.

Joventut Badalona's Artem Pustovyi dunks on Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv center Johnathan Motley during the two teams' Round 1 matchup in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

Ante Tomic had big numbers, but was not alone among bigs who shined for Joventut

Joventut Badalona v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2024-09-24T18:30:00.000Z)

Gran Canaria’s third-quarter defense provided confidence in win over Trento

Despite bringing in nine new players over the summer, Dolomiti Energia Trento got off to a great start away at Dreamland Gran Canaria on Tuesday night. The visitors produced a great offensive display in the first half, took the hosts by surprise and secured a 45-49 lead heading into the second half.

“We need to do a much better job on defense,” Gran Canaria center Mike Tobey said at the break. “Our defense was terrible in the first half, so we gotta really pick it up in the second half if we want to have a chance to win this game.”

And that’s exactly what head coach Jaka Lakovic’s players did from the off in the second half.

Gran Canaria tightened up its defense, with Trento scoring just 2 points in the first 5 minutes of the third quarter. In fact, the hosts kept a Trento offense that scored 22 and 27 points in the first and second quarters, respectively, to just 7 points in the third and took a 60-56 lead into the closing quarter.

Trento scored 32 points after the break, mainly thanks to an extraordinary Jordan Ford, who netted half of his team’s points in the second half and finished the game with 32 points, recording 11-for-11 on two pointers and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.

“We are happy to start the season with a win,” Lakovic told EuroLeague TV after the clash. “I think that our approach on defense in the third quarter was decisive. We took control of the momentum of the game and took it to the fourth quarter, having more confidence in our game.”

Gran Canaria recorded 5 steals in the second half, with its players producing numerous deflections on defense that didn’t allow Trento to circulate the ball as smoothly as it did before the break and prevented the guests from finding their rhythm on offense.

“We responded better in the second half,” Tobey, who netted a team-high 20 points, said after the game. “In the first half, our defense was not what it needed to be, but I think that we showed character and we responded, doing a much better job in the second half. Even though we missed a bunch of shots that we’d probably make later on, the defense was what won us the game in the second half and we need to keep this mentality going forward.”

Shifting the energy from defense to offense, Gran Canaria outscored Trento 39-32 in the second half to clinch a hard-fought victory on home soil.

The Spanish side will travel to Montenegro next week, where it will face Buducnost VOLI Podgorica in their first road game of the season. Should they manage to emulate their third-quarter defense at Moraca, Gran Canaria will have little to fear in its bid to double its wins next Wednesday.

The visitors were held to just 7 points in the third period

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-09-24T19:00:00.000Z)