The Games of week 17:

Monaco vs Crvena Zvezda

In the Principality, Monaco and the Red and Whites delivered the kind of game that bends late and snaps only after overtime. Crvena Zvezda arrived intent on imposing physicality, posting up Kalinic and other big wings on Mike James, but the early story belonged to Motiejunas. The Lithuanian center scored six quick points crashing the offensive glass, posting up, even running in transition. Monaco countered by attacking him relentlessly in pick and roll. Motiejunas held up well enough to help fuel an 11-0 run that put the visitors up 17-8 and forced Spanoulis into an early timeout.

Monaco responded with urgency. The pace picked up, the defense got more aggressive, and Diallo provided the spark with six points during a 13-3 run. Obradovic stopped the game, and the visitors steadied themselves. Scoring in the half court was still a grind, with most of their damage coming in transition or off offensive rebounds, but efficient finishing inside the arc carried Crvena Zvezda to a 27-21 lead after one on 11 of 17 shooting inside.

The second quarter tilted sharply. Monaco generated good looks and missed them. Crvena Zvezda punished that with a 10-2 start, opening a 14-point lead by playing with more flow while still hunting transition chances. At the media timeout it was 43-29. Then momentum flipped. The stoppage invited mistakes, three straight turnovers, and Monaco closed the half on a 15-7 run to trim what had been an 18-point hole down to six by halftime.

The third quarter belonged to Monaco. The defensive intensity jumped, switching with Hayes disrupted everything, and the visitors managed only five points in the first five minutes. Even small-ball looks stopped working consistently against the pressure. Blossomgame put Monaco back in front with a layup, and an Okobo three capped the surge with the home side leading 71-68 entering the fourth.

The final period opened evenly. Buckets were traded, and Cody Miller-McIntyre consistently stressed Monaco by attacking downhill. After a tie at 74, Monaco found separation with an 11-2 run led by Strazel’s six points and capped by a Nedovic three. Up nine with 5:31 left, it felt close to done. Jordan Nwora answered on both ends, getting stops and easy points at the line. Monaco misfired on quality looks, then Diallo buried a three to restore a seven-point cushion inside two minutes.

Crvena Zvezda refused to fold. Butler drilled a three to cut it to four. Two empty Monaco possessions followed. Miller-McIntyre missed from deep, but Ebuka Izundu soared for a putback dunk to make it a two-point game with 33 seconds left. After a timeout, the Serbian defense forced a five-second violation. Butler delivered again, driving left and banking in a game-tying layup with 12 seconds remaining. Mike James had the winner and left the three short. Overtime at 90.

Extra time rode the wave of the comeback. With a small-ball lineup, Nwora struck first with back-to-back threes, Hayes scoring in between. Monaco tried pairing Mirotic and Blossomgame, but it did not stick. Ojeleye’s two points completed an 8-2 run and forced another Monaco timeout. The response never fully came. Crvena Zvezda held the edge, and a last-second Alpha Diallo tip-in sealed a 100-96 final.

Monaco placed five players in double figures, led by Diallo’s 19, but team shooting told the story at 11 of 36 from three. For the Serbians, three players topped 15, and the brightest light was Ebuka Izundu with 22 points and 12 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. In a game defined by swings, his work on second chances ultimately made the difference.

Barcelona vs Dubai

Barcelona opened with Satoransky, Punter and Brizuela, the latter usually a bench piece but clearly empowered from the jump. Brizuela attacked early, hunting his own offense while Dubai loaded up on Kevin Punter. On the other end, Barcelona’s aggressive hedging came with a cost. Kabengele rolled freely, rarely tagged early, and Dubai cashed in with easy interior scores. The rhythm and physicality of Dubai’s start forced Pascual into an early timeout. Musa made his return in the first quarter, but it was Dubai’s size across positions that defined the opening stretch, pushing the visitors to an 18-22 lead after one.

Barcelona answered with size of its own. Norris and Parra joined Vesely, and even without much off the dribble creation, the tone flipped on defense. Hedges were sharper, Kamenjas was tagged early and fronted to deny post touches, and Dubai’s offense lost its flow. With Wright IV on the bench, the dribble pressure dipped. Barcelona ripped off a 17-6 run, closing the paint and playing run-and-gun basketball, with Punter heating up from deep. Dubai waited too long to get its best lineup back on the floor and had to stop the game again. Out of that, Satoransky dialed up a set straight out of Tenerife, a fake screen against the hedge followed by a slip and a backdoor feed to Vesely at the rim.

Once Dubai’s two best players were back, their offense loosened up. Ball movement forced Barcelona to chase, and the in-and-out game created open looks. Barcelona grew more passive, but still carried a 49-41 halftime lead, driven by Punter’s 15 points, 13 of them in the second quarter.

The third quarter became its own contest. Dubai struck first with a 7-0 run. Barcelona countered with an 8-2 response. Kabengele remained a constant problem inside, and Barcelona struggled to fully contain him. Brizuela took over, scoring 14 by himself in the quarter and pushing Barcelona into double-digit territory. On the other side, Wright IV shifted from table-setter to scorer, hunting his own shot on the way to 23 points by the end of the third, before going down injured late in the period. Defensively, Dubai had lapses, and Barcelona punished them by moving the ball and working for quality shots.

With Wright sidelined, Avramovic entered and leaned into what he does best. Defense. He pressured ball handlers, drew charges, jumped passing lanes, and suddenly Barcelona looked uncomfortable. Dubai searched for a scoring punch, hoping Bacon would deliver, but it was Alexa who stepped up with back-to-back threes to cut the margin to five. Wright IV returned with five minutes left, and Barcelona’s ball security unraveled. Turnovers fueled Dubai’s transition game. A Wright three trimmed the deficit to two after being down 12. Barcelona went nearly two minutes without scoring, and Dubai tied it.

In the end, shot-making decided it. Brizuela and Punter answered when it mattered most, with Brizuela delivering the game-winning floater. Dubai left everything on the floor, defending with intent and forcing mistakes, but offensively rushed decisions followed each Barcelona response in crunch time. Barcelona survived because its closers showed up when the game demanded it.

EA7 Milano vs Zalgiris

Milano was the backdrop for a game that felt heavy from the tip. Play In implications, familiar faces, and two teams trying to define who they are this late in the season. EA7 Milano set the tone early, playing with urgency on both ends. The offense hummed right away, 10 points in the first three minutes, and the defense matched the energy. Active hands, sharper rotations, a clear attempt to look nothing like the previous two outings. By the first media timeout it was 17-8, and Shavon Shields looked like he was headed for one of those nights with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, before two early fouls cooled him off.

Zalgiris steadied once Ulanovas checked in. His presence calmed things down, and after a string of stops Tubelis punished mismatches on the block. Four quick points trimmed the margin, and from that first timeout on the Lithuanians won the quarter 11-5, cutting the deficit to three by the end of the first.

Milano again opened fast in the second quarter, after Francisco scored three free throws, the first points of the quarter. Milano then went on an 8-0 run, prompting Tomas Masiulis to call an early timeout with the lead back to eight. Zalgiris chipped away patiently, helped by Milano miscues and Maodo Lo’s five points in the quarter. Ulanovas went to work on the block and eventually tied the game. A tough Leday basket followed by a Francisco three sent Zalgiris into halftime up 45-44. Milano’s eight turnovers stood out, while Zalgiris struggled on the glass, splitting rebounds evenly despite needing more there.

The second half began with a clear adjustment. Milano deliberately hunted Leday, who had only four points on two shots in the first half, and he scored on the opening possession. Zalgiris answered with the next six points, and then came a dubious third foul on Shields. Poetta’s frustration earned him a technical, and the temperature of the game rose immediately. Milano fed off that sense of injustice. Nebo dominated the offensive glass, Shields caught fire, and Milano’s shooting from deep finally showed up. Shields poured in 15 points in the quarter, matching Milano’s entire first half output from three in just ten minutes. The defense tightened as well, pushing Zalgiris’ turnover count to eight for the quarter. Milano carried that surge into a 67-62 lead entering the fourth.

Zalgiris refused to fold. They opened the final period with six of the first eight points, but Marco Guduric answered with a personal 5-0 run to restore a six-point cushion. Maodo Lo responded in kind. First he brought Zalgiris within one, forcing Poetta to call timeout. The ATO worked, freeing Ellis for an open layup, but Lo came right back with a three to tie it at 76. Milano’s offense bogged down at the worst time. The threes stopped falling, just 1-of-8 in the quarter, and turnovers piled up. A Sleva free throw and a Francisco three pushed Zalgiris ahead by four with just over three minutes left.

Shields hit two free throws to keep Milano alive, but another controversial charge call led to a second technical and gave Zalgiris breathing room. This time there was no Milano response. Shields missed from deep, and Maodo Lo finished the night with a layup that stretched the lead to six with a minute to play, effectively sealing it.

Zalgiris walked out with an 86-82 win. Francisco led the way with 25 points and six assists, while Maodo Lo delivered the knockout stretch with 12 of his 17 in the fourth quarter. For Milano, Shields was brilliant with 27, and Guduric, Nebo and Leday all reached double figures, but turnovers, cold shooting late and a few costly moments swung a game that felt within reach until it wasn’t.

 

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Ebuka Izundu vs AS Monaco

Every week has a moment when a player introduces himself to the wider EuroLeague audience. This one belonged to Ebuka Izundu.

The rookie big man delivered the most dominant performance of the week against AS Monaco, putting up 22 points and 12 rebounds, seven of them on the offensive glass. The stat line pops immediately, but it still undersells what his 21 minutes actually did to the game. This was an announcement performance, the kind that makes people rewind possessions instead of just checking the box score.

Izundu’s presence on the offensive boards became a slow grind on Monaco’s spirit. Possession after possession refused to end, and that pressure built over time. The putback dunk late in the game was the exclamation point, a play that felt enormous in the context of Crvena Zvezda’s comeback and the road environment.

Defensively, he was more than solid. Izundu held his ground at the rim and even survived switches onto Monaco’s guards in isolation, using positioning and effort to make shots uncomfortable. There was no hiding him, and that mattered.

In a very important road win for the Serbians, Izundu was not just productive. He was central. For a rookie, that is the loudest statement you can make.

Kevin Punter vs ASVEL

This was one of those games that slipped through the cracks. Barcelona played ASVEL, Barcelona won by seven, and the night moved on. ASVEL scored 91 points, which tells you they had a real offensive game. Barcelona scored 98, and a big chunk of that belonged to Kevin Punter.

Nothing about the box score screamed for attention in the usual way, and that is probably the point. When a guy scores 31 points, adds four assists and two steals, it somehow does not make headlines anymore because we are used to it. That level of production has become the baseline expectation.

Punter’s scoring drove Barcelona’s offense in a game that could have gotten uncomfortable. ASVEL kept putting pressure on the scoreboard, and every time it felt like momentum might tilt, Punter was there with a bucket, a read, or a play that steadied things. His best plus minus on the team tells the story cleanly. When he was on the floor, Barcelona was in control.

This was not a loud performance in the media cycle, but it was a loud one on the court. Efficient scoring, timely playmaking, defensive activity, and a constant presence that shaped the game. Nights like this explain why Barcelona leans on him and why they can survive games where the margin is thinner than it looks at first glance.

Standings Watch:

This is the part of the season where the table stops being a list and starts feeling like a pressure test. The Play In race is tightening by the week. There are just three wins separating the 10th spot from the 11th, and that is the kind of margin where every possession starts to matter a little more. For the teams on the outside looking in, the room for error is shrinking fast. One bad week can quietly doom a season.

At the top, things are just as crowded. Four teams are sitting on 16 wins, and they are only one win clear of the trio of Olympiacos, AS Monaco and Valencia, all of them still hunting for home court advantage in the Play Offs. Nothing is settled, and the order can flip quickly with a single result.

Fenerbahçe are right in the middle of that chaos, already fighting for first place after a shaky start to the season. This has become familiar territory for a Sarunas Jasikevicius team. They start slow, they absorb the noise, and then they turn into a well oiled machine. Right now they are tied with Hapoel at the top after Hapoel’s loss to Partizan.

On the other side of the Play Off picture, Valencia have slipped into the seventh spot, tied with Monaco after losing three of their last four games. It is a reminder of how unforgiving this stretch can be. In a league this tight, a short skid is enough to change the entire outlook, and the standings reflect that reality every single week.

 

Week 18 Games to Watch:

Fenerbahçe vs Anadolu Efes

Standings do not matter when we talk about a Turkish derby. Games like these simply mean more. They mean more for the players, they mean more for the coaches, and they definitely mean more for the fans who want bragging rights that last well beyond forty minutes.

This one sets up as a half court battle, the kind of game where every possession feels negotiated. Head coaches will have a decisive impact here, with small tweaks and subtle adjustments swinging momentum. One coverage change, one lineup decision, one timeout at the right moment can decide it.

The talent level is high across the board, but the guard position jumps off the page. Both teams are deep there, and the matchup between Weiler Babb and Talen Horton Tucker is the kind of duel that can define the night. Different profiles, same responsibility, control the game.

This is one of those games you circle without thinking twice. A true can’t miss.

Olympiacos vs FC Barcelona

This matchup almost sells itself. Olympiacos versus FC Barcelona is always appointment viewing, and this one comes with real weight attached. The teams are separated by just one win in the standings, and home court advantage in the Play Offs is very much in play.

On paper, this looks like an offensive showcase. Both teams are very good on that end of the floor, loaded with creators and shot makers who can tilt a game in a hurry. That said, don’t expect a track meet without resistance. Defense is going to be crucial here, and whichever team executes better on that end is likely to decide the outcome.

This is also a coaches’ game. Xavi Pascual and Giorgios Bartzokas are not coming in empty handed. Both will have a few tricks up their sleeve, adjustments layered within adjustments, probing for small edges that can swing a tight contest.

When the stakes are this clear and the margins this thin, skipping this one is not an option.

Asvel vs Panathinaikos

The last time these two teams met at OAKA, Panathinaikos won only by six points. That night, PAO had every player available and Kendrick Nunn went off for 26, doing much of the heavy lifting in a game that never fully felt under control.

Fast forward to now and the context is very different. Panathinaikos might not have Nunn available, and suddenly this trip to Lyon carries a different kind of pressure. A win here will not be considered a great achievement, but a loss could do real damage to a team that has been unable to find consistency over the last month.

That is what makes this game uncomfortable for PAO. The margin for error is thin, the reward is limited, and the risk is obvious. For a team searching for stability, this is the kind of night where you either quietly take care of business or let the doubts grow louder.

 

What’s at Stake:

EA7 Milano is in a rough stretch, and the numbers are loud. Three straight losses have pushed the Italians three wins away from the Play In spots, a dangerous place to be in a league where the margins are already thin. The slide is not subtle and it starts on the defensive end.

Over this stretch, Milano’s defense has been abysmal. A 144.1 defensive rating is not just bad, it is almost 20 points per 100 possessions worse than the worst season average in the league, the 125.3 posted by Maccabi. That kind of drop off changes everything. It turns solid offensive nights into uphill battles and close games into losses that feel inevitable by the fourth quarter.

Milano can score, that part is not in question. But offense alone is not enough to stop the bleeding. If the defensive level does not rise quickly, even a good offense will not be enough to get them back into the win column, let alone pull them back into the Play In picture. The clock is ticking, and the fix has to start on the other side of the ball.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Olympiacos just added Cory Joseph, and it’s exactly the type of move that addresses a glaring need. The Canadian guard brings steady ball-handling and scoring, the kind of presence that becomes noticeable the moment the ball moves through him.

This is particularly timely given Monte Morris’ injury. Olympiacos has struggled with live-ball turnovers, and that has cost them more than a few games this season. Joseph’s ability to manage the game, protect the ball, and create scoring opportunities should help plug that leak. It’s not a flashy headline signing, but in a league where details like turnover rate can define a season, this is the kind of addition that could quietly make a huge difference.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!

The Games of week 16:

Fenerbahçe vs Valencia

Fenerbahçe and Valencia delivered exactly what this matchup promised and then some. This was EuroLeague basketball with all the volume turned up. High level execution, constant tactical adjustments, technical fouls, momentum swings, and a finish that demanded your full attention.

The opening minutes were played at Valencia’s preferred speed. The Toranja attacked early and often through pick and roll, and it did not really matter what coverage Fenerbahçe showed. Switch, hedge, show, recover. Valencia moved the ball, forced rotations, and found space. Jaime Pradilla was the main beneficiary, knocking down three triples in the first quarter by simply being ready when the defense cracked.

Fenerbahçe had answers of their own. Talen Horton Tucker immediately put pressure on the rim, attacking Taylor with force and patience. More importantly, Sarunas Jasikevicius had his bigs manipulating Valencia’s defensive rules. Screens flipped at the last second, double ball screens stacked together, defenders arriving a half step late and paying for it. The offenses were humming until Saras stopped the game with just over five minutes left in the quarter and Valencia up 18 to 16.

That timeout flipped everything. Fenerbahçe came out with force, ripped off a 9 to 0 run, and never let Valencia get comfortable again. Pedro Martinez called for time, but the run stretched to 12 before Nate Reuvers finally stopped the bleeding with an offensive rebound and putback. Even then, the damage was done. Fenerbahçe closed the quarter up eight, fueled by five Valencia turnovers and a defense that suddenly tightened every passing lane.

Valencia opened the second quarter the way they hoped the entire game would go. Faster pace, more physicality, crashing the glass. A 10 to 2 start briefly swung the tone. Fenerbahçe barely blinked. The defending champions have been here too many times. A 12 to 3 response pushed the lead to 12 and forced Martinez to burn his second timeout of the half. Valencia stabilized after that, but Fenerbahçe’s defense was dictating terms. Just 14 points in the quarter, 2 of 10 from three, and a 45 to 34 deficit at halftime.

The pattern repeated after the break. Valencia struck first again, scoring seven of the first ten points of the third quarter. Fenerbahçe answered again, this time with a 5 to 0 run built entirely on stops. Nothing came easy. Frustration started to creep into Valencia’s body language. Still, this team never goes quietly. Martinez turned to Sergio de Larrea and Josep Puerto, and they changed the game. Back to back threes cut the lead to five with three minutes left, forcing Jasikevicius to step in and kill the momentum.

Fenerbahçe did just enough from there. The margin hovered around five until a violent poster dunk late in the quarter sent the building into a frenzy and set the score at 66 to 58 heading into the fourth.

Nicolo Melli wasted no time reminding everyone why he owns the title of King of Winning Plays. A massive block, then a basket on the other end, and suddenly the lead was 10 again. Valencia responded instantly, slicing it back to five in seconds. This is where Fenerbahçe showed real maturity. They slowed the game down, leaned into late clock execution, and scored when it mattered. Two Brandon Boston Jr. free throws restored a double digit cushion.

Valencia had one last surge. They hunted Nando De Colo, found points, and a Jean Montero three brought it back to five inside two minutes. De Colo answered with a layup. Montero hit another three. Devon Hall grabbed a huge offensive rebound, and Melli buried what looked like the dagger from deep.

But Montero was not done. A quick mid range pull up, then a Reuvers steal and layup, and suddenly Valencia was one shot away. Montero stripped De Colo and rose for a potential game tying three, only for Wade Baldwin IV to appear out of nowhere and erase it. Valencia still got a clean look on the baseline out of bounds, a Nate Reuvers corner three, but it would not fall. Tarik Biberovic iced it at the line, and a Taylor layup set the final at 82 to 79.

In a game played well below Valencia’s usual scoring standards, Fenerbahçe’s depth told the story. Six players in double figures, including Nando De Colo with 16 points in his first game back in yellow and blue. Valencia had only four players reach double digits, five scoreless, and Darius Thompson limited to a single free throw. An unusual sight for this Valencia team, and a reminder that against elite defense, nothing is guaranteed.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Real Madrid walked into the clásico with a clear physical edge, size across almost every position and a defensive plan that never wavered. The priority was Kevin Punter. Madrid went over every screen involving him and were happy to switch the other four players in any pick and roll action. From the opening tip, the tone was set.

The game itself took time to warm up. The first five minutes produced a combined eight points, both teams feeling each other out. Madrid broke the ice by going inside, repeatedly finding Walter through high low actions, and their first six points all came from him. Abalde drew the Punter assignment and was excellent, staying attached, denying comfort, and forcing Barcelona to search for offense elsewhere.

That offense briefly arrived through Thoko Shengelia. Barcelona punished a few missed communications with well worked sets that freed Shengelia for back to back threes, wide open looks created by defensive switches that never got sorted. Madrid answered quickly. Lyles came in with five points of his own, returning the favor and keeping the balance.

Barcelona adjusted by going smaller and more mobile. Laprovittola, Cale and Brizuela shared the floor with two rolling bigs, and the offense finally found some rhythm. The ball moved, the paint opened up, and scoring became easier. Madrid still had the advantage inside, getting to the rim with more ease than Barcelona, but Laprovittola looked closer to his old self, orchestrating and probing.

Midway through the second quarter, Barcelona was down nine. A couple of offensive rebounds, second chance points, and some timely defensive plays cut the margin to five and forced Scariolo to call timeout. That was the moment. After the stoppage, Walter’s impact grew on both ends. Madrid pushed the pace, controlled the glass, and the lead ballooned back to double digits. At halftime, Barcelona had been passive defensively and never found a consistent way to involve Punter, largely due to Madrid’s discipline and pressure.

The third quarter opened with Barcelona’s best stretch of the night. A 7 to 0 run forced Madrid into mistakes, late shots, and stalled ball movement. Scariolo responded immediately, bringing in Feliz and Garuba. The response was decisive. Madrid pressed more, the offense flowed again, and the physical gap widened. Garuba did a bit of everything. He knocked down threes, moved without the ball, switched seamlessly on defense, and picked up ball handlers with purpose. The pace became overwhelming, and Barcelona could not keep up.

By the fourth quarter, the outcome felt inevitable. What had started as a chess match ended as a demonstration of depth, size, and physicality.

Garuba finished with 16 points, but this was a collective statement. Madrid contained Kevin Punter, and without him, Barcelona leaned almost entirely on Brizuela and Laprovittola. After the game, Coach Pascual pointed to the rebounding gap and Madrid’s physicality. On this night, that difference was decisive.

 

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Saliou Niang vs Dubai BC

It’s time to give flowers to one of Europe’s most intriguing young prospects. Against Dubai BC, 21 year old Saliou Niang delivered the kind of performance that quietly announces itself to anyone who values the connective tissue of basketball as much as the highlights. The box score alone already demands attention. Seventeen points, seventeen rebounds with seven of them on the offensive glass, three assists, two steals and a block. A full stat sheet, yes, but the real value was in how those numbers came together.

Niang, a long and rangy forward, played with his athleticism turned all the way up. Defensively, he was a problem. One on one he held his ground, sliding well and using his length to make shots uncomfortable. In rotations he was even better, showing timing and awareness, shrinking passing lanes and arriving just in time to contest without overcommitting. He looked like a player who understands where the next action is coming from.

Offensively, the impact came without the need for shooting. Niang is still a non shooter, but he consistently found ways to matter. His cutting was sharp and purposeful, his off ball movement creating pressure on the defense and opening space for others. As a roller in pick and roll, he made quick, clean decisions, catching on the move and either finishing or moving the ball without hesitation.

The loudest part of the night, though, was on the offensive glass. Seven offensive rebounds, each one a small act of defiance, turning dead possessions into life. Those extra chances were crucial for Virtus, especially on the road, and Niang was at the center of it. Again and again he beat his man to the ball, extended possessions, and tilted the game with effort and instinct.

This was a do it all performance, the kind that doesn’t just help you win one game but hints at a much bigger picture. For Virtus, it was a key piece in an impressive road win. For Niang, it felt like a reminder that development is not always linear or flashy. Sometimes it looks like this. Length, energy, feel, and a young player figuring out how to bend a game without forcing it.

Usman Garuba vs Barcelona

Usman Garuba was one of the quiet drivers behind Real Madrid’s win against their biggest rival, even if the box score only hints at the full story. His energy was the kind that seeps into every possession and slowly overwhelms the opponent. Barcelona felt it from the moment he checked in.

Garuba did not just survive on offense, he delivered. He shot perfectly from the outside, knocking down two huge corner threes that punished Barcelona for loading up elsewhere. Those shots mattered, not only on the scoreboard but in how they stretched the floor and forced defensive decisions Barcelona did not want to make.

Defensively, he was everywhere. Garuba defended Barcelona’s ball handlers with discipline, switching, containing, and using his strength and mobility to take away comfort. He ran the floor relentlessly, turning defense into instant pressure the other way, and that pace was something Barcelona simply could not match for long stretches.

Sixteen points will not jump off the page in isolation, but that number undersells his night. Garuba’s impact lived in the margins, in the energy plays, in the defensive stops, in the way he accelerated the game on Madrid’s terms. Against a rival, in a game that demanded physicality and intensity, he delivered exactly that, and then some.

 

Standings Watch:

Panathinaikos have hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. Three defeats in the last four games have pushed the Greens down into the Play In spots after spending a long stretch of the season sitting comfortably in second place. In a league this tight, that kind of slide does not just cost you wins, it reshapes the entire outlook.

Things in Athens are clearly not in the best place right now. Injuries have not been kind, rotations have been disrupted, and the margin for error has evaporated. Every possession starts to feel heavier when the standings compress like this.

Home court advantage in the Playoffs matters, maybe more than ever in a season where separation is minimal and road wins are precious. If this skid lingers, what once looked like a given could turn into a mirage only. Panathinaikos still control parts of their destiny, but the cushion is gone, and the urgency is real.

 

Week 17 Games to Watch:

Real Madrid vs Monaco

Real Madrid and Monaco cross paths once again, this time in the Spanish capital, and this is the kind of matchup that rarely needs selling. These two teams always seem to bring out the best and the most complicated versions of each other.

They come into the week separated by just one win, with the Monegasques holding the edge in the standings. That small gap adds weight to every possession, every substitution, every late game decision. The talent level is off the charts on both sides, not only on the floor but also on the benches, where in game adjustments can quietly swing the night.

This is the type of game where details matter more than highlights, where one read or one defensive tweak can tilt the balance. A can’t miss game for sure.

Valencia vs Paris

These are not the flashiest clubs in the competition, and that is exactly why this game deserves attention. For anyone who craves pace, this is a must watch. Both teams sit at the top of the league pace wise, so expect a high scoring night with a healthy dose of anarchy on display.

The contrast in the standings is sharp. Paris come in sitting 17th, while Valencia are firmly planted in fourth. That gap is not accidental. Evan Fournier once called Valencia an upgraded version of Paris, and this matchup quietly explains why. Valencia combine that same speed with one of the best defenses in the league, and that puts players like Hifi in a very tough spot. On the other side, Paris defense has been low key bad, and against a team that plays this fast but also this organized, those cracks tend to show.

If the game turns into a track meet, Valencia are comfortable there. If it slows just a bit, their defense still gives them the edge. Expect Valencia to take this one.

 

What’s at Stake:

Every season has its list of underwhelming storylines, and this one starts in Belgrade with Devonte Graham. Expectations were not small, his own included, and right now he is not meeting them. The easy explanation is fit. Crvena Zvezda have a crowded backcourt and a clear hierarchy, but that argument cuts both ways. Graham is backing up players like Cody Miller, Nwora and Butler who are performing and absorbing the pressure. In theory, that should simplify his job. Come in, space the floor, hit shots. That part has not happened. There have been DNPs. There have been long stretches without a point. Adaptation time is real, but the clock is ticking and Red Star need a spark. Graham is supposed to be that guy. If it does not click soon, other options outside of Belgrade start to feel less hypothetical.

On the other side of the spectrum, Joel Bolomboy’s return quietly shifts the math. He made his comeback last Saturday in ABA League action after a ten month absence, logging nine minutes with four rebounds and a block. The numbers do not jump off the page, but the context matters. For Crvena Zvezda, his presence alone is significant. Bolomboy will need time to reach his top form, but he immediately gives coach Obradovic another reliable EuroLeague level center alongside Motiejunas and rookie Ibuka Izundu. That extra body changes lineup possibilities and strengthens the rotation at a moment when margins are thin. As the season moves into its decisive stretch, that kind of depth can be the difference between hanging onto a Play Off push and watching it slip away.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Injuries and roster tweaks are reshaping the landscape this week. Nigel Williams-Goss suffered a calf strain in Round 21 and is expected to miss the next two to three weeks, a tough blow for his team as they navigate the midseason grind. On the addition side, Bruno Caboclo joined Dubai from Hapoel on January 15, though he hasn’t yet been registered and it remains to be seen how quickly he can impact the rotation. And for teams looking for a boost, Dzanan Musa returned to action in the ABA League this past weekend after being sidelined since Round 3 with a knee injury. His comeback adds a familiar scoring option and depth for his squad just as the season enters its critical stretch.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!

The Games of week 15:

Panathinaikos vs EA7 Milano

Panathinaikos came back to OAKA carrying the emotional weight of the derby loss, and the idea was simple. Reset, reassert, move on. Milano arrived with a different agenda altogether. They were already up 1 0 in the season series and, despite missing Shavon Shields and Leandro Bolmaro, clearly believed this was a game they could control.

Giuseppe Poeta leaned into size right away, starting Ricci, Leday and Booker, while Ergin Ataman countered by putting Grant back in the starting five and tasking him with the Armoni Brooks assignment. Panathinaikos looked more versatile offensively than in recent outings, running cleaner sets and spreading responsibility. Milano, meanwhile, went hunting inside, especially after switches, trying to punish with Booker and Leday. It stayed tight, physical and messy in the right ways, with offensive rebounds everywhere. Seven of them in the quarter alone. Panathinaikos edged it 20 15, but nothing felt settled.

The second quarter was defined by momentum swings and whistles for time outs. Panathinaikos opened with a 5 0 run, Poeta stopped it. Milano answered with their own 5 0 burst in just 37 seconds, and now it was Ataman calling everyone over. This pattern repeated. Panathinaikos found mismatches in pick and roll, punished late rotations and briefly pushed the lead to double digits. Milano responded again, closing the half with another run to keep it at five. The game never breathed. It just jolted. Turnovers piled up, 17 combined in the half, and neither side ever fully grabbed control.

Milano came out of the locker room sharp and decisive. Seven unanswered points forced an early Ataman time out, and while an excellent ATO produced a Cedi Osman three, that shot represented three of the five Panathinaikos points over a six minute stretch. The Milano defense had shifted gears. More active, fewer mistakes, better discipline. The game tilted only when Ataman leaned into Yurtseven, whose impact as a roller sparked a 6 0 run and briefly flipped the lead again. Milano absorbed it. Lorenzo Brown took over the quarter, scoring eight and handing out four assists, and by the time the horn sounded the Italians were back in front 61 58.

The fourth quarter followed the same script, only louder. Milano opened with a 5 0 run fueled by defense and two Panathinaikos turnovers in the first minute. This is where experience matters, and Kostas Sloukas reminded everyone why. He authored a personal run, dragged the deficit down to three and forced Poeta into another huddle. Milano adjusted by leaning hard into Mannion and Nebo, a pairing that gave Panathinaikos real problems. Mannion made plays on both ends, including drawing two straight offensive fouls, while Nebo kept finishing.

Panathinaikos struggled badly in the half court. Turnovers, missed shots, no clean answers. Even the idea of isolating Ricci went nowhere, as he held up just fine. Then came the decisive stretch. Armoni Brooks hit back to back threes, the lead ballooned into double digits with just over two minutes left, and the air left the building. Sloukas found a lane for a layup out of the final time out, but Lorenzo Brown delivered the dagger, a three right in front of Ataman, effectively ending the game. The numbers told the story. Seven turnovers and five made field goals for Panathinaikos in the quarter. One turnover and six of twelve from deep for Milano. Final score 87 74, season sweep complete.

Juancho Hernangomez answered his critics the best way possible, leading Panathinaikos with 17 points and seven rebounds. Sloukas added a steady 13 and 10 assists. Kendrick Nunn had an off night, limited to 10 points with five turnovers. For Milano, Armoni Brooks was the engine again with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Lorenzo Brown chipped in 17 and five assists in what felt like a quiet revenge game, and Josh Nebo added 16 and seven.

Milano did not win this game with flash. They won it with control, adjustments and discipline, especially when it mattered most.

Crvena Zvezda vs Valencia

Belgrade delivered exactly what this matchup promised: fast, physical, and high-octane from the opening tip. Valencia arrived in full control of their identity: full-court pressure, relentless ball pressure, and a tempo that forced Crvena Zvezda’s guards into mistakes. Early on, Motiejunas provided a calming presence, scoring four quick points and bullying Neal Sako inside. But when Valencia started punishing the Serbians in pick-and-rolls, Obradovic went small, slotting Semi Ojeleye at the five and switching everything. Against a team like Valencia, that’s a dangerous experiment. Jean Montero went on a 5-0 personal run, the lead ballooned to ten, and a time-out barely slowed the onslaught. Zvezda closed the first quarter in the red, 34-20.

The second quarter gave a glimmer of hope for the home team. Zvezda scored the first four points, but Valencia’s intensity never wavered. Even as baskets fell for the Serbians, the visitors continued to press, force turnovers, and attack in transition. After the media time-out, Montero wreaked havoc again, and a 9-2 Valencia run pushed the lead to 17, forcing Obradovic into another time-out. Valencia ended the half in command at 54-37, capitalizing on five Zvezda turnovers in the quarter alone.

The third quarter started with Zvezda on a mission. They scored the first 13 points and held Valencia scoreless for over two minutes. Badio finally ended the drought from deep, sparking a 9-0 run that brought the lead back into double digits. Zvezda countered with a 6-0 burst of their own, largely thanks to Chima Moneke and Jordan Nwora, who combined for 23 of the team’s 27 third-quarter points. But Valencia landed the final punch, scoring the last nine points of the frame to keep the lead steady in double digits. Notably, Valencia committed as many turnovers in this quarter (4) as they had in the entire first half, a sign of the pressure Zvezda finally applied.

The fourth quarter began slow, with only three points scored in the first two minutes. But Valencia quickly regained rhythm, opening on a 9-3 run to extend the lead to 19 and force another Zvezda time-out. After that, the Red and White found some baskets, but Valencia’s in-sync offense controlled the pace, trading points efficiently and never letting the deficit shrink. The final score: 106-89 in favor of the visitors.

Crvena Zvezda’s 13 turnovers, eight of which led to Valencia steals and fast-break points, ultimately defined the game. Four Zvezda players scored in double digits, with Nwora leading the way at 22. Motiejunas, despite a strong start, played only five minutes. Valencia’s balance was stark: five players in double figures, with Jean Montero leading all scorers at 25 points and adding four steals, a perfect microcosm of why Valencia’s system thrives: pressure, pace, and unselfish, opportunistic offense.

This was a game where preparation met identity. Valencia executed theirs to near perfection; Zvezda struggled to adapt. In a league this tight, details like turnovers and pace can’t be ignored, and tonight they weren’t.

Fenerbahce vs Olympiacos

In a matchup that felt like a chess game at times, Fenerbahce used versatility, size, and intensity to grind down Olympiacos. Without Milutinov on the floor, Hall stepped up inside, scoring nine points in the first half, but the real story was Fenerbahce’s defensive approach. They switched everything, stayed just on the right side of the foul limit, and forced Olympiacos into uncomfortable positions. The Greek side struggled to find rhythm, particularly from deep, shooting just 11 percent in the first half, while Fener’s first three-pointer didn’t come until Melli hit a tough step-back that salvaged a possession and sent the Turkish arena into a frenzy.

Fenerbahçe’s offensive identity early in the game was less about the three-point line and more about creating high-quality opportunities through movement and spacing. THT led the charge, scoring in multiple ways and finishing the first half in double digits despite his team’s cold start from deep, going 0-for-13. Olympiacos’ second unit allowed Fenerbahçe to cut the deficit to just two possessions after trailing by almost double digits, highlighting the contrast in coaching philosophies. Coach Sarunas praised Olympiacos’ aggression and control, while Fenerbahçe’s coach emphasized the need to find pace to prevent stagnation against Olympiacos’ switches.

The third quarter was where Fener pulled away. They made six threes compared to Olympiacos’ one, exploiting defensive lapses and creating easier, rhythm-based shots. Olympiacos, meanwhile, became more isolation-heavy, a problem when their roster lacks creators like THT or Baldwin to consistently generate offense. By the end of the quarter, Fener had taken a slight lead heading into the fourth.

In the final ten minutes, Fenerbahçe pressed the gas. They attacked in transition after defensive stops, forcing Olympiacos to chase the game at a faster pace than they were prepared for. Brandon Boston made a difference, scoring, creating, and crashing the boards. To seal the game, Coach Sarunas ran an impressive set play from his playbook that led to an and-one on a Spanish-style pick-and-roll designed to engage the help-side defense. Boston’s energy and versatility turned what could have been a comfortable win into a statement about Fenerbahçe’s depth.

Baldwin orchestrated the offense like a seasoned veteran, finishing with seventeen points, eleven assists, and two steals. He has evolved into a two-way force, capable of carrying primary defensive assignments and creating efficiently on offense. Boston’s performance was equally eye-catching, though consistency remains the question mark. Sarunas’ touch as a coach also showed, subbing Boston out late to let the arena recognize his impact, a move that could pay dividends for the young player’s confidence.

Fenerbahce’s combination of defensive pressure, depth, and aggressive transition play was the defining factor. Olympiacos had to fight for every point, but the Turkish team’s size and rotation allowed them to maintain the intensity for forty minutes, a luxury few teams can match in Europe.

Monaco vs Valencia

This one had all the ingredients of a classic European battle. Monaco came in with four straight wins, Valencia with three, and both teams had rhythm, depth, and star power on the floor. From the opening tip, the game was a test of patience, pace, and execution.

Valencia pressed full court, switching aggressively on every pick and roll, with Darius Thompson glued to Okobo. Monaco, anticipating the pressure, tried to get back quickly after each basket, but early on the Spanish spacing overwhelmed them. Thompson scored seven of Valencia’s first nine points, mostly in transition, with one half-court three breaking the pattern. Monaco struggled with ball control and turnovers, and Valencia capitalized, racing out to an 11-0 run.

Spanoulis called a timeout, urging Monaco to push the pace, and the adjustments worked. Mirotic knocked down back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to six, and Monaco started to exploit pick-and-roll advantages, particularly through Hayes in the short roll. Valencia, meanwhile, shot poorly from deep early, only hitting three of nine in the first quarter.

The middle quarters turned messy. Both teams rushed shots, but Valencia’s turnovers piled up while Monaco took advantage with better defenders on the court and small-ball lineups that allowed them to control the tempo. Monaco built a double-digit lead, though Valencia never truly surrendered. They clawed back with size and intensity, trying to counter Monaco’s aggression, and at the end of the third quarter, Monaco still led, but Valencia’s resilience kept the scoreboard close enough to suggest a fight.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to Nemanja Nedović. Trailing by six, he went on a scoring clinic, hitting consecutive threes to push the lead to nine, then a layup to make it eleven, and another three immediately after. In a span of a few possessions, Nedović scored 11 straight points, all while Valencia’s hopes for a comeback withered. His 11-2 run gave Monaco a 15-point cushion and effectively sealed the game with over seven minutes still to play.

From there, the final minutes were just clock management, intense but settled. Valencia had fought and pressured, but the second quarter’s chaos and Monaco’s early intensity had done the damage. Nedović’s fourth-quarter explosion ensured the Monegasques left with the win, turning what was a competitive game into a decisive statement.

Valencia’s turnovers were the story of the night, especially in crunch moments, while Monaco’s ability to capitalize and control the pace turned the tide. It was a perfect example of how effort, adjustment, and star execution, in this case Nedović, can tip a tight game in EuroLeague.

 

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Andreas Obst reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous scorers in Europe. Bayern had been sliding, but Obst’s 37-point explosion versus Baskonia snapped them right out of it. Seven of eleven from deep, relentless movement, and the kind of scoring versatility that makes defenses chase shadows, this was the kind of game where Obst just reminds you he’s often too good for the EuroLeague.

Jean Montero gets an honorable mention for a performance equally electric in its context. The Dominican guard torched Crvena Zvezda for 25 points in only 20 minutes, missing a single shot inside the arc and hitting three of eight from deep. Timing was everything. He opened with a solo 5-0 run to put Valencia in double digits and then repeatedly stifled every run Crvena Zvezda tried to mount. Defensively, Montero was a certified bandit, picking pockets and snatching passes out of the air, finishing with four steals. In those 20 minutes, he controlled the rhythm on both ends of the floor.

And then there’s Nemanja Nedović, who reminded everyone of his T-Mac-like flare. Eleven straight points to extinguish Valencia’s hopes, finishing with 16 efficient points, three assists, and three steals. The scoring burst wasn’t just about numbers, it was about timing and intimidation, showing EuroLeague fans exactly how dangerous Nedović can be when he’s in that zone.

 

Standings Watch:

Crvena Zvezda’s last ten games read like a cautionary tale: three wins, seven losses, and a slide into dangerous territory. The Serbians are now perched on the final Play-In spot, tied with Milano, who for the moment are staring from the outside in. The big question is whether Zvezda can halt this skid or if they’ll continue sliding down the table. Every possession counts for the Red and Whites in the stretch run.

Below the playoff line, little has changed. The struggling teams remain mired at the bottom, and barring a sudden surge, their climb looks long and uncertain. Up top, the pecking order is holding: Hapoel sits at the summit, Valencia, Barça, and Monaco close behind, and with Hapoel having a game in hand versus Asvel on March 3, the top of the table could tighten even further. The middle and top of the EuroLeague are still moving steadily, while the fight to avoid the bottom looks like a marathon more than a sprint.

 

Week 16 Games to Watch:

EA7 Milano vs Crvena Zvezda

Two teams tied in the standings, but sitting on different sides of the Play-In line. That alone changes the stakes. Milano comes in with momentum, winners of their last two games including an impressive road performance against Panathinaikos. Crvena Zvezda, meanwhile, has won just three of their last ten and dropped the last two, so the pressure is palpable.

These teams are almost textbook contrasts. Milano leans on their offense, flowing through pick-and-rolls, spacing, and a mix of guards and wings who can create in a pinch. Zvezda is the other side of the spectrum: defense first, tough on the ball, willing to gamble and make every possession uncomfortable. The real intrigue will be whether Milano can crack that defense or if Zvezda’s stops dictate the rhythm.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

The Spanish classic lands in Madrid, with Barça sitting fourth in the table and Real in sixth. Every possession here is about pride, league positioning, and revenge from past clashes. Last EuroLeague matchup, Madrid won thanks in part to Lyles’ huge night. On the domestic front, Pascual’s Barcelona already found a win, which sets up a balance of power heading into this one.

Barça is still waiting for Clyburn’s return, and that absence could be decisive, especially against Madrid’s size and versatility. Expect a tight, chess-like game with adjustments on every possession. These aren’t teams content to run and gun; every mismatch will be probed, every rotation tested.

Fenerbahçe vs Valencia

After El Clásico, this is the matchup that could define the round: two top-four teams, one winner, one loser. Both play elite defense: top-five in the league, but the contrast in style couldn’t be sharper. Valencia thrives in transition, supersonic in pace and ball movement, while Fenerbahçe prefers to slow it down, grind possessions, and let their defense dictate the flow.

Coaching will be key here. Every adjustment, every matchup tweak, every small decision could swing the game. If Valencia can push the tempo against a team that wants to control the clock, they might force cracks. If Fener can control pace and impose their defensive will, Valencia’s speed advantage may never matter. This is the kind of game where small edges compound into a huge result.

 

What’s at Stake:

For Fenerbahçe, the Bonzie Colson injury is more than a bump in the road. The Notre Dame alum is out three to six weeks with a patellar tendon strain, and that absence limits Sarunas Jasikevicius’ rotation flexibility. Colson isn’t just a three who can punish smaller defenders, he’s a small-ball four who stretches the floor, sets screens, and gives the team a different dimension. Now Biberovic is the only player who can fill that role, and it’s a completely different profile. Fenerbahçe can survive, but the absence could cost them home-court advantage in the Playoffs, or in a worst-case scenario, tilt a tight series the wrong way.

Meanwhile, over in Athens, Ergin Ataman was being Ataman. He put his job on the line publicly: if Panathinaikos doesn’t win either the EuroLeague or the Greek League, he’s out. It’s classic Ataman, part bravado, part psychological edge, but it’s also a statement of faith in his roster. PAO has the budget, the talent, and the expectations, so the bar is set sky-high. The Greek League caveat? That’s just smart insurance. But make no mistake: he’s betting the big one on his team delivering when it matters most.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Monte Morris’ arrival in Europe was one of the more intriguing stories of the season, and he was just getting comfortable before running into bad luck. The American guard got injured against Bayern and faces up to four weeks on the sidelines, which is a huge blow for his team’s backcourt rhythm and offensive flow.

In other Greek news, Kostas Antetokounmpo has left Olympiacos, a move that, frankly, feels inevitable given his track record with Greek contenders and will join Aris, making his EuroCup debut. That’s a notable addition for Aris, giving them size, athleticism, and upside in a competition where every edge counts.

Finally, James Nunnally, a former Partizan player, is signing with AEK Athens for the remainder of the season. That’s another player with EuroLeague experience entering the Greek League, adding firepower and depth to a league that’s quickly becoming unmissable. Between these moves, the Greek domestic scene is shaping up to be a must-watch for anyone following European basketball.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!

The Games of week 14:

Barcelona vs Monaco

The final EuroLeague stop before the calendar flipped gave us Barcelona versus Monaco, a matchup loaded with creators, counters, and coaching nuance. It delivered, just not in the way Barcelona would have hoped.

Monaco looked at Barcelona’s starting five and immediately settled on a clear idea. Spam the pick and roll. Force Willy Hernangomez into space. Make him defend actions again and again. Barcelona, meanwhile, wanted the opposite, involving Willy early on the block to establish some interior rhythm. He scored once, and those two points were the team’s only points over the first four minutes. Monaco’s doubles on Kevin Punter isolations did their job, disrupting Barcelona’s timing, but the visitors did not exactly light up the scoreboard either. At the first media timeout, with 4:40 left in the quarter, the score sat at a very EuroLeague looking 7 to 5.

That is when the game tilted. Out of the timeout, Vassilis Spanoulis’ group rattled off a 6 to 0 run, forcing Xavi Pascual to stop things again. This time the momentum did not swing back. Kevarrius Hayes became a problem as a roller and on the offensive glass, and even though Dario Brizuela chipped in five late points, Barcelona limped to the end of the quarter down 22 to 13.

The second quarter followed a familiar script. Monaco’s defense kept pushing Barcelona deep into the shot clock, while on the other end Nikola Mirotic went to work, scoring seven points in under two minutes. For Barcelona, Brizuela again played the rescuer, scoring the first six points of the quarter just to keep the lights on. A brief 5 to 0 Barcelona run trimmed the deficit to ten, which Spanoulis immediately shut down with a timeout. Monaco answered with a quick 6 to 2 burst, flipped the timeout pressure back onto Pascual, and then kept extending the lead. A Mike James floater pushed the margin to 21, the largest of the night, before Barcelona squeezed in four late points to reach halftime down 47 to 30.

The numbers told a blunt story. Barcelona shot 3 of 14 from three in the first half, turned it over eight times, and recorded only five assists. Kevin Punter had two points. Monaco, meanwhile, had 12 assists against four turnovers, and Mirotic and Hayes combined for 18 points off the bench.

The third quarter teased the idea of a comeback. Brizuela stayed hot, scoring with variety and confidence, dragging Barcelona into its best stretch of the game. Then came the moment that froze everything. A controversial Mike James four point play sparked two technical fouls on Pascual, an ejection, and a six point swing with the clock not moving. Barcelona technically won the quarter 23 to 22, but the emotional air went out of the building. The gap stayed stubbornly at sixteen.

Early in the fourth, Barcelona tried a new look, sliding Parra to the three to hunt interior mismatches. It did not open the floor. Over five minutes passed with the quarter tied 6 to 6. After the media timeout, Barcelona finally surged, ripping off a 7 to 0 run and briefly hinting at drama. Hayes shut the door. An offensive rebound, a foul drawn immediately after, two free throws. The run stopped. The momentum vanished. The rest was clock management and resignation.

Barcelona finished the night 6 of 27 from three. Punter managed just two field goals and eight points. Brizuela was excellent, pouring in 25, with Miles Norris the only other player to reach double figures. Monaco did it together. Four players scored in double digits, and Hayes embodied the difference with 15 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.

On the last EuroLeague night of the year, Monaco looked organized, physical, and composed. Barcelona fought, but the math, the matchups, and the margins never really tilted back their way.

Hapoel vs Zalgiris

Hapoel versus Zalgiris felt like one of those games where the balance of control quietly but decisively shifted over forty minutes, even if the scoreboard stayed tight early.

Hapoel hit the floor sharper. Zalgiris needed time to adjust, picking up early foul trouble and coughing the ball up three times in the opening stretch. The home team’s defenders were flying around, and Zalgiris looked uncomfortable just trying to organize its offense. That early chaos turned into a solid cushion for Hapoel, a double digit lead forming late in the first quarter. The visitors stayed within striking distance largely thanks to Sylvain Francisco, whose ability to get to the line kept the deficit to seven after ten minutes. Moses Wright, though, was a non factor in the opening quarter, and without his interior presence Zalgiris lacked its usual physical anchor.

The second quarter brought cleaner solutions for the visitors. Zalgiris went hunting mismatches, most notably finding Ulanovas inside against Tyler Ennis, which produced two quality looks and trimmed the gap to three. Jonathan Motley responded by reminding everyone why he is such a matchup problem, scoring from everywhere on the floor, including two clean threes without a miss, pushing Hapoel back up by nine midway through the period. Then the texture of the game flipped. Hapoel stopped winning the rebounding battle, and Zalgiris punished them with four offensive rebounds in the quarter, turning those into easier second chance points inside. By halftime, the Israeli side’s early control had evaporated into a slim one point lead.

After the break, Zalgiris finally grabbed the wheel. Moses Wright drilled a three at the 24 second buzzer to give the Lithuanians their first lead of the night, a small moment that felt like a psychological shift. Maodo Lo followed with intent, scoring five straight points to push the margin to seven. From there, Zalgiris never really loosened its grip. Hapoel’s defense grew passive, Wright shook off his slow start, and suddenly the paint belonged to him. Offensive rebounds turned into put backs, penetrations turned into lobs, and a 10 to 0 run stretched the lead to eleven.

Elijah Bryant arrived late, scoring eight straight points in the final three minutes, but until then he had been largely quiet and not aggressively looking for his shot. Zalgiris stayed calm through it all, using time, valuing possessions, and avoiding mistakes. Even the emotional moments tilted their way, with coach Itoudis drawing a technical foul after erupting toward Blakeney for missing a defensive assignment and failing to press full court.

In the end, the difference was simple and decisive. Hapoel could not compete on the glass, and once Zalgiris settled into its switching defense, the home team struggled to generate clean looks. The Lithuanian ball handlers controlled the tempo, scored when they needed to, and methodically turned an uncomfortable start into a composed road win.

Panathinaikos vs Olympiacos

There are few ways to open a calendar year louder than Panathinaikos versus Olympiacos at OAKA, and this one wasted no time reminding everyone why this derby lives in its own category.

Ergin Ataman opened with a curveball, sliding Mitoglou into the starting five over Juancho, but the early script belonged entirely to Olympiacos. The Red and Whites came out sharp, decisive, and physical, ripping off a 5-0 start and immediately hunting Dorsey on the block against the smaller TJ Shorts. That matchup paid off in cash. Dorsey poured in eight early points and Olympiacos surged to a 20 5 advantage midway through the quarter. Panathinaikos had five points total at that stage, all from Faried, and Ataman had no choice but to burn a timeout.

The Greens steadied the damage, throwing different looks at Olympiacos including a 2-3 zone on baseline out of bounds situations after getting carved up by earlier sets. It slowed the bleeding but did not change the tone. Thirteen points in a quarter is simply not survivable at this level, especially when you go 0 for 6 from three and lose the rebounding battle that badly. Panathinaikos finished the quarter with only three defensive rebounds, while Olympiacos grabbed five offensive boards on the way to a 28-13 lead.

The second quarter flipped the game on its head. Panathinaikos raised its intensity, picking up full court after dead balls, and once the first three dropped, OAKA turned volcanic. The Greens fed off it, ripping off a 16-6 run as Olympiacos went cold. Bartzokas resisted the timeout, instead sending Vezenkov back into the fire. The former MVP answered with a massive corner three, but the momentum had already shifted. Kendrick Nunn took over the quarter, scoring 14 points and dragging Panathinaikos to a 30-15 period. The shooting gap told the story. Panathinaikos went 5 for 8 from deep, Olympiacos just 2 for 8. At halftime, it was all square.

The third quarter was messy. Turnovers, offensive fouls, rushed shots, the kind of chaos that often defines derbies when nerves start to creep in. Even in the mess, Vezenkov’s off ball movement stayed surgical, constantly stressing the Panathinaikos defense. Ataman tried different looks, including Mitoglou at the five, but Nunn continued to deliver through pick and roll and isolation. No one could land a real punch. Sixty one apiece heading into the fourth, everything still up for grabs.

Olympiacos struck first in the final quarter, scoring the first six points and nine of the first eleven to open a seven point gap after a huge defensive play from Monte Morris led to Fournier free throws. Panathinaikos answered again with a 7-0 run, refusing to let the game slip. Then Faried checked back in, and Olympiacos smelled blood. Milutinov went to work on the block, while Fournier and Dorsey pulled Faried into pick and roll actions, opening a nine point lead by relentlessly targeting him. Once again, Panathinaikos pushed back, trimming the gap to four and getting a break when Morris missed two free throws.

The break did not fully materialize. Panathinaikos failed to secure the defensive rebound, sent Fournier back to the line, and he split the pair. Nunn responded by drawing a foul on a three and calmly sinking all three free throws to make it a one possession game. Then Dorsey closed the door. He forced the switch onto Faried, drove baseline, slipped under the rim, and rose up for a cold blooded mid range jumper over the contest. Four point game, forty seconds left. Panathinaikos had no answer the rest of the way, and a lone Walkup free throw sealed an 87-82 Olympiacos win.

Nunn was brilliant again with 32 points, five rebounds, and six assists, but this derby tilted red. Dorsey and Vezenkov combined for 45 points, Milutinov chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds, and his plus minus of plus 19 told the deeper story. In a game of runs, adjustments, and emotional swings, Olympiacos executed just a little cleaner when it mattered most.

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Sometimes the performance of the week does not announce itself with fireworks or a box score that slaps you in the face. Sometimes it lives in the margins, in the connective tissue of a game, in the stuff that only really pops if you are watching the details. That was Kevarrius Hayes against Barcelona. He came off the bench and somehow left his fingerprints everywhere. The line reads 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, but that is just the receipt, not the story. Hayes was brutally efficient, feasting on Barcelona’s hedge coverage by punishing it in the short roll and even stepping into a midrange jumper when the defense gave it to him. Four of his five rebounds came on the offensive glass, and one of those effectively ended the game, snuffing out the last bit of momentum Barcelona was trying to build. Defensively he was locked in on every possession, protecting the rim, never missing a rotation, getting hands into passing lanes, and holding his own when switched onto guards by staying in front and funneling them exactly where the help was waiting. This was a game plan performance, the kind coaches love and teammates feel. Spanoulis should be delighted, and Hayes deserves his flowers.

At some point we probably need to stop treating Weiler Babb’s season like a quiet side note and start calling it what it is. He has been very good, even if the wins have not followed, and that part is not on him. He has embraced the jack of all trades role and taken a clear step forward compared to previous years. Against Crvena Zvezda, he poured in 17 points while still doing elite work on the other end, racking up five steals and six rebounds. The 28 PIR jumps off the page, especially considering it came in a big loss, and that almost makes it more telling. Babb is doing his job, and then some.

Chima Moneke did not lead his team in scoring against Efes, but this was still a performance that filled every corner of the stat sheet and mattered in the context of the moment. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a plus minus of 20, providing exactly the kind of all around impact his team needed to halt bad momentum and bounce back. It was physical, energetic, and efficient, the kind of night where the influence extends well beyond who took the most shots.

 

Standings Watch:

The top of the table just got a little messier, and that is usually where the fun starts. Hapoel slipped this week and now find themselves sharing the lead with a very familiar enemy in Valencia Basket, both sitting at 13 and 6. That pairing carries some real baggage. These two teams crossed paths in last year’s EuroCup semi finals, a series Hapoel decided with a road win in a tense Game 3 that spilled into ugly moments afterward and led to this season’s matchup being played behind closed doors, a decision that still feels baffling. Fast forward a few months and here they are, not just contenders but the two best teams in the EuroLeague by record. The question now is simple and brutal. Can they actually keep this level, week after week, with everyone circling their names on the schedule.

Right behind them lurks Fenerbahçe, and the defending champions look very much like themselves again. They sit at 12 and 6 with a game in hand, and the early season noise has been washed away by results. Nine wins in the last ten games will do that. After a poor start, they have steadied, tightened, and climbed right back into the top tier, exactly where you would expect them to be when things start to matter.

At the other end of the standings, there is congestion but not much optimism. Paris, Baskonia, Efes, Bayern, ASVEL and Partizan are all tied at 6 and 15, and while that is technically one big group, the math is not kind. Five wins separate them from the play in, and at this point it feels fair to say that none of these teams are about to do the impossible. Never say never, that is always true, but consistency has been missing for too long. Until one of them proves otherwise and strings together real basketball over multiple weeks, they are looking up at better teams who will fight with everything they have to keep that door shut.

 

Week 15 Games to Watch:

Fenerbahçe vs Olympiacos

We are technically in the second round, but this matchup feels brand new. Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos are finally seeing each other for the first time after the game in Piraeus was postponed, and the timing could not be better.

Both teams arrive in a very real groove. Fenerbahçe has dropped just one game in their last ten, quietly rebuilding the aura of a defending champion that knows how to win ugly and win late. Olympiacos counters with a three game winning streak of their own, capped by a derby win on the road that always adds a little extra fuel to the tank.

This is the classic contrast of styles you circle on the calendar. The best offense in the EuroLeague against the best defense. Olympiacos wants rhythm, flow, and execution. Fenerbahçe wants to squeeze the air out of possessions and force you to solve problems late in the clock. This one feels destined to be decided on the smallest details, one missed rotation, one extra offensive rebound, one possession that swings the balance.

Crvena Zvezda vs Valencia

This is the other game you should not skip. Crvena Zvezda is coming off a win last round, and that changes the temperature immediately. Confidence matters, and suddenly things get more interesting.

Expect pace, but maybe not points. Somewhat surprisingly, this could turn into a not so great scoring game, with both teams sitting in the top four in defensive rating. Valencia is likely to switch everything, putting pressure on Red Star’s ball handlers and daring them to beat a set defense.

For Crvena Zvezda, the answer cannot be isolation only. The ball has to move. If it sticks, Valencia will be comfortable all night. Both teams are elite on the glass, and that battle could decide everything. Extra possessions tend to matter even more when points are hard to come by.

Valencia vs Monaco

This may not be a historical rivalry, but purely in terms of basketball quality, it is impossible to look away. Valencia and Monaco play some of the most exciting basketball in Europe, even if they get there in very different ways.

Both teams are strong on both sides of the ball and, more importantly, are very clear about who they are. There is no confusion, no drifting. Every possession has intent. That alone makes this a must watch.

The chess match on the bench adds another layer. Pedro Martinez against Vassilis Spanoulis is the kind of coaching duel where every small decision matters, a timeout here, a substitution there, a coverage tweak that flips the game. This is the kind of matchup that can turn on one adjustment you do not notice until it is already too late.

 

What’s at Stake:

We all heard what Ergin Ataman said after the derby, and he did not mince words. The praise for Sasha Vezenkov was loud and deserved, but it came packaged with sharp criticism of his own power forwards, Juancho Hernangomez and Kostantinous Mitoglou. According to Ataman, Vezenkov showed what a real power forward looks like while Panathinaikos, in his words, played without one. That is the kind of quote that lingers.

On the surface, the box score seems to back him up. Juancho and Mitoglou combined for zero points. That number jumps off the page until you dig a little deeper. Each of them took just three shots. Among players who saw the floor, only Shorts and Kalaitzakis attempted fewer. Watching the game, it was clear that Panathinaikos never made a real effort to get either of them involved offensively. They struggled, yes, but it is hard to place the full weight of the outcome on players who were never put in a position to find rhythm.

The “like every derby” part of Ataman’s quote feels more like emotional punctuation than strict truth. Over the last five EuroLeague derbies, Juancho is averaging nine points, six rebounds and 14.5 efficiency while shooting efficiently from two, from three, and perfect at the line. Mitoglou is at 10.5 points, six rebounds and 13 efficiency with similarly solid shooting splits. These are not star numbers, but they are reliable production for players who often split minutes and are rarely the focal point of the offense.

That context matters. Ataman is clearly trying to light a fire, to provoke a response. Coaches do this all the time. The risk is that it works best when the criticism sits on a firm base of truth. Here, the line between motivation and misdirection is thin. Whether this quote galvanizes the locker room or quietly backfires is something only the next games will answer.

Meanwhile, Olympiacos moves forward with momentum and opportunity. After a huge win against their eternal rival, they now head to Istanbul with a chance to double down and silence critics by beating the defending champions. A win there would pull them level again and reshape the narrative in a hurry. The recent trends favor Fenerbahçe, nine wins in their last ten compared to six and four for Olympiacos, but derbies have a way of resetting confidence, and the Greek side is riding that emotional high.

The blueprint is already on tape. The Olympiacos frontcourt was decisive against Panathinaikos, exactly as Ataman pointed out, and it figures to be just as central against Fenerbahçe. On paper, Fener lacks size inside but compensates by being the best defensive team in the league on two point percentage. Something has to give. The tension between interior force and elite defensive discipline is where this game will likely be decided, and where all these words, critiques, and motivations will finally be tested on the floor.

 

Biggest News Around EuroLeague

Nando De Colo potentially returning to Fenerbahçe is one of those developments that feels bigger than a single transaction. It reads less like a nostalgic reunion and more like a calculated move that could unlock the season all over again. There is a familiar parallel here to last year’s Erick McCollum signing, a midseason adjustment that quietly recalibrated everything Fener wanted to be.

De Colo would not arrive as a savior in the dramatic sense, but as a stabilizer, and those are often more valuable. Veteran leadership matters in this league, especially deep into the season when games tilt on late possessions and emotional control. De Colo brings capable playmaking when things bog down, the ability to organize the offense without forcing it, and an efficient scoring boost that does not need volume to be effective. He knows when to pick his spots and when to simply make the right read.

There are, of course, limitations at this stage, particularly on the defensive end. But this is where roster context matters. Fenerbahçe is one of the best defensive teams in the league, and that allows you to be selective. You can hide certain deficiencies, protect matchups, and ask De Colo to give you what he still does at a high level rather than everything all at once.

 

This article was written by the European Hoops team: Tiago Cordeiro, João Caeiro and André Lemos. Make sure you give us a follow on Twitter at @EthosEuroleague!