Three weeks in, and the EuroLeague already feels like it’s operating at playoff temperature. The narratives are forming fast, Dubai introducing itself to the continent like a houseguest who immediately redecorates the living room, Barcelona trying to remember what rhythm feels like, and Real Madrid reminding everyone why depth is a luxury few can match. It’s early, sure, but the trends are starting to crystallize: who’s organized, who’s improvising, and who’s already looking for the panic button. This isn’t just week-to-week basketball; it’s a continent-wide pressure test, one possession at a time.

Week 3 gave us everything that makes this league addictive: tactical feints, unexpected heroes, and arenas vibrating with storylines. Dubai vs. Barça wasn’t just a novelty, it was a declaration that the new kid on the block came to stay. Valencia and Monaco danced between chaos and control, while Madrid and Partizan wrote another chapter in their beautifully spiteful rivalry. Throw in Sloukas’ masterclass in point guard purity, Osman’s statement night, and the mounting tension in Istanbul, and you’ve got a EuroLeague week that demanded your full attention. Buckle up, because this season’s rhythm is already starting to sound like a drumline.

 

The Games of week 3:

Dubai vs Barcelona

Welcome to the Coca-Cola Arena, a new frontier for the EuroLeague and the stage for one of Week 3’s most intriguing duels. Dubai and Barcelona, both riding momentum from recent wins, squared off in a matchup that felt less like a novelty and more like a statement: Dubai is here to compete.

From the opening tip, the hosts had a plan and executed it with precision. They opened with an inverted pick-and-roll for Kabengele, the big man handling the ball like a guard, a wrinkle that immediately popped. A 6-0 run followed, capped by a gorgeous Hi-Lo connection between Kabengele and Petrusev. Barcelona tried to respond through Shengelia in the post, but that decision turned sour quickly. The Georgian forced looks, calling his own number on four of the team’s first seven field goals, hitting just one. It summed up Barça’s early rhythm, stagnant, uncomfortable, and searching. With 4:25 left in the first, Penarroya burned a timeout already staring at an 18–5 hole. The mini-burst that followed (6–2) barely moved the needle, and Dubai closed the quarter up 24–15. Their defense was sharp, physical, and organized; Barcelona shot just 6-of-19. Petrusev and Kabengele combined for 13 and owned the interior.

The second quarter shifted gears completely, slower, more bruising, and oddly tense. Dubai’s offense vanished for stretches, particularly when Bacon and Wright IV weren’t on the floor. Barcelona chipped away methodically, piecing together a 9–2 run to tie the game’s tempo to their liking. Joel Parra then flipped the script entirely, back-to-back wing threes gave the Catalans a four-point lead before Dubai finally hit their first three-pointer of the night. At halftime, Barcelona had clawed ahead 34–33, largely because they held Dubai to just nine points in the quarter.

But whatever calm Barça found evaporated after halftime. Dubai came out targeting Willy Hernangómez relentlessly, every trip down, he was the pressure point, either in the post or defending the pick-and-roll. To his credit, he held his ground decently. On the other end, Clyburn, scoreless in the first half, came alive, scoring seven quick points (though he left four at the line). Yet for every surge, Petrusev had an answer. The Serbian matched Clyburn’s seven and kept Dubai steady before Vesely momentarily swung momentum Barcelona’s way with a 9–2 run fueled by Empty Side pick-and-rolls. But Dubai didn’t blink. Another 6–0 spurt, Bacon, Petrusev again and suddenly the hosts led 58–56 heading into the fourth.

Then came the knockout sequence. Davis Bertans lit up the start of the fourth with eight straight points, followed by Prepelic finally joining the party with a three-pointer to push the lead to six. Penarroya’s timeout didn’t help; Barcelona’s offense sputtered, coughing up turnovers and bricking open looks. The adjustment came late, Toko at the five, which briefly revived them. Shengelia broke the drought, scored an and-one, and trimmed what had been a 10-point deficit down to six. But with 1:40 left, Golemac’s timeout iced Barcelona’s rhythm. A quick four points restored a double-digit lead.

Even then, chaos had one last cameo. Bertans’ unsportsmanlike foul opened a door, Parra split the free throws, Brizuela scored, Prepelic missed both from the stripe, and suddenly “Basque Mamba” struck again from deep to make it a one-possession game. But Prepelic redeemed himself on the next trip, splitting at the line and sealing the 83–78 win.

Dubai finished with five players in double digits, but none shone brighter than Filip Petrusev. The Serbian was the fulcrum, 23 points, eight rebounds, and composure that belied the moment. His fingerprints were everywhere.

Barcelona, meanwhile, saw isolated resistance from Shengelia and Brizuela, but not enough cavalry. Punter was invisible (just two points), and Clyburn’s brief third-quarter burst never carried over. Against a fired-up Dubai side defending their new home floor, it wasn’t enough.

 

Valencia vs Monaco

Valencia came out young, small and short on creation, and Monaco smelled blood right away. The trio of Theis, Blossomgame and Diallo started hunting mismatches like sharks circling a smaller fish, and it worked. They carved up Valencia inside, forced the defense to collapse, and once the paint was clogged, the outside opened up. Strazzel took advantage, drilling back-to-back threes to stretch the early lead.

Valencia’s offense, meanwhile, looked completely out of sync. Monaco pressed them full-court, choking their spacing, and at the 6:20 mark, the home side had managed just four points. Something had to change, and it did, Darrius Thompson, Brancou Badio, and Sako checked in, injecting rim pressure, athleticism, and a spark of creation. Suddenly, Valencia was alive. Josep Puerto hit two threes in a row, the energy picked up, the defense tightened, and the crowd got into it. The “run and gun” Valencia started to look like the one that frustrates veteran teams with tempo and intensity.

But every run has a counterpunch, and Monaco’s came hard an 11–0 burst that reasserted control. Mirotic was at the heart of it, stretching the floor and giving Monaco’s offense a different dimension. Okobo, often erratic, was steady and precise as the primary ball-handler, while Kevarrius Hayes anchored the rim protection. Then came the dagger stretch: Mirotic and Nedovic went on a mini-tear as Valencia went scoreless, and the gap ballooned to 20. Monaco’s offense was layered, smart, and balanced, efficient from two, effective from deep.

Valencia, to their credit, refused to fold. They kept running, kept firing, and the threes started falling again. The lead shrank to just six at one point, and the pace favored them. But inexperience is a cruel teacher. The first few minutes of the fourth quarter turned into a masterclass in what not to do: defenders ducking under Nedovic screens and giving him open looks, Pradilla leading a fast break and turning it over instead of handing the ball to a guard, and silly fouls that piled up fast. DeLarrea’s fifth foul capped it all off.

By the end, Monaco’s maturity and composure carried them through. Valencia finished with 14 turnovers, far too many in a game where the margins were slim. Mike James didn’t have his shot, but he didn’t need it; eight assists and control of the tempo were enough to tilt things Monaco’s way.

 

Real Madrid vs Partizan

This one wasn’t just another EuroLeague matchup, it was a continuation of one of basketball’s most intense rivalries. And from the opening tip, Real Madrid made their intentions clear: they were going to bully Partizan inside. Gabriel Deck and Walter Tavares set the tone early, punishing mismatches and forcing the Grobari to hedge hard in pick-and-rolls just to survive. But even that adjustment came with a cost. Madrid exploited every rotation, built a 13–5 lead midway through the quarter, and completely dominated the glass, 13 rebounds to Partizan’s 4. By the end of one, Real had gone 8-for-9 on twos and led 24–12, pure frontcourt destruction.

Partizan tried to fight back through scheme and grit. A diagonal cross screen freed Bonga for an easy layup, and they began hunting Bruno Fernando’s defensive weak spots, but it wasn’t enough to slow Madrid’s rhythm. The second quarter turned into a clinic. Trey Lyles abused switches for eight straight points, the ball zipped around beautifully, and Theo Maledon’s on-ball creation solved every defensive puzzle Partizan threw their way. Los blancos looked synchronized, defense rotating perfectly, offense flowing like clockwork. Partizan, by contrast, fell into isolation habits, shooting 8-for-18 from two and 3-for-11 from deep. The halftime numbers told the story: Madrid up 52–39, the bench contributing 27 points, and rebounding a landslide at 22–11.

Partizan made a smart halftime adjustment, rolling out Osetkowski to drag Tavares away from the paint, a strategy that worked offensively but didn’t fix the defensive bleeding. Lyles again opened the half on fire, and the third quarter turned into a trade-off of baskets with no real shift in momentum. Both teams scored 23 in the frame, but the damage was already done; Real carried their 19-point cushion into the fourth.

Marinkovic tried to breathe life into Partizan with five straight points to start the final quarter. Then came an 8–0 Grobari burst that cut the lead to 11 and forced Scariolo to call timeout as the gap fell into single digits. Suddenly, Partizan had rhythm, Washington hit a three, the deficit was four, and the tension was back in WiZink Center. But Real, as they so often do, steadied the ship. They closed the game with composure, made enough stops, and held off a desperate 6-of-9 three-point shooting spree from Partizan’s final push. The comeback came too late.

Rebounding was the throughline, Real finished with 12 more boards, owning both ends. Tavares led the charge with 19 points and 8 rebounds, backed by four other players in double figures, a testament to Madrid’s depth.

For Partizan, Jabari Parker’s 23 points and Dylan Osetkowski’s 11 and 6 were bright spots, especially the latter’s ability to expose Tavares in space. But in the end, it was Madrid’s control, poise, and sheer size that carried the day, a reminder that against this Real team, you don’t get to make mistakes twice.

 

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Kostas Sloukas vs Anadolu Efes

This week’s flowers go straight to Kostas Sloukas. The veteran point guard didn’t just run an offense, he orchestrated it. In Panathinaikos’ win over Anadolu Efes, Sloukas posted a modest 7 points but handed out 12 assists with zero turnovers, a pure point guard masterclass, the kind we see less and less in today’s EuroLeague.

The tone was set immediately. On the very first possession, Panathinaikos ran a Ram Screen into a Spain Pick-and-Roll, and Sloukas went to work, dragging Papagiannis with the dribble, manipulating the tag defender with nothing but his eyes, and delivering a perfect pass to Yurtseven for what should’ve been an easy layup. The shot missed, but the message was clear: the maestro was in control.

From there, it was vintage Sloukas. Every read, every pass, every pocket window was timed with surgical precision. He manipulated help defenders like chess pieces, dragged bigs into no-man’s land, and made the game look effortless, as if he were directing traffic with a glance. The passes were crisp, the rhythm constant, the execution flawless.

He didn’t just play the game; he owned it. In an era where athleticism and shot volume often drown out subtlety, Sloukas reminded everyone that basketball IQ still reigns supreme. Speed fades, hops disappear, but feel, timing, and control? That’s forever.

Cedi Osman vs Anadolu Efes

Cedi Osman deserves his flowers for Round 5 and fittingly, he earned them at home. Against Efes, the Turkish forward delivered a statement performance: 29 points, 6-of-10 from deep, 5 rebounds, and just one turnover. It was a showcase of confidence and poise, the kind of game that carries echoes of his EuroBasket form.

Coach Ataman must have smiled quietly seeing one of his most important players light up the floor like that, efficient, composed, and in full command. Osman’s blend of energy and shot-making has been the spark Madrid needed early in the season, and this night in Turkey felt like both a personal and symbolic win, a reminder that he’s ready to be a star, not just a role.

 

Standings Watch:

We’ve got a duo sitting atop the EuroLeague mountain, and it couldn’t be a more fascinating pair. On one side, Panathinaikos, an historical titan of European basketball, carrying decades of tradition, banners, and expectations. On the other, Hapoel, the brash newcomer trying to carve its name among the elites sooner rather than later.

Both sit at 4–1, and both got here in a similar way, by simply scoring more than everyone else. That’s not a simplification; that’s their identity. Just score more. Run, flow, attack, and overwhelm. Both are in the top three in Offensive Rating, and every night feels like a test of who can keep pace. It’s a pure, joyful brand of basketball and as long as that offense holds, there’s no reason to think the wins won’t keep coming.

At the other end of the table, the temperature’s rising fast in Istanbul. Both Turkish powerhouses are carrying the weight of expectation, and neither is meeting it. Anadolu Efes sits at 16th, Fenerbahce at 14th, two spots that look wildly out of place for clubs built to contend. Efes already owns a solid win against Olympiacos, but that victory feels more like a flicker than a turning point. Fener, on the other hand, hasn’t yet faced the EuroLeague’s true heavyweights, and their two wins came against softer competition.

The context makes it worse. Both teams invested heavily, Fener even more so and both expected results by now. Instead, there’s confusion, inconsistency, and that familiar sense of unease. For Fenerbahce, the issue is déjà vu: a lack of a true guard to organize, calm, and guide them through the flow of a game. It’s a problem they faced last season before McCollum arrived, and one that’s starting to define them again.

The standings may be early-season snapshots, but they already tell stories, of ascents and anxieties, chemistry found and chemistry still missing. Panathinaikos and Hapoel are dancing with the rhythm of their offense; Efes and Fener are searching for one.

 

Week 4 Games to Watch:

Barcelona vs Zalgiris

Both teams come into this one with mirrored records at 3–2, but vastly different vibes. The last double week wasn’t kind to Zalgiris, who stumbled after a flawless 3–0 start. Barcelona, meanwhile, mixed dominance and frustration: a blowout win over Maccabi, followed by a tight loss to Dubai under the lights of the UAE.

This matchup has all the ingredients for basketball junkies and highlight-chasers alike, a tactical battle drenched in talent and rhythm. Expect scoring, creativity, and a chess match that will have both benches working overtime. A high-scoring affair, yes, but more than that: a statement game for whoever wants to prove they belong in the top tier. Must-watch TV, no question.

Anadolu Efes vs Fenerbahçe

The Istanbul Derby. Say it slowly, you can almost feel the electricity. Two contenders, two giants, one city, and a rivalry that means more than just wins and losses.

Both squads enter at 2–3, both split their games last week, and both are searching for identity. Fenerbahçe finally broke their losing streak at home versus Bayern, but they’re still nowhere near the form that made them champions a year ago. Anadolu Efes, likewise, is figuring out how to turn individual flashes into sustained consistency.

But here’s the thing: in a game like this, form doesn’t matter. Not when pride, noise, and bragging rights are on the line. This isn’t just another EuroLeague matchup, it’s Istanbul’s heartbeat.

Hapoel vs Monaco

If we take the Turkish derby out of the equation, this might just be the game of the round. Both teams sit near the top of the standings, 2nd and 3rd and both feature backcourts that can light up the scoreboard in a blink.

Hapoel plays fast, confident, and loves the three, 41% from deep, third-best in the league. Monaco, on the other hand, thrives in control and discipline, boasting the third-best defense and holding opponents to just 33% from three. Something’s got to give.

Expect Monaco to slow the pace, tighten the screws, and test Hapoel’s patience. The battle of styles will extend to the frontcourt too: Monaco’s athletic power forwards and wings could be decisive against Hapoel’s slower-footed fours, and even Daniel Theis might find favorable matchups inside against Hapoel’s lengthier centers.

This one’s not just about who wins, it’s about who bends and who breaks.

 

What’s at Stake:

Baskonia’s Nightmare Start

Baskonia’s start has been historical, but for all the wrong reasons. The Basque club just endured their worst-ever opening to a EuroLeague season (0–5), and things could still get uglier. The injury bug didn’t just knock, it moved in.

Rodions Kurucs suffered a relapse of his plantar fascia injury and is now day-to-day, Markus Howard, who’s been a shadow of himself, is out with a finger problem, and Trent Forrest, one of the few bright spots in this rough stretch, will miss several weeks with a hamstring injury.

To plug the backcourt holes, Kobi Simmons has arrived, bringing his G-League pedigree and scoring punch, but the challenge ahead is enormous. Baskonia’s next stop? A red-hot Crvena Zvezda squad that smells blood. The task is simple to say and brutal to execute: avoid extending this nightmare start and find any kind of spark before the season slips away completely.

Zalgiris and the Fall to Earth

This segment belongs to Zalgiris, because what many feared has already happened. The inconsistency that lurked behind their early-season success finally showed up. After a 3–0 start, the Lithuanian side has now dropped three straight, including two in EuroLeague play and another domestic stumble against EuroCup team BC Lietkabelis Panevėžys.

What’s surprising is how it happened. Their defense, the very foundation of their early wins, has cracked. Despite still ranking as the 4th-best defense in the EuroLeague, they’ve been leaking points at a worrying rate, allowing an average of 88 per game over this skid. That’s a sharp contrast from the disciplined unit they were before.

Offensively, they’re still holding up; role players are stepping up, and the scoring balance remains steady. But their coverage on Milano’s pick-and-roll game exposed weaknesses that can’t be ignored. For Zalgiris, this isn’t a crisis yet, but it’s a clear warning shot: defense has to travel, or this promising start will fade fast.

 

EuroLeague Headlines:

Nate Sestina Joins EA7 Milano

Nate Sestina is officially joining EA7 Milano and while on paper it’s a solid move, there are a few reasons to be cautious.

It’s a good signing, Sestina brings shooting, energy and smart off-ball movement, but the fit raises questions. Milano’s wing rotation is already stacked, and they’re shooting 40% from three as a team, which means the exact things Sestina provides aren’t exactly in short supply right now.

This could, however, be a hint at something bigger. With Vlatko Čančar on his way out, the move makes much more sense. In that case, Milano secures a reliable shooter and floor spacer, and Sestina lands in a high-level environment where his skill set still has room to shine, a win-win for both sides.

 

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