Play-in Round 1 Recap:

Panathinaikos vs AS Monaco

OAKA was roaring, ready to carry Panathinaikos into the PlayOffs, but Monaco started better.

With Alpha Diallo on Kendrick Nunn, Monaco set the tone defensively. They forced Panathinaikos deep into the shot clock, including two late-clock attempts and a turnover in the first three possessions. That led to a 4-0 start in under two minutes and forced Ataman to stop the game and adjust.

TJ Shorts was the first off the bench and changed the game. His speed created problems immediately, getting to the line and scoring the first points for the Greens. That sparked a 7-0 run, capped by a Osman forced turnover and a three on the other end, giving Panathinaikos a 7-6 lead.

Monaco’s offense stalled. Panathinaikos dared Blossomgame and Theis to shoot from deep, slowing the movement and leading to turnovers. That fueled transition opportunities and a 14-2 run to close the quarter.

TJ Shorts was the catalyst, scoring 11 in the first quarter while pushing the pace and attacking both in transition and in the half court. Panathinaikos led 23-14 after one.

In the second quarter, Panathinaikos emphasized offensive rebounding, crashing the glass and turning those chances into points. Mike James kept Monaco afloat, hitting tough shots, but the offense struggled. Monaco leaned into isolation, with only James producing at a high level, finishing the half with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists, while no teammate had more than five points. As a team, they had four assists and eight turnovers in the half.

On the other end, Lessort controlled the paint, and the lead grew to 15 by halftime.

After the break, Monaco adjusted, using a Hi-Lo set with Theis as a passer, which became a consistent part of their offense with good results. Panathinaikos responded by using their bigs to seal inside and attack the paint, also with success.

Defense decided the third quarter. Monaco strung together stops and cut the deficit to nine entering the fourth.

Panathinaikos opened the fourth going small, with Juancho and Nigel Hayes-Davis in the frontcourt. Using Juancho as a screener, hitting or ghosting, they created driving lanes, and Kostas Sloukas capitalized. On the other end, they could not get stops, leading to a stretch of traded baskets.

The first run came around 3:20 remaining. Panathinaikos scored four straight, pushing the lead back to double digits and forcing a Monaco timeout.

Out of the timeout, Mike James kept attacking and making tough shots, but stops were still an issue. Ataman closed with three guards. It worked offensively but gave Monaco a target defensively, using Alpha Diallo on the block.

Kendrick Nunn had the final word. Despite a subpar game by his standards, he hit a three over the defender to push the lead to 12 and effectively end it. The final 1:25 only set the score at 87-79, sending Panathinaikos to the PlayOffs for a series against Valencia.

Offensive rebounding was a key difference. Panathinaikos had six more and turned them into 20 second-chance points compared to 11 for Monaco.

TJ Shorts led the way with 21 points, three rebounds, and two assists, shifting the game from the moment he entered. Rogkavoupolos added an efficient 11 off the bench, and Fareid finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

For Monaco, Mike James led with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Alpha Diallo was the only other player in double figures.

 

FC Barcelona vs Crvena Zvezda

A classic win-or-go-home clash in Catalunya between FC Barcelona and Crvena Zvezda.

The matchup between Kevin Punter and Jordan Nwora was a focus coming in, and it showed early. Codi Miller-McIntyre took the Punter assignment, while Punter matched up with Nwora. Crvena Zvezda went right at it, sending Nwora to the block to attack. Still, Barcelona started better, going on a 7-0 run after Nwora opened with free throws.

Crvena Zvezda struggled to score from open play, taking more than three minutes to hit their first field goal. Their 5-on-5 offense leaned too much on isolation. Barcelona, meanwhile, operated cleanly in the half court with strong ball and player movement. Will Clyburn took full advantage.

He went six of seven from three in the first quarter, leading Barcelona to a 29-21 edge.

The second quarter opened with both teams trading baskets before Willy Hernangomez made an impact. He scored six straight, pushing the lead to 11 and forcing a timeout. Adjustments from Crvena Zvezda made them more dangerous. Their guards attacked downhill and increased defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and cutting the deficit to seven before another timeout.

Barcelona responded with a 7-0 run to close the half, powered by five points in 42 seconds from Kevin Punter. They took a 14-point lead into halftime despite going 3 of 8 from the line.

After the break, Barcelona looked to establish Toku Shengelia on the block, opening the half on a 7-0 run. Jordan Nwora answered with a tough midrange shot after more than three minutes.

Barcelona’s offense continued to flow, punishing defensive breakdowns with ball movement and constant activity. Defensively, they forced turnovers and kept Crvena Zvezda in the half court, stretching the lead to 20.

Crvena Zvezda closed the third with the final eight points, cutting the deficit to 12 entering the fourth.

Barcelona opened the fourth with a clear plan, attacking from the block. Satoransky posted smaller guards, and empty-side pick-and-rolls with Clyburn created switches into post opportunities.

Crvena Zvezda responded with effort. Izundu crashed the offensive glass and converted for four points, cutting it to 10. They could not sustain momentum under double digits, as Jan Vesely answered each push.

Late in the game, Barcelona slowed the pace, extending possessions and putting the ball in Clyburn’s hands. He delivered, creating two assists, including one to Satoransky for three that pushed the lead to 12 and forced a timeout.

Crvena Zvezda went small out of the timeout and responded with a 5-0 run until Ojeley sent Kevin Punter to the line. A turnover from Codi Miller-McIntyre with 1:13 left ended their chances.

Barcelona closed it out 80-72 to keep their season alive, advancing to face Monaco in another do-or-die game.

Extra possessions made the difference. Barcelona had 15 offensive rebounds to 13 and committed 10 turnovers to Crvena Zvezda’s 14.

Kevin Punter and Will Clyburn led the way with a combined 44 points. For Crvena Zvezda, Codi Miller-McIntyre, Jordan Nwora, and Jared Butler reached double figures. Chima Moneke struggled, finishing with five points, all from the line, and a team-worst -16.

Play-in round 2 Preview:

AS Monaco vs FC Barcelona

The most decisive game of the season for both teams. A do-or-die game, with the winner advancing to the PlayOffs to face Olympiacos.

Monaco won both regular-season meetings between the teams.

Monaco’s guards are central here, and even more so against Barcelona given Barcelona’s bigs’ limitations defending the pick-and-roll. Mike James (17.5 PPG vs Barcelona) and Elie Okobo (14.0 PPG vs Barcelona) are expected to drive the offense, with pick-and-roll action as the main structure for most of the game. That could be a strong path for Monaco.

Barcelona will look to use their positional size to attack Monaco. Alpha Diallo is expected to take the Clyburn assignment, which sets up size advantages for Kevin Punter (vs Mike James) and Tomas Satoransky (vs Matthew Strazel). Expect Barcelona to try to exploit those matchups and play off them.

Their off-ball movement is another factor. Xavi Pascual has strong sets that could create problems.

Two statistical trends stand out:

• 3-Point Shooting: Barcelona has the edge in both attempts and percentage over the season. In the Play-In games, there was a clear gap: FCB 13/28 3FG vs CZV, ASM 7/25 vs PAO. Another cold shooting night could be costly for Monaco.
• Rebounding on Monaco’s Table: Monaco is 18th in DREB% (66.2%). Barcelona is not elite but is above average on the offensive glass, ranking 9th in OREB%. That played a big role in the win vs CZV.

Two teams with different identities and styles, but the same goal. Only one will reach the PlayOffs.

 

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 28:

Dubai vs Valencia

Arena Husejin Smajlovic Zenica, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the stage for the deciding game for Dubai’s postseason aspirations.

The game opened the way Dubai would want, slow-paced with limited transition opportunities. That changed when Pedro Martinez went to his rotation. The bench shifted the dynamic, speeding things up and finding transition scores. Dubai stayed within reach, and if not for the turnover gap, three for Dubai versus zero for Valencia, they might not have been trailing after one.

The second quarter started with Dubai looking to involve Petrusev on the block, and he delivered. There was no early separation. At the media timeout with 4:40 left, Valencia led 11-10. Then something clicked for Dubai. They closed the quarter on an 18-10 run, capitalizing on Valencia’s defensive lapses while tightening up defensively, forcing longer possessions. That gave them a 47-45 lead at the half.

Dubai opened the third with a Bertans pick-and-pop three, but the next nine points came from Valencia. The Taronja attacked the offensive glass, pushed the pace, and played at an elite defensive level, forcing five turnovers and controlling the quarter. For Dubai, only Musa and Kabengele produced, combining to score or assist on 16 of the team’s 20 points. Valencia entered the fourth with a double-digit lead, 79-67.

The fourth quarter started slowly in terms of scoring, but not fouls. Valencia reached the bonus with 8:06 remaining. Their first points came from the line, and those were their only points for more than four minutes. Dubai struggled as well, managing two Bertans threes and a free throw. That trimmed the lead to single digits but never seriously threatened. Valencia does not need much time to score, and Darius Thompson put up five points in quick fashion to push the lead back to 12.

Dubai had one more push, scoring five straight to get back within single digits entering the final two minutes. Again, Darius Thompson responded, hitting a three to extend the lead to 11 with 1:54 left. From there, Valencia closed it out, winning 95-85.

Musa with 21 points and Bertans with 17 led the hosts, but the lack of support limited Dubai’s chances. Valencia had three players in double figures: Darius Thompson, Jaime Pradilla, and Brancou Badio, who led all Valencia scorers with 20 points.

 

Zalgiris vs Paris BC

This was a must-win for Zalgiris, and they delivered, locking a playoff spot and avoiding the play-ins.

The game opened with intensity, as expected. Both backcourts traded buckets. Robinson hit back-to-back threes, while Francisco scored early and Nigel Williams-Goss handled playmaking. That rhythm held for nearly six minutes, with offenses in control.

Paris had a short stretch where they created separation. They were more aggressive going over screens, and after rebounds they pushed the pace. That gave them a six-point lead with three minutes left in the first. Another key factor was their three-point shooting, sitting at 86 percent at that point.

In the second quarter, both teams matched intensity. Zalgiris’ bigs showed mobility, switching every screen on Nadir Hify. Sleva and Tubelis were especially important in those matchups, using their mobility and on-ball defense to take away options in 5-on-5 situations.

On offense, Maodo Lo added another dimension. He attacked the rim and broke down the Paris defense. Zalgiris built a 13-point lead in the quarter, but Justin Robinson answered with a three to close the half, cutting it to eight.

This quarter proved decisive. Zalgiris created separation here, winning it 27-17 and building the gap that carried through the game.

Lo was key, especially in the first half, scoring and keeping Zalgiris steady.

The second half was more balanced. Paris, with no pressure, played freely and forced Zalgiris to second-guess their playoff push. A composed Maodo Lo helped stabilize things, and Francisco stepped up in crunch time. Paris ran out of options late, with Hifi well contained and only Robinson producing in key moments.

Moses Wright had a major impact throughout and was the MVP with a 43 PIR, finishing with 18 rebounds, three blocks, and 16 points. Lo also deserves mention as one of the most important players in the game.

 

Key Performances of the Past Week:

Moses Wright vs Paris BC

In the final round of the regular season, the biggest star came from Zalgiris, and it was their big man Moses Wright.

He looked like a man amongst boys on the way to an elite stat line. He finished with 16 points, missing only one field goal, and grabbed 18 rebounds. Seven of those came on the offensive glass, more than the entire Paris team combined. He added three steals and three blocks, and his impact showed in the plus-minus, a +16 in 27:23 on the floor.

It went beyond the box score. His defensive activity stood out, and his screening made a real difference. He consistently created driving lanes for guards and opened up rolling opportunities for himself by putting his body on the line. On top of that, he delivered highlight plays, showed a shooting touch, and worked effectively with his back to the basket.

In a game with high stakes for Zalgiris, Wright’s motor and versatility set the tone and guided them to the win.

 

Jaron Blossomgame vs Hapoel

Blossomgame delivered a performance that demands recognition. The Monaco forward put up 30 points, shooting 8/9 from two and 4/9 from three. He did not fill the box score in other areas, but a 30-point outing from a player known for defense stands out. He had strong support, with Mike James matching his PIR while adding 20 points and seven assists.

Standings Watch:

The regular season is over, and with it comes the stage of final decisions: the post-season.

Four teams are still battling for Playoff spots. Panathinaikos (7th) and Monaco (8th) have two chances to win one game and keep their season alive. FC Barcelona (9th) and Crvena Zvezda (10th) are in a different position, needing to win both games to reach the Playoffs, where any slip-up ends the season.

Six teams are already locked into the Playoffs, and two matchups are set as preparation begins. Real Madrid, finishing third, will have home-court advantage against Hapoel. In the 4th vs 5th matchup, Fenerbahçe holds home-court advantage but faces a Zalgiris team that won both regular-season meetings. Two series that stand out immediately.

At the top, Olympiacos (1st) and Valencia (2nd), the surprise team of the season, are waiting for Play-In results to learn their opponents. Valencia will face the winner of Panathinaikos vs Monaco. Olympiacos can draw any of the four Play-In teams.

The regular-season standings are now locked, and there were clear surprises. Efes, projected as a 6th-place team in preseason rankings, finished 19th after struggling with injuries and an inability to play at a higher tempo or defend consistently.

The biggest positive swing came from Zalgiris. They were projected 14th, with Playoff aspirations but outside the Play-In picture. Valencia, meanwhile, were projected 15th with only Play-In hopes.

 

Games to Watch Week 29:

Panathinaikos vs AS Monaco

OAKA and the Panathinaikos fans will host the first Play-In game. It is a spot Panathinaikos did not expect to be in, but the same applies to AS Monaco. Both teams were in the Final 4 last year.

The two sides are similar in build and playstyle. Crafty, talented guards run the offense on both ends. For Panathinaikos, it is Nunn, Shorts, and Sloukas. For Monaco, it is Okobo, Strazel, and Mike James.

Both backcourts are supported by versatile wings. Cedis Osman for the hosts, Alpha Diallo for the visitors.

The frontcourt may decide it. Nigel Hayes-Davis is an MVP-level player who brings secondary scoring and a different offensive dimension for Panathinaikos. Jared Blossomgame is a strong player and will make NHD’s job difficult defensively, but he does not offer the same offensive impact.

At center, Lessort’s physicality can be a problem for Monaco. But Daniel Theis and Kevarius Hayes are strong defenders who anchor a Monaco defense that has performed at a higher level than their opponent’s. That defense will need to show up again.

Home court adds another layer, especially in front of one of the loudest atmospheres in EuroLeague. Monaco’s lack of depth, only eight available players in the last game, could also tilt things slightly toward Panathinaikos.

Still, Monaco will not go down easily. That is why this is a can’t miss.

 

FC Barcelona vs Crvena Zvezda

The most important game of the season for both teams. A win keeps the season alive. A defeat ends it.

Barcelona had the upper hand in the regular season, winning both meetings. But in a single game, everything can happen.

These teams bring different styles.

Crvena Zvezda likes to play fast, ranking 5th in pace. It starts with their defense, applying pressure on the ball and speeding opponents up. While they do not force many turnovers, they are strong on the defensive glass, ranking 2nd in DREB%, and they look to push in transition. They are less comfortable in the half-court, making it a priority for Barcelona to force that style.

Barcelona prefers a slower game, ranking 19th in pace. They only run when clear advantages are there. Otherwise, they are comfortable in the half-court, running their sets.

The matchup between Kevin Punter and Jordan Nwora could be decisive. They are the leading scorers and offensive engines for each team.

Another key factor is Crvena Zvezda’s ball security. They are the 2nd worst team in TO% and 1st in Live Ball TO%. Barcelona is 1st in forcing Live Ball TOs.

How each team handles the pressure of this game is the central question, and the reason to tune in.

What’s at Stake:

Play-in and playoffs are here, and playing at home, Coach Ataman faces a difficult task. Monaco has been playing better, and Mike James is back. The pressure is on the Greek side.

Monaco has been shooting lights-out from three over the past games, and playing with less pressure could be an advantage for the Monegasques.

 

Biggest News around EuroLeaguE:

Sasha Vezenkov won the Alphonso Ford Award for top scorer of the campaign, the only award based purely on statistics. He also became the 4th player to win this award multiple times.

The Bulgarian forward averaged 19.4 PPG, edging Kendrick Nunn by 0.4 PPG and Nadir Hifi by 0.5 PPG. Hifi led the race for most of the season, which underscores the level of scoring across the EuroLeague.

The contrast in how these players score stands out. Kendrick Nunn and Nadir Hifi generate most of their offense on the ball, in pick-and-roll or isolation situations. Vezenkov scores in a different way. Most of his baskets come from elite movement, running off screens or setting screens before rolling or popping.

It reinforces the idea that scoring comes in different shapes and sizes, and that basketball IQ and off-ball movement can be just as efficient as a deep on-ball bag.

 

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!