Round 14 of the EuroCup saw Hapoel Tel Aviv BC score 18 points with the shot clock under 4 seconds while allowing just 4 during its 21-point win over Trento.

Stats review: Late-clock execution

Round 14 of the BKT EuroCup saw [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) gain some ground in the standings with only four rounds remaining in the 2024-25 regular season. Putting together a stellar shooting effort in a win over [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/), the club displayed it offensive prowess by scoring steadily from the perimeter. Their execution was a factor in the final 21-point margin as well, as they scored 18 points with the shot clock under 4 seconds while allowing just 4.

Synergy defines short-clock opportunities as any possession occurring with 4 seconds or less on the shot or game clock. Those possessions make up right around 18% of all EuroCup plays, with teams typically falling with 12% and 24% depending on how quickly they get the ball up the floor or choose to use up the shot or game clock.

Historically, there is dramatically less variance in the frequency teams operate late in the clock as there is in the efficiency they score with when they do, and this season is no exception. On average, teams are scoring 0.82 points per short clock possession – well behind the 0.95 average for half-court possessions. With six teams scoring under 0.80 points per late-clock possession and several well below that mark, the challenges of making something out of nothing under time pressure is particularly real for a few teams this season. 

Perhaps no team in recent history has benefited as much from their late clock execution as Hapoel. As the table above suggests, they are not just good under time pressure, they’re spectacular. Their 0.99 points per possession scored with the shot clock under 4 seconds would rank fourth in half-court efficiency this season and is a big reason why Hapoel leads the EuroCup in overall efficiency heading into the final stretch of the season. Though the club does not grind the clock often, their shooting wavers little when they do.  With only one player ranked in the top 45 in individual late-clock scoring, their considerable success is the result of a true team effort.

[Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius/wol/) edges [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/) for second spot based largely on their shot selection. They have made late-clock three-point attempts at a serviceable 32% clip and have leaned into their guards' ability to make shots from deep with the clock winding down – Wolves and Hapoel are the only two teams that have attempted more three-pointers than two-pointers in short shot-clock situations this season.

The top individual short-clock scorer this season is [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/)'s [Vassilis Toliopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/vassilis-toliopoulos/004292/), who is averaging 3.8 points per game in these situations. Aris is one of several teams that has looked to grind the clock regularly this season, with [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) and [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) leading the way by playing deep into the clock almost 25% of the time. 

Bahcesehir has also been the best defensive unit in late-clock situations, allowing just 0.64 points per possession. [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) and Gran Canaria fall a bit off that pace but are still far better than average. No team in the EuroCup has forced late-clock possessions at an especially impressive rate, but Trento sits just ahead of a large pack of teams.

It will be interesting to see how the outlier level success of both Bahcesehir and Hapoel stands up to the rest of the season.

Some teams are really standing out as the shot clock winds down

Tyler Ennis is thriving in a big role for Reyer Venezia, which has three Canadians among its key players during the 2024-25 season.

Tyler Ennis enjoying playing with fellow Canadian and 'best GM in Europe' Wiltjer 

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) kind of feels like Team Canada among the BKT EuroCup teams thanks to a trio of international stars from the North American country. And [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) is definitely enjoying playing alongside his compatriots [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) and [Kyle Wiltjer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-wiltjer/008052/) – the latter being one of his closest friends in the game. 

Ennis is spending his second season in the EuroCup after playing four games during the 2021-22 season with Turk Telekom Ankara, a campaign during which he was coming back from a major injury and eventually left the team. Wiltjer was playing with Ennis in the Turkish capital as well during the 2020-21 campaign. 

Ennis actually called that 2020-21 season his favorite memory with Wiltjer, who is two years older than him. 

“It was during COVID and that team spent a lot of time together off the court. We all just wanted to win and were willing to sacrifice individual stats. Again, we had amazing chemistry and trust with each other and with that team. If I don’t get injured, I think we win one or two trophies that year,” says Ennis, who tore his Achilles in November 2020 and missed the remainder of the season with the Turkish team. 

“We just have a chemistry. We are close friends off the court, which also helps. We hold each other accountable, which is necessary. Scoring is easy for him and I sometimes just have to get him the ball in his spots. But we think in the same way and have had success in the pick and roll because there isn’t much teams can do to stop it. He makes my job easier. He trusts I’m going to get him open shots,” Ennis says about playing with Wiltjer.

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DENrmbbsmoS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DENrmbbsmoS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DENrmbbsmoS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tyler Ennis (@1tylerennis)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

The two also played in the NBA together, spending the 2016-17 season united on the court with the Houston Rockets. That made Ennis’s decision to come to Venice that much easier.

“It always helps joining a team with someone you are close friends with. He never put pressure on me.”

Ennis joked that Wiltjer is nicknamed the “best GM in Europe”.

“He was behind getting myself, Sam Dekker, Nick Johnson on Turk Telekom with him a few years ago,” Ennis says. “Kyle is such a talented player and we have always had a great chemistry playing together from Houston Rockets to Telekom and now in Venice.” 

This time around, Ennis is playing with a third Canadian in the big man Kabengele.

"This is my first time playing with Mfiondu. We are both from Toronto and I watched his career from college," Ennis notes. "I knew that we would play well together. He’s having a monster season and showing how good he is. I think after this year, he deserves to get a chance to show he belongs back in the NBA."

The best plays of Umana Reyer Venice guard Tyler Ennis through the first 14 rounds of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

Tyler Ennis's best plays so far this season

Reyer is Ennis’s second club in Italy after playing parts of five seasons in Turkiye for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Turk Telekom and Tofas. Last season, he helped Napoli win the Italian Cup in his first season in Italy. 

“Naples was amazing – one of my favorite stops of my European career," he said. "We had a great group of players that loved playing and being around each other. For me, I wanted something new after being in Turkiye. I enjoyed Turkiye, but I wanted a different market and Italy checked the boxes."

After the Italian season was over, Ennis decided against returning home and joined Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in mid-May for the final stretch of the Israeli regular season and playoffs.

“I didn’t know what to expect. At first, I didn’t want to go. My wife and I just had a baby in April and I was ready to get home. But again, a gut feeling told me it was something that I should do, like signing with Naples," Ennis remembers. 

"Everything about that move was eye-opening. The coach, the fans, the organization, the city and players were all top of the line. I joined the team to win the championship and we were one game from achieving that goal. I really wanted to give that club a championship and we were close. I had an amazing time in Tel Aviv and loved my time with the club.”

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8dKABWsb8-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8dKABWsb8-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8dKABWsb8-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tyler Ennis (@1tylerennis)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Now the goal is for big things with Reyer, and the team is playing extremely well with six wins in the last seven games for an 8-6 record and a solid chance for a top-two spot in Group B. Included in the recent run was [an 81-74 home victory over Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/reyer-kept-victories-coming-even-against-11-win-valencia/) in Round 13. 

“It was a good test. We approach every game the same since we had a lot of ground to make up after how the season started. The first round wasn’t pretty playing them and we wanted to continue building and stacking wins. They have a really good team,” says Ennis, who picked up 12 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists in the win over Valencia. 

Ennis knows the team is playing well, but they are still missing two pieces. 

When asked what the team needs to be successful, he said: “Health is important. We still aren’t 100% and hope to get [Xavier Munford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/xavier-munford/007759/) and [Rodney McGruder](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rodney-mcgruder/012800/) back. We know what works for us and how we have to play. It’s up to us to keep playing for each other like we have all season. With a healthy team the sky is the limit.”

All thanks to the EuroCup version of Team Canada. 

More Reyer News

The Reyer point guard is having a strong season back in the EuroCup and playing with two compatriots

Look back at all the action in Round 14 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 14

Look back at all the action from Round 14 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

There are no more winless teams in the EuroCup after Trefl Sopot went on the road and ran past BC Wolves 74-97 on Wednesday night.

Trefl played a spoiler role in style: ’Can’t wait for another game’

There are no more winless teams in the BKT EuroCup after [Trefl Sopot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/trefl-sopot/tso/) went on the road and [ran past Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius 74-97](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/winless-no-more-trefl-shock-wolves-74-97/) on Wednesday night.

“Finally! It took us 14 games," said team captain [Jaroslaw Zyskowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaroslaw-zyskowski/013295/), who paced the team with 20 points, shooting 4 of 5 from three-point land, and also had 9 rebounds and 3 assists.

“Guys were passing the ball, I was open, I just knocked down the shots. That’s what I do. I am just happy I was making the shots."

The outcome came as a shock to most. After all, a team with 13 losses in as many games went on the road to down the Wolves, who are fighting for every win in the middle of a tight playoff race in Group A. But it was Trefl, a team seemingly with nothing to play for, coming out as a 23-point winner.

“We deserved it,” Trefl head coach [Zan Tabak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/trefl-sopot/tso/tabak-zan/) stated. “In so many games this season, we gave our maximum. In so many games, we got really close and we didn’t get it.”

But on this night, they did. And how so.

The key was the third quarter, one which started with a close-range basket from Wolves big man [Marek Blazevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marek-blazevic/008186/). But then Trefl did not allow another field goal the rest of the quarter, and for more than 10 minutes in total. A 1-16 run opened a 17-point lead, which grew to 20 points in the fourth quarter as Trefl cruised to its first win of the season.

If you ask Zyskowski, or anyone else on Trefl, it was a long time coming.

“In the first games of the season we were so close to winning, but unfortunately we were always losing in some crucial moments,” Zyskowski said.

“So, it feels great. I think we played the best game in this competition, offensively and defensively. I am very proud of my team.”

“I believe we got better offensively, more relaxed. We played without pressure,” Tabak explained.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 😤<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/kkzoltoczarni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kkzoltoczarni</a> 💛🖤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a> <a href="https://t.co/68V5pmVkfi">pic.twitter.com/68V5pmVkfi</a></p>&mdash; MISTRZ POLSKI 2024 🏆 (@treflsopot) <a href="https://twitter.com/treflsopot/status/1877078329724948502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That should trigger alarm bells for future Trel’s opponents. Next up is [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/), a side fighting for first place in Group A and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

After that, it is [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/), [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) and [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/), all teams in the fight for playoff places, as well as aiming to secure the best possible position in the standings.

It all makes already eliminated Trefl in a position to play the perfect role of spoiler, something the team already did on Wednesday night and plans to do again in coming weeks.

“We all are gonna believe we can actually win at this level,” Zyskowski said. “I can’t wait for another game.”

Game News

After losing its first 13 games of the season, the Polish side finally tasted victory in Round 14

Trefl played spoiler role in style: ’Can’t wait for another game’

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Trefl Sopot (2025-01-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Turk Telekom Ankara basketbol has announced the signing of Kay Bruhnke 

Turk Telekom adds Kay Bruhnke to frontcourt

Turk Telekom Ankara announced the signing of [Kay Bruhnke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/-/008259/) on Thursday. Bruhnke (2.01 meters, 23 years old) has spent the past season and a half playing in Lithuania for M Basket-Delamode Mazeikiai. He averaged 18.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 12 games this season and led the league in PIR with 20.7 per game.  

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">✍️ Kay Bruhnke, artık <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a>&#39;nun bir parçası! 💙🤍<br><br>Welcome to family Kay Bruhnke 👏 <a href="https://t.co/OXKdGxDWjS">pic.twitter.com/OXKdGxDWjS</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1877332149356863505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bruhnke is a product of the BBC Bayreuth youth setup and he later played professionally for that club as well as Brose Bamberg. He has also been a member of the German youth national teams. Bruhnke will now make his EuroCup debut with Turk Telekom.

More Turk Telekom news 

The power forward was leading the Lithuanian League in PIR this season

A huge performance in a winning effort allowed Jaleen Smith of Bahcesehir College Istanbul to earn Round 14 MVP honors with a PIR of 32. Smith led Bahcesehir to a 95-93 overtime home win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Round 14 MVP: Jaleen Smith, Bahcesehir College Istanbul

A huge performance in a winning effort allowed [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) of [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) to earn Round 14 MVP honors with a PIR of 32. Smith led Bahcesehir to a 95-93 overtime home win over Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

He finished the game with 19 points on 3-of-6 two-pointers, 2-of-4 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws, plus 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 8 fouls drawn, for a career-high PIR of 32, the highest in Round 14. Smith earned EuroCup MVP of the Round honors for the first time and is the second Bahcesehir player to do so; Axel Bouteille was Round 5's co-MVP along with Marko Pecarski of 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys.

Bouteille had the second-highest PIR of the round with 28 against Buducnost. He had 23 points on 5-of-6 three-point shooting and 4-of-5 free throws, 9 rebounds and 4 fouls drawn. [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, [Jaroslaw Zyskowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaroslaw-zyskowski/013295/) of Trefl Sopot and [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/) of Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, each of whom had a PIR of 26, complete the top individual performances in Round 14.

Harper had 21 points on 10-of-10 free-throw shooting, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in his team's 79-91 road victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca. Zyskowski led Trefl to its first win, 74-97 over Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Caboclo put his fingerprints all over Hapoel’s 89-68 win against Dolomiti Energia Trento, netting 19 points – shooting 5 of 5 on two-pointers and 3 for 4 from deep – and grabbing 9 rebounds in 22 minutes on the floor. He also had 2 steals, 1 block and drew 2 fouls.

### Individual highs: Yoan Makoundou, Turk Telekom, 4 blocks

[DJ Seeley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dennis-seeley/004862/) of Cluj led all players in scoring in Round 14 with 27 points. Jerusalem’s [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) leads the EuroCup in this category with 23.2 points per game.

[Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/) of Dreamland Gran Canaria and [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) of Bahcesehir each grabbed a round-high 10 rebounds. Umana Reyer Venice’s [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) tops the rebounding charts with 9.5 boards per night.

[Sergio de Larrea](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sergio-de-larrea/010750/) of Valencia Basket and Bahcesehir’s [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/), this round’s MVP, each dished 9 assists, the most in Round 14. Cluj playmaker [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) is the EuroCup’s leading assist provider with 7.0 dimes per contest.

Ten different players recorded a round-high 3 steals. Valencia’s [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/) and Gran Canaria’s [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) sit together atop the steals charts this season with 2.0 per game.

Turk Telekom Ankara’s [Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/) had a career-best 4 blocks in this round, the most of any player. Makoundou’s teammate, [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/), is atop the season leaderboard in blocks with 2.1 per night.

Mike Tobey (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Tai Odiase (16 points, 10 rebounds) were the only two players to record double-doubles in Round 14.

The guard recorded his first such honor after helping his team to an overtime win


Congratulations to Iraklis Christou, our 14th winner in the 2024-25 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Israklis's team, 'μελισσες', posted a score of 197.30.

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Round 14 winner

Congratulations to Iraklis Christou, our 14th winner in the 2024-25 [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Israklis's team, 'μελισσες', posted a score of 197.30.

Iraklis had the following starting lineup: Jared Harper of Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem as team captain, then Zavier Simpson of U-BT Cluj-Napoca, Anthony Cowan of Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius, and Bahcesehir College Istanbul duo Axel Bouteille and Tai Odiase. Sergio de Larrea of Valencia Basket was the sixth man.

The head coach of Iraklis's team was Jerusalem play-caller Yonathan Alon, while the four bench players were Kur Kuath of Veolia Towers Hamburg, Grantas Vasiliauskas of 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys, Ali Yuceoral of Bahcesehir, and Giga Janelidze of Umana Reyer Venice.

The prize for finishing first in Round 14 is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Iraklis!

The leader in the overall standings remains Milos Mihajlovic and his squad, 'BallIsLife', which has a total of 2,411.80 points after the first 14 rounds. Trades are now open for Round 15. Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become EuroCup Fantasy Challenge's next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager, so get in the game and go for the gold!

Umana Reyer Venice exhibited the veteran leadership it possesses by fending off a valiant comeback attempt by Veolia Towers Hamburg to keep its sights set on a top-two finish

Reyer 'stayed with it' to fight off Hamburg rally 

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/roster/vnc/?season=2024-25) exhibited the veteran leadership it possesses by fending off a valiant comeback attempt by [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-hamburg-towers/roster/ham/?season=2024-25) to keep its sights set on a top-two finish. 

Reyer watched a 25-point cushion get trimmed down to 9 points in the fourth quarter but finished the deal for [a 77-90 road victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/reyer-downs-feisty-hamburg-77-90-to-remain-in-top-form/) to improve to 8-6. Reyer’s sixth victory in the last seven games has the team just one victory behind second-placed team [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-jerusalem/roster/jer/?season=2024-25) at 9-5. 

“We’ve been stepping up our defense. We have guys healthy now. Offensively we are moving the ball and we’re starting to play with the team that we signed up to play,” said [Kyle Wiltjer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-wiltjer/008052/), who scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the victory. “We’re excited. We have a good rhythm and we hope to continue this success moving into the new year.”

Game Videos

Wiltjer was not concerned about the team giving up so much of the big advantage. 

“We just tried to stay with it. It’s tough to play with the lead. We kind of got complacent for a couple minutes. But we stayed with it, we made it tough for them. We got some steals and did enough to get the victory,” he said. 

Reyer did a good job shooting the ball from the outside, hitting 11 of 28 three-point attempts. That 39.3% percent is 7.1% better than the team’s percentage coming into the game - which was ranked 14th in the competition. But Reyer was also facing the second-worst team in defending the long ball as Hamburg’s opponents shot 38.5% on three-pointers. 

Reyer coach Neven Spahija was not pleased that Hamburg made things interesting, but he was not surprised.

“At halftime, I said to my team that Hamburg would not give up. They are so competitive. They are physical and they scored 29 points in the third quarter which is not acceptable for us,” the coach said. “But we controlled the game for three quarters and found a way to bring it to the end.”

Reyer showed class by not letting Hamburg finish comeback 

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-01-08T18:30:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona did not find much trouble to beat Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 93-70 and go up to 5-9 in the standings. 


Joventut's quiet day in the office 

[Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/roster/jov/?season=2024-25) did not find much trouble in securing [a 93-70 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/joventut-thrashes-besiktas-93-70/) over [Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-istanbul/roster/bes/?season=2024-25) and improving to 5-9 in the standings. 

It was a key game for Joventut in its goal to reach the playoffs, as it needed to win and to get the potential head-to-head tie-break advantage, as [it lost 82-76](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/ec2425-rs5-report-bes-jov/) against Besiktas in Istanbul. For a change, Joventut fans had a chance to enjoy a quiet night, as their team dominated from start to finish, never trailing at any point.

[Yannick Kraag](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yannick-kraag/010161/) was the first to score, igniting a 12-1 game-opening run that [Adam Hanga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/adam-hanga/005099/) capped with back-to-back three-pointers. Joventut was far from being done, playing one of its best first halves of the season despite being without star forward [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/). It led 22-11 after 10 minutes and extended its margin to 49-27 at halftime.

Joventut Badalona beat Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul 93-70, using a 12-1 opening run to get the lead and never look back.

Joventut's 12-1 opening run

Stats left no doubt about Joventut's dominance before the break. The hosts made 12 of 19 two-pointers (63.2% 2FG) and 7 of 13 three-pointers (53.8% 3FG), getting 12 assists with only 6 turnovers. On the other hand, Besiktas struggled to score from all angles (28.6% 2FG, 33.3% 3FG), tallying more turnovers (9) than assists (7). Five Joventut players scored at least 6 points before halftime, with [Devon Dotson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devon-durrell-dotson/013285/) (11) and [Kassius Roberson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kassius-robertson/012740/) (10) already in double digits.

Joventut managed to keep a double-digit lead all the way in the second half. All 11 players who stepped on court scored, including [Ian Platteeuw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ian-platteeuw/012226/), who received a warm ovation in his first EuroCup home game of the season. Joventut finished the game with a season-high team PIR of 120. Its previous record was 116 in [a 92-89 home victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/joventut-survives-trefl-rally-wins-92-89/) over Trefl Sopot. [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/) needed just 18 minutes to get 5 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for a PIR of 16.

"We played a great game, surely one of our best games. I am happy because we played with consistency and good basketball for 40 minutes. I think we deserved this victory and also won the tie-breaker, which was very important for us," Joventut head coach [Dani Miret](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/miret-daniel/?season=U2024) said. 

"We still have \[playoff\] chances if we stay at a good level and win all of our games. We have to focus on what we can control, which is playing at this level. If we do that and keep winning games, we will have a chance."

The hosts never trailed in recording a comfortable home win

Joventut had a quiet day at the office against Besiktas

Joventut Badalona v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2025-01-08T18:30:00.000Z)