KK Cedevita Olimpija defeated the Hamburg Towers 83-114 in Round 16 of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

KK Cedevita Olimpija blows away Hamburg Towers, 83-114, on the road

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana grabbed its first victory of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season by thrashing Veolia Towers Hamburg 83-114 on Wednesday night. The guests were superior from start to finish and managed to prevent the German side from securing its first home win of the campaign. Cedevita now has a 1-15 record, while Hamburg dropped to 2-14.

Jaka Blazic led all scorers with 24 points, Justin Cobbs had 16 and DJ Stewart added 15, with Zoran Dragic and Karlo Matkovic scoring 12 each. For Hamburg, Aleksander Dziewa netted a team-high 21 points, VJ King recorded 19 and William Christmas had 15.

Game Videos

A Matkovic triple was followed by baskets from Luka Scuka, Cobbs and Blazic, with Cedevita taking an early 3-9 lead. Blazic responded to a Christmas bucket from inside with a three-point play to make it 5-12. Then, Matkovic made a three-point play of his own, but 5 points from Christmas brought Hamburg within 10-15. Stewart, Matkovic and Blazic scored a basket each to extend Cedevita’s lead to double digits, 12-23. Dziewa drilled one from deep before Christmas and Gobbs exchanged baskets. Then, Dziewa took his tally to 8 points after scoring a bucket and a free throw as Hamburg managed to trim the deficit to 22-28 heading into the second quarter.

VJ King opened his account with a reverse layup, and Dziewa netted his third bucket from inside the arc to bring Hamburg within 26-28. A Dziewa alley-oop slam and a Christmas basket allowed Hamburg to tie it, 30-30. Nico Brauner and Leif Moeller sank a triple each for a 36-32 Hamburg lead, but Cedevita responded with a 0-14 run for a 10-point cushion. A Hughes triple was followed by another Dziewa basket, with Hamburg cutting the difference to 45-52 at halftime.

Game News

Cedevita got off to a strong start in the second half, with Stewart scoring back-to-back baskets before Blazic netted a layup in transition to extend their team’s lead to 45-58. Dziewa brought Cedevita’s run to an end with a bucket inside, but Stewart hit a tough one from downtown to make it 47-61. Hamburg responded with a 5-0 run, but Stewart nailed a mid-range jumper to stop the hosts' momentum, 52-63. A Stewart reserve layup was followed by a King three-point play, with Cedevita maintaining a double-digit lead 60-70. Then, Dragic knocked down a couple of triples to extend his team’s lead to 16 points.

Blazic’s first triple of the night allowed Cedevita to take a 62-83 cushion into the closing quarter, where the guests went on a quick 0-7 run to extend their lead to 28 points. Hamburg fought back in the closing stages, but it was a matter of time before Cedevita reached the 100-point mark, with Gregor Glas hitting a triple to make it 70-102 with 4:43 left on the clock. In the remaining minutes, both head coaches gave some youngsters an opportunity to get valuable EuroCup experience as the two teams saw the game out.

DJ Stewart of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has possession against Veolia Towers Hamburg in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The Slovenian side finally notched its first win of the campaign.

Cedevita blows away Hamburg, 83-114, on the road

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2024-01-24T18:30:00.000Z)

JL Bourg-en-Bresse defeated Aris BC 68-76 on the back of a solid night by Zaccharie Risacher, who scored 20 points for the visitors.

JL Bourg-en-Bresse remains in first place, downs Aris BC 68-76

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse never trailed and moved another step closer towards locking up first place in Group B thanks to a 68-76 road win over Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday night. Bourg improved to a 13-3 record in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season, maintaining a one-win lead atop of the Group B standings, while Aris dropped to 7-9 and shares the fifth-best record in the group.

Bourg led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 51-61 lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but Aris made a run and got within 60-63. However, that's as close as the hosts got as Jeremy Morgan and Zaccharie Risacher made key shots to help Bourg pull away again, and record a valuable win. Risacher was the visitors' only double-digit scorer as the 18-year-old dropped 20 points, while Bodian Massa collected 9 points and 8 rebounds. For Aris, Roberto Gallinat had 20 points and Vassilis Toliopoulos scored 17 in defeat.

Bourg had the better start, using its defense to set the tone, while Risacher scored 8 straight points, including a three-point play followed by a transition three-pointer, to help open a 4-12 lead after 5 minutes of play. Toliopoulos and Kris Bankston gave the hosts' offense some life, but Aris committed 3 turnovers in the final 2 minutes of the quarter, resulting in a 0-7 run that included a three-pointer from E.J. Rowland, helping Bourg to a 10-22 lead after 10 minutes.

Jonathan Stark opened the second quarter with a four-point play, but shots from Axel Julien and Rowland extended it to 13 points, 14-27. However, Toliopoulos had a magic over-the-backboard shot, before him and Ronnie Harrell each nailed a three-pointer to close the gap to 24-30. Bourg scored the next 6 points to restore a double-digit margin, but Aris was able to end its drought. Gallinat's triple sparked an 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to 32-36 in the penultimate minute of the first half, before Bourg went into halftime with  a 34-39 lead.

Gallinat erased the deficit with 5 points in the first 70 seconds of the third quarter. But over the next 3 minutes, Aris was held scoreless while Isiaha Mike scored his first 5 points of the night, including a triple, to open a 39-46 lead.  Roberts Blumbergs and Risacher traded triples before Toliopoulos and Julien exchanged three-pointers, keeping the margin intact, as  Bourg took 51-59 into the fourth quarter.

Massa scored twice inside for the visitors, but Ismael Sanogo also had a pair from close range and Toliopoulos struck his third from long range to cut the deficit, 60-63. However, Jeremy Morgan nailed a tough triple, followed by a transition three from Risacher to restore a 9-point lead with under 5 minutes left. Gallinat kept Aris alive with a three-point play and a three-pointer to get Aris within 66-71 entering the final 2 minutes. That's when Jequan Lewis made a runner, his first and only basket of the night, and Bourg's defense forced turnovers on back-to-back possession, then Morgan's corner triple opened 66-76 in the final minute to ice the game.

Bryce Brown of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Ronnie Harrell of Aris Midea Thessaloniki fight for the ball during the two teams' Round 16 matchup in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Risacher had another standout performance for the French side.

Bourg remains in first place, downs Aris 68-76

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2024-01-24T18:00:00.000Z)

Prometey Slobozhanske boosted its playoff hopes with a 105-113 road win over Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv at Belgrade’s Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Wednesday night. 

Prometey closes in on playoff berth with 105-113 win over Hapoel

Prometey Slobozhanske boosted its playoff hopes with a 105-113 road win over Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv at Belgrade’s Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Wednesday night. And then advanced into the next stage when Wolves Vilnius defeated Umana Reyer Venice later in the evening. Prometey scored 32 fourth-quarter points to come from behind and improve its record to 9-7, while sending Hapoel to its third straight loss and an 11-5 mark. 

Ronald March rocked with 27 points to lead the winners and Gian Clavell and Caleb Agada netted 19 points apiece. Ondrej Balvin was a force inside with 16 points on near-perfect shooting and 6 rebounds and Oleksander Lypovvy contributed 11 points. Braian Angola led Hapoel with 24 points and 8 rebounds in defeat. Xavier Munford scored 19, Tomer Ginat 14, Dez Wells 13 and Will Cummings 12.

### Prometey takes control with a pair of runs

Tai Odiase made his present felt at both ends and Lypovvy took a steal in for a layup before March drained a triple to cap a 2-11 Prometey run that gave it a 12-19 lead. Hapoel bounced right back with Ginat scoring 5 points in an 8-0 response to regain the lead. March hit back with back-to-back triples and Isuf Sanon scored twice in a 0-10 Prometey run. A Bar Timor jumper made it 22-29 after 10 minutes.

### Hapoel fight back to stay close

Hapoel roared back to tie it at 33-33 behind Munford’s triple and leaner in the lane. Prometey answered with the next two baskets, which prompted Hapoel head coach Danny Franco to call a timeout. March’s fourth three of the night put Prometey up 7. Hapoel closed the gap again to 2 before Balvin’s dunk ended the half with the visitors up 52-56.

### Angola helps his team jump in front

Angola and Ginat shined in an 8-0 run and then Munford and Angola each connected from deep as Hapoel went up 68-63. The momentum remained with Hapoel as Munford scored on the break to increase the lead to 72-66. March and Balvin kept Prometey close, though Idan Zalmanson’s free throws saw Hapoel continue its momentum. Balvin stepped up with a slam, a block and a free throw to bring his team within 1. After free throws by Munford and another Balvin dunk, the third quarter ended with the scoreboard showing 82-81.

### Agada pushes Prometey ahead for good

Caleb Agada opened the fourth quarter with a triple to put Prometey back in front. He scored twice more to stretch the lead to 86-92. Balvin stepped up with a three-point play and March followed to give Prometey its biggest lead yet, 88-100. Timor and Ginat stopped the bleeding for Hapoel and a Wells triple made it 95-102. Prometey started to milk the clock and every missed Hapoel shot or turnover increased the visitors’ likelihood of winning, which became an inevitability.

The Ukrainian club needed to wait for other results to go its way and when they did was able to celebrate a spot in the postseason. 

After 105-113 win over Hapoel, Prometey clinched playoff berth

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Prometey Slobozhanske (2024-01-24T17:30:00.000Z)

Tyrone Wallace of Türk Telekom B.K. scored a game-high 31 points as his team beat BC Lietkabelis in Round 16 of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

Tyrone Wallace came up big as Türk Telekom B.K. downed BC Lietkabelis

Turk Telekom Ankara is on the brink of making the BKT EuroCup Playoffs after a nightmare start to the season. And a major reason behind its surge up the standings is [Tyrone Wallace](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tyrone-wallace/011925/) stepping up his game, with his latest impressive performance coming in [an important win over 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/turk-telekom-moves-into-playoff-spots-with-88-73-win-over-lietkabelis/).

Wallace poured in 31 points in Turk Telekom’s 88-73 victory, which improved the Turkish side to a 7-9 record after six wins in the last seven games. The American guard was big all game for the home side and matched his career high in scoring.

“I was able to get it going. I got a couple of buckets early, so I felt good going into the second half and then coming out and understanding that it’s a big game,” said Wallace, who knocked down 3 three-pointers to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 rebounds and 2 steals for a career-best PIR of 39.

“I think good players make big plays when the team needs it most. I just go out there and try to help my team to get a win.”

Tyrone Wallace had 31 points as Turk Telekom Ankara beat 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Wallace exploded vs. Lietkabelis

### Stepping up at the right time

That is all Turk Telekom seems to be doing at the moment with Wallace leading the way. The 29-year-old, who played with Paris Basketball in the EuroCup last season, has scored 30 points or more in three of his last five games. At the most crucial time of the season, Wallace has come up big.

Wallace’s perimeter defense was just as important as his scoring in the win over Lietkabelis. The Lithuanian guests came into the game as the number one three-point shooting team in the competition at 40.4%. But Lietkabelis made just 9-of-29 from long range on Wednesday evening for 31.0%.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">⭐MVP⭐ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TyroneWallace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TyroneWallace</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AimToGlory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AimToGlory</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a> <a href="https://t.co/Cr9iU5dJkd">pic.twitter.com/Cr9iU5dJkd</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1750239337621414056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Turk Telekom, meanwhile, made 40.0% on three-pointers against the fourth-worst three-point shooting defense in the EuroCup.

Lietkabelis did do a good job holding Turk Telekom to just 6 offensive rebounds as it came into the game ranked second in that category. But Turk Telekom actually outscored Lietkabelis on second-chance points, 11-10, even though the guests grabbed 11 offense rebounds.

More Turk Telekom News

Tyrone Wallace of Turk Telekom Ankara looks to score against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

The American guard broke the 30-point mark for the third time in the last five games.

Tyrone Wallace came up big as Turk Telekom downed Lietkabelis

Turk Telekom Ankara v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2024-01-24T17:00:00.000Z)

Türk Telekom B.K. moved into the EuroCup playoff spots by beating BC Lietkabelis 88-73 in Round 16.

Türk Telekom B.K. climbs in the standings with 88-73 win over BC Lietkabelis

Turk Telekom Ankara's quest to turn its season around took a major step in Round 16 as the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup finalist finally moved into the playoff spots following an 88-73 victory over 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. The Turkish side wasted an 11-point lead but used a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to grab its fourth straight win and its sixth in the last seven games for a 7-9 record. Lietkabelis lost its fourth straight and its seventh in the last eight games for a 5-11 record. 

Tyrone Wallace poured in 31 points with 7 rebounds for Turk Telekom, James Palmer had 20 points, and Yigitcan Saybir and Jarrod Jones both added 13 points. Lietkabelis's Deividas Sirvydis scored 18 points and Dovis Bickauskis added 14 points. 

The game started with four lead changes as Jarrod Jones hit a triple and was followed by a Wallace put-back, with the score 12-6. The guests missed their first six three-pointers and fell behind 15-8 before Sirvydis hit from deep. Bickauskis also knocked down a three-pointer and it was 19-16 after 10 minutes. 

Okben Ulubay and Saybir began the second quarter with three-point plays, and a Wallace dunk extended the cushion to 27-18. Another Jones three-pointer pushed the advantage to 32-21. Bickauskis scored 6 straight points to get the guests within 34-29. Another Jones three-pointer helped Turk Telekom get the lead back out to double figures, 41-31. The hosts went into the locker room 44-36 up at the break. 

Wallace’s three-pointer reestablished Turk Telekom’s 11-point lead, 49-38. Lietkabelis punched right back with the next 12 points on triples from Gabrielius Maldunas, Sirvydis and Martynas Varnas to go ahead 49-50. Turk Telekom snapped a nearly 4-minute scoreless stretch, only to see Vytenis Lipkevicius and Stefan Bircevic both add three-pointers as the guests took a 55-58 lead. Lietkabelis led the game 59-60 after 30 minutes. 

Wallace opened the final frame with a three-pointer, and 4 straight points from Palmer had the home side 68-64 up halfway through the period. Lietkabelis went more than 2 minutes without a score before 2 Nikola Popovic free throws. Wallace punched back with 4 points, Saybir added a tip-in and Palmer connected on a three-pointer for a 77-67 lead with 2 minutes to play. Palmer delivered the knockout punch with a three-pointer for an 80-68 margin with 74 seconds to go. 

James Palmer of Turk Telekom Ankara has possession against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

An exciting race for the postseason is set to go down to the wire.

Turk Telekom climbs in the standings with 88-73 win over Lietkabelis

Round 16 of the 2023-24 EuroCup season has come to a close, with the race for playoff position really heating up.

Game Center: Round 16 is officially in the books!

### Wednesday, January 24

[Turk Telekom Ankara 88-73 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/turk-telekom-ankara-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2023/160/)

Turk Telekom's quest to turn its season around took a major step in Round 16 as the 2022-23 EuroCup finalist finally moved into the playoff spots following an 88-73 victory over 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. The Turkish side wasted an 11-point lead but used a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to grab its fourth straight win and its sixth in the last seven games for a 7-9 record. Tyrone Wallace poured in 31 points with 7 rebounds, James Palmer had 20 points and Yigitcan Saybir and Jarrod Jones both added 13 points for the winners. Lietkabelis lost its fourth straight and its seventh in the last eight games for a 5-11 record. Deividas Sirvydis scored 18 points and Dovis Bickauskis added 14 points. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Evimizde zafer bizim! 🤍💙<br><br>Maç sonucu: Türk Telekom 88 - 73 Lietkabelis<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AimToGlory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AimToGlory</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnkaraBasketbolu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnkaraBasketbolu</a> <a href="https://t.co/4mIO0SRuOY">pic.twitter.com/4mIO0SRuOY</a></p>&mdash; Türk Telekom Basketbol (@TT_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/TT_Basketbol/status/1750231652628934859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 105-113 Prometey Slobozhanske](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-prometey-slobozhanske/U2023/151/)

Prometey boosted its playoff hopes with a 105-113 road win over Hapoel at Belgrade’s Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Wednesday night. Prometey scored 32 fourth-quarter points to come from behind and improve its record to 9-7, which sent Hapoel to its third straight loss and an 11-5 mark. Ronald March rocked with 27 points to lead the winners, and Gian Clavell and Caleb Agada netted 19 points apiece. Braian Angola led Hapoel with 24 points and 8 rebounds in defeat. 

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2frSQyimmo/?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 Prometey Basketball Club (@prometeybc)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

[Aris Midea Thessaloniki 68-76 Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/aris-midea-thessaloniki-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/156/)

Bourg never trailed and moved another step closer towards locking up first place in Group B thanks to a 68-76 road win over Aris on Wednesday night. Bourg improved to a 13-3 record in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season, maintaining a one-win lead atop of the Group B standings, while Aris dropped to 7-9 and shares the fifth-best record in the group. Bourg led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 51-61 lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but Aris made a run and got within 60-63. However, that's as close as the hosts got as Jeremy Morgan and Zaccharie Risacher made key shots to help Bourg pull away again, and record a valuable win. Risacher was the visitors' only double-digit scorer as the 18-year-old dropped 20 points, while Bodian Massa collected 9 points and 8 rebounds. For Aris, Roberto Gallinat had 20 points and Vassilis Toliopoulos scored 17 in defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">VICTOIRE ✅<a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ARISBCgr</a> - 68 🆚 76 - JL Bourg<br><br>Solide victoire de nos bressans à l&#39;extérieur ⚔️ <br><br>Place maintenant au repos avant de reprendre le chemin du travail pour préparer le prochain match à Ankara !<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRedy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRedy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/6sdrOkroDq">pic.twitter.com/6sdrOkroDq</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1750246247011598400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Veolia Towers Hamburg 83-114 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/veolia-towers-hamburg-cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/U2023/154/)

Cedevita grabbed its first victory of the 2023-24 EuroCup campaign by thrashing Hamburg 83-114 on Wednesday night. The guests were superior from start to finish and managed to prevent the German side from securing its first home win of the campaign. Cedevita now has a 1-15 record, while Hamburg dropped to 2-14. Jaka Blazic led all scorers with 24 points, Justin Cobbs had 16 and DJ Stewart added 15, with Zoran Dragic and Karlo Matkovic scoring 12 each. For Hamburg, Aleksander Dziewa netted a team-high 21 points, VJ King recorded 19 and William Christmas had 15.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Zeleno-oranžna poezija v Hamburgu.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/SKsqz6jKGd">pic.twitter.com/SKsqz6jKGd</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/1750254061515891125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Slask Wroclaw 68-92 Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/slask-wroclaw-dreamland-gran-canaria/U2023/159/)

Gran Canaria strengthened its push for a top-two finish by totally dominating Slask, 68-92, on the road. The reigning champ improves to 12-4, while eliminated Slask is now 2-14 at the foot of Group B. The first quarter was closely contested but Gran Canaria pulled away to lead 33-50 at the interval, and it was never close again. Miquel Salvo was an all-round inspiration with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while Ben Lammers top scored with 12, and Ferran Bassas and AJ Slaughter both netted 11. Dusan Miletic led Slask’s resistance with 15 points, while Daniel Golebiowski added 13. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">🏀 Final:<br><br>⚫ Śląsk Wrocław 68<br>🐥 Dreamland Gran Canaria 92<br><br>🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VamosGranca?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VamosGranca</a> <a href="https://t.co/kUR2DCSdRn">pic.twitter.com/kUR2DCSdRn</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1750256639859445806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Umana Reyer Venice 57-75 Wolves Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/umana-reyer-venice-wolves-vilnius/U2023/155/)

Wolves continued their good recent form by knocking off Reyer with a 57-75 road victory, but the win was not enough for them to stay alive in the hunt for the playoffs. Wolves started the fourth quarter with a 1-18 run which put them on track to notch their second win in the last three games for a 6-10 record. The Lithuanian side needed to win by 30 points and also have Prometey Slobozhanske lose at Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, so it is eliminated from playoff contention for that reason. Tre’Shawn Thurman led the way with 14 points, Christian Mekowulu had 12 points and Garrison Brooks added 11 points. Due to Wolves' loss and Prometey’s win, Reyer has also been eliminated with a 6-10 record. The Italian side, which only scored 7 points in the fourth quarter, could not use a 19-point night from Max Heidegger, while Amedeo Tessitori chipped in with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals.  

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We celebrate an emphatic win in Venice, Italy!<br>BC Wolves - <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@REYER1872</a>, 75-57. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreWolves?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreWolves</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/317JuCArus">pic.twitter.com/317JuCArus</a></p>&mdash; BC WOLVES (@wolves_bc) <a href="https://twitter.com/wolves_bc/status/1750262445355258264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[London Lions 93-72 Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/london-lions-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/153/)

London celebrated an emphatic 93-72 home win over Besiktas and remained on course to clinch a top-two finish in Group A of the EuroCup. The outstanding Matt Morgan paced London with a game-high 20 points, while Donta Gratham, David Nwaba and Gabe Olaseni chipped in with 12 each for the home side. Tarik Phillip added 10 points, underlining London’s balanced workload, which saw the Lions dish out 23 assists to Besiktas’s 12. At the other end, Matthew Mitchell led Besiktas with 16 points, Kyle Allman netted 12 while Derek Needham and Angel Delgado scored 10 each.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A dominating win for <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LondonLions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/p5JoYVGOMo">pic.twitter.com/p5JoYVGOMo</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1750272234122277217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Tuesday, January 23

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca 88-83 Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/u-bt-cluj-napoca-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2023/158/)

Cluj survived a late push from Trento to claim the victory on Tuesday at BT Arena. Despite dominating for stretches and leading by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter, the hosts needed some key plays by Bryce Jones in the final minute to preserve the win. Cluj improved to 12-4 on the season and Trento slipped to 7-9. Andrija Stipanovic posted 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and Karel Guzman also scored 16 and grabbed 3 steals to lead the winners. Trento’s Kamar Baldwin led all scorers with 21 points plus 4 steals. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And victory! Final time in <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eurocup</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UBTCluj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UBTCluj</a> 88 - 83 <a href="https://twitter.com/AquilaBasketTN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AquilaBasketTN</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eurocup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eurocup</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cluj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cluj</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/haideU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#haideU</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKTEuroCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKTEuroCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/vKzjMEiAa9">pic.twitter.com/vKzjMEiAa9</a></p>&mdash; U-BT Cluj-Napoca (@UBTCluj) <a href="https://twitter.com/UBTCluj/status/1749892749979947168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Buducnost VOLI Podgorica 80-84 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/buducnost-voli-podgorica-ratiopharm-ulm/U2023/157/)

Ulm escaped with a hard-fought victory from the Moraca where it defeated Buducnost on Tuesday. Juan Nuñez and LJ Figueroa took over in overtime, combining for 10 of Ulm’s 12 points in the extra period to help Ulm end its four-game losing streak and secure a playoff spot. Ulm’s record improved to 9-7, while Buducnost slipped to 6-10. Figueroa led all scorers with 24 points while Juan Nuñez finished with 9 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Yogi Ferrell paced Buducnost with 15 points and 8 assists.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅ <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ratiopharmulm</a> clinched a post-season ticket with tonight’s dub!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/vYNFisuK7H">pic.twitter.com/vYNFisuK7H</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1749907715751653726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Paris Basketball 89-82. Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-joventut-badalona/U2023/152/)

Paris put an end to Joventut's seven-game winning streak. The hosts were in control of the game in the first three quarters, but Joventut took its first lead of the night in the opening stages of the closing quarter. Nadir Hifi came to the fore in crunch time and netted his team’s last 8 points of the game to seal Paris’s eighth win in a row. With its victory on Tuesday, Paris improved to a 15-1 record. Badalona dropped to 15-6, but remains in pursuit of a top-two spot. Hifi led Paris with 17 points, with Collin Malcolm and Tyson Ward scoring 15 each. Andres Feliz scored a game-high 20 points for Joventut.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">LA GROSSE VICTOIRE ! 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/OnIycDTHXI">pic.twitter.com/OnIycDTHXI</a></p>&mdash; Paris Basketball (@ParisBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball/status/1749908984398483861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Round 16 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup is officially in the books.

Game Center: Ulm, Prometey are new playoff teams after Round 16

Slask Wroclaw v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2024-01-23T17:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v ratiopharm Ulm (2024-01-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice v Wolves Vilnius (2024-01-24T19:00:00.000Z)

London Lions v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-01-24T19:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Joventut Badalona (2024-01-23T19:30:00.000Z)

The London Lions hope to take a big step towards finishing in the top two of the EuroCup's Group A, but Beşiktaş Basketbol has other ideas.

London Lions’ chase for top-two spot to be tested by boisterous Beşiktaş Basketbol

Both the [London Lions](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/carousels/london-lions/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22lli%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=London%20Lions) (10-5) and [Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/carousels/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22bes%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Besiktas%20Emlakjet%20Istanbul) (9-6) have already booked their spots in the BKT EuroCup Playoffs, but Wednesday night’s Group A meeting at a sold-out Copper Box Arena offers plenty of intrigue.

London comes into this game third in the standings and has a realistic shot at finishing in the top two, with Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in second with an 11-4 record, while Besiktas is fifth and is jostling for home-court advantage in the postseason.

### Contrasting fortunes

This has been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde type of season for Petar Bozic’s London squad, with the team going 3-4 on its home floor and 7-1 on its travels. Dejan Alimpijevic’s Besiktas, meanwhile, is 5-2 at home and 4-4 on the road.

Last time out, [London fell at home to an on-fire Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/joventut-badalona-locks-up-playoff-spot-by-downing-london-lions-at-the-buzzer-80-82/), 80-82, on a last-second game-winner by Andres Feliz, which was made all the more frustrating by the fact that Hapoel lost at home to Paris Basketball earlier that night. For Besiktas, it [needed an overtime period to defeat ninth-placed Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs15-report-ham-bes/), 83-94, having almost thrown the game away in the fourth.

With around 2,000 Besiktas fans expected to be in attendance at Copper Box Arena, a boisterous atmosphere is a guarantee, so Coach Alimpijevic will be hoping his team can take another step towards achieving a top-four finish and, with it, home-court advantage in the playoffs.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FASTEST SELL-OUT EVER! 👀🦁🎟<br><br>We’ve sold out the <a href="https://twitter.com/CopperBoxArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CopperBoxArena</a> in a record time for tomorrow’s <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroCup</a> fixture vs Beşiktaş! 🔥<br><br>🇬🇧 Lions vs <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJK_Basketbol</a> 🇹🇷<br>📆 TOMORROW <br>⏰ 7:30pm<br>📍 <a href="https://twitter.com/CopperBoxArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CopperBoxArena</a> <br><br>Make some noise for your Lions! 🗣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreLondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreLondon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/o5YmJtlGeX">pic.twitter.com/o5YmJtlGeX</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1749774959423914022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In that sense, London needs to be careful as the team currently occupying fourth spot, Joventut, is in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and is also looking to fight Hapoel for second spot. The Israeli side, playing its home games in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, has lost its last two fixtures on its home floor and next welcomes Prometey Slobozhanske, which has the sixth and final playoff spot in its hands.

### An exciting end to the regular season

As such, there is plenty to play for in these final three games of the regular season. Hapoel has a tricky end to the campaign, facing Prometey (sixth, 8-7) at home before back-to-back road games at Joventut (fourth, 10-6) and Besiktas (fifth, 9-6). The rising Joventut also has a tough stretch to close the regular season, with Carles Duran's squad having lost to first-placed Paris (15-1) on Tuesday night and having two games against teams in the playoff positions: Hapoel at home and then Prometey on the road.

It is a similar story for Besiktas, too. After taking on London, the Turkish outfit closes the regular season by hosting Paris and Hapoel in successive games. Yet, a victory against the Lions could provide the momentum Besiktas needs ahead of turning BJK Emlakjet Sports & Event Hall into a fortress in this decisive stretch of the campaign.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Bir 𝗗𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗷𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰 klasiği. 🤫 <a href="https://t.co/nFHCLakuCS">pic.twitter.com/nFHCLakuCS</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Emlakjet (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1747743627827204587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

London, which ends the regular season by facing two teams that are out of the playoff race in Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (0-15) and Wolves Vilnius (5-10), therefore has the chance to make a late surge – starting against Besiktas on Wednesday night.

### Players to keep an eye on

London remains without star forward [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), but [Matt Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/matthew-morgan/012585/) is a huge threat at the guard position, new signing [David Nwaba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/david-nwaba/profile/012797/) has made an impressive impact in his two games so far, and [Gabe Olaseni](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gabe-olaseni/006600/) has the skills to cause plenty of damage on the interior.

When [London travelled to Istanbul to take on Besiktas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/london-lions-hold-off-besiktas-jk-comeback-80-83/) earlier in the season, Olaseni came up with 24 points in an 80-83 win, while Morgan had an all-round night with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Something similar will be needed if London is to come out with the victory once again.

Besiktas strive for a fifth home triumph, again with focus on defense, as it ranks second in the tournament at just 72.3 ppg allowed. Meanwhile, the Lions have rediscovered their roar since beating Joventut and are equipped with Gabe Olaseni to help make the difference.

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul-London Lions | Round 7 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Besiktas also has plenty of weapons, such as [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/), [Matthew Mitchell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/matthew-mitchell/012622/) and [Angel Delgado](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/angel-delgado/012647/), with [Kyle Allman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-allman/011924/) having been added as a mid-season addition to bolster Coach Alimpijevic’s options. [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/) is another who has the ability to come up big when needed.

It should be an incredible game at Copper Box Arena and, as you have read above, there is plenty on the line. Make sure to tune in from 20:30 CET on Wednesday!

Jonah Mathews of Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul shoots a jumper against the London Lions in Round 7 of the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season.

Around 2,000 fans of the Turkish club are expected to be present at Copper Box Arena.

London Lions’ chase for top-two spot to be tested by boisterous Besiktas

The German champs squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage but remained calm in overtime to clinch a playoff spot.

 By surviving OT on the road, Ulm learned a lesson for later 

Before its Round 16 road game at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica on Tuesday, ratiopharm Ulm needed only one more win to reach the BKT EuroCup postseason. As it happens, though, Buducnost needed the same win to keep its playoff chances alive.

Ulm hadn't looked very good in recent weeks. The visitors carried the heavy baggage of four consecutive defeats that slowed their postseason push in a painful way. The freshest wound came one week ago, when U-BT Cluj Napoca rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to win 81-85 in Ulm's own arena. 

So on Tuesday, when Buducnost rattled off a 19-2 fourth-quarter run to erase a 14-point disadvantage and take a 69-67 lead with 3 minutes remaining, Ulm fans had to be trembling.

"We were up double digits in the fourth quarter, and then we made pretty bad decisions offensively," Ulm head coach Anton Gavel recounted in the press conference. "That brought Buducnost back into the game. We allowed them to come back and almost gave this one away. We've got to be smarter there."

But, contrary to what happened the previous week, Ulm managed to stay calm and take control again. A free throw by [Trevion Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/trevion-lamon-williams-/012604/) tied it up, 72-72, in the last minute of the fourth quarter, and even though Ulm missed on an ensuing possession and let Buducnost to take the last shot, Fletcher Magee missed a contested mid-range shot that meant overtime.

Ulm bid to seal a playoff place by ending an alarming four-game losing streak as it travels to Buducnost, which certainly hasn’t given up on its own chances of advancing despite losing two of the last three. Which of these clubs can bolster their prospects and muster an important return to form?

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica-ratiopharm Ulm  | Round 16 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Once the extra period started, Ulm showed better poise and managed to find the right players at the right moments. First it was [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/juan-nunez/010106/), who scored 4 points early in OT to help his team take charge of the situation. Then it was [L.J. Figueroa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/lj-figueroa/012603/), who provided pairs of crucial three-pointers and key defensive plays that confirmed Ulm's supremacy in the end. Overall, Ulm forced 4 turnovers from Buducnost in the extra 5 minutes, a major factor to break the deadlock and push the visitors to [a playoff-clinching 80-84 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/buducnost-voli-podgorica-ratiopharm-ulm/U2023/157/).

"After four losses, to bounce back and get this win on the road is extremely important for us," Gavel recognized. "I think, defensively, if you allow 80 points in overtime, it was solid. And I think we had a pretty decent sequence. We let Magee get hot and put in a couple of shots, which was not good. But it's okay; these are details."

Winning the game as it did is probably the second-best news of the night, after making the playoffs. Looking to the next stage, such late-game steel can be a very important boost for what had been the team's bruised confidence of late.

"We're happy about the win, the bounce back, especially in overtime," Gavel stressed. "We found a way to win."

Figueroa's contribution was not only important in overtime, but for the whole game. He had to wait until the last minutes of the second period to score his first bucket, but once he found the way to score, he became unstoppable.

He first contributed 8 points in a 2-10 run that allowed Ulm to reach halftime up 30-38. Right after the intermission, he nailed a three to establish a double-digit lead for Ulm for the first time in the game, and he also was the one to establish a game-high 14-point difference early in the fourth quarter.

At the end, Figueroa presented a fantastic stat-line of 24 points - his best so far in the competition, 5 rebounds and 2 steals, going perfect on two-pointers (5 for 5) and shooting 4-of-10 from behind the arc. That gave him a PIR of 23, which tied with his best performance so far when he helped Ulm pull up an 83-85 road win in Trento on Dec 6, 2023.

This game in Podgorica confirms the good form of Figueroa, who has scored in double-figures in eight of his last 10 games, so Ulm can look to the near future with more confidence.

The German champs squandered a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage but remained calm in overtime to clinch a playoff spot.



By surviving OT on the road, Ulm learned a lesson for later

Nadir Hifi scored 10 of his team’s last 12 points to lead Paris Basketball to a victory over Joventut Badalona.

Nadir Hifi stepped up big in crunch time to sink Joventut

In a game that offered fans a glimpse of how this season’s BKT EuroCup Playoff battles are expected to be, Paris Basketball bounced back after Joventut Badalona’s comeback in the last quarter and secured an 89-82 victory at Halle Georges Carpentier. Six Paris players recorded double digits in scoring, but the one who won this was prodigious guard [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/). The 21-year-old showed what he’s made of late in the game and stepped up big in crunch time to clinch Paris’s eighth straight win.

Hifi recorded 7 points in 37 minutes of play but scored 10 of his team’s last 12 points in the last stretch to down Badalona. The Paris guard nailed a midrange jumper to tie the game 79-79 with 3:14 left on the clock, before drilling two huge back-to-back triples and a bucket from inside for an 89-82 cushion with half a minute to go.

“When \[Hifi\] gets into one of those zones, he’s a very difficult player to stop,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said after the game. “Overall, in those situations, you can see how the other team has to react to this and also leaves open space for others. We are lucky to have him.”

Nadar Hifi highlights vs Joventut

Paris was in control of the game in the first half and took a 41-35 lead into the second. Badalona fought back and outscored the hosts 21-27 in the third quarter, with the two sides heading into the last one tied at 62-62. Then, the momentum shifted and Joventut was up by 70-76 midway through the closing quarter. A couple of Mikael Jantunen baskets from inside put Paris back in front 77-76 before Pep Busquets hit a big triple. Enter Hifi, who finished the game off.

“Congratulations to Paris,” head coach Carles Duran noted. “They played really well in the last 2 minutes. Hifi made two crazy shots, but I’m happy with my team. We worked well until the end.”

A special mention for another Paris youngster, [Enzo Shahrvin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/enzo-shahrvin/012612/), who recorded career highs in points (12) and PIR (17), having gone 6-for-7 from inside the arc. The Paris center produced a few highlight dunks, including a slam in transition following a huge steal to make it 81-79 with less than 3 minutes to go. Most importantly, he showed character and demonstrated that he is a player on whom Paris can count in important games.

“We played against a very good team,” Iisalo added. “It was a high-level game. Very intense as you could see. The tempers flaring on both sides. All of these games are worth their weight in gold because these are the games that will be decisive at the end of the season.”

Having already clinched the top spot in Group A, Paris improved to 15-1 by beating Badalona, meaning that it may secure the best regular season record and home court for every playoff series it plays should Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse lose at Aris Midea Thessaloniki on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old guard scored 10 of his team’s last 12 points to secure the victory.