Explore how Bahcesehir College and other EuroCup teams are limiting shot quality and shaping the playoff race with elite defensive strategies. 
EuroCup stats review, Bahcesehir defense, Synergy Shot Quality, EuroCup Round 13, EuroCup playoff race, defensive trends, BKT EuroCup analysis

Stats Review: EuroCup Defensive Trends After Round 13 

Only five rounds remain in the BKT EuroCup Regular Season following Round 13, in which [Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) scored a critical win over [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) in Arena Stozice to get one game clear of them for the second bye to the quarterfinals from Group A. With [a game against](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2025-26/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem-bahcesehir-college-istanbul/U2025/142/) first-place [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/jer/) looming in two weeks, this was a critical victory for the Turkish club as Cedevita has a less daunting schedule to close the season — albeit with more road games.

In the [second-lowest scoring game of the season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-secures-road-win-over-cedevita-rises-to-second-in-group-a/) so far, Bahcesehir put together a standout defensive effort, holding Cedevita to just 2-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc. While some of that can be attributed to a few bad bounces for the hosts, the visitors contested nearly every one of their three-point attempts for a stretch of nearly 18 minutes in the second half, showing an impressive sense of urgency coming out of the break.

While this was an extreme example, Bahcesehir’s defense has been limiting quality looks all season.  The table above lists this season’s top defenses in terms of how well they limit the percentage of high-quality shots they face. Quality, in this case, is measured in Synergy Shot Quality, a metric that calculates the expected value of any given shot attempt based on a data-driven model that considers all the advanced tracking data Synergy Sports has collected on every field goal attempted in EuroCup games over the last decade.

What limiting quality shots means differs from team to team and sometimes from lineup to lineup. For some units, it means loading up inside or relying on an impactful shot blocker to prevent attempts around the rim, but for teams like Bahcesehir, it is the efforts to take away catch-and-shoot opportunities along the three-point line. That is easier said than done at this level, as it learned in the [upset home loss to Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/neptunass-lights-out-shooting-leads-to-shocking-win-at-bahcesehir/) in Round 9. That said, the Turkish club has done a good job of closing out shooters this season, ranking prominently in how few spot-up opportunities it allows as well as how effectively it contests them.  Those two things go hand in hand, as the sense of urgency Bahcesehir brings in rotation often allows it to affect the shots it does face and is a big reason it leads all teams in steals as well. 

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) has found the best balance in the EuroCup this season, ranking fourth in limiting attempts around the rim while also ranking third in the percentage of catch-and-shoot jumpers it contests. A lot of its success on that front can be traced to its attention to detail in the pick-and-roll.

[BAXI Manresa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/baxi-manresa/man/) and [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/) fall on opposite ends of the spectrum, facing the most and the fewest shots at the rim so far this season, respectively.  While Manresa plays tight defense on the perimeter while prioritizing closing space over forcing turnovers, Buducnost is quick to help inside.  Both teams aim to take something away from opposing offenses, but that is only one factor in their ultimate success. 

This season’s top two defensive units in overall efficiency, [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) and [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/), force turnovers and bad shots more steadily than they take away quality looks. There is more than one route to success on that end, and the teams that can find them down the stretch will give themselves a chance to gain some ground in the playoff race. 

Synergy Shot Quality reveals which teams are best at taking away easy points – and why it matters now more than ever

Stats review: EuroCup’s top defenses and what makes them tick

Besiktas GAİN adds sharpshooter Matt Thomas, a former NBA player and EuroCup champion, to strengthen its roster for the EuroCup and Turkish League campaigns. 
EuroCup signings, Besiktas Istanbul basketball, Matt Thomas EuroLeague stats, Besiktas roster update


Besiktas Istanbul Signs Matt Thomas to Bolster Backcourt 

[Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/statistics/bes/?season=2025-26&phase=All%20phases&statistic=threePointersPercentage&sortDirection=descending) has acquired one of Europe’s most lethal perimeter threats by signing shooting guard [Matt Thomas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/matt-thomas/008967/) for the rest of the season. Thomas (1.94 meters, 31 years old) arrives from Coviran Granada, where he has averaged 14.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game across 14 Spanish League contests this season — shooting an impressive 46.2% from three-point range.

A EuroCup champion with Valencia Basket in 2019, Thomas will play in the competition for the first time since that magical season, in which he 12.7 points on 47.7% shooting from long range in 23 EuroCup games. He raised his numbers to 13.6 points on 56% three-point shooting in the semifinals and finals to help Valencia lift the trophy.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Resmi Açıklama I Matt Thomas <br><br>Beşiktaş GAİN Takımımız, Matt Thomas ile sözleşme imzaladı.<br><br>Transfer çalışmalarını sürdüren Beşiktaş GAİN Takımımız, ABD’li skorer guard Matt Thomas’ı kadrosuna kattı.<br><br>Kariyeri boyunca Obradorio, Valencia, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Chicago… <a href="https://t.co/yhtcU6Xjop">pic.twitter.com/yhtcU6Xjop</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş GAİN (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/2010295150598111654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Last season Thomas starred in the EuroLeague with ALBA Berlin, where he posted 12.3 points on a 46.2% clip from beyond the arc in 21 games. After playing college basketball with Iowa State University, Thomas began his professional career in Spain with Obradoiro before joining Valencia. He then returned to North America with stints in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls. Thomas played a total of 126 regular season games and saw action in 10 more playoff games for Toronto in 2020 and 3 more for Utah in 2021. He debuted in the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos Athens in February 2023 and then spent two seasons in Berlin.

Thomas joins a Besiktas side that has its sights set on contention for the EuroCup crown and currently sits second in Group B with a 9-4 record. He will team up with several other three-point aces in Istanbul, including Vitto Brown, Conor Morgan, Anthony Brown, Yigit Arslan and Jonah Matthews.

More Besiktas news

Thomas brings elite three-point shooting and EuroLeague experience to Istanbul as Besiktas targets a strong finish

Besiktas adds former champ and shooting ace Matt Thomas

Look back at all the action in Round 13 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 13

Look back at all the action from Round 13 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse has confirmed the signing of Will Cherry on a deal until the end of the season.

Will Cherry lands at Bourg

[Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) has confirmed the signing of [Will Cherry](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/will-cherry/006058/) on a deal until the end of the season.

Cherry (1.85 meters, 34 years old) most recently played for Cocodrilos in Venezuela, where he averaged 12.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 14 games.

The American point guard has four seasons of experience under the Euroleague Basketball umbrella, having spent two seasons in the EuroLeague with Zalgiris Kaunas (2014-15) and Olympiacos Piraeus (2019-20), and two campaigns in the BKT EuroCup with ALBA Berlin (2015-16) and Cedevita Zagreb (2017-18).

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Cherry joins a Bourg side that has already qualified for this season's EuroCup Playoffs, as the French side sits top of Group B with an 11-2 record.

More Bourg News

The veteran point guard bolsters coach Frederic Fauthoux's options in the backcourt

Zacharie Perrin is not your usual youth talent in Europe as the Veolia Towers Hamburg big man has always dreamt of playing in the EuroLeague over the NBA. And the way he is playing in his first year in Germany, that seems like a realistic goal of coming true soon. 

Zacharie Perrin: 'My dream is the EuroLeague over the NBA'

[Zacharie Perrin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/zacharie-perrin/011579/) is not your usual youth talent in Europe as the [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/) big man has always dreamt of playing in the EuroLeague over the NBA. And the way he is playing in his first year in Germany, that seems like a realistic goal of coming true soon. 

Perrin has excelled in his first season with the northern German club, averaging 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per night in the BKT EuroCup. The 21-year-old also has played well in the German League, where he is collecting 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. 

Perrin played in the ProA first division in France last season with SLUC Nancy but he was a domestic player. Now there is the added pressure of the 2.08-meter center having to perform as an import player. 

“That’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted to be out of my comfort zone. I knew there was a lot of pressure around me because it’s always tough to play a starting center, a 21-year-old, who didn’t have a great season in France. But it’s part of the sport,” said Perrin, who posted 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds with Nancy last season. 

“You have to handle pressure. I bet on myself. I believed I could be good, so I said, 'I’m going to work, and I know it’s going to pay off.' I have to find a way to handle the pressure.”

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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/DSfhIoNDB8e/?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 Zacharie Perrin ® (@zperrin25)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Perrin asked out of the final two years of his three-year deal with Nancy to come to Hamburg. And one of the reasons for that was to work with Towers head coach Benka Barloschky. 

“He tries to push me. He wants me to be better – every day, every practice. When you're a young player, you want to improve as fast as you can, and Benka is always behind me to help me become a better player. And even how he plays me. I don’t think there are a lot of coaches in Europe right now who start a 21-year-old in the EuroCup and also in the German League. That’s something you look for as a young player,” Perrin said. 

Playing time is certainly important for a youngster but Perrin is gaining valuable learning experience in something he really doesn’t want to – dealing with losses. 

Hamburg is still waiting for its first win in the EuroCup, narrowly losing this week at home to Neptunas Klaipeda to fall to 0-13 in Group A. The club has managed two victories domestically for a 2-10 record but also lost its German Cup game for a total season record of 2-24.

“It’s really tough. Even for me, as a young player. It’s the first time in my career I have to face this. But I try to stay focused, stay with the team, and also try to be better,” Perrin said. 

Perrin does have some experience in big games at the French youth national team level. He played a major role in helping the country reach the final of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023. But France lost to Spain in the title bout 73-69 in overtime, with Perrin contributing 14 points and 20 rebounds.

“It changed a lot of things in my mind. I was around really good players in the French national team. Rayan Rupert was a first-round pick, Alex Sarr was the second \[overall\] pick, and I was the best player there. I’m humble, but I was the best player on that team. It changed my confidence a lot, because I’m someone who sometimes struggles with confidence. So playing a World Cup for your country makes you proud, and it changed how confident I am in my game,” said Perrin, who was named to the All-Star Five with 15.4 points and 10.9 rebounds. 

Perrin got his revenge on Spain the next summer with a 74-72 victory in the quarterfinals – the game being decided on a buzzer-beater three-pointer by Noah Penda. 

“That was one of the best days of my life,” said Perrin, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament as France won the title and he averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

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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/C9xmQxaoqpI/?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 Zacharie Perrin ® (@zperrin25)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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Perrin mentioned earlier he has struggled with his confidence and that can be seen through his body language. 

“I’m still struggling with that, even now in Hamburg. Sometimes my body language isn’t great, and that’s something I’m trying to work on. I have a lot of people around me helping, even the coaching staff here, who talk to me about it a lot. But honestly, it’s just me. It takes time, but I’m starting to understand it better. It’s getting better – slowly, but surely,” he said. 

Perrin knows he will need to have good body language and strong confidence if he wants to reach his goal and excel in the EuroLeague, a league he still prefers to watch over the NBA to this day.

“For me, the EuroLeague is still the main goal. But the NBA is the best level of basketball in the world, I’ve got to be honest. Since I started basketball, I watched a lot of EuroLeague clips. It means a lot to me,” he said. 

Perrin definitely has a favorite team. 

“I grew up and went to high school in Antibes, which is really close to Monaco. So since I was young, I watched a lot of [\[AS\] Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/)’s games. I fell in love with EuroLeague basketball. So right now, my dream is still the EuroLeague over the NBA,” he said. 

Perrin also has two other teams he enjoys watching. 

“I like [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) because of the way they play. They never stop, they’re always running, always onto the next possession,” he said. 

And the third team is [Dubai Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/dubai-basketball/dub/). But that is because of center [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/), who played in the BKT EuroCup last season with [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/). 

“I love to watch him. I watch him a lot because of the way he plays, the way he changes the game. I would say this season, he’s probably my favorite player,” Perrin said. 

Who knows, maybe Perrin will play alongside Kabengele one day in the EuroLeague. 

More Hamburg News

The Frenchman is taking big steps in Hamburg but dealing with losing. 

Aris Thessaloniki signs Kostas Antetokounmpo on loan from Olympiacos. The EuroLeague and NBA champion prepares for his first EuroCup experience and a bigger role in Thessaloniki. 

Kostas Antetokounmpo moves from Olympiacos to Aris

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson has secured the services of [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) on loan from Olympiacos Piraeus for the remainder of the season. The move gives the Greek big man an opportunity to make his EuroCup debut and take on a more prominent role after limited minutes in Piraeus.

Antetokounmpo (2.08 meters, 28 years old) appeared in three EuroLeague games for Olympiacos this season, where he totaled 4 points and 3 rebounds in 16 minutes. He also contributed 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds across 10 Greek League contests. He now joins an Aris squad aiming to strengthen its frontcourt for the second half of the EuroCup campaign.

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A EuroLeague and NBA champion, Antetokounmpo signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos last summer after finishing the previous season with UCAM Murcia in Spain. He previously played for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, with which he won the EuroLeague in 2024. Antetokounmpo lifted the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. His career also includes stints with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in France, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkiye, and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

The move makes Kostas the second Antetokounmpo to play for Aris this season; his younger brother Alex began the season with the club, but made only one official appearance before leaving. Now, Antetokounmpo brings size, athleticism, and experience to Aris as he embarks on his first EuroCup adventure.

More Aris news

The EuroLeague and NBA champion moves on loan to Aris, where he will make his EuroCup debut

A career-best night in a winning effort saw Rihards Lomazs of Neptunas Klaipeda secure MVP honors for Round 13 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Round 13 MVP: Rihards Lomazs, Neptunas Klaipeda

A career-best night in a winning effort saw [Rihards Lomazs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/rihards-lomazs/005553/) of [Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/neptunas-klaipeda/kla/) secure MVP honors for Round 13 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Lomazs posted a career-high 33 points, making 6-of-9 two-pointers, 3-of-6 three-pointers and 12-of-12 free throws, as Neptunas beat Veolia Towers Hamburg 94-98. The Latvian guard also amassed 1 rebound, 6 assists, 1 steal and 6 fouls drawn. His career-best 36 PIR is the best of any player in this round. Lomazs is the second Neptunas player to earn MVP of the Round honors this season, after James Karnik was the tri-MVP in Round 6.

Hamburg’s [Ross Williams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ross-williams/014194/) finished with a career-best 34 PIR in his team’s defeat to Neptunas. He amassed a career-high 32 points, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 inside the arc, 5-for-12 from deep and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 fouls drawn.

[Austin Wiley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/austin-wiley/013278/) of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem had the third-best index rating in Round 13, which came in his team’s 72-115 victory at Slask Wroclaw. He recorded a career-high 31 PIR after posting 17 points on 6-of-8 two-pointers and 5-of-7 free throws, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 4 fouls drawn.

[Umoja Gibson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/umoja-gibson/013855/) of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana had a career-best 30 PIR as his side fell 59-67 to Bahcesehir College Istanbul. He had a career-high 25 points on 4-of-5 two-pointers, 1-of-5 triples and 14-of-14 free throws, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block and 9 fouls drawn.

Rounding out the list of top performers in Round 13 are [Bryce Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/bryce-jones/012621/) of Aris Thessaloniki Betsson and [Joe Thomasson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/joe-thomasson/012095/) of Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens, both with a PIR of 29. Jones posted 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 7 fouls drawn as Aris lost 113-99 at BAXI Manresa, while Thomasson amassed 16 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 5 fouls drawn in Panionios’s 97-85 win against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

### Individual highs: Rihards Lomazs, Neptunas, 33 points

Rihards Lomazs of Neptunas scored 33 points in Round 13, more than any other player. U-BT Cluj-Napoca star Fatts Russell leads the EuroCup in scoring with 22.2 points per game.

Three players finished with a round-high 12 rebounds: Fardaws Aimaq of Lietkabelis Panevezys, and Jerusalem duo Anthony Lamb and Austin Wiley. Wiley is also the season leader in rebounds with 9.0 boards per contest.

Nikos Gkikas of Panionios dished a round-best 9 assists. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas tops the assists charts with 7.6 assists per night.

Two players – Shavar Reynolds of the London Lions and Jordan Usher of Turk Telekom Ankara – had 4 steals in this round, the best mark of any player. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom is the EuroCup’s leader in steals with 2.5 per game.

Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu of Manresa and Chris Horton of Umana Reyer Venice both had a round-high 3 blocks. Austin Wiley narrowly leads the charts in blocks with an average of 1.64 per game, just ahead of Akobundu-Ehiogu (1.61 per game).

Austin Wiley (17 points, 12 rebounds), Anthony Lamb (10 points, 12 rebounds), Bahcesehir College Istanbul’s Tyler Cavanaugh (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Besiktas GAIN Istanbul’s Ante Zizic (10 points, 11 rebounds) were the four players to record a double-double in Round 13.

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Neptunas Klaipeda (2026-01-07T18:45:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija has signed American forward Matthew Hurt for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Hurt, a former Duke standout and ex-NBA player, joins from Trapani Shark to make his EuroCup debut and strengthen Ljubljana’s frontcourt.


Cedevita Olimpija snags more size and outside shooting with Matthew Hurt

Cedevita Olimpija has strengthened its frontline by signing [Matthew Hurt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matthew-hurt/014222/) for the remainder of the season. Hurt (2.06 meters, 25 years old) joins the club after starting the season with Trapani Shark in Italy, where he averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in six Basketball Champions League games and 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in the Italian League. Hurt, who will make his EuroCup debut with Cedevita Olimpija, brings a strong offensive skill set highlighted by his shooting range and rebounding ability.

“After the departures of Nikos Chougkatzas and William McNair, we needed reinforcements in the frontcourt,” said Cedevita Olimpija sports director Chechu Mulero. “Matthew has great offensive potential, a good shooting touch, and basketball intelligence. We expect him to integrate quickly and help us in the decisive part of the season.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sl" dir="ltr">Med Zmaje prihaja okrepitev na položaju krilnega centra!<br><br>Cedeviti Olimpiji se bo pridružil 25-letni, 206 cm visoki Matthew Hurt, ki je sezono začel pri italijanskem Trapaniju, zdaj pa bo zaigral v Ljubljani.<br><br>Matt, dobrodošel med Zmaji! 💚🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/XVGx6wvq0f">pic.twitter.com/XVGx6wvq0f</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/2008886356467151352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hurt said he was excited about the move: “I’m thrilled to join Cedevita Olimpija. I’ve heard great things about the team and the city. I can’t wait to meet the fans and contribute to a strong squad.”

A former standout at Duke University, Hurt led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding during his sophomore season before turning professional. He spent time in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, appearing in eight games and starred in the G League with the Memphis Hustle. Hurt also played in Australia for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, where he earned All-NBL First Team honors with averages of 20.1 points and 7.4 rebounds, before moving to Italy last summer.

Cedevita Olimpija currently sits in the thick of the EuroCup playoff race, ranked third in Group A at 8-5, and will look to Hurt’s versatility and scoring punch to boost its chances in the season’s most critical stretch.

The 25-year-old American forward arrives from Italy’s Trapani Shark 

Neptunas Klaipeda secured a 94-98 win over Veolia Towers Hamburg on Wednesday night, improving to 6-7 in Group A and taking a vital step in the race for a top-six finish. Rihards Lomazs was the driving force for the Lithuanian side, posting a career-high 33 points and 6 assists for a game-best 36 PIR. 

Neptunas prevailed in Hamburg behind red-hot Rihards Lomazs

Neptunas Klaipeda secured a 94-98 win over Veolia Towers Hamburg on Wednesday night, improving to 6-7 in Group A and taking a vital step in the race for a top-six finish.

Coming off two straight losses, the Lithuanian side knew a win was essential to keep its playoff hopes alive and stayed composed in a back-and-forth game before delivering late in the final quarter.

Rihards Lomazs was the driving force for the Lithuanian side, posting a career-high 33 points and 6 assists for a game-best 36 PIR. Held to just 8 points at halftime, he caught fire after the break and carried the offense when it mattered most.

‘‘For sure, those stops we got in the end, it was crucial. And we kind of stuck together the whole game,’’ said the Latvian guard. ‘‘I try to do whatever the defense gives and sometimes it was a pull-up, sometimes it was a drive, sometimes a three-pointer, so basketball is a game of reads and yeah, probably I did the right reads today… If you want to compete in the playoffs, you have to win on the road.’’

Neptunas stayed level in a fast-paced game, with both teams trading baskets in a balanced first half. The visitors' ability to limit their turnovers proved decisive, and a crucial turnover from Hamburg with 18 seconds remaining allowed Neptunas to pull ahead and close out the win.

Bench production proved to be another key factor for Neptunas. Zane Waterman gave the visitors a lift in the second quarter and finished with 15 points, while Harrison Cleary delivered in the final period, knocking down key three-pointers on his way to 16 points. Arnas Velicka also provided multiple scoring options, adding another layer to Neptunas’ offense.

‘‘Overall, I don’t think that today was a bad energy and bad mindset,’’ said coach Gediminas Petrauskas after the game. ‘‘Our problem was shooting. We created shots, we missed, even the layups. I felt that our team is a little bit nervous, we feel the pressure, we must win, we need to win, and it felt a little bit on our shoulders.’’

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Hamburg, chasing its first win of the season, came close behind a red-hot Ross Williams, who carried the offense and kept his team in the game. The American guard posted a career-high 32 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 34. He made 5 three-pointers and was 8-of-8 in the paint.

Zacharie Perrin also contributed heavily, especially in the second half, finishing with 16 points and making his presence felt in the paint.

Next up, Neptunas will look to carry the momentum back home as it faces Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, while Hamburg will continue its search for a first win of the season on the road at U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Game News

The Latvian sharpshooter shined bright with a career-high 33 points