Big man Josh Nebo did big-man things on Tuesday night in leading Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to a dramatic 85-83 victory over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and thus helping his team to a 2-1 series lead while also earning MVP of the Round honors for Game 3 of the EuroLeague Playoffs.
The high-flying center shined, tying his career-high with 22 points, making 10-of-13 two-point shots and 2-of-5 free throws. Those 10 two-pointers made, 8 of which were dunks, tied a Maccabi playoff record. Nebo also grabbed 9 rebounds, including 4 on the offensive end. He also had 2 steals, 1 block and drew 5 fouls, accumulating a PIR of 31, tied for the highest among all players in Game 3, earning Nebo his third MVP honor this season.
Also with a 31 PIR in Game 3 was Nebo's counterpart Mathias Lessort of Panathinaikos, who collected 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 block, while drawing an all-time EuroLeague Playoffs record 13 fouls.
Next on the list of standout players for Game 3 of the playoffs was Alpha Diallo of AS Monaco with a PIR of 28. Diallo came within a single point of his career-high in scoring with 23 points and also corralled 7 rebounds in an 89-78 loss at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.
A trio of Real Madrid players all had PIRs of 26 - Facu Campazzo, Guerschon Yabusele and Walter Tavares – in a 98-102 series-clinching road win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Campazzo compiled 13 points and 8 assists, Yabusele scored 23 and grabbed 7 boards and Tavares amassed 12 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.