Ahead of the second – and maybe last – week of the playoffs, Eurohoops takes a look at eight things (two for each quarterfinal series) to look forward to in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Eight things to look forward to in the second week of the EuroLeague Playoffs

Three of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series are at 2-0 and there’s only one with the two teams tied. [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/), [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) are one win away from the Abu Dhabi Final Four after getting two victories against [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/), [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) and [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/), respectively. In the meantime, [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) escaped OAKA with the dub over [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) in Game 2, courtesy of [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/).

Ahead of the second – and maybe last – week of the playoffs, we take a look at eight things (two for each quarterfinal series) to look forward to. From the factors that can lead to sweeps, to what teams should do to survive and star players that need to raise the level of their game.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1817997/eight-things-to-look-forward-to-in-the-second-week-of-the-euroleague-playoffs/).

Three teams could close out their respective series in Game 3

FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-05-02T18:45:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-05-02T17:30:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-05-01T19:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-05-01T18:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-04-30T17:45:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-04-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-04-29T19:00:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-04-29T18:30:00.000Z)

Antonio Blakeney is set to keep playing for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv until the end of the 2026-27 season, the club announced Tuesday. Blakeney (1.93 meters, 28 years old) played a key role for Hapoel in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup, averaging 13.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and a PIR of 12.2 in 17 games, to help the team lift win EuroCup trophy.

Hapoel, Blakeney agree to contract extension

[Antonio Blakeney](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/antonio-blakeney/013402/) is set to keep playing for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv until the end of the 2026-27 season, the club announced Tuesday. Blakeney (1.93 meters, 28 years old) played a key role for Hapoel in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup, averaging 13.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and a PIR of 12.2 in 17 games, to help the team lift win EuroCup trophy.

The first-year guard played a critical role in Hapoel's most important games. Blakeney had 32 points and 9 rebounds in Game 3 of the semifinals on the road against Valencia Basket, hitting five three-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead Hapoel to a go-ahead 92-94 win. He also shined in the 2025 EuroCup Finals against Dreamland Gran Canaria, averaging 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and a PIR of 23.5 in two games.

Antonio Blakeney's best plays from semifinals Game 3 against Valencia, and from the EuroCup Finals against Dreamland Gran Canaria

Blakeney shined in the final three playoff games

Blakeney started his professional career with Chicago of the NBA, and also played for Windy City and Canton of the G League, Jiangsu Nangang Dragons Nanjing and Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings of China, Al-Ahli Manama of Bahrein, and Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Shave of Israel before joining Hapoel.

"I am very happy and grateful for the opportunity to sign with Hapoel Tel Aviv for two more seasons. I would like to thank the team's owner Ofer Yannay, the management and the professional team for their trust and support in me," Blakeney say after the agreement. "I feel at home here in Tel Aviv. I look forward to continuing to help the team reach great achievements. I am aware that there is still a lot of work ahead of us – both this season and the seasons to come – and I will give it my all, together with my teammates and the professional team. A huge thank you to all the fans for your incredible support!"

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">מועדון הכדורסל הפועל &quot;שלמה&quot; תל אביב גאה להודיע על הארכת חוזהו של הגארד אנטוניו בלייקני בשנתיים נוספות, עד לסוף עונת 2026/27.<br> <br>בלייקני הינו אחד מהשחקנים המרכזיים שהובילו את הקבוצה לזכייה ההיסטורית ביורוקאפ, ואף הצטיין במיוחד בשלבים המכריעים, כאשר קבע ממוצע של 21.6 נקודות למשחק –… <a href="https://t.co/Iac0kK7uPj">pic.twitter.com/Iac0kK7uPj</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1917163308546928649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"We are very happy, both personally and as the Hapoel Tel Aviv club, that Antonio is continuing with us. In my opinion, AB is a symbol of shared growth - both of the club and of him as a player. Antonio joined us with little experience in European basketball, and since then he has developed and become one of the team's important players - just as Hapoel Tel Aviv as a club is growing and growing among the prominent clubs in the Euroleague", Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. "We hope that he will continue to remain healthy, determined and focused, with the goal of continuing to improve and display high and consistent ability."

Blakeney penned a new deal until the end of the 2026-27 season

The 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season will be remembered not only as the most competitive regular-season campaign on the court, but also as the most followed in history. For the fourth consecutive year, in-arena attendance set a new record with a remarkable 3,039,060 spectators. Off the court, the League’s digital and social media performance continued to break new ground, cementing the EuroLeague’s status as a global leader in sports engagement.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season shatters digital and social media records

- **Double digit growth on platforms' engagement, followers and views**
- **A record 1.5 billion impressions reached**

The 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season will be remembered not only as the most competitive regular-season campaign on the court, but also as the most followed in history. For the fourth consecutive year, in-arena attendance set a new record with a [remarkable 3,039,060 spectators](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/news/euroleague-regular-season-attendance-sets-new-record/). Off the court, the League’s digital and social media performance continued to break new ground, cementing the EuroLeague’s status as a global leader in sports engagement.

**SOCIAL MEDIA: UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH ACROSS ALL CHANNELS**

The EuroLeague’s social media platforms saw double-digit growth in all key metrics, with total impressions reaching a record-breaking 1.5 billion. Total video views surged by 56%, totaling 816 million, while engagement raised by 21%, showing just how passionate the EuroLeague fan base is.

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/euroleague/#) emerged as the top-performing platform with 1.34 million followers, marking a 22% increase. The platform drove 559 million views (+58%) and 918.6 million impressions (+33%), solidifying its status as the EuroLeague fan base’s favorite social network.

- [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@euroleague) was the standout growth platform, with triple-digit gains across the board. Impressions soared by 126% to 149.4 million, views hit 149.5 million (+126%), and engagement doubled (+105%) to reach 11.2 million. A highlight was the exclusive [*Hoop District* live stream collaboration](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/hoop-district-goes-live-on-tiktok-a-groundbreaking-global-first/), aligning perfectly with the disruptive and innovative spirit of the tournament.

- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/euroleague), [X](https://x.com/Euroleague) (formerly Twitter) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheEuroLeague/) also posted significant growth. [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/euroleague) engagement increased by 92% to 676,732, and views climbed 63% to 32.1 million, driven by popular series like the [EuroLeague & Friends](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcjy-GNBj1yVF3i2kWIseta5qBjEJSmP) and [Fantasy Challenge](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcjy-GNBj1xiCJQa4EM2lCMCqXSVxLr7) podcasts. On [X](https://x.com/Euroleague), engagement rose by 13%, with a 4% increase in views, now totaling 51.2 million, while [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/TheEuroLeague/) registered 173.2 million impressions.

[**EUROLEAGUE.TV**](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV) **AND FANTASY GAME: FAN ENGAGEMENT REIMAGINED**

[EuroLeague.TV](http://EuroLeague.TV), the League’s official OTT platform, saw a 37% increase in subscriptions. Key upgrades - such as seamless integration with [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) and expanded streaming coverage, including the 2025 LBA Final Eight - enhancing the fan experience and broadening its reach.

Meanwhile, the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/login?from=/) game continued its meteoric rise, with a record 290,000 players (+101%) and 541,000 teams created (+63%). With high engagement across key markets like Serbia, Greece, Italy, Turkiye, Spain and Germany, and successful partnerships with leading media outlets, the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/login?from=/) has truly become a global phenomenon.

Javier Gancedo offers his recommendations in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge for Games 3 and 4 of the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Fantasy tips for Games 3 and 4: Rising to the moment

What a way to start the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs! 

Olympiacos Piraeus, AS Monaco and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul made the most of their home-court advantage to take 2-0 leads in their series, while Anadolu Efes Istanbul edged Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in Game 2 to level things up heading back to Turkiye. 

Anything can happen this week – from sweeps to comebacks. As always, I have some recommendations to make your EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge teams even better. 

### Terry Tarpey, AS Monaco (4.2 credits)

[Terry Tarpey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/terry-tarpey/012515/) has earned a reputation for always being ready when his number is called. Coach Vassilis Spanoulis surprised Barca with a very small lineup featuring Tarpey at power forward, which worked well. No player under 5.0 credits has been more effective in the playoffs: 3.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.0 PIR.

### Tarik Biberovic, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (8.2 credits)

Tarik Biberovic is coming off a career-best night, reaching 20 points for the first time in his EuroLeague career. He was effective from beyond the arc but also attacked the rim and was really active on offense. Paris's run-and-gun style suits him well, and Biberovic is ready to keep shining in Game 3.

### Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid (11.9 credits)

Dzanan Musa struggled in Game 2 against Olympiacos, finishing the night with 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting and a PIR of 0. He already bounced back in Spanish League action, getting 22 points on 6-of-7 three-pointers. Real Madrid plays at home this time and it is hard to imagine that Musa has such a sub-par performance again. He could be your X-factor in Game 3.

### Vincent Poirier, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (14.6 credits)

[Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) has been simply sensational so far, dominating the paint and finding a lot of advantages against Omer Yurtseven and Wenyen Gabriel. In Games 1 and 2 in Athens, Poirier averaged 16.5 points on 73.7% shooting, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and a PIR of 26.0. It will be hard to find a better center in the game.

### TJ Shorts, Paris Basketball (20.2 credits)

If you think Paris won't fight until the very end, think again. Paris hosts Game 3, where [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) feels comfortable, and he should be his usual, unstoppable self. He has been playing well in the series, averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 assists and a PIR of 19.0. If Paris needs a monster game from Shorts to force Game 4, he will be ready to deliver.

Javier Gancedo gives his recommendations for this week's playoff action

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Playoffs Game 1 and 2 by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Playoffs: Games 1 and 2

Olympiacos BC grabbed 16 offensive rebounds in its Game 2 victory against Real Madrid, and now it will look to close the series by winning Game 3 in the Spanish capital next week.

Olympiacos showed grit and desire in Game 2 – qualities it will need in Game 3

A defensive sequence cannot be labeled successful if the rebound is not captured at the end of the play. Boxing out and protecting the boards is considered as important as whatever may have occurred before the ball was released by the hands of the opposition player on offense. Hence, pulling down as many as 16 offensive rebounds in a tight game where neither team managed to score more than 77 points clearly has a huge impact on the game.

Doing so against the team with the best defensive rebounding average in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season (26.5 rpg) is one of the keys that can lead to a victory.

On Friday night, [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) managed to [beat Real Madrid 77-71 in Game 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-outlasts-real-madrid-77-71-for-a-2-0-lead-in-the-series/), where the hosts secured 16 second-chance opportunities through offensive boards. Six players grabbed at least 1 each, with [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) recording a game-high 5 offensive rebounds.

Olympiacos's two main bigs, [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) and [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/), chipped in with 3 apiece, giving the Reds extra possessions and dealing constant blows in the morale of Real Madrid’s players, all while pulling off an extraordinary outing on the defensive end.

“We had 16 second chances from offensive rebounds and finally we managed to beat this great team,” Georgios Bartzokas told EuroLeague TV after Friday’s clash. “The game was full of tension, a typical playoff game. Real Madrid played excellently, with their talent, their experience.”

Despite heading into Game 2 as only the 13th-best team in total rebounds (33.4, rpg) so far this campaign, Olympiacos secured 36 boards which prevented the visitors from dictating the tempo on both ends. In a game where the hosts struggled to connect with the basket, missing 17 two-pointers and 23 triples, finding extra possessions played a key role in the outcome.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🗣️ Coach Georgios Bartzokas: &quot;Nothing finished. One game at a time&quot;.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/a66SDTXwmg">pic.twitter.com/a66SDTXwmg</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1915890669672898607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yet, Real Madrid has proved in the past that it should not be underestimated under any circumstances. And Vezenkov was quick to remind everyone that there has been only one team in EuroLeague history to turn a series around from 2-0 down.

“\[In Game 3\] we have to play better on offense, make better decisions and be very concentrated,” Vezenkov said in the post-game press conference. “Because if you remember, Real Madrid came back from 2-0 two years ago in very difficult circumstances.”

In fact, Real Madrid was trailing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 2-0 in the 2023 EuroLeague Playoffs after the Serbian side grabbed back-to-back victories in the Spanish capital. *Los Blancos* not only turned the series around but they also went all the way to win the trophy after beating Olympiacos in the championship game.

“We have to keep believing because we are going to fight until the end,” Chus Mateo said in the post-game press conference. “We’re not going to stop. It would be very difficult to beat Olympiacos on the road because they are a very good team with experienced players, a great coach and a great atmosphere of basketball.”

Meanwhile, the remarks of Bartzokas, Milutinov and Vezenkov after the game had one common denominator: the Reds may have won all its four games against Real Madrid this season, but nothing is over until a third playoff victory is officially clinched.

Olympiacos will travel to Spain next week, with Game 3 scheduled to take place on Tuesday night. Protecting the boards will be the key to controlling the tempo in yet another game, and if the visitors manage to do so they would have taken an important step towards sealing their place at the Final Four for the fourth season in a row.

Game News

The Reds recorded 16 offensive rebounds against the team with the best defensive rebounding average in the league

Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2025-04-25T18:30:00.000Z)

After another dominant playoff victory, AS Monaco and its backcourt of Mike James, Elie Okobo and Matthew Strazel are on the cusp of taking the team to the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four.

Monaco's ‘luxury’ backcourt flipped the script on Barcelona in Game 2

When the playoff pairings were finalized a week ago, few would have thought that the series between fourth-seeded [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) and fifth-placed [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) would be the most lopsided of the four in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs. But, it is not even close after two games in each series have been played.

Monaco dominated Games 1 and 2, winning them by a combined 31-point margin, including [a 92-79 win on Friday night](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-blows-past-barcelona-92-79-to-take-2-0-series-lead/). And Game 2, as intense as it was, did not seem as close as the final 13-point margin would suggest.

“I think we are just playing well,” [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/), one of the main protagonists of Game 2, said. “We are playing defense, nitty-gritty, and we are helping each other as well. When we play like that, it's really hard to beat us. Especially with the offensive talent we have.”

While Diallo says it all starts with defense, with Monaco playing with a visible energy and physicality, what caught everyone’s eye is Monaco offense and how impressive it has been looking. And that is a bit of a surprise.

Barcelona was the team that finished the regular season ranked second in scoring (88.1 ppg.) and second in assists (20.1 apg.). Monaco was not too far behind with 86.3 points and 18.7 assists, but it was middle-of-the-pack in both categories.

But after two opening games of this playoff series, this script has been flipped.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Home court protected! 🔒<a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASMonaco_Basket</a> 👏 <a href="https://t.co/jies5S6xEX">pic.twitter.com/jies5S6xEX</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1915862826280771705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Monaco has scored at least 92 points in both games to start the series, while no other team in the other six playoff fixtures has so far managed to score 90.

This offensive rhapsody was especially on display in Game 2 as Monaco went 28 for 39 (71.8%) on two-pointers and dished a club-record 28 assists.

“I think we were even better than in the first game,” Monaco head coach Vassilis Spanoulis said after his team took a 2-0 series lead, before stressing why he thinks everything is clicking: “We have guards who have willingness to create for their teammates, and this is big for me.”

Monaco has a total of 49 assists in two playoff games, which is 12 more than the next best team (Efes with 37), and an incredible 21 more than Barcelona.

In Game 2, what might be the most impressive part is that Monaco had 25 assists in the first three quarters, along with 80 points and a 16-point lead.

“Our guards were amazing, creating for the others,” Spanoulis also said.

“When you have such talented guards who have a willingness to play for the team, for the win, to read the defenses and to not overdo it, it’s a luxury. When they understand this, we are a different team.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Job not finished!” 🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/mrjloyd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mrjloyd</a> <br><br>LOCKED IN on Game 3 👀🔒 <a href="https://t.co/dPVlMjMtXN">pic.twitter.com/dPVlMjMtXN</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1915864758105895319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The center of this all is, of course, [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/). He had just 5 points on 1-of-6 field-goal shooting, with 6 assists and 4 turnovers. But the EuroLeague's all-time leading scorer received nothing but praise from his coach.

“He takes so much attention of the defenses, so he makes everybody’s life easier,” Spanoulis said after Game 2.  “This is the chemistry of this team, they play for each other. We do not want to play selfish, we want to play good basketball, and to take what the game gives us. 

"Mike had a lot of good looks in the first game, and he was our best scorer, and now he was our great creator. Somebody else did the job because we trust each other, we share the ball and we are ready to always take the right decision. I am very happy for this and I am very proud of our creators, Mike and [Elie \[Okobo\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) and [Matthew \[Strazel\]](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-strazel/008099/).”

The trio combined for 19 assists in Game 2, and the next task for Monaco is to carry its momentum into Game 3 and finish the job. The first chance comes next Wednesday at Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona.

Vassilis Spanoulis's side has showed out through Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2025-04-25T17:00:00.000Z)

MVP of the Round honors for Game 2 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs are shared by Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s Shane Larkin, the all-time record-holder when it comes to this award, and AS Monaco’s Mam Jaiteh, who has never won this prize before.

Playoffs Game 2 co-MVPs: Shane Larkin, Mam Jaiteh

MVP of the Round honors for Game 2 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs are shared by Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/), the all-time record-holder when it comes to this award, and AS Monaco’s [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/), who has never won this prize before.

Larkin led Efes in a come-from-behind 76-79 win at Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens with 20 points, shooting 1 of 2 on two-pointers, 4 of 6 on three-pointers and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also had 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal, while drawing 5 fouls and accumulating a 27 PIR. Larkin earned MVP of the Round honors for the second time this season and the 19th time in his career, an all-time record.

Jaiteh had that same PIR, equaling his career high, in Monaco’s resounding 92-79 over FC Barcelona. He tied his career best with 20 points on 9-of-9 two-point shooting. He made both of his free throws, pulled down 4 rebounds, had 2 steals and dished 1 assist. This is the first time that Jaiteh has secured the MVP of the Round accolade.

The next-best PIR, 26, belongs to [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/), who led Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in an 89-72 win over Paris Basketball with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 5 fouls drawn.

Rounding out the list of top performers in Game 2 are Monaco’s [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) and Real Madrid’s [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/), each with a 24 PIR. Diallo had 21 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block, while Hezonja posted 22 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists in a 77-71 loss at Olympiacos Piraeus.

### Individual highs: Andres Feliz, Real Madrid, 6 steals

Hezonja and [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of Olympiacos led all players with 22 points in Game 2. [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos is the league’s leading scorer with 20.7 points per game.

Efes center [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) had 10 rebounds, the most in Game 2. [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) of Panathinaikos leads the EuroLeague with 6.9 rebounds per game.

Monaco’s [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) dished 8 assists, more than any player in Game 2. [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball leads the league in this category, averaging 7.4 assists.

Real Madrid’s [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andres-feliz/011247/) had 6 steals, tied for the second-most all-time in a playoff game. [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/) of FC Bayern Munich tops the steals charts with 1.5 per game.

Poirer and Real Madrid’s [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) were the only players with 2 blocks in Game 2. [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) of Monaco is the EuroLeague’s top shot-blocker with 1.4 per contest.

Poirier (16 points, 10 rebounds) was the only player to record a double-double in Game 2.

A first-timer and a record-holder share the award

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-24T18:30:00.000Z)

Now streaming exclusively on EuroLeague TV, “The 7th Star” – the latest documentary produced by Euroleague Basketball Originals – follows Panathinaikos BC’s postseason journey towards winning the club’s seventh EuroLeague championship.

 Watch “The 7th Star” for free on EuroLeague TV! 

How does a team go from 17th in the standings one year to winning the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title the next? The [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) team of 2023-24 had the answer. 

Now streaming exclusively on EuroLeague TV, “The 7th Star” – the latest documentary produced by Euroleague Basketball Originals – follows the Greens’ postseason journey towards winning the club’s seventh EuroLeague championship. You can watch the documentary [for free on EuroLeague TV if you have a EuroLeague ID account](https://tv.euroleague.net/). 

During the 50-minute documentary, some of the main protagonists from Panathinaikos’s run to the 2024 EuroLeague title take center stage in “The 7th Star”, including club owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos, coach Ergin Ataman, [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) and [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/). 

The 7th Star | Trailer

After a manic summer in 2023, in which two-time champion Coach Ataman arrived, together with 10 new players, hopes were high for a Panathinaikos side hoping to lift its first EuroLeague championship since 2011. 

Sloukas’s decision to move across the Greek divide by changing the red of Olympiacos Piraeus for the green of Panathinaikos sent shockwaves across Europe, while All-EuroLeague center Lessort had already signed on the dotted line 11 days prior. But it was the addition of Nunn in late October that really put Panathinaikos on the right track towards achieving its ultimate goal. 

There were ups and downs for Panathinaikos in the playoffs and moments of adversity at the Final Four, but the Greens – led by Coach Ataman, Sloukas, Lessort and Nunn – wrote history by flipping the culture of the club and bringing a EuroLeague title back to Athens. 

[You can watch “The 7th Star” on EuroLeague TV now](https://tv.euroleague.net/)! 

More Panathinaikos News

The new documentary showcasing Panathinaikos’s 2024 EuroLeague title is available in ELTV with your EL ID account  

Watch “The 7th Star” for free on EuroLeague TV! 

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-05-26T18:00:00.000Z)