It’s fair to say that it took a while for Anadolu Efes Istanbul to find its offensive rhythm in Wednesday’s home meeting with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Better late than never for Efes

It’s fair to say that it took a while for [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/) to find its offensive rhythm in Wednesday’s home meeting with [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/).

The Turkish team was misfiring all over the court in the early stages, failing to convert any of its first 5 field goal attempts and committing 3 turnovers in the process. [Ercan Osmani](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ercan-osmani/012710/) finally got Efes on the scoreboard with more than 4 minutes played, but that certainly didn’t lead to an instant improvement as [Tomislav Mijatovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/mijatovic-tomislav/?season=E2024)’s men could only score 36 points in the first half – by which time it had also committed a startling 13 turnovers.

The second half, however, was a totally different matter.

The initial spark came from [Elijah Bryant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elijah-bryant/009846/), who followed consecutive baskets with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer – 9 points in the space of 3 minutes, which were enough to give Efes its first lead, 50-49. [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/) then took over with 7 points early in the fourth quarter, before [Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/) returned off the bench to score 6 late points and seal the deal.

The [final scoreline of 89-67](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-fights-back-to-blast-zvezda-89-67/) in no way reflected how tough the game had been for Efes. But the fact that the hosts won the rest of the game 39-18 shows just how much the Turkish team dominated the last 15 minutes and Mijatovic was delighted with the way that his players stuck to their task despite their poor start.

“It’s important to play 40 minutes,” the coach said. “Our guys understand that and credit to them. They knew that to beat a great team you’ve got to break them, break them, break them, before you actually break them. So in the fourth quarter we continued with that pressure, continued with active hands, stealing the basketball for easy unanswered points in transition.”

Bryant, who jointly led the scoring alongside Oturu with 17 points, agreed with his coach that the pressure exerted on Zvezda – which eventually led the Serbian team to commit 21 turnovers – was the decisive factor, saying: “It starts with deflections on defense. Roddy \[Beaubois\] helped us out a lot there. When one guy starts getting deflections it motivates the other guys. It always starts on the defensive end, and then our defense will lead to offense.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">👊 Keep rollin!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/rFa50O8pvd">pic.twitter.com/rFa50O8pvd</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1869479282755751970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oturu highlighted the other side of the same coin, pointing out that Efes improved drastically from committing 13 turnovers in the first half to just 7 after the break.

“\[In the second half\] we were taking care of the ball and valuing possession,” he explained. “When you turn the ball over it allows the other team to get out and get easy shots, fast-break points, so taking care of the ball and trying to get good shots on offense allows us to get back and play tough defense.”

That combination of swarming defense and far more effective offense was enough for Efes to more than double the points tally of Zvezda in the second half, 53-25, and leaves Mijatovic’s men nicely poised just outside the all-important top six ahead of Friday’s visit from the other Belgrade team, Partizan.

The Turkish team overcame a slow start to find its form at both ends in the second half against Zvezda

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2024-12-18T17:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul outlasted Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, 89-67, to take a valuable home win thanks to a strong second half. 

Efes fights back to blast Zvezda, 89-67

Anadolu Efes Istanbul outlasted Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, 89-67, to take a valuable home win thanks to a strong second half. Efes improved to 9-7, while Zvezda dropped to 8-8.

Zvezda dominated the opening quarter to take a double-digit lead, but Efes fought back and it was 36-42 at the break. The hosts continued their recovery to go ahead in the third quarter and a 12-0 run early in the fourth sealed the win.

Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu paced Efes with 17 points apiece, while Ercan Osmani scored 13, Rolands Smits had 12, Rodrigue Beaubois netted 11, and Shane Larkin only scored 4 points but dished 12 assists. Filip Petrusev top-scored for Zvezda with 15 points, and Codi Miller-McIntyre netted 10.

Game Videos

Miller-McIntyre’s triple opened the scoring in an otherwise slow start, before Ognjen Dobric netted a three and Petrusev powered a layup for a 0-8 lead. Ercan Osmani finally got Efes on the scoreboard and Bryant struck from deep, but Petrusev scored twice and Dobric netted a putback to make it 5-14. Bryant hit another triple and Osmani scored from close-range before Miller-McIntyre kept Zvezda moving from deep. Oturu and Darius Thompson scored at the rim, but Nikola Kalinic drilled a triple to end the first quarter, 14-25.

Bryant’s layup and Smits’ triple pulled Efes closer, before Luka Mitrovic and Beaubois traded close-range finishes. Oturu scored 5 fast points and Smits added a slam, pulling Efes back to 28-33. Oturu’s tip-in completed a 7-0 run, which Yago Dos Santos ended with a driving layup. Beaubois’s mid-range jumper and Stanley Johnson’s transition score were answered by Joel Bolomboy’s jumper, keeping Zvezda ahead at 34-37. Oturu and Dobric both netted at the rim, before Bolomboy struck again for a 36-42 interval score.

Game News

Petrusev struck from deep to start the second half, but Bryant scored consecutive baskets to keep Efes close and Jordan Nwora hit a three to bring Efes back, 45-47. Miller-McIntyre scored in transition, but Bryant scored 5 points in a row for the home team’s first lead, 50-49. Nemanja Nedovic from close-range and Dos Santos from deep restored Zvezda’s lead, but Osmani’s free throws sent Efes back ahead, 56-54. Petrusev’s layup was bettered by Osmani from deep at the end of the third, 59-57.

Neither team could score as turnovers flew freely early in the final period before finally Beaubois netted a mid-range jumper and Smits added a triple for a 64-57 lead. Beaubois netted consecutive identical steals and scores for a double-digit advantage after a 14-0 run, before Kalinic finally ended Zvezda’s 5-minute drought from the foul line. Vincent Poirier’s alley-oop and a pair of scores from Darius Thompson stretched Efes’s lead, 78-61, and Oturu’s mid-range finish removed any lingering doubt as Zvezda struggled until the end.

The Turkish team overturned an early double-digit advantage to claim an ultimately comfortable win.

On his first game back at Palau Blaugrana, Saras Jasikevicius saw his Fenerbahce Beko team get blown out for the second game in a row, with FC Barcelona winning by 27 points.

Joan Penarroya, Barcelona spoiled Saras Jasikevicius’s return to Palau Blaugrana

All of the talk in the buildup to Round 16’s Rivalry Series clash between [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) and [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) surrounded [Saras Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/jasikevicius-saras/), the current Fener head coach who spent three years in Catalonia before departing the club in the summer of 2023.

This game marked Saras’s first return to his former home, where he won the 2003 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championship as a Barcelona player and later led the team to three successive Final Four appearances between 2021 and 2023 as head coach. 

Given the acrimonious circumstances surrounding his departure, it was unclear just how Jasikevicius would be received, particularly after comments he made following Fenerbahce’s win at Real Madrid in March 2024 last season.

"It's not the first time I've left Barcelona like this, winning," Saras said back then. "The disappointment is huge because of how I was treated, without any doubt. The bad treatment continues right now, these days it has continued, about my family and that. One day I will speak out, I don't want to do any more harm. One day I will speak much more than I have spoken so far."

However, this time around, things were a lot more cordial. Last summer perhaps saw the burying of the hatchet between Jasikevicius and Barcelona after his son, Lukas, helped the club become Spanish champions at youth level. That day, Saras was in the stands wearing a Barcelona T-shirt and supporting his son’s team alongside his wife, Anna, and daughter, Aila.

Both Barcelona and Fenerbahce came into Tuesday night’s Rivalry Series meeting needing a victory. [Joan Penarroya](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/penarroya-joan/) had seen his team win just one of its last six games, while Saras’s squad had lost three of their last four and came into this contest on the back of [a 30-point walloping by AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-cruises-past-fenerbahce-69-99/).

In the end, it was Barcelona which triumphed – and it did so in style, [winning 90-63](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kevin-punter-shines-as-barcelona-steamrolls-fenerbahce-90-63/). Fenerbahce has now lost its last two games by a combined margin of 57 points, but in the post-game press conference, Saras first wanted to give thanks to the warm reception he received from the Palau Blaugrana crowd.

"I came here to do my job, but I have to thank the Palau," Saras said. "Many thanks to the fans. I think my relationship with Palau has always been incredible. They have been very supportive of me in difficult moments. You really see it as a relationship and my relationship with Palau has always been incredible and I can only say thank you."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Palau welcomes Saras 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCBbasket</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> <a href="https://t.co/jokqwaVvhb">pic.twitter.com/jokqwaVvhb</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1869100554959609923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite its poor run of late, Saras’s Fenerbahce still finds itself in fifth place in the standings with a 10-6 record, while Barcelona is now eighth with a 9-7 mark. 

There is still a long way to go in the EuroLeague season, but Jasikevicius – after an unwanted result on his first return to Palau Blaugrana – will be looking for an immediate response from his group when Fenerbahce travels to take on [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) on Thursday night. Barcelona, meanwhile, will come up against another of its former coaches as it heads to Italy to face [Dusko Ivanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/ivanovic-dusko/)’s [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) on Friday night.

Sed id volutpat purus, non fringilla turpis. Proin et dolor tortor. Maecenas ut aliquet arcu. Integer eu volutpat nisi, in luctus augue. Phasellus vel elit cursus, dignissim tortor in, pretium ante. Morbi varius at urna ultricies egestas. Suspendisse dui ligula, interdum non lectus eu, semper gravida nibh. Pellentesque bibendum lacus enim. Nulla aliquet, tortor at consectetur porttitor, est nisi hendrerit dolor, vitae ullamcorper diam arcu a arcu. Suspendisse eu vulputate sapien. Praesent ut elit nec nulla imperdiet placerat vel eu neque. Praesent porttitor felis non ante rutrum, sed tincidunt augue pulvinar. Morbi id urna in nunc dignissim luctus.

The Azulgrana’s former head coach received a warm reception from the home team’s fans, but saw his current squad lose by 27 points

Barcelona spoiled Saras Jasikevicius’s return to Palau Blaugrana

FC Barcelona v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-12-17T19:30:00.000Z)

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 16 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

EuroLeague pregame quotes hub: Round 16

## Wednesday, December 18

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (18:30 CET)

**Tomislav Mijatovic, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"Now we are opening the double game week of the EuroLeague at home, very excited to come in front of our fans. And hopefully, together with the great synergy between us and the stands, we will fight together for 40 minutes against one very physical and very athletic team with a lot of experienced players. They have a very experienced coach who put a very dangerous team together. We have to be in sync altogether – the stands, fans and the whole bench, the 12 players – for 40 minutes. We have to fight, do the right things and win the small battles for 40 minutes. We have to play our own Efes game for 40 minutes in order to reach our goal, which is to win the game and celebrate together."

**Derek Willis, Anadolu Efes Istanbul forward**

"Crvena Zvezda is a much improved team that we have to hit first. If you let them get comfortable, then it could be a long night for us."

**Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade head coach**

"We are playing against Efes, which is a very talented team, their players can score a lot of points and do you damage when they have a good day. The rhythm of the game is very important, we have to control it, we have to play well in defense and offense, if we want to have a chance, we will have to have a complete game."

**Nemanja Nedovic, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade guard**

"We have another tough game ahead of us, and every away game is very tough. Larkin has returned to Efes, who is a serious weapon in attack. On an already quite high-quality outside line. But we see some of our chances. They are powerful, they showed that in the game with Panathinaikos. They come to this game, like us, in a good mood. They will try to repeat that match, it is up to us to stop their game in transition."

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna (20:15 CET)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach**

"First, I want to express my deepest condolences to the Janis Timma family. I personally and the whole team are devastated by the tragic news. As far as concerns the game, Bologna has a new coach, and that gives them an extra push. Our opponent is an experienced team with talent and potential.  That means that we have to be focused for forty minutes in order to get the win. We are coming after two losses, and that makes the win imposed. We had many difficulties the last period because of some injuries and some health issues as well. But Vezenkov and Fournier, who were suffering from viral infections, are feeling much better, and Fall, who was out because of injury, will practice today, and he will play against Bologna."

**Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos Piraeus forward**

"We are shocked and saddened to learn that Janis Timma has passed away. He was a great guy, very quiet and smiley. The sad thing is that we are not in a position to know what burden each one carries in his arms. Emotional health is the most important; that’s why we should pay attention to people and see if there is any way to help. My deepest condolences to his family. Now about Bologna… The win against Baskonia and the fact that they have a new coach on their bench are helping them to have better physiology, and they want to build on it. They have experienced players who, all those years, have been playing at the top level, and they have won titles. It is an extremely important game for us, especially after the last two losses.  We need the win tomorrow in order to make a fresh start."

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus Segafredo Bologna head coach**

"Olympiacos is a very strong team, especially when playing at home, experienced and with great players. Right now, we have to find our character and energy to try to win every game."

**Will Clyburn, Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward**

"We face Olympiacos, they will be aggressive from the start. They are coming from a loss in the EuroLeague, so I expect a very passionate environment. We will have to play a good game, controlling their pace and trying not to turn on their fans. We will have to play our basketball."

## Tuesday, December 17

### AS Monaco vs. FC Bayern Munich (19:00 CET)

**Vassilis Spanoulis, AS Monaco head coach**

"Bayern is a very good team. We're also a very good team. We have to be ready for this game. We're not too enthusiastic when we win and not too low mentally when we lose. We want to keep a solid balance, work hard every day, understand what it takes to achieve our goals. You have to be ready for every game. Our first objective was to pass the ball better, then to defend more solidly, we're also trying to be quicker in execution, I'm very satisfied with the efforts made by the guys every day."

**Mam Jaiteh, AS Monaco center**

"I was hungry to get back on the court. I'm going to have to be patient and do whatever it takes to get back into a certain rhythm. Everyone's aware of that – the staff, the coach – and little by little it's going to come back with more responsibility. Our style of play has evolved and I feel that I have a lot to learn, so that I can take things to the next level on a personal level. Bayern is a big team, they weren't expected to be at this level, and they're having a huge season. It's a crucial game for us, a playoff game, and we're going to have to put in the right ingredients to win. I'm determined and aware of what's at stake. I'm going to contribute what I can when I'm called upon. One of the main reasons \[for the positive recent performances\] is the coach and his winning, champion mentality. He's very demanding, and that obviously helps us a lot. The team gets the message. That's the main reason for all this."

**Gordon Herbert, FC Bayern Munich head coach**

"I think only a few small details have changed at Monaco so far. A bit more ball movement, and James is passing a bit more. We need to play a bit differently on the road than at home, especially defending better and controlling the tempo on offense. But Monaco just won by 30 points at Fener – this is a team playing at the highest level."

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:05 CET)

**Oded Kattash, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach**

"Transition defense, restrict their three-pointers, defense, and box out. It's easy to say, but like most of the EuroLeague teams, they want to push the ball, high-tempo game, really aggressive on the boards, good shooting team. We have to be really consistent with our defensive hustle and structure and communication, all the little things that can restrict their three-pointers."

**Jaylen Hoard, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv forward**

"We've got to lock in on personnel. A lot of guys have very specific ways that they play and how they get to it on offense, so I feel like just trying to control them and what they're good at on the defensive side. They're really good at offensive rebounds, they play really hard, so just matching their intensity and paying attention to the details \[will be key\]."

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:15 CET)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach**

"In the EuroLeague, all teams during the season have some difficult periods. Some teams started very bad, but then won many games in a row. Some teams, like us, we started very well but now we have lost three out of our last four games. It can happen. It is not important to concentrate on the two games we lost by a huge difference; if we lost by two or four points, it doesn't change anything. We need to be focused, we need to be strong in our two home-court games. In the 15 games, we have won eight games. We play two games at home in this double week and we need to focus altogether with the fans, the players, everybody, to win these two games, and then you will see that we are in a very good position in the standings."

**Konstantinos Mitoglou, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward**

"It’s clearly a team issue. We reviewed our performance, analyzed it, and are working every day to improve. In our analysis, we identified the problems. We need to play with more energy on defense and, overall, be more aggressive defensively. Offensively, we must make better decisions. Every day, we’re trying to improve. Losses are also part of the game. It’s very important that we’re playing the next games at OAKA. We need to build momentum, which will be beneficial for us. This is an opportunity to start an upward trajectory. Milan is in great form. We need to play very hard against a highly talented team. They’re a well-coached side. We have to come out strong, and with our fans by our side, we can get the win. We know our fans will support us – we have no doubt about that. When the fans are with us, no team can beat us at OAKA. We need them."

**Ettore Messina, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan head coach**

"We face the European champions while they are very angry. This is a combination that normally proves to be dangerous. We know it, we know that paying close to our limits will be necessary to give ourselves a chance. Obviously, the defense will be crucial against a team that is so good and can create a lot off the pick and roll situations. Offensively, we'll need to move the ball well, otherwise t will be very hard to build good shots. This a very prestigious game and we fully intend to honor it to the best of our capabilities."

### Paris Basketball vs. Real Madrid (20:30 CET)

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

“Paris Basketball is a team that plays very fast, without fear, is able to play at various speeds during a game and does not speculate when it comes to running or taking three-point shots. They have a point guard who is being one of the sensations of the EuroLeague as TJ Shorts, who is generating and also finishing a lot of game giving a lot of points to his team. Tiago Splitter has achieved something magnificent in a team, which is to generate a positive dynamic that allows you to play without fear and without responsibility for doing badly. He has been able to read perfectly what his team needed and that is why Paris is playing at a very high level. It will be a long match, with a lot of pace for sure because our opponent tomorrow will be like that and we will always try to be ready to slow down their ability to run because Paris runs the field very well. We have to be ready to go down to defend, to not lose balls and to play with that rhythm."

**Gaby Deck, Real Madrid forward**

“We head into tomorrow's game with a lot of concentration and seriousness because we know that we are facing a great rival like Paris Basketball, which is doing very well. We must be aware that we are playing in a tough, difficult court and we hope we can show our best version there. I think the key to the game could be in our concentration, in giving our hundred percent from minute one to minute forty, in trying to make as few mistakes as possible. It would also be important to string together four good quarters, four regular periods without ups and downs, which is what we are lacking right now."

### FC Barcelona vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CET)

**Joan Penarroya, FC Barcelona head coach**

"It leaves me a little concerned, but it's time to not talk too much and do the job. We repeated what happened to us against Olimpia Milano and we threw away 26 minutes of work. Each of us must improve, we should not look so much at what our teammates are doing. We have to perform, we are at Barça and now we have to be quiet and together in a situation in which we are not playing well, with a lack of connection, but we must improve from the basics, something that everyone knows how to do. I am responsible for the team to play better, but it's not just up to me, it's up to all of us. We all have to work together to reverse a complicated situation. I have rarely held as many meetings as I have, we are all clear about what needs to be done, but things are not working out. The players have shown that things can be done well, but we have to avoid the disconnections and frustrations we feel. We have to put aside that feeling of frustration and do the things we know how to do well, not know them or talk about them, but do them."

**Dario Brizuela, FC Barcelona guard**

"People are upset, but no one is in the doldrums. We are hungry, we know the situation we are in and we want to compete. The feeling in the dressing room is one of anger, of wanting to turn this situation around. All of the players are totally committed to the team, I trust them 200%. We already have that as a starting point. We are playing against a very difficult opponent, the calendar is unforgiving and the best way to get out of this is to get a win. We must put aside the bad feelings and doubts and go for the next one. The best thing is to work, train well and prepare for the game in the best possible way."

**Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach**

"We’re playing against one of the most talented teams in Europe. The guard line of Satoransky, Punter, Brizuela is extremely talented. A lot of scoring from Parker and Vesely. One of the best teams in EuroLeague in transition basketball when they play at home. They score a lot of things in transition and this is where our focus must be: trying to take away all the easy points and to have better defensive performances that we had in the last games."

**Sertac Sanli, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul center**

"We are heading into the first game of a tough double-week. Barcelona is a strong opponent, and after a few poor results, they will likely show a reaction in this game. A very challenging game awaits us. We must maintain our game plan for 40 minutes and focus on good defense."

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:45 CET)

**Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach**

"ASVEL has changed their style of play compared to last year, thanks to their new coach. The team is very well put together with clear ideas. Maledon is their leader, while Lauvergne effectively uses the low post, and De Colo is a player who consistently gets the ball in crucial moments throughout his career. They are a strong rebounding team with young players who take a lot of three-point shots. However, it may be more important to focus on ourselves because we are facing significant challenges. We had only 10 players in practice today, as Marinkovic, Davies, Ntilikina, Lundberg, and Nakic are all unavailable, and I doubt any of them will be ready for tomorrow's game. We’ve tried to respond the best we can with the players we have, but it’s hard to predict how it will all look on the court, so we are expecting an extremely tough game."

**Duane Washington, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade forward**

"We are excited and eager to extend our EuroLeague streak. This game is a great opportunity to secure another win under our belt. We're determined to finish the year strong, the team had a solid practice today and tomorrow we rest and get ready."

### ALBA Berlin vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:45 CET)

**Israel Gonzalez, ALBA Berlin head coach**

"Zalgiris is a balanced team with a lot of strong offensive players. They're especially dangerous from the three-point line. Francisco and Walker are incredibly strong on the drive to the basket, while Sirvydis and Dunston are excellent pick-and-roll players. They also have one of the strongest defenses in the league. All that makes it very difficult to play against Kaunas."

**Louis Olinde, ALBA Berlin forward**

"Zalgiris is a good team, which they proved already early in the season. With Francisco and Walker, Zalgiris has two strong guards who are very quick, can shoot well and attack the basket hard. It will definitely be a very physical game again, with Kaunas mainly playing through their guards. We have to control that and try to take away their strengths right from the start."

Pregame quotes hub: 'We have to be in sync altogether for 40 minutes'

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-12-17T19:45:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-12-18T19:15:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Zalgiris Kaunas (2024-12-17T19:45:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v Real Madrid (2024-12-17T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2024-12-17T19:15:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-12-17T19:05:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Bayern Munich (2024-12-17T18:00:00.000Z)

Here, you can find all the latest injury news surrounding all registered players in the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

EuroLeague injury report: Round 16

Follow all the latest injury information for registered players in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, as reported by the clubs, and get your [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home?_ga=2.101462721.1199459303.1696273873-903329349.1669636775) teams up to date!

### ALBA Berlin

Justin Bean is ALBA's only absentee for its game against Zalgiris on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Gabriele Procida did not play in Round 15.
- Martin Hermannsson did not play in Rounds 14 and 15.
- [Justin Bean](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/justin-bean-out-three-months-with-broken-wrist/) is out until early February after breaking his wrist.
- Will McDowell-White has not played since Round 8.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

All of Efes's players are available for its game against Crvena Zvezda on Wednesday, the club has confirmed.

- Shane Larkin returned to action in Round 15.

### AS Monaco

Furkan Korkmaz is available and Nick Calathes is questionable while Alpha Diallo is the only guaranteed absentee for Monaco's game against Bayern on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Mam Jaiteh returned to action in Round 15.
- Furkan Korkmaz, who was a game-time decision in Round 15, did not feature. He last played in Round 8.
- [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-basket-loses-alpha-diallo-to-knee-injury/) is out for at least two weeks with a knee injury.
- [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nick-calathes-out-3-4-weeks-with-knee-injury/) remains sidelined after a knee injury he suffered before Round 1.

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Baskonia has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Maccabi on Tuesday.

- [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/timothe-luwawu-cabarrot-sidelined-with-calf-injury/), who last played in Round 11, is dealing with a calf injury, but no timetable has been set for his return.

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Milos Teodosic and Branko Lazic are ruled out while Joel Bolomboy is available for Crvena Zvezda's game at Efes on Wednesday, the club has confirmed.

- Filip Petrusev missed Round 15 due to a clause in his loan contract, but he is available in Round 16.
- [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/joel-bolomboy-hyperextends-knee-avoids-acl-tear/) hyperextended his knee and underwent conservative treatment. The center, who last played in Round 4, did play in the ABA League last weekend.
- Milos Teodosic did not play in Round 15.
- [John Brown signed for Crvena Zvezda last week](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-signs-defensive-ace-john-brown/), but he has not yet been registered.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Josh Nebo is Milan's only absentee for its game at Panathinaikos on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/josh-nebo-to-be-reevaluated-in-3-4-weeks/) (arm) has not played since Round 7 and will be reevaluated in early December.

### FC Barcelona

Raul Neto, Chimezie Metu and Nico Laprovittola are ruled out for Barcelona's game at Fenerbahce on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Alex Abrines did not play in Round 15 due to intestinal obstruction, but he did play in the Spanish League last weekend.
- [New signing Raul Neto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-brings-in-ex-nba-guard-raul-neto/) made his debut in Round 12, but he is out for another 1-2 weeks with a groin injury.
- [Chimezie Metu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-loses-chimezie-metu-for-6-8-weeks/) is out until early January with a sprained knee.
- [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nico-laprovittola-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) is ruled out for the season due to an ACL and meniscus injury.

### FC Bayern Munich

Vladimir Lucic has not travelled with the team for Bayern's game at Monaco on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Elias Harris did not play in Round 15.
- Bayern has been without Vladimir Lucic (muscle bruise) since Round 2.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Devon Hall is questionable after rejoining team practices and travelling with the team to Spain while Arturs Zagars, Dyshawn Pierre and Scottie Wilbekin are all out for Fenerbahce's game at Barcelona on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/devon-hall-to-undergo-surgery-on-hand-injury/) suffered a fracture in his left hand's metacarpal bone in Round 9, but he is now questionable.
- [Arturs Zagars](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/arturs-zagars-fenerbahce-beko-foot-injury/) suffered a foot injury ahead of Round 15.
- [Dyshawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-dyshawn-pierre-sidelined-by-calf-injury/) suffered a calf injury in Round 12.
- [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-confirms-the-worst-scottie-wilbekin-has-torn-his-acl/) tore his ACL in Round 1 and is out with a long-term injury.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

ASVEL has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Partizan on Tuesday.

- Andre Roberson suffered a right ankle injury during a French League game last weekend.
- [Edwin Jackson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/edwin-jackson-to-miss-six-weeks-with-hamstring-injury/) has been out since Round 7 with a hamstring injury, but he has rejoined group practices.
- [Charles Kahudi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/charles-kahudi-out-for-four-weeks-with-groin-injury/) is out until mid-January with a groin injury.

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Maccabi has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Baskonia on Tuesday.

- Roman Sorkin did not play in Round 15 following the death of his stepfather.
- [Jasiel Rivero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-loses-jasiel-rivero-again-to-torn-hamstring/) is out until early-to-mid January with a torn hamstring.

### Olympiacos Piraeus

Moustapha Fall is available while Keenan Evans and Moses Wright are ruled out for Olympiacos's game against Virtus on Wednesday, the club has confirmed.

- Moustapha Fall (adductor strain) last played in Round 13, but he is available to play in Round 16.
- [Nathan Mensah joined Olympiacos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-bc-signs-nathan-mensah/) on Wednesday, but he has not yet been registered.
- [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/moses-wright-out-for-the-season-with-health-issue/) is out for the season with a health issue.
- [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-star-keenan-evans-out-long-term-after-knee-surgery/) remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery. He has not yet been registered for the competition.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Kendrick Nunn and Ioannis Papapetrou are questionable for Panathinaikos's game against Milan on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Marius Grigonis (lower back surgery) has not played since Round 4.

### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

- Daulton Hommes has not played so far this season.

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Iffe Lundberg and Mario Nakic are ruled out for Partizan's game at ALBA on Tuesday while Vanja Marinkovic, Brandon Davies and Frank Ntilikina are almost certainly out, the club has confirmed.

- Iffe Lundberg (foot) last played in Round 12.
- Mario Nakic (ankle) has not played since Round 7.

### Real Madrid

Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Paris on Tuesday.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Toko Shengelia is ruled out for Virtus's game at Olympiacos on Wednesday, the club has confirmed.

- Marco Belinelli did not play in Round 15.

### Zalgiris Kaunas

Zalgiris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at ALBA on Tuesday.

- Dovydas Giedraitis missed Round 15 with an injury.

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs

Injury report, Round 16: Bolomboy returns, Shengelia ruled out

Terry Tarpey has seen his role increase since the arrival of AS Monaco Basket coach Vassilis Spanoulis, with the Frenchman impressing in a 93-74 win over FC Bayern Basketball.

Terry Tarpey, big men set the winning tone for Monaco against Bayern

What was setting up to be a showdown of two 10-win teams, [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) easily handled [the visiting FC Bayern Munich by winning 93-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-eases-past-bayern-93-74/) on Tuesday night.

It was Monaco's third straight win, following wins by 20 and 30 points against ALBA Berlin and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, respectively. It was also the team's sixth victory in the last seven games, with Monaco improving to a joint league-best 11-5 record.

Bayern entered the game with EuroLeague's best scoring offense, one posting 89.7 points per game, but Monaco held it to a season-low 74. And the facilitator of that effort was an unlikely figure in Monaco's deep roster: [Terry Tarpey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/terry-tarpey/012515/).

It was Tarpey's fifth appearance of the season and just his 11th since he joined the team ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Tarpey played a total of 46 seconds through the first 13 rounds, but he has entered rotation under coach Vassilis Spanoulis, especially now that [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/) is sidelined.

And Tarpey was all over against Bayern. In 25 minutes on the floor, he finished with 8 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 2 rebounds.

He set the tone on defense, harassing [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) and [Andreas Obst](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andreas-obst/004508/). Edwards did get to 17 points, but on 5-of-13 field-goal shooting, while Obst had just 5 points and was 1 of 5 from downtown.

Tarpey ran in transition, too, scoring 6 of his points on fast breaks and killing any momentum Bayern tried to gain.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🚀 Avec le talent et la force du collectif, la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> remporte un 4e succès en 5 matchs sur la scène de l&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> 💥<br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/31D2kfZDgd">pic.twitter.com/31D2kfZDgd</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1869120075061674152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also playing a big part in this win were Monaco's trio of centers, which consists of [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) and [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/). Motiejunas scored 6 of Monaco's first 9 points to get the team going, but when Monaco fell behind by double digits in the second quarter, Papagiannis stepped up by scoring 12 points before halftime.

Jaiteh was also a big factor under the rims, and the trio combined for 25 points on 12-of-14 two-point shooting.

All of that helped Monaco cruise to a 19-point win against a dangerous opponent. Winning the last three games by a combined margin of 69 points, Monaco is flying high under Coach Spanoulis and has quietly become one of the teams to beat in the EuroLeague.

The Frenchman has seen his role increase since the arrival of coach Vassilis Spanoulis

Real Madrid leaned on its rebounding to beat Paris Basketball in Round 16, which saw Los Blancos' three-game losing streak come to an end.

Real Madrid beat Paris at its own game to snap out of its funk

Coming into Tuesday’s game against [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/), [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) was aware that its players will be assigned with the tough task of competing against one of the best rebounding sides in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Paris ranked second both in offensive (13.0rpg) and total (36.5 rpg) rebounds, both of which help them dictate the tempo and retain control of their games so far this season.

Yet, this time it was *Los Blancos* who dominated the boards by outrebounding a helpless Paris 31-49. Those 49 rebounds grabbed by the visitors was their highest mark this season and the second-best tally in the league in 2024-25 after ALBA Berlin’s 54 total boards in its 88-90 overtime win at Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 13.

Eight of the 11 players who stepped onto the court had at least 1 rebound each, with [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) finishing the contest with a game-high 14 boards – 6 of which came on the offensive end.

“We were patient,” head coach Chus Mateo said in the post-game press conference. “We believed until the end that we can win the game. But we were especially very solid on rebounds. We won the battle of the rebounds, which is one of the battles you need to win to beat Paris on their court. We were very serious with a great Tavares, a great [\[Gaby\] Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/), [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) and the outside players.”

Real Madrid shot well from both inside the arc (21 for 33, 63.6% 2FG) and three-point land (12 for 34, 35.3% 3FG), meaning that these extra possessions were crucial to manage the pace of the game.

“It’s not so easy to win the rebounds by this difference,” Mateo added. “We dominated the rebounds today on the offense and defense. We shot very well on offense, but we got some offensive rebounds too, which meant extra balls for us and it’s very important to get more possessions.”

Six Real Madrid players finished the game in double digits in scoring, with [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) netting 19, Hezonja 17, [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) 12 and Deck 11, while [Alberto Abalde](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alberto-abalde/003733/) and Tavares scored 10 each. More importantly, Real Madrid grabbed [a statement 85-96 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-defeats-shorts-less-paris-85-96/) against the team topping the EuroLeague standings.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔝 <a href="https://twitter.com/facucampazzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@facucampazzo</a> <br>👏 ¡Nuestro MVP del partido vs <a href="https://twitter.com/ParisBasketball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParisBasketball</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalaMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalaMadrid</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/autoheroespana?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@autoheroespana</a> <a href="https://t.co/CKO50fbmJq">pic.twitter.com/CKO50fbmJq</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1869138326227452058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We got to take this \[win\] as motivation to keep going,” Tavares told EuroLeague TV. “We know that we can beat a very good team like this, so we’ve got to stay focused, play with patience and make the best shot possible on offense to help us win the game.”

*Los Blancos* are now scheduled to host the other team currently topping the standings, with AS Monaco visiting the Spanish side to conclude both teams’ double-round week. Real Madrid will look to build on Tuesday’s performance, and dominating the boards could be key to accomplishing its goal on Thursday night.

Los Blancos outrebounded the hosts 31-49 to grab a big road victory

FC Barcelona got its EuroLeague campaign back on track with a resounding 90-63 home win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, which piled more misery on the Turkish side after its 69-99 home rout at the hands of AS Monaco in the previous round.

Barcelona bounced back in style as Fenerbahce crisis continued 

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) got its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign back on track with [a resounding 90-63 home win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kevin-punter-shines-as-barcelona-steamrolls-fenerbahce-90-63/), which piled more misery on the Turkish side after its [69-99 home rout at the hands of AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-cruises-past-fenerbahce-69-99/) in the previous round.

As a result of its fourth defeat in the last six games, Fenerbahce’s slide continued as the competition’s 2017 champion slipped from first to fifth in the standings with a 10-6 record, while Barcelona improved to 9-7 after winning just its second game in the last six.

The home team’s head coach Joan Penarroya, who took over this past summer, was able to breathe a sigh of relief after seeing his team whitewash Fenerbahce led by Barcelona’s former player and coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.

With guard [Scottie Wilbekin out for the season](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-confirms-the-worst-scottie-wilbekin-has-torn-his-acl/) with a torn ACL, Fenerbahce was dealt a further backcourt blow as [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) trudged off in the second quarter with what looks like a recurring hamstring injury, paving the way for Barcelona’s hitman [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) to have a field day.

Punter tormented his markers all night and sank a game-high 25 points to claim the player of the game accolade, while [Justin Anderson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/justin-anderson/012795/) also enjoyed a stellar night as he was perfect from all over, finishing on 18 points including a pair of spectacular slams.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">GRAN VICTÒRIA, BARÇA 💙❤ <a href="https://t.co/B0NeBcP4XO">pic.twitter.com/B0NeBcP4XO</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1869137495096713539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Punter pointed out that Barca now needed to steady the ships and avoid rocky waters if the Spanish giant is to stay firmly on course for a playoff berth. “One of the areas we want to grow in is being consistent for 40 minutes,” Punter said in a courtside interview.

“\[Fenerbahce\] was able to get a small run but we managed to get some stops, make some plays and finish the game. We’ve got to keep playing like we’ve got something to prove,” added the 31-year-old from Bronx.

Anderson acknowledged that Barca was hard-pressed to make amends for the previous round’s [81-94 home loss to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-surprises-barcelona-at-palau-blaugrana-81-94/), when the hosts suffered a 5-28 third quarter collapse.

“We were focused, we were prepared and we knew that we had to put on a show for our fans tonight,” he said, while Penarroya added: “It was a complete performance on offense and defense. It was important to have a good game in front of our fans at Palau \[Blaugrana\].”

Jasikevicius tried to put on a brave face, but it was obvious that Fenerbahce’s current form and mounting injury problems do not make happy reading for the rest of the season.

“It was a tough one,” said the Lithuanian legend, who won the 2003 EuroLeague title with Barcelona as a player. “We came out without understanding how Barcelona will play and couldn’t handle the pressure. We didn’t respond to physicality in a lot of situations.” 

In Round 17, Barcelona visits struggling Virtus Segafredo Bologna while Fenerbahce faces a road game at high-flying EuroLeague debutant Paris Basketball.

The Spanish giant recovered from the previous round’s home defeat by Milan while the visitors suffered yet another debacle

Zalgiris Kaunas entered the game with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s worst offense and best defense, and in the end, they combined for a 66-86 road victory over ALBA Berlin - the team with the worst defense in the league. 

Zalgiris’s 'disciplined' game was too much for ALBA

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/roster/zal/?season=2024-25)’s game is a story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but the Lithuanian team’s good side was helped by its bad side in beating [ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/roster/ber/?season=2024-25). 

Zalgiris entered the game with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s [worst offense](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=E2024&category=Score&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=perGame) and best defense, and in the end, they combined for [a 66-86 road victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-brushes-past-alba-66-86-for-third-straight-win/) over ALBA - the team with the worst defense in the league. 

“We controlled the game from the jump ball. We had some so-so moments, but overall I would say we executed, we were disciplined, we moved the ball and we played very good defense,” said Zalgiris head coach [Andrea Trinchieri](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/trinchieri-andrea/?season=E2024). 

Zalgiris had held opponents to under 70 points four times this season - but all of them came in the first seven rounds of the season. Trinchieri’s team made it a fifth time against ALBA.

“We have a very high standard \[on defense\] because we know what our capabilities are. It’s very important - our defense transitions into our offense. We’ve got great offensive role players, players who can do their thing, but when we are locked in on defense I don’t think there is anyone who can beat us,” said [Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/), who amassed 13 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. 

One of the keys to stopping ALBA was not letting [Martin Hermannsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/martin-hermannsson/008780/) get going - something Trinchieri stressed in a timeout late in the first quarter saying: “Don’t open his game.”

Hermannsson finished with a season-low 3 points in nearly 17 minutes of action - not scoring until hitting a three-pointer with les than 5 minutes left in the game. 

While Zalgiris’s defense has stood strong all season, its offense has struggled - ranking dead last with just 76.7 points, an index rating of 76.6, 13.9 assists and 48.8% shooting on two-pointers. The Greens scored 85 and 92 in the last two games, but they were held below 80 points 10 times coming into the game. 

“All the teams really focus on me and Lonnie, but they forget that all the players can shoot the ball pretty well,” said [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/), who scored a team-high 16 points. 

Fortunately for the visitors, Zalgiris’s offense was facing ALBA’s defense - which had allowed 91.9 points and an average PIR of 109.1 coming into the game, both ranked last in the competition. 

“We were focused enough. It’s a good way to start a double week - a win on the road … It’s always a very good feeling when you win on the road,” added Trinchieri, who is trying to best figure out the two sides of his team.

Zalgiris’s offense is slowly catching up to its defense