FC Bayern Basketball is now on a four-game winning streak after beating LDLC ASVEL 71-84 in Round 7 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Bayern defeats ASVEL 71-84 to reel off fourth straight win

FC Bayern Munich continued its climb up the standings as it completed a perfect double-round week with a 71-84 victory at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne for its fourth straight win. Bayern took control of the game with a 2-11 finish to the third quarter to improve to 5-2 and move to 2-2 on the road. 

Devin Booker paced Bayern with 16 points, Oscar da Silva had 15 points, Shabazz Napier 12, and Johannes Voigtmann chipped in 9 points and 11 rebounds, while Carsen Edwards was held in check with just 8 points. But ASVEL did not have enough weapons as it fell to 2-5 with its fourth loss in the last five games. Nando De Colo hit 5 three-pointers for 19 points and 7 assists, and Theo Maledon had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. 

Game Videos

Maledon was leading the way early with four points and an assist on an Edwin Jackson triple to lead 7-3. Edwards and Voigtmann both hit from deep to tie the game, and Da Silva gave Bayern its first lead at 11-13. Napier added a triple of his own for a 13-16 Bayern advantage before making two free throws as the guests led 17-19 after 10 minutes. 

Bayern started the second quarter strong, especially defensively, giving up just one basket in the first 4+ minutes as Da Silva and Ivan Kharchenkov both drained three-pointers in a 2-10 run to extend the lead to 19-29. Edwards added his second triple and the Bayern advantage swelled to 21-35. ASVEL got a triple from De Colo and a three-point play from Mbaye Ndiaye to trim the gap to 27-35. Booker added two baskets and Bayern went into the break 10 points ahead, 33-43.

Game News

Bayern’s excellent outside shooting continued and the cushion moved to 35-51 after three-pointers from Voigtmann and Nick Weiler-Babb. Admiral Schofield responded with back-to-back triples and a long ball from De Colo had the deficit down to 47-53. Bayern benefitted from an unsportsmanlike foul from Shaq Harrison as it extended the advantage to 47-61, then an Andreas Obst three-point play made it 49-64 after 30 minutes.

Napier’s three-pointer and another score from Da Silva allowed Bayern to build its biggest lead of 19 points, 50-69. And five straight points from Booker pushed the margin to 20 points, 54-74, with under 5 minutes to go. Some ASVEL three-pointers made the final scoreline look more respectable as it got as close as 11 points inside the final minute.

The German side is flying under first-year head coach Gordie Herbert

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v FC Bayern Munich (2024-11-01T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas now has a EuroLeague-best 6-1 record after beating AS Monaco 63-62 at home in Round 7 on Friday. 

Zalgiris holds off Monaco's comeback, 63-62

In a thriller that went down to the final second, Zalgiris Kaunas edged AS Monaco 63-62 at Zalgirio Arena in Round 7 on Friday. 

Zalgiris leads the standings with a 6-1 record while Monaco dropped to 4-3. Arnas Butkevicius led the winners with 13 points, and Alen Smailagic scored all of his 10 points in the fourth quarter. Jordan Loyd led Monaco with 18 points and Mike James added 12.

Brady Manek got Zalgiris going with a three-pointer and Bryant Dunston dunked for a 5-2 lead. Donatas Motiejunas hit a jump hook, Dovydas Giedraitis answered with layup and Loyd tied it at 7-7. Matt Mitchell and Motiejunas traded baskets, Manek swished a turnaround jumper and Ignas Brazdeikis hit a mid-range shot to give Zalgiris a 13-9 lead. James buried a rainbow jumper, Laurynas Birutis matched that with his trademark jump hook and Brazdeikis's step-back triple made Monaco call a timeout at 19-11. Birutis pushed Zalgiris's lead even further, 20-11, after 10 minutes. 

Jaron Blossomgame stepped up with a tip-in early in the second quarter and Elie Okobo soon brought Monaco within 20-15. Birutis followed a dunk in traffic with a layup and Alpha Diallo found his first points, but Edgaras Ulanovas struck from downtown to make it a double-digit game, 27-17. Giedraitis swished a six-meter jumper and Butkevicius bettered Okobo's finger-roll layup with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer, good for a 32-19 Zalgiris lead. Matthew Strazel answered from beyond the arc, Brazdeikis responded by hitting a mid-range jumper, but James kept the guests within 34-25 at halftime.

Blossomgame scored around the basket and Loyd added a fast-break layup to bring Monaco closer, 34-29, soon after the break. Alpha Diallo followed Motiejunas's layup with a dunk that capped a 0-12 Monaco run, 34-33. Butkevicius buried a three-pointer for Zalgiris, but James sank a mid-range jumper and Motiejunas hit a jump hook that tied it at 37-37. Butkevicius kept pacing Zalgiris with consecutive layups that restored a 41-39 edge. Vitto Brown banked in an off-balance shot and fed Georgios Papagiannis for a dunk to tie it at 43-43 after 30 minutes.

Smailagic buried a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, then Loyd and James gave Monaco its first lead of the night, 46-47. Manek hit a triple off a Zalgiris timeout and Smailagic insisted from beyond the arc to give Zalgiris fresh ait at 52-47. Loyd scored off a mid-court steal, Butkevicius joined the three-point shootout and James's layup kept Monaco within 55-51. Ulanovas beat the shot clock with an off-balance circus shot that Loyd bettered with a three-pointers (Monaco's first after 16 missed attempts). Smailagic dunked, Blossomgame answered from downtown and Loyd added a floater that made Monaco regain a 59-60 lead with over 3 minutes left. Smailagic scored again, Loyd sank a jumper and Giedratis's coast-to-coast layup gave Zalgiris a 63-62 lead. Monaco got the basketball back with 15.3 seconds left. James turned the ball over on his team's final possession.

The Lithuanian side is now the outright leader atop the standings

Zalgiris Kaunas v AS Monaco (2024-11-01T18:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahçe Beko beat KK Partizan 89-72 in Round 7, with Nigel Hayes-Davis scoring a game-high 24 points on a night that saw Fenerbahçe hit 19 three-pointers.

Hayes-Davis leads the way as Fenerbahce downs Partizan, 89-72

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul made a season-high 19 three-pointers and improved to 5-2 as it beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 89-72 in Round 7, with Nigel Hayes-Davis scoring a game-best 24 points. 

Hayes-Davis contributed 4 of those 19 triples. Tarik Biberovic hit 5 on his way to 17 points, Devon Hall made 4 and finished with 12 points, while Wade Baldwin – Fenerbahce’s other scorer in double digits – converted 1 en route to 13 points. Dyshawn Pierre and Marko Guduric both knocked down 2, and Bonzie Colson struck from beyond the arc with his only three-point attempt.

Partizan’s Frank Ntilikina netted a team-high 14 points, which all came in the second half, and Aleksej Pokusevski chipped in with 10. Duane Washington got his first points in a Partizan jersey, scoring 7 after not playing at all in the first half. Partizan dropped to 2-5 after this defeat.

Pokusevski scored the first basket of the game (0-2) and Tyrique Jones responded to a Colson layup by scoring a hook shot to put Partizan 2-4 ahead. Those were Partizan’s only two leads of the game. The first half was a tight affair as both teams favored going inside, but as soon as Hall hit a three-pointer in transition to give Fenerbahce an 11-8 edge, that opened the floodgates from deep. Back-to-back triples by Hayes-Davis made it 17-13, then Biberovic’s three-pointer saw the hosts go seven points ahead, 20-13. At the end of the first quarter, it was 22-15.

There was a fightback from Partizan to start the second period, mainly led by Brandon Davies, but the visitors could not live with Fenerbahce’s three-point weapons. Biberovic, Guduric and Pierre all combined from beyond the arc to swell Fenerbahce’s lead to 36-23. When Hall scored his second three-pointer of the night, Fenerbahce was up 41-27 after going 9 of 15 from deep. Carlik Jones got his first points for Partizan in the closing stages of the second quarter, netting 4 points in quick succession, but a tough three by Biberovic ensured it was 44-31 at the interval.

Fenerbahce shot 10 of 16 from three-point land in the first half compared to 1 of 5 by Partizan. If Zeljko Obradovic thought that the hosts would cool off, he was wrong. Straight out of the break, Hayes-Davis hit back-to-back triples to push Fenerbahce 50-33 ahead. Tyrique Jones was doing his best to do damage in the paint, but Fenerbahce continued to light it up, with Hall, Colson and Baldwin all striking from deep to set a 63-43 score. Washington scored his first points as a Partizan player, then Ntilikina started to show what he can do, scoring 8 points in a hurry, including Partizan’s second triple. Entering the final period, Fenerbahce led 67-53.

Ntilikina gave Partizan hope with a dunk (67-55), but Biberovic made two three-pointers in a row to create some breathing room once again (73-55). Fenerbahce remained in control from there on out, but coach Saras Jasikevicius did call a timeout with 2:47 left after Ntilikina’s drive and score made it a 13-point ballgame (83-70), the closest it had been in a while. That refocused the Fenerbahce players, with Hayes-Davis, Biberovic and Baldwin scoring inside the final 2:32 to wrap up an 89-72 win. 

The Turkish side trailed just twice on the night, which came early in the first quarter

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-11-01T17:45:00.000Z)

Real Madrid forward Dzanan Musa will be sidelined for the team's upcoming games, the club confirmed on Friday evening. 

Real Madrid loses Dzanan Musa to ankle injury

Real Madrid forward [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) will be sidelined for the team's upcoming games, the club confirmed on Friday evening. 

Upon the squad's return to the Spanish capital after two road games during the double-round week, tests confirmed that Musa has suffered a medial ligament injury to his right ankle. It is not yet known how long the 25-year-old will be out for. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Parte médico de Musa.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RealMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RealMadrid</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1852400831624024570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Musa missed Real's last game, [a Round 7 loss against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/lee-lifts-maccabi-past-real-79-78/). In his six appearances this season, five of which have come as a starter, Musa has averaged 13.8 points on 41.4% three-point shooting, as well as 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Musa is the latest Real player to be sidelined after injuries to [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/andres-feliz-to-miss-time-with-plantar-fascia-injury/), who was injured in Round 2, and [Usman Garuba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/usman-garuba/007630/), who has not played since the opening round.

More Real Madrid News

Los Blancos have suffered another injury blow

Olimpia Milano came out on top against Virtus Bologna in the EuroLeague's Round 7 Rivalry Series game, with Nikola Mirotic enjoying a starring role.

Nikola Mirotic rolled back the years in Round 7’s Rivalry Series game

The Rivalry Series game in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the Derby d’Italia, appeared to be heading in a very different direction if the first quarter was anything to go by. 

In the early going, [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/?season=2024-25) looked set for some plain sailing against visiting [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/?season=2024-25), despite the home team’s star forward [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/) struggling from all over.

Milan, [which won the game 99-90](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-triumphs-in-rollercoaster-derby-ditalia-against-virtus-99-90/), was 21-14 ahead after the opening 10 minutes, however the 2021-22 EuroLeague MVP was 0 for 3 from deep and having trouble finding his range. Nevertheless, there was calm on the home team’s bench, with assistant Mario Fioretti standing in for ill head coach Ettore Messina.

The hosts’ lead then soared to 40-23 late in the first half and it must have left Fioretti purring with delight, even if Mirotic was still misfiring on offense, with the home side benefiting from dominating the boards and an ironclad defense.

“We made a very strong, aggressive start. Perhaps it was our best defensive quarter of the year,” Fioretti told reporters after the absorbing contest. “We deflected and stole the ball time and again. We tried to maintain that pace, but in the third quarter Virtus played really well.”

Out of nowhere, Virtus hit top gear and having closed the gap to 44-35 by halftime, the visiting team turned the game on its head to lead 49-55 on the back of a 9-32 run, which had Milan reeling and the visiting fans in full swing. 

Mirotic was still showing no signs of emerging as one of the game’s top performers and Fioretti was getting increasingly uncomfortable as Milan was suddenly staring at what would have been a damaging home defeat against its traditional rival.

Then came the fourth quarter and the Montenegrin-born power forward, who featured for his adopted country Spain on the international stage, showed the traits which have made him a household name in the EuroLeague.

Mirotic nailed 12 points down the stretch as Milan regained the upper hand and he finished with an impressive double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, helping the home team win the battle of the board 40-24 despite missing some of its big men through injury.

“We managed not to fall apart and overcame the difficult moment,” said Fioretti. “We played some very good basketball in the fourth quarter and in the end we were helped by some offensive boards, which were missing in the previous game at Baskonia-Vitoria Gasteiz.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">L&#39;Olimpia conquista il derby italiano di Eurolega! 99 - 90 il risultato finale. 🔥✅<br><br>(Mirotic 21 pts, LeDay 19, Causeur 18, Tonut 14)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/4pVhOvm7Ni">pic.twitter.com/4pVhOvm7Ni</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1852109605117267997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Milan, which ended a four-game skid with its win over Virtus, suffered a tough 88-83 loss at Baskonia and hence the Rivalry Series triumph came as perfect remedy ahead of a tough schedule, starting with next week’s home matchup with Real Madrid.

Fioretti, who wished his boss Messina a speedy recovery, acknowledged that bringing the best out of a new-look Milan outfit was a time-consuming process, having also singled out third-year guard [Stefano Tonut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/stefano-tonut/006509/), who shot the lights out from deep by going 4 of 5 on his way to 14 points. 

“I believe that gritting your teeth in times of difficulty was a very positive sign,” he said. “With so many new players and especially some of them new at this level, we lack consistency.

“Tonut is a boy who works hard with a lot of energy and sometimes he is quiet and less involved on offense because of everything he does on defense, like in the Vitoria game against [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/). However, he was very much involved against Virtus and he stepped up to the plate."

The 33-year-old forward overcame a slow start to shine when the chips were down against Virtus

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-10-31T19:30:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan dug deep in the fourth quarter to subdue traditional Italian rival Virtus Segafredo Bologna, 99-90, in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, helped by majestic performances from Zach LeDay and Nikola Mirotic. 

Nikola Mirotic, Zach LeDay stepped up as Milan overpowered Virtus 

[EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/roster/mil/?season=2024-25) dug deep in the fourth quarter to subdue traditional Italian rival [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/?season=2024-25), [99-90](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-triumphs-in-rollercoaster-derby-ditalia-against-virtus-99-90/), in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, helped by majestic performances from [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/) and [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/).

The duo carried Milan in crunch time, particularly 33-year-old Mirotic who finished the game on 21 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 12 points in the home straight when Virtus launched one last onslaught which the home side was able to repel.

LeDay netted 19 points and racked up 4 boards, shooting 6-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the line, providing muscle in the paint as well as a threat from deep as he made both of his 3-point attempts.

In his post-game comments, the American offered a peculiar analogy to Milan’s resilience and fighting spirit, which forced battling Virtus into submission.

“It’s a big win for us, we’ve been struggling and there’ve been a lot of things going on, but we stayed together, resilient like dogs,” LeDay said. “Like my mom says, you’ve got to let the dogs go hunt, so that’s what you’ve got do. Let the dogs go hunt and see what they bring back to you.

“We got the stops when we needed to, that’s really been the main thing for our team. Offensively we were good but the key was getting those stops.”

Apart from Mirotic and LeDay, Milan’s effort was also carried by [Stefano Tonut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/stefano-tonut/006509/), who enjoyed an impeccable shooting night in scoring 14 points, as well as [Fabien Causeur ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/fabien-causeur/001392/)who netted 18 to go with 6 boards. The versatile French guard acknowledged the win over Virtus could potentially be a turning point early in the season as Milan snapped a four-game skid.

“It was a tough month for us and we had some tough losses but today we stuck together and hit some tough shots,” [said Causeur](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/videos/fabien-causeur-we-found-the-right-solutions/?feedId=60dee8825eb4fd8da365da78&title=Latest%20videos). “I am very happy because this is a great group of guys and we found the right solutions at the right time. It’s a good sign for the rest of the season and I am pretty sure we’re going to keep getting better.”

Apart from missing several key players including sharpshooting guard [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/), Milan was also without its ill-stricken head coach Ettore Messina, whose stand-in assistant Mario Fioretti praised the team and wished his boss a speedy recovery. 

“We played a solid game but we made some defensive mistakes when Virtus came back very hard in the third quarter,” he said. “We fought throughout the game and offensive rebounding was the key tonight as our defensive level was not where we wanted it to be.

“Virtus is a very tough team and it’s not easy to play them. Messina is feeling a lot better today and we hope to have our leader back as soon as possible.”

Milan racked up a massive 15 offensive boards and 40 in total, against 24 collected by Virtus, with only 3 of those on the offensive end. The home team also sank 12 of 29 attempts from 3-point range while Virtus made 9 of 22, the hosts thus excelling in key departments to prevail in a rip-roaring contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout. 

The home team’s power forwards came up big down the stretch to propel their team to victory

Everything clicked for Olympiacos Piraeus on the offensive end, with the hosts netting a season-high 95 points to demolish Barcelona’s defense.

'Humble' Olympiacos clicked on offense to thrash Barcelona

Ten teams had produced more points per game than [Olympiacos Piraeus ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/roster/oly/?season=2024-25)coming into the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Round 7 clash against [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2024-25). The Greek side’s defense may have averaged a league fourth-best 77.0 points conceded, but its offense produced just over 80 points (80.3) across the first six games of the season. Yet, on Thursday night [everything clicked for the Reds](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-cruises-past-barcelona-95-74/) on the offensive end, with the hosts netting a season-high 95 points to demolish Barcelona’s defense.

Olympiacos scored over 20 points and outscored the visitors in each of the four quarters (21-17, 23-19, 21-14, 30-24). Rigid defense limited the EuroLeague’s second-best offense (87.7) to just 74 points, 8 of which were scored in the last minute of the game when Olympiacos had practically finished it off. Yet, this time the hosts also delivered on offense, with various protagonists stepping up at different moments of the game to allow their team to dictate the tempo.

[Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) scored 7 of Olympiacos’s 21 points in the first quarter and ended the game with 18 points. Olympiacos’s momentum shifter, [Shaquielle McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/), came off the bench to net 10 points in his first 5 minutes on the court. Then, [Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/) came to the fore in the last 4 minutes of the second quarter, scoring 8 points including a buzzer-beating triple to secure a 44-36 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, it was [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/)’s turn to take up the baton on offense, scoring 10 points to help Olympiacos pull away and take a 65-50 cushion into the closing quarter. Fournier recorded a game-high 19 points in just 16 minutes on the court, while Dorsey, who didn’t play a single minute in the [previous round against Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-beats-real-madrid-79-69-in-rivalry-series-clash/), added 12 points.

Meanwhile, [Nikola Milutinov ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/)who received important playing time for the first time since recovering from injury, chipped in with 12 points and 8 rebounds, 6 of which were offensive boards.

With its wins over the two Spanish sides, Olympiacos bounced back after tough losses to [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-overcomes-early-deficit-to-overcome-olympiacos-91-89/), [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carsen-edwards-leads-bayern-past-olympiacos-84-80/) and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.

“It was a hard week,” Vezenkov told EuroLeague TV after the game. “We lost two games in the EuroLeague, one from Panathinaikos \[in the league\]. We wanted to come back. We did that in the perfect way, but we’ve just started. We won \[against\] the team that’s first in the league. We are happy but humble. We’ll keep working and everything will be okay.”

Coming up next week is the highly-anticipated Greek derby, with Olympiacos visiting Panathinaikos in Round 8. It’s true that a derby is a different animal, but Olympiacos now has something to build on after completing a perfect two-round week at home.   

The Reds scored a season-high 95 points in the victory 

Olympiacos Piraeus v FC Barcelona (2024-10-31T19:15:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan came out on top in a rip-roaring Derby d’Italia against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, after a strong fourth quarter propelled the home team to a 99-90 win with veteran Nikola Mirotic stealing the show.

Milan triumphs in rollercoaster Derby d’Italia against Virtus, 99-90

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan came out on top in a rip-roaring Derby d’Italia against Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 7 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, after a strong fourth quarter propelled the home team to a 99-90 win with veteran Nikola Mirotic stealing the show.

The 33-year-old paced Milan with a tremendous double-double of 21 points and 13 boards, having netted 12 points in the home stretch when the home team turned the tide for good. Zach LeDay chipped in with 19 points, Fabien Causeur netted 18 and sharpshooting Stefano Tonut sank 14, making 5 of 6 shots from the floor and 4 of 5 from deep.

Virtus, which had turned a 40-23 deficit late in the first half into a 49-55 lead midway through the third quarter, leaned on Toko Shengelia who amassed a game-high 25 points and Marco Belinelli who poured in 21.

Milan snapped a four-game skid and improved to 2-5 while Virtus dropped to 1-6 after failing to register a second successive road win, following a 69-70 victory at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 5.

Few fans in a packed Unipol Forum gym would have expected the clash between Italy’s heavyweights to develop into a classic after a tepid first quarter, with Milan shooting 2 of 10 from downtown and Virtus 2 of 11 from two-point territory.

Milan carved out a 21-14 advantage on the back of second-chance points generated by 5 offensive boards and once the home team got going, three-pointers started raining in from all angles as Milan made 5 in a row after missing the opening 8. The lead soared thanks to quick movement of the ball and a barrage of fast breaks, but Virtus was able to conjure a 4-12 run by halftime which slashed its deficit to 44-35 at the interval.

That streak set the tone for the third quarter, with Virtus taking the game by the scruff of the neck as Shengelia and Belinelli led the visiting team’s charge, with their vociferous band of supporters in full swing in one of the gym’s upper tiers.

Shengelia’s buzzer-beating triple gave Virtus a 66-67 lead heading into the final 10 minutes and the game appeared set for a dramatic climax early in the fourth quarter with the rivals tied, 73-73. LeDay then completed a three-point play that paved the way for a 9-0 Milan run and gave the home side the lead for good, but it was Mirotic who made sure there was to be no final twist.

Virtus refused to roll over and kept coming at Milan as Shengelia and Belinelli fired on all cylinders, but Mirotic rifled in his own salvo at the other end, as the fascinating battle turned into a three-point slugfest. Ultimately, Milan had too much firepower and retained the bragging rights over Virtus, although the visiting team was still able to walk off the court with their heads high after making a strong effort against their perennial rival.

The home team prevailed after its talismanic power forward Nikola Mirotic scored 12 of his 21 points in the home stretch 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv downed Real Madrid 79-78 in come-from-behind fashion. Its hustle and focus in small details gave Saben Lee the chance to win the game at the buzzer, and he delivered. 


Hustle gave Maccabi the chance it needed

When [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/roster/tel/?season=2024-25) downed [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2024-25) [79-78 in come-from-behind fashion ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/lee-lifts-maccabi-past-real-79-78/)on Thursday, it was the team's hustle and focus on small details that gave [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/) the chance to win the game at the buzzer... And he delivered. 

Maccabi outrebounded Real 43-28, including pulling down 18 offensive rebounds. Real finished the game with 19 defensive rebounds, which means Maccabi grabbed 48.6% of all rebounds under *Los Blancos*' rim, which is outstanding against one of the best defensive rebounding teams in recent years. Maccabi pulled down 25 defensive rebounds and only allowed its opponents 9 offensive boards. In other words, Maccabi grabbed 75.2% of all rebounds under its rim.

Those 18 offensive rebounds are the most against Real Madrid since [CSKA Moscow grabbed 19](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2021-22/real-madrid-cska-moscow/E2021/153/#boxscore) in a 71-65 road loss on December 23, 2021.

[Will Rayman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/william-rayman/013381/) was the perfect example of Maccabi's hustle. Rayman entered the game with 7 rebounds in 6 previous games. He finished the game against Real with 14 boards, becoming the first Maccabi player to reach double digits in that statistical category this season. He was also the first Maccabi player with that many rebounds since [Tarik Black ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tarik-black/008991/)pulled down 15 in a [67-55 home win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2019-20/maccabi-fox-tel-aviv-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2019/44/#boxscore) over [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/) on October 30, 2019.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv forward Will Rayman grabbed 7 rebounds in 6 previous game. He finished the game against Real with 14 rebounds, becoming the first Maccabi player to reach double digits in that statistical category this season.

Rayman pulls down 14 rebounds!

"Basically, we started the game well. We were exhausted, we were tired. We came here after a tough loss and showed character again. We kept fighting and in the end were a little bit lucky, but sometimes you also need luck," Coach Oded Kattash said after the game. "I am so happy for the players, for their effort. I am really proud."

Three-pointers were another key to this game. Maccabi buried 11 of 20 attempts from downtown (55%) and limited Real to just 6-of-28 shooting from beyond the arc, a season-low 21.4%.

Real led 72-78 in the next-to-last minute. [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/) found [Jasiel Rivero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jasiel-rivero/011214/) twice, first for a three-pointer and then for a layup for a 77-78 score. When [Facu Campazzo ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/)missed at the other end, Maccabi had earned its chance to win the game and Lee delivered, taking [Gabriel Deck ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/)one-on-one to hit a six-meter jumper with 0.1 seconds remaining. Maccabi worked really hard to put itself in that situation and picked the right player to win the game.

Will Rayman's finest EuroLeague game yet helped the Israeli champs defeat Real Madrid

Maccabi hustled and fought for the chance it needed to beat Real

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Real Madrid (2024-10-31T19:05:00.000Z)