Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul sealed its progress to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by overcoming Paris Basketball, 88-98, in an overtime battle to complete a series sweep.

Fenerbahce advances to Final Four with OT win at Paris, 88-98

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul sealed its progress to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four by overcoming Paris Basketball, 88-98, in an overtime battle to complete a series sweep.

A back-and-forth first half ended with Fenerbahce leading, 40-46. The second half was even closer, and concluded with TJ Shorts scoring the last 4 points of regulation to force overtime. But Tarik Biberovic netted the first 7 points of the extra period, and Fener didn’t look back. 

Paris was inevitably led by Shorts with a joint career-high 29 points, while Nadir Hifi scored 24. Biberovic powered Fener with 21 points, Nigel Hayes-Davis added 18 and Marko Guduric scored 14.

Game Videos

Inside buckets from Devon Hall and Tyson Ward got the scoreboard moving in an otherwise slow-scoring start. Shorts and Hayes-Davis traded blows, and Shorts added a triple for a 9-4 lead. Jilson Bango’s tip-in was answered by Maodo Lo’s layup, and Hifi’s triple protected Paris’s lead. But Fener roared back with three straight triples through Hayes-Davis, Errick McCollum and Biberovic to lead 18-19 at the end of the first.

Kevarrius Hayes and Bonzie Colson exchanged inside baskets early in the second, before Ward and Shorts gave Paris a 25-24 edge. Bango’s close-range finish and Guduric’s three-ball restored the Fener’s lead, and McCollum’s layup made it 25-31. Hifi and Biberovic both scored twice, before three-pointers from Bandja Sy and Sebastian Herrera kept Paris close 35-36. Biberovic also fired from deep and Dyshawn Pierre added a layup, but Shorts responded from mid-range. Herrera added another three-ball, and Hall’s free throws made it 40-46 at the break.

Game News

Shorts opened the second-half scoring before Guduric and Ward traded triples. Paris gained further momentum with consecutive baskets from Shorts, then surged into the lead 55-53 as Hifi and Ouattara netted in a 6-0 run. The scoring slowed until Wade Baldwin scored from close-range, but Hifi kept Paris pushing with two straight scores. Hayes-Davis’s three-ball made it 59-58, before Baldwin’s layup helped make it 61-63 with 10 minutes left.

Collin Malcolm’s tough bucket tied it up to start the fourth, and Hayes added a put-back slam for a Paris lead. Pierre and Hayes-Davis forced another lead change, but Shorts tied it again, 67-67. McCollum and Shorts made smooth jumpers, then Khem Birch’s dunk made it 71-73 with 4 minutes left. Baldwin’s jumper and Guduric’s free throws stretched it to 71-77, before Shorts’ driving layup gave Paris hope. Biberovic and Hifi traded triples, and it was 76-80 heading into the last minute. Shorts scored at the rim and added a jumper to tie it with 15 seconds left to force overtime.

Biberovic opened the additional minute with his fifth three-pointer followed by a baseline jumper, and completed a 0-7 run with a fast-break finish. Hifi’s layup kept Paris alive, but Guduric responded for an 82-90 lead. Hayes-Davis added a layup-and-one, and Hifi’s four-point play wasn’t enough for the hosts as Hayes-Davis netted again to make sure of the win.

The Turkish team became the first qualifier for the end-of-season showpiece

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

Fenerbahce Beko has secured its place at the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four for the seventh time in total and second year in succession.

Fenerbahce heads to second Final Four in a row

After sweeping its playoff series for the fourth time in club history, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) can prepare for its second Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four appearance in succession under coach Saras Jasikevicius. 

Fenerbahce won all three games against Paris Basketball – Games 1 and 2 at home, then Game 3 on the road – to become the first team to book its ticket for the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

After ending a five-year wait to reach the Final Four last year, Fenerbahce heads to Abu Dhabi with ambitions of bringing the EuroLeague title back to Istanbul.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">FENERBAHÇE BEKO, EUROLEAGUE&#39;DE FINAL FOUR&#39;DA! 💛💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/C0TZpULR7g">pic.twitter.com/C0TZpULR7g</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1917320401782235228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Fenerbahce’s Final Four history

Fenerbahce is heading to its seventh Final Four in club history. Its first time heading to the Final Four came in 2015 with coach Zeljko Obradovic at the helm, which turned out to be the first of five successive trips to European basketball’s showpiece event under the Serbian play-caller.

To date, Fenerbahce has reached the Final Four in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024, and now 2025.

By moving to seven Final Four appearances, Fenerbahce goes level with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv for joint fourth all-time, although the Greens could move to eight if they advance past Anadolu Efes Istanbul in their playoff series.

### How many EuroLeague titles have Fenerbahce won?

Fenerbahce’s first and only EuroLeague title came in 2017, when it beat Olympiacos Piraeus in the championship game in Istanbul, Turkiye. It also lost in the title decider in 2016 and 2018 to CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid, respectively.

### Which Fenerbahce players have won the EuroLeague before?

Team captain [Melih Mahmutoglu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/melih-mahmutoglu/002969/) was a member of Fenerbahce’s 2017 title triumph. [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) also won the 2021 championship as a member of Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

### Who is heading to their first Final Four?

Most of this Fenerbahce squad went to the 2024 Final Four, but [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/), [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/), [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/), [Arturs Zagars](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/arturs-zagars/008104/), [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) and [Jilson Bango](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jilson-bango/013696/) will play at their first Final Four. [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) and [Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/), two of Fenerbahce’s signings last summer, both have Final Four experience under their belt.

This is the seventh time the 2017 champion has made it to the Final Four

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Playoffs pregame quotes: Game 3

## Wednesday, April 30

### FC Barcelona vs. AS Monaco (19:00 CEST)

**Joan Peñarroya, FC Barcelona head coach**

"First of all, we have to focus exclusively on \[Game 3\], without looking any further. We have to play a good game against an opponent that has been better than us last week. If we do things right, I am convinced that we can win, especially playing at Palau Blaugrana, in front of our people. In playoff games, their support is noticed even more. Monaco is a physical team because of its players are really athletic. We knew that: there are many teams that play this way, even when they don't have such a deep roster as Monaco. We have to be smarter and take a step forward in situations in which we can do better. We are also a physical team, but many times, physicality is not the key, but reading the game well, being ready and focused on our game, not on how they force us to play. Jan \[Vesely\] is doubtful: he is trying but it looks difficult that he will be able to help us. We know how they play and how we want to play. It is a playoff game and everyone has its weapons. They took the first two games where they wanted them and we have to have the ability to know what they do and take them where it is more convenient for us. We will try to improve through our game. Energy, willingness, ambition, Palau Blaugrana… we count on all that, but it is our game which has to make us improve, to avoid this feeling of collapse."

**Joel Parra, FC Barcelona forward**

"It is time to deliver. We know it is hard, but we believe. Since Game 2 finished, we have looked to each other's faces and said we could turn this situation around. We have done it many times this season, playing as a team in the most difficult moments. We expect Palau Blaugrana to be as good as always and even better. For us, it is a final and this is what's most important. There are no excuses. It is one of the three finals we hope to play \[against Monaco\]. We had three days to recover and it is hard, given the calendar and the injuries we have. But again, there are no excuses. We know it will be a very difficult game and they will arrive here with the same dynamics, but can't allow that in our home. In such a long series, you have to try new things and our coaching staff will help us do them, what to do and how to protect ourselves. Above all, energy is the biggest key. When we went to Monaco, we had beaten them twice in the regular season and now they beat us twice. We analyzed both games and their physicality has been the biggest key. We didn't play at the same physical level as we did throughout the regular season. We know this and here at Palau, we will take a step forward with all of our fans helping us."

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19:45 CEST)

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

"There is a good balance between the two teams, and Efes is a good team. We will go there to fight, to try to win both games. We know that we will play tough games. Both games in Athens were tough games. We won the first game that maybe Efes deserved to win, and we lost the second game that I believed we deserved to win because we led for 39 minutes and 30 seconds. Now we go there to win a game. It will be important to be ready to fight, to play good basketball, because Efes is playing good basketball."

"We are professional. All of us we fight for our team, for Panathinaikos, to win the game. I said a month ago that Efes is the only team I don’t like to play \[against\] in the playoffs. Not because we are friends but because they are a good team and they have very experienced players, like Shane Larkin, Elijah Bryant, Vincent Poirier, that I know in that kind of game they try to do their best. This season, we won many difficult games on the road. It will be a great atmosphere, we are in the playoffs. Every team tries to create a home-court advantage. But we saw, the show is nice, we are the best club and have the best fans to make a show, but it does not affect the final results. Efes fans are one of the most fair fans in Europe, but they will for sure make a good atmosphere."

"The pressure is on both sides right now, maybe more on Efes. We were the favorites when the series started. Now, maybe they are the favorites. It’s the playoffs, the pressure is the same on all teams, because everyone wants to go to the Final Four."

**Cedi Osman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward**

"To be honest, we are not going for one, we are going for both games. Obviously, gooing game by game. We know the capacity we have, we know what kind of team we are. I believe in our team and the coaches. Everybody is ready for a fight because it will be a very tough game in Istanbul. Everybody is ready to give everything on the floor, on \[Wednesday night\], and again Friday night. We watched our second game again, we were really playing well. Just a small details that we missed, and I think if we fix those we will have a good chance to win both games. I am 100% ready to go and excited to be on the floor."

"\[Efes\] is a team that I played for nine years before going to the NBA. But as a professional, I got to be on the floor and give my 100%. I am playing for Panathinaikos and my heart is here, and I am doing all my best to help the team reach the Final Four. That’s the only goal for me, but I got nothing but respect for Efes."

**Luca Banchi, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"We are very excited to approach this new chapter of the series with two games in Istanbul. That was our task before the games in Athens. The first two games proved how tight and how balanced these series will be. Both games proved that not even a double-digit advantage was enough for teams to capitalize. So everybody needs 40 minutes of their best, high-intensity and best continuity, because I believe team have talented roster with such talented players that possess the capacity to become game-changers and game-finishers in every moment during this series. So, we want to prepare ourselves to also absorb their strong desire to revenge after the last loss. We have the defending champion in front of us, and they will combine their capacity together with a strong will, and that's why we want to respond in the same way as we did in Athens, ready to compete from the beginning at every level."

**Dan Oturu, Anadolu Efes Istanbul center**<br>
"It will be an exciting atmosphere, another opportunity to go out and compete. We have to stay focused on playing our brand of basketball. It will feel good to have the support of our home fans."

## Tuesday, April 29

### Paris Basketball vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:30 CEST)

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

"We have to match the desperation of Paris. Especially important first quarter over there and the entrance to the game, where they are the best. The atmosphere will be very favorable for them. After that we need to continue being patient offensively, share the ball, find the best shooter and, like always, try to look at their guards as much as we can.

**Wade Baldwin, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul guard**

"Thoughts before the game are just to continue what we’ve been doing for the past two games. Obviously, they are more desperate to win and we have to go to finish the job. Let’s see what happens on Tuesday."

### Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (21:00 CEST)

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

"We are only thinking about what is ahead of us. We only have to win one game because for us nothing matters about what happened in Athens or what may happen in the future. I think the best way to face a playoff series is to think only and exclusively about what is in front of you and that is tomorrow's game, a very important game for us in which we have to keep correcting things. From Game 1 to Game 2 we corrected some things, not everything. There are still aspects of the game where Olympiacos is hurting us and we have to change what we did not do well. We had a good chance to win Game 2, and we need to get over the line in Game 3."

**Andres Feliz, Real Madrid guard**

"It's been a very tough series, but we are confident and we will fight to win the home games with the support of our fans and playing as a team. We must learn from the two games we played in Greece. We know what we have to do against Olympiacos. We have to be focused from the first minute, leave everything out there and go for the win. We need our fans to give us that extra boost that pushes us, and we want to do well because, after all, we are playing for them."

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach**

"We will try to be better defensively from the first quarter compared to the last game; to stay solid, to play for the win, and to overcome some minor injury issues that have arisen, although we hope that won't affect the players' availability."

**Saben Lee, Olympiacos Piraeus guard**

"It will definitely be a tough game. After all, it's difficult to beat a team three times in a row. But I feel that we are ready for it."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs

Playoffs pregame quotes, Game 3: 'We are going for both games'

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)

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)

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.

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<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.

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.

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<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.”

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<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)