LDLC ASVEL guard Theo Maledon had a career night against Baskonia, playing a key role in leading his team to a Round 4 win in the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Theo Maledon showed against Baskonia that he is having fun again

If the opening four games of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season is any indicator, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne’s opponents had better be careful this season. That is because [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) is having fun again playing basketball.

Maledon set a series of career highs in [ASVEL’s thrilling 76-69 comeback victory over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-reels-off-17-0-fourth-quarter-run-to-rally-past-baskonia-76-69/), including 25 points, 5 three-pointers, 3 steals, 2 blocks and a PIR of 36. He also chipped in 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 fouls drawn.

Still just 23, Maledon’s performance was highlighted by two big three-pointers in the final two and a half minutes, including the backbreaker triple with 53 seconds to play. Maledon also dished out two assists and had two free throws as part of a five-point possession as ASVEL reeled off 17 straight points in the final five minutes of the game. That came immediately after Baskonia had turned an 11-point deficit into an 11-point lead with a 9-31 run.

“Just not giving up, staying together. The last couple of EuroLeague games, we gave up leads in the fourth quarter and weren’t able to come back,” Maledon told EuroLeague TV after the game. “Thanks to the fans and coaches, we were able to stay together and do the little things that ended up helping us get the result and the win we needed.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DO YOU FEEL THE ENERGY ? 🔥🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/RHAME0Grmi">pic.twitter.com/RHAME0Grmi</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1847390092341424182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

When asked what it was like hitting those big threes – after which he raised his arms in joy both times – Maledon said: “It was amazing. That’s what you dream of when you are a kid: having big-time plays in a big-time game. I’m just grateful and thankful to have this game.”

Maledon has been putting up some big numbers since returning to Europe after four seasons in the NBA. The former Oklahoma City Thunder guard is averaging 17.5 points on nearly 50/40/90 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 6.0 fouls drawn and 24.5 PIR.

“\[The fourth quarter comeback\] was tough. Theo helped us, hitting some tough shots. And we found a new reason to finish the game,” added [Neal Sako](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/neal-sako/010545/), who contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds for his third straight double-double.

ASVEL head coach Pierric Poupet has put a lot of faith in Maledon, who is playing 28 minutes a game in the EuroLeague this season – significantly more than he did in his final three seasons in the NBA. Those three campaigns from 2021 to 2024 all saw him spend some time in the G League. And now he is back at the club he debuted with as a professional when he was just 17 years old and played 22 EuroLeague games for in the 2019-20 season before heading to the NBA.

Maledon said he feels welcome back in France and that is a big reason why there is a smile on his face so much.

"Thanks to everybody for making sure I feel comfortable; I am back to playing basketball and having fun. That’s all that matters.”

Be warned, the rest of the EuroLeague.

Game News

The young guard has already emerged as one of ASVEL's leaders this season

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-10-18T18:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona enjoyed a memorable 94-98 overtime over KK Crvena zvezda on Friday night, with former KK Partizan duo Kevin Punter and Jan Vesely standing out for the Spanish side.

Clutch, 'big-time plays' lifted Barcelona to a memorable OT win

Streaks and records are meant to be broken, but FC Barcelona kept one of its long-lasting winning streaks alive by going on the road and edging out the previously unbeaten Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on Friday night.

A [thrilling 94-98 win in a fantastic atmosphere](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/punter-barcelona-edge-crvena-zvezda-94-98-in-ot-classic/) at a packed Belgrade Arena was Barcelona's 12th consecutive win over Zvezda, which last beat the *Azulgrana* more than seven years ago. The winning streak over Zvezda had some hard-fought wins, but this one might be the most memorable of them all.

Friday night, however, had all the makings of Zvezda ending the streak, with ex-Barcelona man [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) and [Yago Dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/) pulling all the right strings for the hosts. 

Yet, [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) – back in the Serbian capital after representing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade over the last three years – showed why he is one of the most clutch players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. With the game on the line, he stepped up late to guide Barcelona to the win and improving his team to a 3-1 record on the season.

"Those guys made some big plays, and we kept responding," Punter told EuroLeague TV afterward. "We showed a lot of character pushing it to overtime, and we got the win."

If Punter felt particularly happy with his performance against Crvena Zvezda, he did not show it on the floor of an arena he knows so well. As a former Zvezda player who spent the last three seasons in archrival Partizan's uniform, Punter's return to the Serbian capital was long-awaited.

And saying that he delivered would not do him justice, as he scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. He was 6 for 7 on twos and 4 of 6 from long range, knocking down two triples apiece in the fourth  and in the extra session.

Kevin Punter knocks down a three-pointer in Belgrade Arena for the lead.

Punter sinks a go-ahead triple! Motorola Magic Moment

Barcelona erased a nine-point third-quarter deficit and the game was going down to the wire when Punter took over.

He was the one who made a triple that gave Barcelona an 82-84 lead with 10.4 seconds left in regulation. After Zvezda forced overtime, Punter's triple with 55 seconds to go put Barcelona up for good, 93-96. Then, to put the cherry on top, Punter recorded his fourth steal with five seconds remaining in the game before racing down the other end to score a celebratory layup.

"They made a little run and we stayed with it. We made big-time plays and we stayed together," Punter said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">2⃣6⃣ punts<br>3⃣0⃣ de valoració<br><br>𝐒𝐄𝐆𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐕𝐏 𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒 😳 <a href="https://t.co/WGSlPRTc7b">pic.twitter.com/WGSlPRTc7b</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1847383236114338000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

His partner in crime on this night was [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/), another former Partizan player who knows well what is like to play at Belgrade Arena. He finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds in 27 minutes of action.

"We know how difficult it is to win in this arena," Vesely stated in a post-game interview with EuroLeague TV. "Crvena Zvezda is a great team and they showed it early in the season."

But Barcelona was the one which came out victorious. A tough win in one of the toughest EuroLeague environments was Barcelona's third straight triumph and second this week.

"We had great mentality today," Vesely added. "In the second half and overtime, we played focused and ready to do the job. We are very happy that we are coming back with a win."

The Azulgrana improved to 3-1 after pulling out a win in the first overtime game of the 2024-25 season

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v FC Barcelona (2024-10-18T18:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco Basket duo Mike James and Elie Okobo could not be stopped against Virtus Bologna in Round 4 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Mike James and Elie Okobo shined as Monaco vanquished Virtus 

AS Monaco showcased its attacking potential in [an emphatic 101-85 whitewash of Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-makes-light-work-of-virtus-101-85/) as pack leader [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) and versatile guard [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) combined for 39 points, with the home side running riot in the second half after trailing 46-47 at the interval.

Monaco took perfect care of the ball as it dished out 16 assists and committed just 2 turnovers, having also managed 7 steals on the back of strong second-half defense which had Virtus reeling. The hosts also shot the lights out from deep, hitting 12 of 24, while confining Virtus to 7 of 26 as the visitors also committed 10 turnovers.

James, who needed time to get into his stride after undergoing back surgery during the off-season, netted 19 points and Okobo poured 20 on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor, while the rest of the pack followed as six home players finished in double digits.

The livewire playmaker that he is, James was delighted with Monaco’s effort after a scathing 86-71 at FC Barcelona in the previous round, having pointed out that he was still working on returning to full fitness.

“It’s a process, obviously, and I am just trying to get back in shape and allow my body to catch up to where it was,” James said in a courtside interview. “It didn’t feel like us the last time round and we just wanted to get back to moving and sharing the ball. I felt we did that tonight, especially in the second half.” 

Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic was also pleased with his team bouncing back in style from a tepid display against Barca. “We need some time to click but it was a great response after the Barcelona defeat,” the Serbian tactician stated. “We played on a high level, especially in the second half, as the whole team did a good job with several players finishing in double digits.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🤝 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/HwAi4ceKAf">pic.twitter.com/HwAi4ceKAf</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1847369639317426664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Okobo added: “We picked up defensively in the second half and didn’t give them as many second chances as we did in the first. Everybody is important on this team and we showed that tonight.”

Early days in the regular season do not make happy reading for Virtus, which slumped to its fourth successive defeat after collapsing in the second half, having had the upper hand in the first.

The Italian team’s head coach Luca Banchi acknowledged the performance left a lot to be desired. “It was very difficult for us to stop their guards as they used all their talent to their advantage,” he said. “We were pretty consistent in the first 20 minutes, but they punished every single mistake we made in the second half.”   

The home team’s backcourt duo pulled all the strings in a flawless offensive performance 

AS Monaco v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-10-18T17:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes got its first EuroLeague win at Basketball Development Center after coming from behind to beat Olympiacos BC 91-89 in Round 4.

Tomislav Mijatovic celebrates Efes’ first win in new home

Anadolu Efes Istanbul celebrated its first victory in its brand-new home on Friday night, [coming back from behind to overcome Olympiacos Piraeus 91-89](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-overcomes-early-deficit-to-overcome-olympiacos-91-89/) in a thrilling finale.

The 2021 and 2022 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion debuted at the Basketball Development Center – built on the site of the iconic but now dismantled Abdi Ipekci Arena – last week with the excitement of a local derby against crosstown rivals Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, but came away disappointed after suffering a 78-83 defeat.

But the new venue is now starting to really feel like home thanks to a stirring comeback victory over perennial title contender Olympiacos, rallying from an 8-23 first-quarter deficit and winning the fourth quarter 26-19 to take the victory.

Efes head coach Tomislav Mijatovic believes the vibrant atmosphere generated by his team’s supporters played a significant role in the triumph, especially during the crucial closing stages when the game took its final and decisive swing in the hosts’ direction.

“\[It was an\] amazing reaction from our fans,” he said. “We’re in a new home, and we need to have this kind of support every time. It gave us extra wings, an extra push, and this is a great building block for what’s coming up next. It was a tremendous basketball evening here in Istanbul.”

Mijatovic always had words of praise for the character shown by his players after their slow start to the contest, enthusing: “Sincere congratulations to our guys, who never stopped believing, never stopped executing what we wanted to execute, never stopped going where we wanted to go.

“My heart goes to them, they’re doing a tremendous job and this is the way to play.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🫂 Size inanıyoruz! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/cHrppsFhS6">pic.twitter.com/cHrppsFhS6</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1847358566681714790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Efes roster now has very few players remaining from the back-to-back title-winning team led by Ergin Ataman, but Mijatovic believes the new batch of players can enjoy much more success in the future.

“I’m very optimistic about the potential capacity of our team,” he commented. “We have a little bit more to go, which is normal, but I’m happy about how things are clicking among the players – the leaders, the newcomers, the players that have their role within the team.

“Our offensive potential has a high ceiling, and we need to continue to explore that potential and get close to that ceiling.”

And with a few more thrilling finishes like Friday night’s, the ceiling of the new Basketball Development Center will also be raised by the noise of the Efes fans.

His side beat an Olympiacos team that led for the majority of the contest

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-10-18T17:30:00.000Z)

Kevin Punter led the way as FC Barcelona ended the unbeaten record of KK Crvena zvezda, winning 94-98 in overtime in Round 4 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Punter, Barcelona edge Crvena Zvezda 94-98 in OT classic

In the first overtime game of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, FC Barcelona pulled out a 94-98 victory of the previously undefeated Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade inside a packed Belgrade Arena on Friday. Both teams now share a league-best 3-1 record after the first double-round week of the season, as there are no more unbeaten teams heading into Round 5. 

The two teams traded leads throughout the entire four quarter. Zvezda did go up 65-56 late in the third, only for Barcelona to answer with a 1-11 run bridging the third and fourth quarter and going back in front. Zvezda entered the final minute up 82-81, but Kevin Punter, the game's top scorer, hit a three-pointer with 10.4 seconds to go in the fourth, then Yago Dos Santos drove for a layup on the other end to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Barcelona hit four three-pointers, including two more from Punter, and the one-time All-EuroLeague guard also sealed the deal by stealing the ball five seconds before the end.

Punter finished the game with 26 points on 4-for-6 three-point shooting. Jan Vesely scored 19 points, Jabari Parker netted 13, while Tomas Satoransky and Willy Hernangomez scored 11 apiece in the win. Dos Santos paced Zvezda with 23 points, Nikola Kalinic scored 19, Joel Bolomboy collected 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Mike Daum scored all of his 10 points in the third quarter.

Punter was Barcelona's offensive facilitator early on, scoring 6 points. When Parker's triple dropped, the visitors held a 5-11 lead. Zvezda got going when Milos Teodosic entered the game, with Kalinic scoring 7 points, including a layup followed by a triple, as hosts went in front for the first time, 16-15. A three from Teodosic and back-to-back triples from Dos Santos had the hosts 25-21 ahead, but Satoransky answered with a three and then Vesely scored a layup to make it 25-26 after 10 minutes.

Baskets from Vesely and Nicolas Laprovittola put Barcelona up 27-30 early in the second. But Luka Mitrovic scored twice inside, Rokas Giedraitis hit one from the outside, and Yago scored five points, including a three-point play, as Zvezda went in front, 39-33. Hernangomez and Parker replied, each with two baskets, and despite another three from Giedraitis, Barcelona tied things up at 44-44. With just 2.1 seconds left on the game clock, Teodosic sent a long inbound pass to Miller-McIntyre, who nailed a buzzer-beating triple to set a 47-44 score at halftime.

Barcelona opened the third quarter with three-pointers from Parker and Laprovittola. Satoransky scored from close range before a jumper from Vesely made it 49-54, forcing Zvezda into a timeout. But the hosts replied in style. Daum and Kalinic knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, then Daum and Miller-McIntyre took it to the rim on consecutive possessions to give Zvezda a 59-54 lead. Punter snapped a 10-0 run with a jumper, but Daum and Bolomboy hit back-to-back threes to give the hosts a bit of breathing room, 65-56. Before the quarter came to an end, Dario Brizuela hit a pair of threes and cut the deficit to 66-63 entering the fourth quarter.

Baskets from Punter and Hernangomez restored the lead for the visitors, 66-67, but a three-point play from Mitrovic snapped a 1-11 run. Punter nailed a triple and Vesely a jumper to keep Barcelona with a slim lead. Bolomboy's big dunk and a long jumper from Dos Santos made it 75-72, only for Vesely to tie the game before Satoransky hit a corner triple for another lead change, 77-78. Kalinic and Dos Santos restored Zvezda's lead, and the hosts entered the final minute up 82-81. Punter's triple with 10.4 seconds to go in the fourth put Barcelona up 82-84, and after Yago's runner tied the game, Punter missed a long triple as the game went to overtime.

In the extra session, back-to-back threes from Punter and Parker put Barcelona up 88-90, but Dos Santos scored a three-point play that helped the hosts go back ahead, 93-90. However, back-to-back threes from Laprovittola and Punter led to another lead change, 93-96. Zvezda had a chance to tie in the final seven seconds, down two points, but Punter stole Bolomboy's pass and raced the other way for a layup, sealing the win.

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.

It was the first overtime game of the new season

LDLC ASVEL downed Baskonia 76-69 in Round 4 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season, leaning on a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to get the job done.

ASVEL reels off 17-0 fourth-quarter run to rally past Baskonia, 76-69

Theo Maledon had a night for the ages as he guided LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne to a thrilling 76-69 comeback victory at home over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 4 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. ASVEL improved to 2-2 on the young season, the same record for Baskonia, which had just eight players see game time after having beaten Real Madrid earlier in the week.

Maledon scored a career-high 25 points, netting 5 three-pointers, as he helped ASVEL reel off a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter immediately after having watched Baskonia go from 11 points down to 11 points up with a 9-31 surge. Neal Sako was the only other ASVEL player in double figures scoring, contributing 14 points and 12 rebounds for his third straight double-double. Before ASVEL’s big punch, Chima Moneke looked to be the hero for Baskonia with 18 points and 8 rebounds while Donta Hall had 15 points. ASVEL limited Markus Howard to just 7 points.

David Lighty and Maledon both hit triples as ASVEL scored on its first three possessions for an 8-0 lead, forcing Baskonia to call a timeout after just 81 seconds. The guests needed more than two minutes to score and a Paris Lee triple had ASVEL up 13-2. Sako tallied his third basket as the hosts’ advantage grew to 20-6. Baskonia did finish the quarter strong with the final six points to trail 20-12 after 10 minutes.

Maledon started the scoring in the second quarter and Sako added two free throws as the ASVEL cushion was back to 13 points, 27-14. Baskonia’s main man Howard finally scored his first points on a layup around the midway mark in the quarter to make it 29-20. ASVEL answered with the next five points and the gap was 14 points again. Kamar Baldwin drained back-to-back triples to trim it to 36-26 and ASVEL led 38-26 at the break.

Maledon hit ASVEL’s first score in the second half and it was 40-28. That is when Howard started heating up – a baseline jumper, assist and three-pointer as Baskonia pulled within 42-36. Sako and Maledon continued their great games and the lead was 47-36. Moneke took over with nine points in Baskonia’s 4-18 run to take the lead – the forward hitting a three-pointer to give the guests their first lead of the game at 51-54. And it was 53-54 after 30 minutes.

Moneke was not slowed by the break with a jumper and three-pointer as Baskonia surged ahead 53-61. ASVEL did not score its first points of the frame until the 6:44-minute mark with a Maledon triple. Moneke scored another basket and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot drained a triple as the hosts led 56-67. ASVEL did not let its head hang and reeled off 17 straight points – including two free throws and a three-pointer by Maledon after an unsportsmanlike foul on Hall and two scores by Edwin Jackson to go 73-67 ahead. Hall stopped the bleeding, but Maledon delivered the backbreaker three-pointer with 53 seconds for the final score.

The French side has won both of its home games so far this season

AS Monaco Basket eased to a 101-85 win over Virtus Bologna in Round 4 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Monaco makes light work of Virtus, 101-85

AS Monaco breezed to a 101-85 home victory over Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 4 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, improving its record to 3-1 after high-scoring guard Mike James finally served up a vintage performance with 19 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

Elie Okobo paced the home team with a game-high 20 points, Mam Jaiteh chipped in with 15 and 7 boards while Vitto Brown amassed 14 points and 4 rebounds. Matthew Strazel netted 12 points and Jordan Loyd added 11 to underline a flowing team effort from Monaco, which found another gear in the second half after trailing 46-47 at the interval.

At the other end, Toko Shengelia stood out for Virtus with 17 points, Momo Diouf scored 12 while Matt Morgan and Isaia Cordinier netted 11 each for the visitors, who remain rooted to the bottom of the standings after suffering a fourth successive defeat.

Virtus, the only winless team in the competition, made a bright start and led 20-24 at the end of the first quarter despite Monaco hitting 5 three-pointers in the opening period. The visitors extended their advantage to 28-38 before Monaco, driven by Okobo who scored all his 10 first-half points in the second quarter, hit back to edge ahead 41-40 shortly before halftime.

Virtus regained the lead in the closing stages of the first half but that was as good as it got for the Italian outfit, which faded out after the break as Monaco surged into a 71-64 lead at the end of the third period.

James, who struggled in the opening three games of the season after undergoing back surgery during the summer break, hit a clutch three-pointer off the dribble to keep Monaco in the driving seat, 78-68, early in the fourth after Virtus had slashed the deficit.

With James and the effervescent Okobo running the show, the hosts then pulled away in the home stretch and led by as many as 20 points in the closing stages, much to the delight of the home supporters.

The principality side coasted to a comfortable win on the back of a strong second half performance

Anadolu Efes got its first home win of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season by beating Olympiacos BC 91-89 in Round 4.

Efes overcomes early deficit to overcome Olympiacos, 91-89

Anadolu Efes Istanbul overturned a 15-point deficit to down Olympiacos Piraeus, 91-89, despite only leading for two minutes all night. Both teams now have a 2-2 record.

Olympiacos raced into an early double-digit lead through 10 first-quarter points from Sasha Vezenkov, but Efes fought back as Shane Larkin scored 14 in the second quarter and it was 41-44 at the break. Evan Fournier took over the third quarter with 13 points, but Efes kept fighting and controlled the final stages to prevail. Larkin led the way with 24 points, while Darius Thompson added 13 and Elijah Bryant scored all his 11 points in the second half. Fournier paced Olympiacos with 20 points, Shaquielle McKissic scored 17 and Vezenkov added 16.

Fournier netted five points in the first two minutes, then Moustapha Fall’s three-point play and Vezenkov’s floater gave Olympiacos a 3-10 lead. Vezenkov scored in transition to complete a 0-7 run, which was ended by Vincent Poirier at the rim. Tyler Dorsey’s jumper and two more buckets for Fall established a double-digit lead, 5-18, before Rolands Smits’ three-point play briefly boosted Efes. Vezenkov stayed hot with another inside score before Filip Petrusev’s lay-up-and-one was answered by a Smits triple, making it 11-23 after 10 minutes.

Larkin stepped up with 10 points early in the second quarter, including two triples, but Dorsey’s deep strike and four points from McKissic restored a double-digit lead, 21-32. The inspired Larkin scored again and Erkan Yilmaz added five straight points as Efes fought back, but Alec Peters from mid-range and Dorsey from deep reasserted the Reds. Thompson scored five fast points to make it 35-38, and a big dunk from Moses Wright was answered by Thompson’s triple before Dorsey beat the buzzer with a long two for a 41-44 halftime score.

Thompson and Ercan Osmani brought Efes within one point early in the third, before Fournier and Vincent Poirier exchanged inside scores as it stayed close. Fall’s three-point play was followed by a pair of triples apiece for Fournier, Larkin and Bryant, tying it up at 59-59. Vezenkov and McKissic both hit triples, then Rodrigue Beaubois’s jumper was answered by Fournier’s triple at the end of third-quarter buzzer, making it 65-70.

Wright started the fourth quarter with a three-point play, but Thompson hit his third triple to give Efes hope. Jordan Nwora and Beaubois kept the home team moving, but Wright battled to the basket to make it 74-79 with six minutes left. Poirier’s alley-oop slam was bettered by McKissic’s triple, then Larkin’s tough jumper and Nwora’s transition layup made it 82-82. Bryant’s three-pointer gave Efes its first lead of the night, but free throws from Fournier and Fall made it 85-86 with two minutes to play. Larkin netted again and after a series of offensive miscues Bryant’s floater sealed a dramatic win.

The Turkish side recorded its first home win of the season

Efes overcomes early deficit to down Olympiacos, 91-89

The action in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague continues to come thick and fast as the double round concludes with Round 4 on Thursday and Friday. 

Game Center: Round 4 is upon us!

## Friday, October 18

### [AS Monaco 101-85 Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-makes-light-work-of-virtus-101-85/)

Monaco breezed to a 101-85 home victory over Virtus in Round 4 of the EuroLeague season, improving its record to 3-1 after high-scoring guard Mike James finally served up a vintage performance with 19 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Elie Okobo paced the home team with a game-high 20 points, Mam Jaiteh chipped in with 15 and 7 boards while Vitto Brown amassed 14 points and 4 rebounds. Matthew Strazel netted 12 points and Jordan Loyd added 11 to underline a flowing team effort from Monaco, which found another gear in the second half after trailing 46-47 at the interval. At the other end, Toko Shengelia stood out for Virtus with 17 points, Momo Diouf scored 12 while Matt Morgan and Isaia Cordinier netted 11 each for the visitors, who remain rooted to the bottom of the standings after suffering a fourth successive defeat.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✅️ Victoire à la maison pour la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a>, avec une deuxième mi-temps XXL ! 💪🔥<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/SpVspWxNgI">pic.twitter.com/SpVspWxNgI</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1847352781910528417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Anadolu Efes Istanbul 91-89 Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/efes-overcomes-early-deficit-to-overcome-olympiacos-91-89/)

Efes overturned a 15-point deficit to down Olympiacos, 91-89, despite only leading for two minutes all night. Both teams now have a 2-2 record. Olympiacos raced into an early double-digit lead through 10 first-quarter points from Sasha Vezenkov, but Efes fought back as Shane Larkin scored 14 in the second quarter and it was 41-44 at the break. Evan Fournier took over the third quarter with 13 points, but Efes kept fighting and controlled the final stages to prevail. Larkin led the way with 24 points, while Darius Thompson added 13 and Elijah Bryant scored all his 11 points in the second half. Fournier paced Olympiacos with 20 points, Shaquielle McKissic scored 17 and Vezenkov added 16.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">👊 Olympiacos karşısında parkeden galibiyetle ayrılıyoruz!<br>Anadolu Efes 91 - 89 Olympiacos | Maç Sonucu<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PembeTopSahada?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PembeTopSahada</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/hoyJgSD5FH">pic.twitter.com/hoyJgSD5FH</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1847357616487641486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 93-96 FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/punter-barcelona-edge-crvena-zvezda-94-98-in-ot-classic/)

In the first overtime game of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season, Barcelona pulled out a 94-98 victory of the previously undefeated Crvena Zvezda inside a packed Belgrade Arena on Friday. Both teams now share a league-best 3-1 record after the first double-round week of the season, as there are no more unbeaten teams heading into Round 5. The two teams traded leads throughout the entire four quarter. Zvezda did go up 65-56 late in the third, only for Barcelona to answer with a 1-11 run bridging the third and fourth quarter and going back in front. Zvezda entered the final minute up 82-81, but Kevin Punter, the game's top scorer, hit a three-pointer with 10.4 seconds to go in the fourth, then Yago Dos Santos drove for a layup on the other end to send the game to overtime. In the extra session, Barcelona hit four three-pointers, including two more from Punter, and the one-time All-EuroLeague guard also sealed the deal by stealing the ball five seconds before the end.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐄̀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐀 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐀. QUINA VICTÒRIA 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/njJyt39F5d">pic.twitter.com/njJyt39F5d</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1847375845570334785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 76-69 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-reels-off-17-0-fourth-quarter-run-to-rally-past-baskonia-76-69/)

Theo Maledon had a night for the ages as he guided ASVEL to a thrilling 76-69 comeback victory at home over Baskonia in Round 4 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. ASVEL improved to 2-2 on the young season, the same record for Baskonia, which was limited to just eight healthy players after having beaten Real Madrid earlier in the week.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">ON VA LA CHERCHER CETTE WIN ! 🔥🔥🔥<br><br>Nos Villeurbannais s’arrachent dans les dernières minutes pour retourner le match et emporter une victoire importante pour la première à la <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLC_Arena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LDLC_Arena</a> !! <br><br>Qu’est-ce qu’elle fait du bien celle-là ! <a href="https://t.co/is59W6JmBW">pic.twitter.com/is59W6JmBW</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1847378804693750090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Thursday, October 17

### [ALBA Berlin 71-78 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-rebounds-with-71-78-road-win-over-alba/)

Fenerbahce bounced back from its disappointing Round 3 home loss to Crvena Zvezda by defeating ALBA 71-78 on the road on Thursday night. After scoring just 57 points against Crvena Zvezda, Fenerbahce drained 10-of-13 three-pointers in the first half and ended up improving to a 3-1 record.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Berlin’den galibiyetle dönüyoruz! 💪<br><br>Tebrikler Fenerbahçe Beko! 👏<br><br>Maç Sonucu | Alba Berlin 🆚 Fenerbahçe Beko: 71-78<br><br>Skor dağılımımız: Hayes-Davis 14, Baldwin 13, Biberovic 12, Melli 12, Marjanovic 8, Pierre 6, Zagars 5, Sertaç 3, Hall 2, Colson 2, Birch 1. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/5N3m3ZXo6L">pic.twitter.com/5N3m3ZXo6L</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1846999775578832949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 79-91 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-powers-past-maccabi-79-91/)

Partizan felt comfortable at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on Thursday night, beating Maccabi 79-91 at the Israeli team's temporary home on Thursday night. Sterling Brown netted almost half of his team’s points in the fourth quarter, a period in which Partizan outscored Maccabi 15-25 to clinch its second straight victory and first on the road. Following Partizan's win, both teams now boast a 2-2 record.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">POBEDA!⚫️⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/YnVesMGQBI">pic.twitter.com/YnVesMGQBI</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1847007486030876915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 82-85 Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-stages-huge-comeback-to-edge-milan-on-the-road-82-85/)

Zalgiris staged a magnificent fightback for an 82-85 road win at Milan in a EuroLeague Round 4 blockbuster, completing a perfect double-round week in Italy after beating Virtus 68-71 on Tuesday. The Lithuanian side rallied from 64-37 down midway through the third quarter to produce the second-biggest comeback in the competition history. Dovydas Giedraitis netted a game-high 21 points for the visitors, followed by Sylvain Francisco, who racked up 17 points and 6 assists with a superb individual performance.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After an intense game, double week in Italy ends successfully. 🤯🔥 <br><br>(Presented by: Go3). <a href="https://t.co/XJVh3H4Yq5">pic.twitter.com/XJVh3H4Yq5</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1847016845317992746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Real Madrid 90-86 Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-downs-panathinaikos-90-86-in-championship-game-rematch/)

Real Madrid exacted revenge by overcoming Panathinaikos, 90-86, in a hard-fought repeat of last season’s championship game. Both teams now have a 2-2 record, with the reigning champs losing twice this week. Chus Mateo’s Real took a double-digit lead in less than four minutes, but Panathinaikos gradually battled back and it was 43-38 at halftime. *Los Blancos* pulled away again after the break, and held on in the final minutes. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🏁 FP: <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> 90 - 86 <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paobcgr</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalaMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalaMadrid</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/7TQOCLy8kr">pic.twitter.com/7TQOCLy8kr</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1847015008208933357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [FC Bayern Munich 109-107 Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-survives-in-high-scoring-thriller-against-paris-109-107/)

Bayern returned to winning ways in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague by edging Paris 108-107 at SAP Garden in Round 4 on Thursday night. Gordie Herbert's squad improved to 2-2 in the standings and remains undefeated at the brand-new SAP Garden, while Tiago Splitter's Paris dropped to 1-3.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a spectacle at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAPGarden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAPGarden</a> 🤯 with the better end for us! 🎉 And above all – what a performance by Carsen (32 pts) 🔥, Bazz (27 pts) 💪, and Devin (21 pts) 👏!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAYPBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAYPBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1847022903096652218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There were three road winners on Thursday, but how many will we have after Friday's action?

Game Center: Barcelona wins in OT; three home triumphs elsewhere

Real Madrid v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Paris Basketball (2024-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Zalgiris Kaunas (2024-10-17T18:30:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-10-17T18:05:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-10-17T17:30:00.000Z)