Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens inaugurated the new-look Oaka Altion with a 94-79 victory over FC Bayern Munich on Thursday night. 

Panathinaikos crashes Bayern, 94-79, for first home win

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens inaugurated the new-look Oaka Altion with a 94-79 victory over FC Bayern Munich on Thursday night. The hosts established a double-digit lead in the first half and despite a Bayern comeback to trim the deficit to 66-60 early in the fourth, the defending champions netted 28 points in the closing quarter to clinch the win. Panathinaikos improved its record to 2-0 win, while Bayern dropped to 1-1.

Mathias Lessort led all scorers with 22 points and Kendrick Nunn scored 17. Jerian Grant netted 11 points, with Juancho Hernangomez completing a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Devin Booker paced Bayern with 15 points, Carsen Edwards scored 14 and Yam Madar added 11.

Game Videos

It was Lessort who scored the first basket on the renovated Oaka Altion floor with a put-back before a Nunn triple, a layup from Konstantinos Mitoglou and a Cedi Osman three-pointer saw Panathinaikos go on a 10-0 run. Bayern responded with a 0-5 surge, but Mitoglou netted his second bucket of the game to restore a 14-5 lead. Nunn took his tally to 10 points with a step-back triple after breaking Edwards’s ankles and although the latter responded with a three-point play, the hosts took a 25-16 lead into the second quarter.

Booker opened the second with a ferocious dunk, but the hosts replied with a 6-0 run, as Omer Yurtseven and Hernangomez opened their accounts off the bench, 31-18. A couple of Bayern turnovers allowed Panathinaikos to hit on the break and Hernangomez made it 37-20 with an open slam. Lessort added 8 points to his tally, but triples from Johannes Voigtmann and Andreas Obst gave Bayern the opportunity to cut the difference to 47-34 at the break.

Game News

Solid defense, exemplary transition basketball and offensive rebounds allowed the hosts to pull away in the opening stages of the second half, extending their lead to 57-38. Bayern responded with a 2-7 run, with Edwards nailing another three-point play. Then, a Lessort bucket was followed by 3 free throws from Napier before a Nick Weiler-Babb triple brought Bayern within 61-51. Yurtseven took his tally to 6 points from inside, but a triple from Oscar da Silva saw Bayern trim the deficit to single digits for the first time since early in the second quarter and made it 66-58 heading into the fourth.

An Obst triple was followed by an easy bucket from Booker, but Panathinaikos bounced back and extended its lead to 78-65 courtesy of three-pointers from Grant and Juancho, as well as a Brown dunk in transition. Bayern tried to fight back, but a corner triple from Brown and an impressive one-handed slam from Lessort boosted Panathinaikos’s lead to 85-72, with the reigning champion practically finishing it off in crunch time.

Mathias Lessort led 4 Greens scorers in double figures with 22 points

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v FC Bayern Munich (2024-10-10T18:15:00.000Z)

Unselfish Fenerbahce learning its lessons

With only two games of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season played, it’s inevitable that players across the continent are still finding their feet and teams are very much works in progress.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is no exception and – despite advancing to 2-0 with a pair of morale-boosting victories over major rivals Olympiacos Piraeus and Anadolu Efes Istanbul – head coach Saras Jasikevicius was happy to admit his team still has plenty to work on.

After seeing his team [grind out a 78-83 victory at local rivals Efes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-outlasts-efes-to-take-istanbul-derby-78-83/) on Thursday night, the hard-nosed Lithuanian boss emphasized that his team’s process of development is only just beginning.

“It’s the best way to learn right now,” he said. “Maybe some of these runs by Efes could be avoided, and it will be a great feeling tomorrow to watch the video and learn from this as a team. Learning with wins is always a little more pleasant.

“We need to learn a lot how we can play so good and then Efes can take us out of the game, but it’s early in the season and it’s nice to take a win like this.”

Jasikevicius certainly had no complaints about the attitude of his players, saying: “We came out with a great mentality and the fighting spirit was there.

“Our second unit basically carried us. They played very simple basketball, they played for one another, they shared the ball, helped each other defensively, made good fouls and really got us the big lead.”

One player who epitomized the effort of that second unit was big man [Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/), who came off the bench to show great hustle as he recorded 10 points – going 7 of 7 from the foul line – and grab 8 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass, in nearly 27 minutes on the floor.

Khem Birch: 'I bring energy, rebounding and defense'

And the Canadian center expressed the selfless attitude that had been praised by his coach, modestly saying: “I’m not the most gifted offensively but what I bring is energy, rebounding and defense.

“That’s what I did tonight. I give credit to my teammates and also the second unit because we played unselfish.”

Being unselfish, playing with hustle, and learning: it’s Fenerbahce’s early-season recipe for success.

Saras Jasikevicius's men came out on top in the Istanbul derby on Thursday night

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-10-10T17:30:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne collected its first victory of the season in thrilling fashion as Neal Sako’s block at the buzzer secured an 87-85 win over Virtus Segafredo Bologna at home. 

Neal Sako’s block at buzzer gives ASVEL first victory 

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne collected its first victory of the season in thrilling fashion as Neal Sako’s block at the buzzer secured an 87-85 win over Virtus Segafredo Bologna at home. ASVEL lost a 13-point third-quarter lead but never allowed Virtus to pull ahead and now has a 1-1 record.

Sako finished the game with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks while Theo Maledon scored 17 points with 5 assists and Nando De Colo added 16 points and 8 assists. Virtus fell to 0-2 despite Isaia Cordinier scoring 23 points to go with 5 rebounds and 6 assists and Mouhamet Diouf scored 15 points. 

Admiral Schofield knocked down 2 three-pointers as ASVEL opened a 13-8 lead. Cordinier scored 7 points at the other end and Virtus was down just 14-13. De Colo started taking over with 7 points in an 18-6 run for a 32-19 advantage. Virtus made 2 three-pointers on its end but Mbaye Ndiaye and De Colo were on target from deep for the hosts, who were up 38-27 after 10 minutes.

Joffrey Lauvergne’s score to open the second quarter pushed the lead to 40-27. Virtus got a triple from Matthew Morgan to trim the deficit to 42-34 only to have back-to-back layups from Maledon push the margin to 13 again. Cordinier and Toko Shengelia combined for 10 points and the visitors were down just 57-49 at the break.

Virtus needed nearly 3 minutes to score in the third quarter and ASVEL once again established a 13-point lead, 62-49. Virtus’s defense started getting stops and at the other end reeled off 13 straight points to tie the game at 68-68. Shaquille Harrison answered with a three-pointer and ASVEL was up 73-70 after 30 minutes.

The score was tied at 74-74, 79-79, 81-81 and 83-83 with less than 3 minutes left but the French side did not break. In making the score 83-81, De Colo scored his 4,500th point - becoming just the second player in EuroLeague history after Mike James to achieve that mark. De Colo and Cordinier scored 2 points and it was tied 85-85 with 100 seconds to play. Sako and Maledon both split two free throws in the final 63 seconds, setting up the final play in which Cordinier drove to the basket but was met at the top of his jump by Sako for the game-saving block.

The home team's center finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks 

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-10-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul claimed local derby bragging rights with a 78-83 victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Thursday, keeping Coach Saras Jasikevicius’s team perfect at 2-0 while Efes slipped to 1-1.

Fenerbahce outlasts Efes to take Istanbul derby, 78-83

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul claimed local derby bragging rights with a 78-83 victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Thursday, keeping Coach Saras Jasikevicius’s team perfect at 2-0 while Efes slipped to 1-1.

Fenerbahce stormed into a 15-point lead in the second quarter but Efes pushed hard to tie it up with 2 minutes remaining, before three-pointers from Marko Guduric and Arturs Zagars settled the outcome. Bonzie Colson led the winning team’s scoring with 16 points, while Wade Baldwin netted 15, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Zagars scored 11 and Khem Birch had 10 points and 8 rebounds. Dan Oturu led Efes’s resistance with 21 points, and Elijah Bryant scored 15 before being ejected.

Sertac Sanli started strong by striking from deep and Bryant responded with a three-point play in the closely contested early stages. Colson also hit a three, but Oturu buried a layup and one for an 8-8 tie. Guduric hit another Fener triple, but Oturu again made a three-point play, 13-13. Colson hit two quickfire threeballs, one of them a four-point play, and Zagars added another deep strike, before Shane Larkin beat the first-quarter buzzer to make it 21-27 after 10 minutes.

Fener started the second quarter strong with Tarik Biberovic and Zagars on target, moving ahead 21-33. Rodrigue Beaubois boosted Efes with a steal and score, but Biberovic hit a three-pointer in a low-scoring phase of the game. Birch’s free throws capped a 2-11 run, before Vincent Poirier threw down an alley-oop slam. Baldwin netted from mid-range and Hayes-Davis added a triple, 29-45. Larkin’s free throws were bettered by another Hayes-Davis three, before Beaubois and Bryant finally hit Efes’s first triples to make it 37-46 at the break.

Hayes-Davis and Baldwin struck from deep to start the second half with a 37-52 Fener lead, before Darius Thompson and Derek Willis reduced the margin to 48-56. Biberovic scored a tough layup but then got into a physical altercation with Bryant immediately after the basket, and both players were ejected. Beaubois struck from deep but Zagars replied with a driving layup, and it was 51-60 after three quarters.

Stanley Johnson’s triple gave Efes hope, but Baldwin responded with a pair of triples for a 54-68 lead. Jordan Nwora and Oturu were on target as the hosts kept trying to fight, but Birch delivered another double-digit lead midway through the fourth, 61-72. Larkin’s triple, Oturu’s three-point play and Beaubois’s corner three made it 72-74 with three minutes left, Nwora struck from mid-range to tie it up, 74-74, but Guduric and Zagars were accurate from deep to seal the deal.

Bonzie Colson and Wade Baldwin starred for the victors

Real Madrid and KK Partizan face off at WiZink Center in the EuroLeague on Thursday night in a game that has plenty of recent history.

Real, Partizan meet again in Madrid

Two clubs with extraordinarily high standards meet again at WiZink Center in Round 2, as Real Madrid hosts Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade with looking for their first win in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. In Round 1, *Los Blancos* saw FC Bayern Munich rally from a double-digit deficit and register [a 97-89 victory at the brand-new SAP Arena](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fc-bayern-munich-real-madrid/E2024/5/), while Partizan led most of the way at Buesa Arena but [ended up falling to Baskonia-Vitoria Gasteiz, 88-82](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/baskonia-grinds-down-partizan-88-82-thanks-to-cohesive-team-effort/), in a thriller.

Few fans, if any, have forgotten the 2023 playoff series between Real and Partizan. After nine consecutive road losses this century, Partizan took Game 1 87-89 on a clutch shot by [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/), now with Real's archrival FC Barcelona, and also won Game 2, 78-85. 

Real then stepped into uncharted territory, becoming the first team in EuroLeague history to rally from a 0-2 deficit in a playoff series and win it. After back-to-back wins in Belgrade, Real trailed 56-72 with under 13 minutes remaining in Game 5. [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/) and [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) led Real's comeback, roared on by an incredible crowd, and *Los Blancos* won the game, 98-94, the series and eventually, the 2022-23 EuroLeague title.

[Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) had 20 points in that game while [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) added 13. Their role has gradually increased over the years to the point that they are two of the team's leaders this season. Musa was named to the 2022-23 All-EuroLeague First Team and Hezonja earned 2023-24 All-EuroLeague Second Team honors. What’s more, Musa and Hezonja were two of three Real players to be chosen as MVP of the Month last season. Playmaker [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) was the other one while [Gaby Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) have also signed long-term contracts to remain key cogs in the core of a very competitive team.

Partizan has a brand-new squad, led by coaching legend Zeljko Obradovic. [Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/balsa-koprivica/011050/) is the only senior player from last year’s team who is still on the roster as Partizan has brought in a mix of EuroLeague veterans and younger players who are ready to prove themselves. [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/), [Vanja Marinkovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vanja-marinkovic/004761/), [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/) and [Isaac Bonga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaac-bonga/006760/) belong to the first group, and [Sterling Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sterling-brown/012720/) and [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) bring in one year of EuroLeague experience, a bit more than [Frank Ntilikina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/frank-ntilikina/006591/), [Aleksej Pokusevski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksej-pokusevski/008232/), [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/) and the currently injured [Isiaha Mike](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isiaha-mike/011836/). If available, it will be interesting to follow [Mario Nakic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-nakic/007632/), who was the 2019 ANGT Finals MVP with Real, as he makes his return to the Spanish capital.

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Obradovic coached Real for three seasons, joining the team right after winning the EuroLeague title with Joventut Badalona in 1994. He led Real to its eighth continental crown in 1995, with legendary center Arvydas Sabonis earning Final Four MVP honors. To date, Obradovic is the only coach to win consecutive EuroLeague titles with different teams. Obradovic also won the Saporta Cup with *Los Blancos* in 1997, with a young Dejan Bodiroga and Alberto Herreros leading the way. Almost 30 years later, Sabonis turns 60 in December, Bodiroga is the current Euroleague Basketball president and Herreros is Real's sporting director, but Obradovic keeps doing what he loves – coaching – and won six more EuroLeague titles after that one in 1995.

Real also has its fair share of newcomers. [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andres-feliz/011247/) arrives to share the point guard duties with Campazzo after a great season with Joventut, and [Xavier Rathan-Mayes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/xavier-rathan-mayes/013378/) is a scorer ready to prove his value at this level. His stepfather Tharon Mayes played with Breogan Lugo and scored 21 points against Real Madrid in 1995, four months before Obradovic led *Los Blancos* to the EuroLeague title. Both [Usman Garuba](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/usman-garuba/007630/) and [Serge Ibaka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/serge-ibaka/003583/) returned to Real to offer defense, athleticism and very valuable experience.

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Partizan has not been able to beat Real since the 2023 playoffs. Last season, Real prevailed at home, 91-75, behind 23 points for Musa. It was also able to win in front of a passionate crowd at Belgrade Arena, defeating Partizan 76-88 with over 20,000 fans in attendance. That night, Hezonja had 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and a season-high PIR of 33.

This is Real's home opener and a great crowd is expected in the Spanish capital, with plenty expected to be there cheering on Partizan, too. Great tradition meets exciting, recent history in a one-of-a-kind showdown. Tune in to EuroLeague TV from 20:45 CEST to watch the action unfold!

It is a special game for both teams as they go in search of their first victory

Real Madrid v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-10-10T18:45:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes and Fenerbahçe Beko will go head to head on Thursday night in Istanbul's redeveloped Basketball Development Center.

Efes, Fenerbahce begin EuroLeague festivities in Istanbul’s Basketball Development Center

Fenerbahce Beko vs. Anadolu Efes. Anadolu Efes vs. Fenerbahce Beko. There’s little denying that this has been one of the most highly acclaimed Turkish Airlines EuroLeague classics in the modern era of the competition.

The upcoming edition of this encounter will be hosted by Efes at the newly constructed Basketball Development Center. A state-of-the-art jewel of an arena that was built where the legendary Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall previous stood in Istanbul.

It’s only fitting that the first-ever EuroLeague game to be played at the Basketball Development Center is a meeting between the competition’s two Turkish powerhouses – two perennial Final Four contenders.

Abdi Ipekci is synonymous with the history of Turkish hoops. It is the dream of Turkiye’s basketball authorities that this new gym will carry that legacy, expanding it and pushing it to new heights.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1725680/efes-fenerbahce-begin-euroleague-festivities-in-istanbuls-basketball-development-center/).

The two teams meet at 19:30 CEST on Thursday night

The Derby d’Italia between Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna is full of rich history, great battles and wonderful moments on the court. In ‘Rivalries: Italy’, the second episode from Euroleague Basketball Originals’ latest documentary series, dive into what makes this derby so special and hear from several key protagonists from down the years.

'Rivalries: Italy' lands on EuroLeague TV

The Derby d’Italia between [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carousels/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22mil%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=EA7%20Emporio%20Armani%20Milan) and [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/carousels/virtus-segafredo-bologna/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22vir%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Virtus%20Segafredo%20Bologna) is full of rich history, great battles and wonderful moments on the court. In ‘Rivalries: Italy’, the second episode from Euroleague Basketball Originals’ latest documentary series, dive into what makes this derby so special and hear from several key protagonists from down the years.

[Now available to watch on EuroLeague TV](https://www.euroleague.tv/video/698977), legendary coaches Dan Peterson and Ettore Messina, who have coached both Virtus and Milan, explain some key moments from their time on the sidelines of Italy’s two biggest clubs. Messina, still at Milan, won two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague championships with Virtus in 1998 and 2001, and Peterson guided Milan to the EuroLeague trophy in 1987.

Watch 'Rivalries: Italy' for free on YouTube

Revered players such as Milan great Dino Meneghin and Virtus icons [Antoine Rigaudeau](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/antoine-rigaudeau/alh/) and [Manu Ginobili](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/emanuel-ginobili/akx/) reflect on what it was like to play in the Derby d’Italia, as well as some of their best memories from their time playing for the two storied clubs. Various key individuals from last year’s Derby d’Italia – including [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) and [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) from Milan, and [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/), [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bryant-dunston/003048/) and [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/) from Virtus – also provide their perspective on the importance of the Derby d’Italia in the year 2024.

The 'Rivalries' documentary series

The second episode of Euroleague Basketball Originals’ latest documentary series is out now

Even without Milos Teodosic, KK Crvena zvezda has started the 2024-25 EuroLeague season with consecutive wins.


Crvena Zvezda enjoys its best-ever EuroLeague start 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate on Tuesday night. Not only did [their team beat Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 78-71](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zvezda-wins-home-opener-78-71/), improving to 2-0 in the process, but [Isaiah Canaan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaiah-canaan/010612/), [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) and [Nikola Kalinic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) all delivered in crunch time, combining for 46 points.

Zvezda started the season with lofty ambitions and a record-breaking budget, but also a major setback: superstar playmaker [Milos Teodosic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/milos-teodosic/jdr/) would be unavailable for the opening two games due to suspension. In the absence of the Serbian Point God, summer addition [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) delivered in both games, amassing 14 assists and committing just 3 turnovers to give Zvezda great balance on offense.

"Codi is a player that plays for his teammates, for the team," Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos said after beating Baskonia. "When we need him to score, he scores. When we need him to organize, he gives assists. He also had a great game in France \[against Paris Basketball\], rebounding, too. He can play defense, score, pass, rebounds... we are very happy that we have him."

Codi Miller-Mcintyre had 14 assists and 3 turnovers in his opening two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games with Crvena Zvezda MeridianBet Belgrade.

Miller-McIntyre makes Zvezda work

In Round 1 against Paris, [Nemanja Nedovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nemanja-nedovic/000848/) was almost unstoppable, missing just one shot on his way to 21 points. Curiously, Zvezda went 10-of-22 three-pointers (45.5% 3FG) in both of its first two EuroLeague games this season. In what needs to be an almost impossible coincidence, Zvezda also went 19-of-37 two-pointers (51.4% 2FG) against both Paris and Zvezda. The same number of shots made and attempted, inside and outside the arc, in two different games. Crazy.

This is Zvezda's 11th season in the EuroLeague, yet it had never started 2-0 – until now. Its next opponent is Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, which means a return to Belgrade for center [Boban Marjanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/boban-marjanovic/lmg/), a legend for all Zvezda fans. Marjanovic earned 2014-15 All-EuroLeague First Team honors with Zvezda, and was the last player in the competition to average a double-double (16.6 ppg., 10.7 rpg.). Teodosic will be back in action as the schedule gets tougher: following the visit of Fenerbahce, Zvezda hosts FC Barcelona in Round 4 and travels to the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid in Round 5.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First impressions after important home win in <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> R02 from Canaan 🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/94PZlbcEND">pic.twitter.com/94PZlbcEND</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1844124539103609104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There is no denying that this has been a great start for Zvezda, which is aiming to make reach the EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time since 2016. Last season, Zvezda ranked 16th with an 11-23 record and it took the team six games to get its second victory. Center [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) believes the team is heading in the right direction, but there is plenty of room for improvement.

"There are a lot of areas we can improve," commented Bolomboy, who is averaging 10.5 points and a team-high 9.5 rebounds through the first two rounds. "There are a lot of things we can improve on, especially offensively. There were moments where it felt like we didn't really know what play to run. But we made a lot of improvements tonight and won the game."

Even without Milos Teodosic, Ioannis Sfairopoulos's men have started the EuroLeague season with back-to-back wins

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-10-09T18:00:00.000Z)

Mike James, Elie Okobo and Donatas Motiejunas, three players who have been at AS Monaco Basket over the last three seasons, all impressed as their team beat Maccabi Tel Aviv BC in Round 2 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

The usual suspects lifted Monaco over Maccabi

AS Monaco made several changes to its roster over the summer, bringing in a few new pieces destined for big roles, but it was the guys who have been the faces of this club for the last few years who did the job on Wednesday night.

In [an 85-79 win over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-fights-to-edge-maccabi-85-79/), the top three scorers were [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) and [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), each pulling Monaco towards the win in different moments of the game.

James scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half, with Monaco trailing 23-33 before the reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP stepped up by sinking a triple, taking it to the rim, and serving teammates with assists. He also finished the night with 6 assists and 3 steals.

Motiejunas scored 9 of his 11 points in a key 10-2 third-quarter run that saw the team finally take a 53-52 lead.

And then there was Okobo, who was scoreless in the first half but scored 17 points in the second, including nine in the final quarter.

"The first half was terrible, was not that good energy-wise. I did not have a good first half at all," Okobo told EuroLeague TV afterward. "We talked about it in the locker room, we had to step up with our energy, and I think it showed in the second half."

Mike James spoke to the EuroLeague TV cameras after AS Monaco beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 85-79 in Round 3 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Mike James: 'It's a great way for us to start the season'

"I think it is a great way for us to start," James commented after Monaco improved to 2-0. "With me not being 100 percent, and \[[Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and [Furkan Korkmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/furkan-korkmaz/005763/)\] being out, it is amazing we start with two wins. It buys us time to get healthy."

James continued by stating what he expects from the team: "We have to establish a baseline of how we want to play, and how we want to be as a team. The second half we picked it up a little bit and hopefully we can keep building on that."

Mike James, Elie Okobo and Donatas Motiejunas all shined in Round 2

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-10-09T17:00:00.000Z)