Zalgiris extends Lithuanian League finals

### Rudy leads Real to 2-0 lead

Real Madrid is a win away from winning a Spanish League title after a 79-63 win in Game 2 over the visiting Murcia on Monday night. The win, which gave Real a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, came behind Rudy Fernandez who had 14 points and 6 rebounds in under 15 minutes of action.

Murcia remained close throughout the first quarter, only for Fernandez to sink back-to-back triples to open a 40-30 halftime lead. The hosts kept control of the game, mostly behind its defense, but Murcia was not going away, cutting it to 55-51 late in the third quarter. But early in the fourth, Fernandez scored 5 more points, including another triple, to make it 64-54, before Real went on a 13-3 run to pull away and decide the winner.

Dzanan Musa had 13 points and Walter Tavares 8 points plus 12 rebounds in a win.

### Germany: ALBA wins in Munich, ties it at 1-1

ALBA Berlin stole one away from home, beating FC Bayern Munich 70-79 in Game 2 of their best-of-five German League finals, tying the series at 1-1. The next two games will be played at Uber Arena in the German capital.

Bayern had a better start to the game, and had a 26-19 lead after 10 minutes but ALBA had a big second quarter in which it allowed only 6 points. It also did not allow a single basket over the final 5 minutes and 18 seconds of that quarter, while going on a 0-13 run to end the half, one in which Louis Olinde scored a triple to start and end a run, while Matt Thomas scored 7 points in between to give ALBA a 32-39 halftime lead. A triple from Tim Schneider made it a 10-point affair at the start of the third as two teams proceeded to change blows, and the visitors' held multiple double-digit leads throughout the third quarter. Bayern did cut it to 56-60 early in the fourth quarter, but the visitors replied with a 0-13 run with Schneider and Sterling Brown in main roles, and cruised to victory.

Thomas had 21 points, while Brown had 17 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds in a win. Carsen Edwards scored 17, and Leandro Bolmaro 14 points in Bayern's defeat.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">🚨 LIVE 🚨<br><br>Sterling Brown mit dem spektakulären Slam 🔨<br><br>Alle Spiele der <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/easyCreditBBL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#easyCreditBBL</a> live bei <a href="https://twitter.com/dynsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dynsport</a>. 📺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/welcometowow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#welcometowow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/madetowow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#madetowow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/highlight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#highlight</a> <a href="https://t.co/fuMjLbeF9M">pic.twitter.com/fuMjLbeF9M</a></p>&mdash; easyCredit BBL (@easyCreditBBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/easyCreditBBL/status/1800257754684170737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Greece: Panathinaikos stays alive

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens held off Olympiacos Piraeus 83-76 in Game 3 of their best-of-five Greek League final series. Olympiacos now leads the series 2-1 and its next chance to win the titlle will be in front of its home fans in Game 4.

Panathinaikos started pulling away early in the second quarter, using a 14-2 run which started late in the first and was continued by Kostas Sloukas, Kendrick Nunn and finally Kostas Antetokounmpo in the second and has opened a 33-20 margin. Panathinaikos lead was as big as 40-24 after 5 more points from Nunn, before the Reds cut the deficit and made it 43-34 at halftime.

Olympiacos found more offense in the third quarter, first through Nikola Milutinov and Isaiah Canaan, then through Alec Peters and Filip Petrusev, cutting the margin to 61-59 after 30 minutes. A dunk from Shaquielle McKissic tied it at 64-64 early in the fourth, and when Panathinaikos restored some breathing room, a 0-7 run capped by a Milutinov dunk put Olympiacos up 72-73 midway through the fourth quarter. However, the fresh EuroLeague champions scored the next 9 points, a three-point play from Lessort followed by an Ioannis Papapetrou's triple before Sloukas made it 80-73, a lead which the Greens took into the final 2 minutes and preserved, staying alive in the series.

Nunn scored 21 points, Lessort had 17 points plus 7 rebounds, and Sloukas scored 13 in a win. Milutinov had 17 for Olympiacos, while Canaan netted 14 in defeat.

### Turkey: Larkin hits a game-winner

Shane Larkin scored a game-winner with 0.1 seconds left on the clock to lift Anadolu Efes Istanbul to a come-from-behind 81-82 win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in the best-of-five Turkish League finals series. That now means there have been three games and three road wins, with Fenerbahce now holding a 2-1 series lead and playing Game 4 again on home floor.

Fenerbahce stormed out of the gates scoring the first 7 points of the night, but Ercan Osmani got Efes going as the visitors quickly caught up in the low-scoring first quarter, which Fenerbahce ended up 16-13. Teams kept battling in the second, and Larkin's only basket of the first half, a long triple, gave Efes 27-30 lead, but Scottie Wilbekin answered with a three of its own and Nigel Hayes-Davis made sure Fenerbahce took 39-34 lead into halftime.

The hosts for most part kept the slim lead during the third quarter, but Derek Willis paced Efes, and Dogus Ozdemiroglu tied it at 56-56 at the end of the quarter. A Nick Calathes-to-Georgios Papagiannis alley-oop opened the fourth quarter, and back-to-back triples from Wilbekin and Calathes opened 72-65. But after a timeout, Efes scored the next 6 points, and the game went towards a dramatic ending. A dunk by Willis tied it at 80-80 with 24.6 seconds to go. On the ensuing possession, Hayes-Davis drew a foul on Willis 3.8 seconds before the final buzzer but only split foul shots, and after a timeout, Larkin drove past Calathes to score a winning basket and send the series to Game 4.

Willis finished with 20 points, Larkin scored 11 of his 14 in the second half, and also had 7 assists. Osmani scored 13, and Dan Oturu 12 points in a victory. Wilbekin paced Fener with 17 points, Hayes-Davis scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half, and Calathes had 10 points and 12 assists in a loss.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🔥🔥 İşte Shane Larkin&#39;in, maçı <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnadoluEfesSK</a>&#39;ya kazandıran son saniye isabeti!<a href="https://t.co/PLGthSkMse">pic.twitter.com/PLGthSkMse</a></p>&mdash; Türkiye Sigorta Basketbol Süper Ligi (@basketsuperligi) <a href="https://twitter.com/basketsuperligi/status/1800251969774456982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

### Lithuania: Zalgiris extends Lithuanian League finals

Zalgiris Kaunas remained alive in the best-of-five Lithuanian League finals with a 91-81 Game 3 win over the visiting Rytas Vilnius on Monday night. Zalgiris continued defense of its crown, cutting the deficit in the series to 2-1, as Rytas will host Game 4.

A 17-2 early run, which was started by 8 unanswered points by Edmond Sumner, and included a three from Tomas Dimsa, opened a 19-6 lead in the first quarter, and Zalgiris extended the margin to 17 points in the second before taking a 47-36 lead into halftime. After the break Rytas closed the gap to single digits, but Sumner hit a three, and Laurynas Birtuis score twice to re-open a 15-point margin. Rytas was not going away, and even though Sumner hit a three late in the third and Lukas Lekavicius made one early in the fourth, the visitors cut the margin to 69-63 with 7:40 to go. But Edgaras Ulanovas scored 5 points in an ensuing 7-0 run, paving the way for Zalgiris win.

Sumner led the way with 22 points on 5-for-11 three-pointers, Lekavicius had 19 points on 4-for-7 threes, and Ulanovas had 14 points in a win.

Efes, Panathinaikos and Zalgiris won do-or-die Game 3s on Monday night.

Larkin hits a buzzer-beater at Fenerbahce, Rudy leads Real to 2-0 lead

Final Four Ambassadors in photos

Elie Okobo led five AS Monaco scorers in double figures with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists as his team routed Paris Basketball 59-88 to take a 2-1 lead in the French League finals on Sunday night. 

Monaco takes 2-1 lead n French finals

Elie Okobo led five AS Monaco scorers in double figures with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists as his team routed Paris Basketball 59-88 to take a 2-1 lead in the French League finals on Sunday night. The best-of-five series will continue with Game 4 in the French capital on Wednesday. A Monaco victory will give it the club’s second straight championship. Mike James added 14 points for the winners, Loyd and Alpha Diallo scored 12 apiece and Matthew Strazel 11. Nadir Hifi led Paris with 15 points and Justin Simon netted 10 in defeat.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="art" dir="ltr">🗣❤️‍🔥 <a href="https://t.co/fOV6hxZFas">https://t.co/fOV6hxZFas</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1799869781891309641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Leon Kratzer and Simon helped Paris to an early 7-4 lead, but Okobo heated up to score 7 points in a 0-11 Monaco run to turn the table and lead 11-21. A four-point play by Strazel extended the visitors’ lead to 14-28 after 10 minutes. The margin reached 17 on a Petr Cornelie dunk before Tyson Ward and Hifi trimmed the gap to 33-43. A free throw by Mam Jaiteh gave Monaco a 35-46 lead at halftime.

Paris was held without a basket in the first 5 minutes of the second half, while Loyd heated up from deep to extend the Monaco lead to 37-54. A triple by Okobo made it 45-64 at the end of the third quarter. Strazel made it a 20-point game with a three early in the fourth and Paris never made a serious run after that.

Monaco takes 2-1 lead in French finals

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade announced on Sunday that it has signed team captain Branko Lazic to a two-year contract extension. 

Zvezda signs team captain Branko Lazic to 2-year extension

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade announced on Sunday that it has signed team captain [Branko Lazic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/branko-lazic/luo/) to a two-year contract extension. In doing so, Lazic (1.95 meters, 35 years old) is set to complete 15 seasons with the club. Best known for his stellar defense, Lazic averaged 2.7 points over 13:46 minutes in 22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game last season. He boosted those numbers to 5.5 points in the ABA League and helped Zvezda win the domestic triple crown – ABA championship, Serbian League and Serbian Cup.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Kapiten Crvene zvezde i rekorder kluba po broju odigranih utakmica i osvojenih trofeja Branko Lazić, produžio je u nedelju ugovor sa Klubom na još dve sezone! <br><br>Naš kapiten je ovim potpisom samo potvrdio ono što se zna odavno: sinonim za vernost, istrajnost, uspehe i čvrstinu… <a href="https://t.co/9zl5r2IWTx">pic.twitter.com/9zl5r2IWTx</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1799834219767574713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The club record holder for games played and trophies won, Lazic has collected eight Serbian League championships, eight Serbian Cups and seven ABA League titles. Lazic started his professional career with FMP Zeleznik in 2007 and joined Zvezda in 2011. In 245 EuroLeague career games with Zvezda, Lazic has amassed 850 points (3.5 ppg.). He also played 45 EuroCup games with FMP and Zvezda. Lazic has been a member of the Serbian national team, which he helped to a silver medal at EuroBasket 2017.

Next season will be Lazic’s 14th with the club

Zvezda and team captain Branko Lazic pen two-year extension

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz fortified its backcourt by signing guard Kamar Baldwin to a two-year deal

Baskonia signs Kamar Baldwin to two-year deal

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz fortified its backcourt by signing guard [Kamar Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kamar-baldwin/012597/) to a two-year deal, the club announced Sunday. Baldwin (1.85 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Dolomiti Energia Trento, where he averaged 15.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 16 BKT EuroCup games last season. He also posted solid numbers in the Italian League, averaging 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 31 games.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">✍️💣 Kamar Baldwin, nuevo director de juego de Baskonia 🧠2⃣0⃣2⃣6⃣<br><br>📋 <a href="https://t.co/HZ2U7X1f9u">https://t.co/HZ2U7X1f9u</a><br><br>Welcome, Kamar!! 🔵🔴 <a href="https://t.co/v4BG76ihTk">pic.twitter.com/v4BG76ihTk</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1799762559433920741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Baldwin made his professional debut with Turk Telekom Ankara of Turkiye and also played for Goettingen of Germany and Maine of the G League before joining Trento. Before that, Baldwin played college basketball at Butler University, where he was worth 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a senior in the 2019-20 campaign. He is set to make his Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut with Baskonia in the 2024-25 season. 

Kamar Baldwin made his BKT EuroCup debut with Dolomiti Energia Trento in the 2023-24 season.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Kamar Baldwin, Trento

The combo-guard comes off a strong season in the BKT EuroCup

Bayern, Real win openers of domestic finals; Virtus evens things against Milan

### Bayern tops ALBA in Game 1 of German finals

FC Bayern Munich took charge late to beat ALBA 79-67 on Saturday in the first game of the German League best-of-five finals. Vladimir Lucic starred with 17 points and 5 assists, Andreas Obst scored 15 on 5-of-8 three-point shooting, Carsen Edwards also scored 15 and Devin Booker and Serge Ibaka added 10 points apiece. For ALBA, Sterling Brown contributed 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, Matt Thomas scored 14 and Tim Schneider 10.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Sieg im ersten Finale! 💪 Wir behalten den Heimvorteil und siegen auch dank überragender Defense im letzten Viertel, in dem wir bis eine Minute vor Schluss keinen Punkt zulassen.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeStillHaveATeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeStillHaveATeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBBER?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBBER</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1799539224313540902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Threes by Malte Delow and Thomas gave ALBA an early 2-6 lead, but Lucic erupted for 8 points in a 14-2 Bayern response. A triple by Obst gave the hosts a double-digit lead which settled at 26-19 after 10 minutes. ALBA twice rallied to within 1 in the second quarter before Lucic led a 7-0 run to make it 39-31 midway through the quarter. Once again, Thomas and Jonas Mattisseck rallied ALBA to within 1 before Booker ended the half with Bayern ahead 46-43.

ALBA tied it on threes by Schneider and Thomas before Brown gave the visitors a 52-54 edge. Edwards and Obst helped Bayern regain the lead and Niels Giffey made it 69-62 at the end of the third quarter. Bayern clamped down on defense to hold ALBA scoreless for most of the fourth quarter and cruised to victory.

 

### Real Madrid romps past Murcia in Spanish finals opener

Real Madrid took charge of the Spanish League finals with an 84-76 victory over UCAM Murcia in Game 1. Dzanan Musa paced a balanced Real Madrid effort with 16 points and 8 rebounds and Mario Hezonja and Facu Campazzo scored 11 each. Campazzo also dished 7 assists. Troy Caupain was Murcia’s top scorer with 16 points and Howard Sant-Roos posted 13 points and 8 rebounds in defeat.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🏁 FP: <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> 84 - 76 <a href="https://twitter.com/UCAMMurcia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UCAMMurcia</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayoffLigaEndesa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayoffLigaEndesa</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/VYHqULNLaJ">pic.twitter.com/VYHqULNLaJ</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1799537219767505163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


With the score tied 10-10, Musa led an 8-0 Real Madrid run to take control and – after a triple by Sant-Roos – the hosts led 18-13 at the end of the first quarter. The momentum switched to Murcia, which scored the first 6 points of the second quarter and eventually led 22-27 after a Sant-Roos triple. Real Madrid scored the last 9 points of the half – including 6 from Guerschon Yabusele – to take a 37-33 advantage into the break.  

After Murcia narrowed the gap to 1, Walter Tavares scored twice to push Real Madrid ahead 46-39. Hezonja increased the margin to double figures during an 11-0 run in which Musa also stood out to make it 60-43. The difference reached 18 before Jonah Radebaugh made it 64-48 through three quarters. Back-to-back threes by Radebaugh and Ludde Hakanson helped draw Murcia within 69-60. Real survived the run thanks to Sergio Rodriguez and Vincent Poirier and  

### Virtus evens series against Milan 1-1

Virtus Segafredo Bologna used an 11-0 fourth-quarter run to pull away from EA7 Emporio Armani Milan for a 72-64 win to even their best-of-five Italian League finals at 1-1. Toko Shengelia shined with 21 points and 8 rebounds to lead the winners, Jordan Mickey added 11 points and Achille Polonara scored 10. Nikola Mirotic paced Milan with 13 points and 7 rebounds and Devon Hall also scored 13 in defeat.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fi" dir="ltr">WIN WIN WIN ⚪️⚫️<br>La Virtus vince e impatta 🤜🏼🤛🏼<br><br>🔢 Shengelia 21, Mickey 11, Polonara 10, Cordinier 9, Belinelli 8, Hackett 5, Lundberg 4, Pajola 4<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/1kuJpYZ0j5">pic.twitter.com/1kuJpYZ0j5</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1799536783690006569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The teams traded baskets early with Kyle Hines’s free throw to make it 12-17 marking the largest lead for either team in the opening quarter. The momentum remained with the visitors, who held Virtus scoreless for the first 4-plus minutes of the second quarter, during which Hall scored 5 points in pushing the lead to 12-24. Mickey and Shengelia led a 12-0 Virtus run as the hosts closed within 27-28. Polonara completed the comeback to put Virtus up 32-21 at halftime.

The teams went back and forth in a tough third quarter that featured six lead changes. A three by Shengelia and a free throw by Isaia Cordinier gave Virtus a 55-51 advantage at the end of the third. Milan scored the first 6 points of the fourth to take the lead through Shavon Shields. The momentum then swung the other way as Cordinier and Polonara keyed a run of 11 straight Virtus points to make it 66-57. That run proved to be too much for Milan to overcome as Virtus won the game and evened the series.

### Fenerbahce blasts Efes to close in on Turkish crown

Scottie Wilbekin erupted for 24 points on 7-of-9 three-point shooting to lead Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to a 101-70 romp over Anadolu Efes Istanbul and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Turkish league finals. Nick Calathes added 13 points and 8 assists and Dyshawn Pierre also scored 13 for the winners. Dan Oturu stood out for Efes with 21 points and 9 rebounds and Elijah Bryant added 11 points, 9 boards and 4 assists.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Final serisinde 2-0 öne geçiyoruz! 💪<br><br>Tebrikler Fenerbahçe Beko! 👏<br><br>Maç Sonucu | Anadolu Efes 🆚 Fenerbahçe Beko: 70-101 <br><br>Skor dağılımımız: Wilbekin 24, Calathes 13, Pierre 13, Hayes-Davis 9, Şehmus 9, Biberovic 9, Papagiannis 8, Sertaç 5, Melih 4, Ömer Ege 3, Metecan 2,… <a href="https://t.co/Q7RnnBK982">pic.twitter.com/Q7RnnBK982</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1799520634013151512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Crvena Zvezda inks big man Uros Plavsic

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade added frontcourt depth by signing center [Uros Plavsic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/uros-plavsic/006240/) on a three-year deal, the club announced Saturday. Plavsic (2.17 meters, 25 years old) arrives from a fellow Serbian club Mega MIS Belgrade, where he shined in the ABA League last season.

In ABA League action, Plavsic averaged 15.4 points, making 68.5% on two-pointers, and also pulled down 7.7 rebounds, including 2.8 on offensive glass. He helped the club reach playoff semifinals.

Plavsic grew up with Mega, and was moved to the club's first team in the 2015-16 campaign, before getting his feet wet in professional basketball as a teenager the following season with Smederevo in the Serbian League. He then moved to USA, where he spent four seasons playing NCAA basketball at the University of Tennessee.

Last summer, after finishing his collegiate career and tasting NBA Summer League action with Atlanta, he returned to his native country and joined Mega. He is now set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut.

Barça Basket has parted ways with head coach Roger Grimau, who spent one year on the bench at Palau Blaugrana.

Barcelona sacks Roger Grimau as head coach

FC Barcelona has decided to part ways with head coach Roger Grimau, the club confirmed Saturday. Grimau was promoted to the role of head coach last June, having formerly worked with Barcelona’s youth team, but he lasted just one year in the role.

"FC Barcelona wants to express publicly its gratitude towards Roger Grimau for the professionalism, commitment and dedication he showed while leading the club's coaching staff," Barcelona said in a statement. "Palau Blaugrana will always be his home."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Roger Grimau no seguirà a la banqueta blaugrana. 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚̀𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫 💙❤ <a href="https://t.co/5QQb73T07e">pic.twitter.com/5QQb73T07e</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1799381742601781302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

In his only season at the helm, Grimau led Barcelona to a 22-12 regular-season record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, good for fourth spot and home-court advantage in the playoffs. However, the *Blaugrana* could not make their home-court advantage count against Olympiacos Piraeus, falling 59-63 in Game 5 at Palau Blaugrana to lose the series 3-2. After three straight trips to the Final Four, Barcelona failed to make this year’s event in Berlin.

Earlier in the 2023-24 campaign, Grimau’s Barcelona had lost 96-85 to archrival Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup final. Then, following the end of its EuroLeague season, Barcelona advanced past Tenerife in the quarterfinals of the Spanish League playoffs, winning 3-0, but came unstuck against Real Madrid in the semifinals as *Los Blancos* swept the series, 3-0.

Due to Barcelona’s inability to lift the Spanish League, the Spanish Cup or the EuroLeague titles, it has resulted in the first trophyless season for the club since the 2016-17 campaign. 

More Barcelona News

Roger Grimau on the sideline during an FC Barcelona game in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

The 45-year-old spent just one year in charge of the Blaugrana

### Greece: Olympiacos wins again 

Olympiacos Piraeus got within one victory of winning its third consecutive Greek League title by downing reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 92-86 in Game 2 of their best-of-five series at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Olympiacos has a 0-2 lead and Panathinaikos hosts Game 3 on Monday. Nigel Williams-Goss paced the winners with 19 points. Nikola Milutinov added 17, Isaiah Canaan had 16, Alec Peters 15 and Kostas Papanikolaou 11 for Olympiacos. Mathias Lessort led Panathinaikos with 21 points. Kendrick Nunn added 13, Kostas Sloukas 12, Juancho Hernangomez 11 and Jerian Grant 10. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Final 🏀 Final - F2: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAOBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAOBC</a> 92-86 (40&#39;) <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://twitter.com/hashtag/OLYPAO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OLYPAO</a> <a href="https://t.co/UBoRxg6Spr">pic.twitter.com/UBoRxg6Spr</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1799177791021453472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Sloukas and Hernangomez each struck from downtown to give Panathinaikos an early 2-8 lead. They got help from Ioannis Papapetrou and Lessort to boost the Greens' margin to 17-24. Williams-Goss singlehandedly brought Olympiacos within 21-24 at the end of the first quarter. A 0-87 run that Nunn capped with a layup restored a 28-36 Panathinaikos margin. Williams-Goss, Shaquielle McKissic and Peters fueled a 10-0 run that briefly put Olympiacos ahead, 38-36, before Marius Grigonis's three-pointer fixed the halftime score at 38-39. 

Olympiacos found a go-to guy in Canaan right after the break, as he scored all points in a 9-0 run that put the Reds ahead for good, 50-43. Nunn tried to change things for Panathinaikos but Papanikolaou and Thomas Walkup each struck from beyond the arc to boost the hosts' lead to 60-46. Lessort and Grant brought Panathinaikos a bit closer, 62-55, after 30 minutes. Filip Petrusev dunked to boost his team's margin to 74-62 with over 6 minutes remaining. Grigonis and Lessort stepped up in crunch time and Hernangomez gave the Greens hope, 79-74. Canaan and Williams-Goss each buried a three-pointer to seal the outcome down the stretch. 

### Lithuania: Zalgiris in make-or-break situation

Rytas Vilnius took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Lithuanian League finals by downing Zalgiris Kaunas 104-94 in overtime in Game 2 of their series. Zalgiris is now in a do-or-die situation and hosts Game 3 on Monday. Margiris Normantas paced the winners with 26 points. Martynas Echodas added 18 for Rytas. Laurynas Birutis led Zalgiris with 24 points on 8 of 9 two-pointers and 8 of 9 free throws. Edgaras Ulanovas added 18 points while Lukas Lekavicius had 17 for Zalgiris. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Finals series are going back to Kaunas. <a href="https://t.co/uI3jBeug3G">pic.twitter.com/uI3jBeug3G</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1799145737684418669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

The guests used a 0-10 run highlight by Tomas Dimsa's three-pointer to get an early 7-17 lead. He got help from Lekavicius and Arnas Butkevicius to boost Zalgiris's lead to 19-30 after 10 minutes. Rytas got within 36-37 late in the first half but Lekavicius and Demetre Rivers found answers from downtown to restore a 44-50 Zalgiris lead at the break. Ulanovas and Birutis gave Zalgiris its biggest lead, 50-62, late in the third quarter but Rytas used a 19-3 run to take the laad, 69-65. The game turned into a thriller went Echodas tied it at 87-87 but none of the teams scored in the final minute of regulation. Once in overtime, Rytas build a 98-91 margin and kept full control of the game until the final buzzer. 

Olympiacos defeated Panatninaikos to take a 0-2 lead in the Greek League finals. Zalgiris Kaunas is now in a must-win situation in the Lithuanian League finals. 