Wade Baldwin had a team-high 15 points, including a clutch late basket, as Fenerbahçe Beko took a 1-0 lead in its playoff series against Paris Basketball.

Wade Baldwin shined on milestone evening as Fenerbahce took Game 1

[Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) surpassed a personal milestone of 2,500 points as he totalled a team-high 15 in [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul’s 83-78 Game 1 victory over Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-outlasts-paris-83-78-to-take-series-opener/) in Tuesday night’s playoff opener, also sending another reminder that he is one of the most dangerous scorers in the continent.

Baldwin has now netted 2,514 points in his 180 games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. And although that might rank him only 40th (and rising) in the all-time scoring list, his average of 14.0 points is up there with the very best: all-time greats Vassilis Spanoulis (12.44) and Juan Carlos Navarro (12.18) both averaged lower than Baldwin’s per night score.

Wade Baldwin shined in Game 1

Showcasing another of his qualities, many of Baldwin’s baskets on Tuesday night came at important times: the former Olympiacos, Bayern, Baskonia and Maccabi guard twice broke long scoring droughts to get his team back on the scoreboard when they needed it the most, once in the first quarter and again in the third. He also finished the first half strong with the last two baskets before the break, including an ice-cool long two to beat the halftime buzzer.

Most importantly, Baldwin's propensity to seize the big moments in his hands saw him strike the evening’s decisive blow with another long two-point conversion with just 10 seconds left on the clock, giving Fenerbahce a two-possession lead which ultimately proved enough for a hard-fought victory.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WADE BALDWIN IV CALLS GAME IN ISTANBUL 🥶<a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> <a href="https://t.co/7cuyVvrnia">pic.twitter.com/7cuyVvrnia</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914768548758438332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This hasn’t been the easiest year for the 29-year-old, who had to endure two separate spells on the sidelines through injury, including a nine-game absence between Rounds 17 and 27.

But he’s now back and arguably in his best shape of the season, reaching double digits in scoring in four consecutive games following his heroics off the bench against Paris on Tuesday.

That might not be enough to earn him a spot in the starting five for Thursday’s Game 2, however. As coach Saras Jasikevicius somewhat enigmatically explained after the action: “We always say that our bench players are not exactly bench players. This is a luxury we have at Fenerbahce and we’re trying to use it to the best.

“For me, there are no starters or bench players. The starters are the guys who finish the game. So you can see the starting line-up at the end of the fourth.”

That might sound a little confusing, but one thing is crystal clear: Wade Baldwin is a major factor in Fenerbahce’s push for the EuroLeague crown.

Game News

The guard led his team to victory as he surpassed 2,500 career points

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-04-22T17:45:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens took the lead in its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series against Anadolu Efes Istanbul with an 87-83 home win in Game 1 on the back of an impressive fightback in the last 10 minutes of an absorbing contest

Panathinaikos beats Efes, 87-83, in Game 1 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens took the lead in its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series against Anadolu Efes Istanbul with an 87-83 home win in Game 1 on the back of an impressive fightback in the last 10 minutes of an absorbing contest. Juancho Hernangomez paced defending champs Panathinaikos with career-highs of 20 points and 16 boards in an epic battle against Efes big man Vincent Poirier.

Kendrick Nunn, who was awarded his EuroLeague MVP Trophy by EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga prior to the game, struggled from the floor all night but still netted 15 points on 4-of-15 shooting while Omer Yurtseven racked up 14 points and 7 boards. Kostas Sloukas scored 13 points for the Greens and Cedi Osman chipped in with 11 against his boyhood club.

At the other end, Shane Larkin and Poirier poured in 17 points apiece for Efes but each missed a clutch free throw in the home stretch, enabling Panathinaikos to grind out the win after Jerian Grant sank a corner three, his only points of the game, to make the score 85-80 in the final minute. Elijah Bryant netted 14 points for Efes and Derek Willis added 11, all of them in the second quarter when the Turkish outfit came up with a breathtaking 0-17 blitz that turned a 32-23 deficit into a 32-40 lead. 

Game Videos

A balanced workload on offense saw Panathinaikos engineer a 21-18 lead at the end of the first quarter, as the visitors relied entirely on Poirier and Bryant to score their points in the opening 10 minutes.

Panathinaikos romped away to 30-20 early in the second quarter but then came the Efes whirlwind which silenced a fervent home crowd at OAKA Arena and helped the visiting team to a promising 40-48 lead at the interval.

Panathinaikos looked in trouble as Efes extended its advantage to 43-55 early in the second half, with Nunn misfiring and Poirier dominating the paint. Both teams played in fits and starts throughout the third quarter, with Hernangomez instrumental in keeping Panathinaikos alive with a monster performance at both ends of the court.

Having trailed 60-72 late in the third quarter, Panathinaikos came up with a 12-0 run powered by the unstoppable Hernangomez, who was 9-of-12 from the floor including 7-of-7 from inside while he also relentlessly picked up the rebounds in his own paint.

With the game hanging in the balance late in the fourth, Larkin and Poirier faltered from the foul line while Grant put a subdued performance behind with the crunch three which sealed a titanic battle.

The reigning champs produced a stellar fourth-quarter comeback against the Turkish team to nose ahead in the series

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-22T18:30:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul edged out Paris Basketball, 83-78, in a very closely contested encounter featuring 15 lead changes to start the playoff series with home-court advantage intact.

Fenerbahce outlasts Paris, 83-78, to take series opener

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul edged out Paris Basketball, 83-78, in a very closely contested encounter featuring 15 lead changes to start the playoff series with home-court advantage intact.

Paris made a fast start, but Fenerbahce soon responded to take a 49-42 halftime advantage. The second half was back and forth until the final possessions, which Fenerbahce controlled to grab the win. 

Wade Baldwin led six Fenerbahce players in double digits with 15 points, followed by Nigel Hayes-Davis (14), Devon Hall (13), Tarik Biberovic (11) Errick McCollum (11) and Bonzie Colson (10). Nadir Hifi paced Paris with 21 points including 5 triples, with Tyson Ward netting 19 and TJ Shorts pairing 17 points with 7 assists.

Khem Birch’s layup opened the scoring, but Shorts netted twice for Paris’s first lead. Ward dunked before Shorts and Mikael Jantunen added three-pointers to make it 8-12. Colson scored 5 fast points for Fener, but a pair of dunks by Kevarrius Hayes kept Paris ahead. Neither team scored for more than three minutes until Hifi’s fast-break layup stretched the lead to 11-19, and Baldwin ended Fener’s five-minute drought with a three-ball. Hayes responded with a layup-and-one, before Baldwin and Hayes-Davis made it 18-22 after 10 minutes.

Hall’s three-pointer and Biberovic’s layup were answered by two buckets from Ward early in the second, before Colson’s triple gave Fener the lead, 28-26. Shorts and Birch traded inside scores, but Hayes-Davis kept the hosts ahead from long-range. Collin Malcolm, McCollum and Hifi all struck from deep, keeping it tight at 36-35. Colson’s tip-in, McCollum’s triple and Hall’s strong finish were met by Malcolm and Shorts from close range, before a pair of Baldwin buckets made it 49-42 at the break.

Ward netted the first 4 points of a low-scoring start to the second half, before Baldwin got Fener back on the scoreboard. Hifi’s layup was bettered by Biberovic’s deep strike for a 54-49 lead midway through the quarter. Hifi stayed hot with an off-balance three-pointer, and added another for a lead change, 54-55. Hayes-Davis hit straight back from mid-range, before Ward and Biberovic traded triples. Shorts and Hall netted at the rim, and Hifi’s skillful scoop shot was answered by another Hall score for a 63-62 Fener lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Ward restored Paris’s lead from long-range, but Biberovic hit right back with his own three-ball. Ward stayed hot with another triple, but Dyshawn Pierre did the same at the other end to make it 71-68. Yakuba Ouattara scored two straight baskets for another lead change, but McCollum hit another three-ball to help give Fener a 76-72 lead. Hifi’s triple was answered by McCollum’s floater, and it was 80-75 heading into the last two minutes. Another Hifi three-ball made it a one-score game, but Shorts’s miss was followed by Baldwin’s nerveless long two to seal the win.

The playoffs opened with a hard-fought home victory in Game 1

In this special episode of EuroLeague & Friends, as it welcomes Kendrick Nunn, the newly crowned 2024–2025 EuroLeague MVP. Just before the playoffs tip off, Kendrick opens up about his incredible season, the emotional journey behind his MVP win, and what it means to lead Panathinaikos into the postseason. From his days in Chicago to becoming the face of EuroLeague basketball, Nunn reflects on choosing greatness, committing long-term in Europe, and embracing the competitive fire that drives him. 


The EuroLeague & Friends gang are joined by MVP Kendrick Nunn

In this special episode of EuroLeague & Friends, as it welcomes Kendrick Nunn, the newly crowned 2024–2025 EuroLeague MVP. Just before the playoffs tip off, Kendrick opens up about his incredible season, the emotional journey behind his MVP win, and what it means to lead Panathinaikos into the postseason. From his days in Chicago to becoming the face of EuroLeague basketball, Nunn reflects on choosing greatness, committing long-term in Europe, and embracing the competitive fire that drives him. 

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has set a new benchmark for fan engagement, with the 2024-25 regular season becoming the most attended in the competition’s history. The average attendance reached a record-breaking 10,589 spectators per game.

EuroLeague regular season attendance sets new record

- **Average attendance rose to an all-time high of 10,589 spectators per game**
- **More than 3 million fans attended games in person**
- **Four straight seasons of record-breaking attendance**

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has set a new benchmark for fan engagement, with the 2024-25 regular season becoming the most attended in the competition’s history. The average attendance reached a record-breaking 10,589 spectators per game, surpassing last season’s mark of 10,383 and representing a 2% increase, an average of 206 additional fans per game. For the fourth consecutive season, the attendance record has been broken, highlighting the strong bond between the fans and the league.

A total of 3,039,060 spectators attended EuroLeague games throughout the season, 38,219 more than the previous year. Notably, eight clubs sold at least 90% of their available tickets, up from six the previous season. This figure could have been even higher as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv was forced to relocate its home games to Belgrade due to external circumstances, often playing with limited capacity or no spectators.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade once again led the league in both average attendance, 18,486, and fill rate (98%), closely followed by Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade with 18,239 spectators per game and a 94% fill rate. Olympiacos Piraeus also recorded a 94% attendance rate during the regular season, with an average of 11,546 fans attending each game. The league-wide average fill rate of 84% marked a 2% increase from the previous season, highlighting the EuroLeague’s growing connection with fans across Europe.

FC Bayern Munich recorded the highest growth in attendance, with a 75% year-over-year increase following the move to the new, state-of-the-art SAP Arena, which seats 12,500. Bayern averaged 10,872 spectators per game with a 97% fill rate.

Reigning champions Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens also saw a remarkable 17.8% increase in average attendance, driven by their 2024 title win in Berlin and the upgrades made to the historic OAKA arena. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, a Final Four semifinalist, posted a 10.46% increase, with an average crowd of 10,785.

With seven clubs averaging more than 10,000 spectators per game, the EuroLeague continues to set the standard for professional basketball in Europe, both on the court and in the stands.

10 Heroes from past EuroLeague Playoffs

Ahead of that first tipoff, Eurohoops takes a look at 10 players who have defined past quarterfinals with their exploits. Whether they made the baskets that mattered, stepped up in crunch-time situations, engineered major comebacks, authored key victories, emerged as unlikely protagonists or sometimes did all of these together, these are some of the heroes of the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1814298/ten-heroes-of-the-euroleague-playoffs/)...

Big games need big plays made by big players. That’s exactly what we expect to see in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs that begin on Tuesday.

10 heroes from past EuroLeague Playoffs

Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo shares his recommendations for this week

Javier Gancedo's fantasy tips for the start of the playoffs

Welcome to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs! The best eight teams in the competition are set to fight for Final Four glory in four outstanding best-of-five series. The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge continues until a champion is crowned in Abu Dhabi. There are unlimited trades, too, and I have some recommendations for all price ranges. Let's see them!

 

### DyShawn Pierre, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (5.8 credits)

A cheaper option to round out your roster. [DyShawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) has played well against Paris this season, getting 6 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 11 in Paris and 7 points and 4 rebounds for a PIR of 11 in Istanbul. Pierre is a great pick-and-roll defender and his experience should allow him to see good playing time in the playoffs. Go for him! 

 

### Dan Oturu, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (10.8 credits)

Looking back, [Dan Oturu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dan-oturu/012788/) played two very good games against Panathinaikos in regular season action and should be an important factor in the series. Efes enters the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak. Oturu struck twice against the Greens, getting 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting for a PIR of 21 in Istanbul and posting 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting for a PIR of 17 in their meeting in Athens.

Mario Hezonja, Kendrick Nunn, Daniel Theis, DyShawn Pierre and Dan Oturu are featured in this week's article.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Playoffs Games 1-2

### Daniel Theis, AS Monaco (13.2 credits)

Barca has done well against Monaco this season, winning both regular season games. [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/) was not present in either of those games and he could be a difference-maker in the series. In eight games with Monaco, Theis has averaged 13.8 points on solid shooting (62.2% 2FG, 41.7% 3FG) and 6.1 rebounds for a PIR of 17.0. His toughness and experience gave Monaco exactly what it needed.

### Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid (13.4 credits)

[Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) does not need extra motivation before a playoff series, but the fact that Real plays Olympiacos should give him a boost. Real lost against the Reds twice this season but Hezonja posted solid numbers, averaging 16.0 points and a PIR of 16.0. He played a critical role in the Play-In Showdown final game against FC Bayern Munich with 19 points and 7 rebounds for a PIR of 24. A solid choice!

### Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19.6 credits)

[Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) was crowned the [2024-25 EuroLeague MVP](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/202425-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-kendrick-nunn-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/) after a fantastic regular season in which he averaged a league-best 21.1 points plus 3.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists for a PIR of 20.3. Last season, he brought out his best in the playoffs against Maccabi, averaging 19.2 points on 51.6% three-pointers for a PIR of 16.6. Nunn should be your superstar of choice this week.

Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2025-04-23T18:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2025-04-23T17:00:00.000Z)

Referees named for the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs

Euroleague Basketball has released the list of 28 referees who are eligible to officiate during the postseason phases of the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

The EuroLeague Playoffs will begin on Tuesday, April 22 and continue through Wednesday, May 7, should any necessary Game 5s be played. The EuroLeague Final Four will be played on the weekend of May 23-25 in Abu Dhabi.

Daniel Hierrezuelo, Euroleague Basketball Officiating Director, selected the referees based on their performance throughout the 34-game regular season, as well as their experience and consistency at the highest level of European basketball.

The 28 officials represent 17 different countries and combine for over 400 seasons of experience in Euroleague Basketball competitions.

See the full list of selected referees below:

After a standout campaign marked by scoring brilliance, leadership, and clutch performances, Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been named the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP

2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP: Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

After a standout campaign marked by scoring brilliance, leadership, and clutch performances, [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens has been named the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP. The award, voted on by EuroLeague team captains and head coaches, accredited media, and fans, recognizes the player who had the most outstanding performance over the course of the regular season – and this year, that player was Nunn.

Nunn’s name appeared on more ballots than any other player with the votes of EuroLeague head coaches and team captains each accounting for 35 percent of the tally, media making of 20% of the vote and the fans' choices the final 10%. [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of Olympiacos Piraeus placed second in the voting followed by [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) of Paris Basketball.

In his second season with Panathinaikos, Nunn led the EuroLeague in scoring at 21.1 points per game, becoming a constant offensive force and the winner of the [Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-is-the-2024-25-alphonso-ford-top-scorer-trophy-winner/). He also topped the charts in three-pointers made with 3.1 per contest and chipped in 4.1 assists and 1.0 steal while appearing in 33 of 34 regular-season games. Nunn’s explosiveness, creativity off the dribble, and smooth perimeter shooting helped Panathinaikos finish the regular season with a 22–12 record and secure home-court advantage in the playoffs.

He stepped up in particular over the second half of the season after the Greens lost All-EuroLeague center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) to a broken leg. After averaging 20.2 points and 3.6 assists for a PIR of 18.9 through Round 17, Nunn upped his production to 21.9 points and 5.1 dimes for a PIR of 21.6 the rest of the way.

Nunn’s season was filled with memorable performances. He scored at least 30 points on four occasions, including [a career-best 39-point eruption](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-enjoyed-record-night-at-oaka/) in Round 16 against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. He drilled 4 or more three-pointers in 12 different games and was named MVP of the Round three times, as well as [EuroLeague MVP of the Month for February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/kendrick-nunn-shines-as-euroleagues-mvp-for-february/). His consistent ability to take over games in critical moments made him a nightmare for opposing defenses and a fan favorite in Athens.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Nunn better it is, official” 🏆😁<a href="https://twitter.com/nunnbetter_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nunnbetter_</a> took care of business with the official post. <br><br>MVP, MVP, MVP 🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/eQg0Fp0OrL">pic.twitter.com/eQg0Fp0OrL</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914277850380722365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Beyond the numbers, Nunn displayed poise and confidence befitting an MVP. Whether leading fast breaks, orchestrating the offense, or sinking tough shots with the game on the line, he proved to be a dynamic and dependable leader for Panathinaikos throughout the season. His impact was felt in more than just the stat sheet; it was in the energy he brought to the floor, the pressure he put on opposing defenses, and the belief he instilled in his teammates.

An [All-EuroLeague First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/euroleague-basketball-names-the-202425-all-euroleague-first-team/) selection in both of his seasons in the competition, Nunn joins an elite list of EuroLeague MVPs. He is the first Panathinaikos player to earn the honor since Dimitris Diamantidis in 2010–11 and becomes the third American player to win the award following [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/2023-24-turkish-airlines-euroleague-mvp-mike-james-as-monaco/) of AS Monaco in 2023–24 and the only two-time EuroLeague MVP, Anthony Parker (2004-05, 2005-06) of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

More on Kendrick Nunn

2024-25 EuroLeague Award winners

Kendrick Nunn captures the EuroLeague’s highest individual honor after a sensational second season with the Greens