Round 22 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague season is here, so sit back and enjoy more action from the most competition league in the world.

EuroLeague Game Center: Round 22

### Friday, January 19

[Zalgiris Kaunas 98-75 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-zalgiris-kaunas-vs-fenerbahce-beko/)

Zalgiris celebrated its return to Zalgirio Arena after three straight games on the road by grabbing a convincing 98-75 win over the visiting Fenerbahce on Friday night. Andrea Trinchieri's Zalgiris improved to an 8-14 record, with Fenerbahce having slipped to a 13-9 mark. Keenan Evans led Zalgiris in scoring with 21 points, while he also had 7 assists en route to a PIR of 26. Laurynas Birutis followed with a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards in just 22 minutes, as he registered a career-high 28 PIR. Brady Manek scored 14 points and Rolands Smits chipped in 12 for Zalgiris. Wilbekin set the tone for Fenerbahce with 22 points on 6-of-11 from behind the arc and Johnathan Motley poured in 15 points in a losing effort.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Faith! Fight! Support! Victory! ✅ <a href="https://t.co/SzjHQ8Xixm">pic.twitter.com/SzjHQ8Xixm</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1748434113705431214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[AS Monaco 98-74 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-as-monaco-basket-vs-real-madrid-baloncesto/)

Monaco showed why it came into the season as a title contender after blowing out league leader Real Madrid 98-74 at home. Monaco picked up an important victory in its fight for the playoffs, improving to a 12-10 record and 7-3 mark at home after having lost three of its last four games. Jordan Loyd paced four Monaco players in double figures with 19 points while Mike James collected 15 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists and 5 steals. Alpha Diallo had 14 points and Donatas Motiejunas chipped in 13 points. Real saw its three-game winning streak come to an end in abrupt fashion as it fell to 19-3, including a 9-3 record on its travels. Dzanan Musa led Real with 12 points, Rudy Fernandez had 11 points and Fabien Causeur netted 10.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🤩 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 ‼️<br><br>❤️‍🔥 Dans une salle Gaston-Médecin bouillante, la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> signe un festival face au Real Madrid, leader de l&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> ! ⏫️ <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/i3CMbsuU4H">pic.twitter.com/i3CMbsuU4H</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1748453295666950439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 84-71 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-panathinaikos-bc-vs-kk-partizan/)

Panathinaikos grabbed a huge win in the race for playoffs qualification with an 84-71 triumph over Partizan, effectively taking a four-game lead over the Serbian team with head-to-head advantage secured. Consistent scoring from Kendrick Nunn powered Panathinaikos, ending as top scorer with 21 points. Dinos Mitoglou scored 16 points, and Mathias Lessort paired 14 points with 9 rebounds. Partizan was led throughout the game by a remarkable effort from PJ Dozier, who finished with 16 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 6 steals. James Nunnally added 13 points and Alen Smailagic 11 in a losing cause.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final Score ☘️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PartizanBC</a> 84-71 <a href="https://t.co/isigkjXMVl">pic.twitter.com/isigkjXMVl</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1748456663214907465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Valencia Basket 84-72 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-valencia-basket-vs-olimpia-milano/)

Valencia snapped its three-game losing streak after a superb second-half performance gave the Spanish side an 84-72 home win over Milan. The hosts improved to an 11-11 record, while the Italian side dropped to 9-13. Former Milan center Brandon Davies and Chris Jones paced Valencia with 15 points apiece, while Semi Ojeleye added 14 for the home side. Jared Harper netted 11 points and Kassius Robertson added 10 to underline a smooth team effort by Valencia, which turned the game on its head in the second half. At the other end, Shabazz Napier led Milan with a game-high 20 points and Devon Hall chipped in with 17, but the support cast was well below par as Milan's offense came to a screeching halt after the interval.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">𝙑𝘼𝙈𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙎𝙎<br><br>Remontada en la segunda parte y... ¡¡Volvemos a ganar en la <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>!! 🧡<br><br>¡¡QUEREMOS<br>SEGUIR <br>LUCHANDO!! 🔥<br><br>🏆 J22 <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a><a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@valenciabasket</a> 84<br>🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> 72<br>🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/Luanvi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Luanvi</a> <br><br>Esta es para ti, Dejan 🧡 <a href="https://t.co/OBqFkPPb9i">pic.twitter.com/OBqFkPPb9i</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1748457828803580213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Thursday, January 18

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul 98-74 FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-barca-basket/)

Efes has beaten two of the top three teams in the EuroLeague standings in back-to-back rounds after first defeating Virtus 99-75 and now downing Barcelona 98-74. This win improved Efes to a 9-13 mark, while Barca dropped to 15-7. Rodrigue Beaubois led all scorers by netting a joint season-high 21 points for Efes. Tibor Pleiss also added 17 for the victor, which had Dan Oturu chip in with 16 and Shane Larkin contribute 15. Larkin had a game-high 8 assists, too. Barca center Willy Hernangomez paced the visitors with 18 points, while Rokas Jokubaitis and Nikola Kalinic had 14 apiece.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">“That&#39;s how winning is done!” 👊<br>Anadolu Efes 98 - 74 FC Barcelona | Maç Sonucu<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Together?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Together</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/1JjvIaZxri">pic.twitter.com/1JjvIaZxri</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1748061203195109485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 90-91 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-kk-crvena-zvezda-vs-saski-baskonia/)

Baskonia improved to 12-10 and boosted its hopes of reaching the playoffs after a vintage performance from Markus Howard propelled the Spanish team to a rip-roaring 90-91 victory at Crvena Zvezda (9-13) on Thursday. Howard scored 26 of his game-high 32 points in the second half, including 17 in the third quarter, as the visitors wiped out Zvezda's 52-43 halftime lead and turned on the heat after the long break. Chima Moneke added 13 points and 12 boards for Baskonia, including a crucial offesive rebound on Baskonia's last possession. Vanja Marinkovic chipped in with 18 points and Matt Costello netted 10 for the visitors. At the other end, Yago dos Santos paced Zvezda with 26 points and 5 assists, but a shorthanded home roster provided preciously little support to the Braziliian. Rokas Giedraitis scored 13 points for Zvezda, new signing Javonte Smart amassed 11 and Adam Hanga added 10 for the home side.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">👏👏 ¡SEGUIMOS SUMANDO EN <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>! 👏👏<br><br>2⃣/2⃣✅ frente a <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kkcrvenazvezda</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/4ZTFgIF2ao">pic.twitter.com/4ZTFgIF2ao</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1748071333261459835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[ALBA Berlin 65-82 FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-alba-berlin-vs-fc-bayern-basketball/)

Bayern picked up its first victory of the new year by winning comfortably at ALBA 65-82 to snap a four-game losing streak. Bayern finished the third quarter on a 2-12 run to improve to a 9-13 record, including a 3-10 mark on the road. Danko Brankovic set a career high of 14 points to go with 8 rebounds while Sylvain Francisco also had 14 points and Carsen Edwards scored 13 points in the win. ALBA missed a chance to book back-to-back wins for the first time this season in falling to 4-18. Matteo Spagnolo scored 15 points in the loss and Yanni Wetzell added 13 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINAL | 65-82 | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BERBAY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BERBAY</a><br><br>This W tastes extra sweet! 🤌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BERBAY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BERBAY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> (c) Stickel <a href="https://t.co/yRLJWAYFc0">pic.twitter.com/yRLJWAYFc0</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1748084955970724296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Olympiacos Piraeus 89-72 Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-olympiacos-bc-vs-maccabi-tel-aviv-bc/)

Olympiacos Piraeus cruised past Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv with an 89-72 victory in Round 22. Nikola Milutinov pulled off a sublime outing with 20 points and a career-high 20 rebounds as Olympiacos improved to 12-10. Maccabi also has the same record, but the Greek side has swept its opponent with two wins in their two games this season. Isaiah Canaan also scored 20 points for the Reds. Wade Baldwin led Maccabi with 18 points in defeat. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The game stats | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OLYMTA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OLYMTA</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/dnhNP541Mk">pic.twitter.com/dnhNP541Mk</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1748090672152731674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Virtus Segafredo Bologna 73-63 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-virtus-bologna-vs-ldlc-asvel/)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna overturned a double-digit deficit to record a key victory, 73-63, after winning the last quarter 28-9 against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. The French team appeared to have control until a 14-0 charge by Virtus totally changed the game, with Daniel Hackett’s 19 points – 10 of which came in the final quarter – helping prove decisive to snap a two-game losing streak. ASVEL was paced by a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds from Youssoupha Fall.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fi" dir="ltr">WIN WIN WIN ⚪️⚫️<br>La Virtus non molla mai ‼️<br><br>🔢 Hackett 19, Belinelli 18, Cordinier 12, Mickey 9, Lundberg 6, Dunston 4, Pajola 3, Polonara 2<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/X4PRUTgWGn">pic.twitter.com/X4PRUTgWGn</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1748091671118553152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

EuroLeague Game Center: Round 22, 2023-24.

Prepare to enjoy more thrilling basketball from the most competitive league in the world.

Game Center: Blowout victories for Zalgiris, Monaco; PAO, Valencia both won late 

Valencia Basket v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2024-01-19T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-01-19T19:15:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-01-19T18:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Real Madrid (2024-01-19T19:00:00.000Z)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-01-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2024-01-18T19:15:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v FC Bayern Munich (2024-01-18T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-01-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v FC Barcelona (2024-01-18T17:30:00.000Z)

The Players' View is back this week on EuroLeague TV with a special guest on Friday night with another unique look at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. This time, the perspectives will be from a player and a coach! Regular co-host Michael Roll will be joined by Dimitris Itoudis.

Coach Dimitris Itoudis debuts on The Player's View on Friday!

The Players' View is back this week on [EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) with a special guest on Friday night with another unique look at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. This time, the perspectives will be from a player and a coach! Regular co-host Michael Roll will be joined by Dimitris Itoudis, who is a two-time EuroLeague champion head coach and a five-time winner as an assistant. Roll and Itoudis will commentate on the game between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. Itoudis is situated perfectly to bring insight to this game as he spent 13 seasons as an assistant with the Greens under his close friend and current Partizan boss, Zeljko Obradovic.

As always, there's no better way to get the low down on what's happening on the court than to listen to the insights of those who know the game best. The Players' View is available exclusively to [EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) subscribers. [Get your pass now](https://tv.euroleague.net/) to make sure you don't miss any of the action.

Coach Dimitris Itoudis debuts on The Players' View on Friday!

In a game full of storylines, the headline is the return of Coach Zeljko Obradovic to Athens where he led the Greens to 5 EuroLeague crowns. 

Obradovic leads Partizan to visit his old stomping grounds

Every game in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is filled with storylines. Some games jump out at you more than others. And then [there is Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens hosting Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2023/196/), which means Zeljko Obradovic returning to the Greek capital, where he made history.

### The King is Back

There is no other way to put it. No other coach in European basketball history has had a bigger impact on a team than Obradovic had in Panathinaikos. In 13 seasons with the club, Obradovic led Panathinaikos to five of its six EuroLeague championships (2000, 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011) plus 11 Greek League and seven Greek Cup crowns for a total of 23 major trophies. What happened after Obradovic left adds to his legacy: Panathinaikos has not even returned to the Final Four since he parted ways with the Greens in 2012. Panathinaikos is determined to change that this season with two-time EuroLeague winner Ergin Ataman as head coach.

As Panathinakos visits Partizan, Zeljko Obradovic remembers

Obradovic is the only coach to win the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos and Partizan. Only one player can claim to have done the same: Zeljko Rebraca. Obradovic also made it to the 1988 Final Four as a Partizan player. Fun fact: only four players have made it to the Final Four with both teams: Rebraca, Dejan Tomasevic, Dusan Kecman and Aleks Maric. 

Panathinaikos and Partizan have faced each other 15 teams since the competition started in 2000. The Greens have an 8-7 record against Partizan, which won the last three games between them. Earlier this season, [Partizan edged Panathinaikos 92-87](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/E2023/95/) in the Serbian capital behind 23 points from [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/).

### Frontcourt: Lessort is the key

One of the biggest keys to this game for Partizan will be stopping Panathinaikos center - and former Partizan star - [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/), who has been sensational lately. Lessort claimed Round 21 MVP honors with a strong all-around performance in which he set a career-high with 5 assists and matched his personal best in scoring with 23 by making 9 of 10 two-pointers. He also collected 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 7 drawn fouls en route to a career-high PIR of 42. Lessort played for Coach Obradovic's team in each of the last two seasons and earned 2022-23 All-EuroLeague First Team honors. In Round 11, Lessort had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and a PIR of 17 in a losing effort against Partizan.

Mathias Lessort had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and a PIR of 17 in a losing effort against Partizan, his former team.

Lessort had solid game against Partizan

Of course, the battle in the paint is not only restricted to stopping Lessort, who is battling a back issue. Panathinaikos, which is expected to be without [Olek Balcerowski](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksander-balcerowski/007553/) and possibly [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/), will need 40 minutes of muscle inside against the likes of [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/), [Frank Kaminsky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/frank-kaminsky/012743/) and [Alen Smailagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alen-smailagic/011051/), the last of whom knows Lessort better than most after two seasons practicing against him. Former Partizan forward Ioannis Papapetrou is back for the first time since Round 2 to help Panathinaikos alongside [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) and [Dinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/). For them, stopping LeDay is the top defensive priority.

### Backcourt: a new Partizan lineup

Partizan is facing severe injury problems, as leading scorer [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) and combo guard [Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) are unavailable. It is the second time that Partizan is without these two players this season. In Round 10, [P.J. Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/) and [Mateusz Ponitka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mateusz-ponitka/004172/) were Partizan's starting backcourt, with [Ognjen Jaramaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ognjen-jaramaz/004058/) playing 18 minutes off the bench. Dozier had a strong all-around game with 21 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and a PIR of 19. Without Punter, [James Nunnally](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/james-nunnally/007400/) and the recently-signed [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) should see extended responsibilities on offense.

P.J. Dozier is in his first Turkish Ailrines EuroLeague season with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

2023-24 EuroLeague highlights: P.J. Dozier, Partizan

Dozier and Ponitka face an intriguing matchup against experienced playmaker [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), Panathinaikos's prime generator. Coach Obradovic knows Sloukas well, as they worked together for five seasons, reaching four Final Fours, three EuroLeague Championship Games and winning a EuroLeague championship together. Nunnally was part of the puzzle for three of those seasons and also lifted the trophy with them in 2017. Even without the injured [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/), Coach Ataman has plenty of backcourt resources with explosive scorer [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), three-point threat [Marius Grigonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marius-grigonis/002328/) and combo guard [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/), last season's BKT EuroCup MVP. How he uses this depth against a short-handed opponent should be critical in this game, too.

A wild atmosphere is guaranteed at OAKA Altion. It would be outstanding in any case, but having Coach Obradovic back in the building is, and will always be, special. Don't forget to tune in a little bit earlier to see the pre-game presentations and the respect Panathinaikos fans have for a club's legend. The game is scheduled to tip at 20:15 CET.

In a season that has featured highs and lows, AS Monaco comes to a crossroads when it hosts the reigning champs.

AS Monaco seeks to flip the script against Real Madrid

Though AS Monaco can be rightly considered among the EuroLeague contenders this season, the club has floundered more than flourished in 2024. Coach Sasa Obradovic’s squad is 1-3 in January, though all of those losses have come on the road and to date, it has played three more games on the road than at home. However, a loss to Real Madrid would drop Monaco to .500 on the season (11-11) for the first time since Round 4. 

While a loss could put Monaco in a precarious position, a victory over Los Blancos could be a pivotal point and a springboard back up the table. And there might [not be a better time for Monaco to take on the champs than right now.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-real-madrid/E2023/195/) 

The biggest reason for that – literally and figuratively – is the absence of Real’s star center and EuroLeague Best Defender [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/), who is sidelined by injury. When these teams last met, [back in Round 9 in November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-as-monaco/E2023/76/), Tavares set the tone and his teammates followed as Real dominated the paint. 

Tavares produced 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 24. More impressive is that he did all of that in less than 16 minutes of playing time. Real outscored Monaco by 22 points in that time, which means that Monaco outscored Real by 4 points in the 24-plus minutes in which Tavares rested. 

Reigning-champ Real aim to prolong its blistering start against a Monaco team seeking to reboot after seeing a five-game winning streak snapped by Efes. A must-watch duel comes in the back between the league's top rated guards, Facundo Campazzo and Mike James.

Real Madrid-AS Monaco | Round 9 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Even when Tavares sat, Real had its way inside. As a team, it made 18 of 21 two-pointers (85.7%), outrebounded Monaco 39-33 and blocked 8 shots. Monaco was held to 19-of-49 two-point shooting (38.8%) and did not record a single block.

While [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/), who is expected to receive the lion’s share of the minutes at center for Real, posted nice numbers in that game (12 points, 11 boards, 5 blocks), he had a +/- of +2 in 22 minutes. That is one reason the Monaco bigs – [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), [Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/) and [Mam Jaiteh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mam-jaiteh/002581/) might feel optimistic for this Friday showdown.

Another key for Monaco, as it always is, is the play of star guard [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/). His numbers make James a bonafide MVP candidate; he leads the league in scoring (19.5 ppg.) and PIR (21.0) and is ninth in assists (5.2 apg.). Great numbers alone will not bring James the coveted award, but a big game against Real that helps Monaco climb back up to the top is something that voters will surely notice. 

James only had 13 points, 5 assists and a PIR of 9 when these teams last met. Last season, however, he averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 assists and a PIR of 25.5 in two games against Real. Similar numbers could make a world of difference in this game. 

Real has won its last three games and sits atop the standings with a four-victory margin over second place, which means Coach Chus Mateo’s men have little to worry about. However, they too understand how important it will be to show they are just as dominant with Tavares sidelined. This game will be their first chance to show if that is, in fact, the case. 

One way or another, we will learn something about both teams when the final buzzer sounds at Salle Gaston Medecin late Friday. Can Real thrive with its man in the middle out? Is Monaco poised to challenge for the crown in 2024? It will be easier to answer those questions in a few more hours.

Monaco seeks to flip the script against Real Madrid

Anadolu Efes S.K. has won back-to-back games against two of the strongest teams in the EuroLeague, and things are finally starting to look good for Erdem Can's side.

EuroLeague teams, be aware: Anadolu Efes S.K. is back

As frustrating as things became, Anadolu Efes Istanbul was never as bad as its record suggested.

Injuries ravaged the team in the early part of the campaign, forcing the arrival of a few new signings; those that had arrived in the summer were still adjusting to their new environment; later, rumors began to swirl about the future of first-year head coach Erdem Can; and there was a seven-game losing run, which – it’s worth stressing – featured just one defeat by double digits.

In the end, Efes decided to stick with Coach Can and that decision is now reaping its rewards. After ending its losing streak in style by [stunning Virtus Segafredo Bologna 99-75](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-virtus-bologna/) in Round 21, the Istanbul-based side built on that result by [beating FC Barcelona 98-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-barca-basket/) in Round 22. Not only are those two scorelines similar, but they are equally impressive, too.

Dario Brizuela ensured that Nico Laprovittola wasn't missed by draining 24 points as Barça beat Zalgiris and kept pace in the upper-echelons of the standings. They visit two-time champs Efes, who look to continue its revival after roaring back into winning-ways in sensational style by thrashing Virtus.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul-FC Barcelona | Round 22 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### A big boost to morale

By first downing Virtus and then Barca, Efes has managed to knock off two of the top three teams in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings in a matter of six days. Crucially, what it has done is inspire the Efes players and show what they are capable of, as star guard [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) explained.

“It feels like we’re trending in the right direction, we’re getting our guys back, everybody’s getting healthy,” he said after the Barca win. “We’re getting everybody acclimated and we’re continuing to grow. I think today was one of the first days we had a full roster all season; I think maybe \[that was also the case in\] our first game. We showed who we can be, now it’s all about continuing to grow every single day and seeing what we can do towards the end of the season.”

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Same vibe! 🫂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhereIStand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhereIStand</a> <a href="https://t.co/XMkvtxVXNS">pic.twitter.com/XMkvtxVXNS</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1748096177441038566?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While Efes had played well through the first two quarters, taking a 42-39 lead into the halftime break, Coach Can’s troops notably began to take over in the second half and ended up outscoring Barca 56-35 in the final 20 minutes. That offensive explosion, led by 19 second-half points by [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rodrigue-beaubois/006590/), was incredibly impressive, but so was the way in which Efes stepped up its play on defense.

### Making key plays on defense

Three plays particularly stood out in the second half. The first saw [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/derek-willis/009664/) dive into the front row to try and keep the ball in play following a block by [Tibor Pleiss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tibor-pleiss/lhk/) on Jabari Parker midway through the third quarter. That effort by Willis resulted in one of the loudest cheers of the night inside Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, and it was a sign of things to come.

Later in the quarter, Larkin turned defense into offense. After blocking Rokas Jokubaitis, Efes’s No. 0 quickly ran up the floor and was picked out by Beaubois, before avoiding contact from Tomas Satoransky and scoring a layup off the glass. Understandably, that was the Magic Moment of the Game.

But, a close contender for that accolade was a play involving [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/), who returned to action against Barca after having not played since Round 11 due to injury. With Efes up 83-67 three and a half minutes into the fourth quarter, Clyburn’s chasedown block to prevent Nikola Kalinic from scoring an easy layup showed just how seriously Efes was taking every play. And that is certainly a good omen moving forward.

Three Anadolu Efes Istanbul plays summed up its defensive attitude during its 98-74 win against FC Barcelona in Round 22 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Efes's three defensive plays vs. Barcelona

“We’ve just got to continue to grow as a team and continue to take steps in the right direction by putting in energy and effort on both sides. That’s all that play was about,” Larkin replied when asked about his block on Jokubaitis.

“We had a lot of plays like that today. Derek dives for a loose ball and tries to save it and the whole crowd goes crazy. Those are the things that have to be our identity. Will had a chasedown block from half court coming from a foot injury, so we’ve just to continue to do those hustle plays and that’s going to galvanize our team; that’s going to bring us closer to us together as a unit. There’s no ceiling to where we can go.”

Indeed, Efes still finds itself languishing down in 15th place in the standings, five spots below the final play-in spot, but playing as it has done in the last two games, no one would bet against the two-time champion sneaking in. There’s still 12 games to go in the regular season and, as Coach Can himself made clear, “every single game – on the road, at home – is like a final for us.”

With basically its full roster now available and a group of players who are gelling more and more with each passing game, Efes is finally starting to make some noise this season. EuroLeague teams, be aware: Efes is back.

More Efes News

The Anadolu Efes Istanbul players celebrate with the fans after beating FC Barcelona in Round 22 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Erdem Can’s squad has now beaten Virtus and Barcelona in back-to-back rounds.

EuroLeague teams, be aware: Efes is back

Solid defense and Brankovic's energy helped Bayern end losing streak

FC Bayern Munich finally tasted victory in 2024 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague thanks to a really solid defensive performance and a career night from Danko Brankovic.

Bayern shut down ALBA Berlin’s three-point shooters to the tune of just 3-of-18 for 16.7% in grabbing a 65-82 win in the German derby to snap a four-game losing streak.

“I don’t think we played a great game but we were solid from the beginning and we got an important victory,” said Bayern coach Pablo Laso, whose team conceded a season-low in points in the game.

“Overall I think our defense was very solid during the whole game. We shut down their three-point attempts and we were able to defend that line very well. We were stopping their fast breaks and we played solid defense. That gave us the rhythm of the game. We controlled it. Offensively we were very smart, passing it and finding the open jumpers. Very good performance. I am very happy for the victory. We needed to be rewarded for the work that we are doing.”

Bayern allowed just 4 ALBA fastbreak points and shot the ball well from the outside, hitting 13-of-30 from long range for 43.3% - four players hitting multiple triples.

Bayern gained control of the game with the first 13 points of the second quarter. And one of the keys to the second stanza was Bayern’s 23-year-old center Brankovic.

Danko Brankovic came up big for Bayern in Berlin

The 2.17-meter Croatian big man dominated the second quarter with 12 points and 6 of Bayern’s 9 offensive rebounds in the frame. That production came in just 7 minutes of action in the quarter.

“I don’t know what happened. My role is to just be a young energy guy to get rebounds and set screens. When things open up I just take them. That’s how it was tonight. It just opened up for me,” said Brankovic, who set career highs with 14 points and 9 rebounds. He added 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks for a new career-best index rating of 20.

“It’s a huge win because we are back on the winning streak, especially fighting for the playoffs. It was a good game for us. We played together and when we play like this, things just go good. And it’s really nice to watch us,” Brankovic added.

Bayern can now be happy about finally winning in 2024 with a strong all-around showing.

Game News

Pablo Laso's side came out on top in the German derby.

The Olympiacos Piraeus center became the fourth player in competition history to tally 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game. 

Nikola Milutinov stepped up with historic game in Fall’s absence

Nikola Milutinov produced an outstanding performance on Thursday night to lead Olympiacos Piraeus to an 89-72 victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. A couple of days before the game, Olympiacos announced that Moustapha Fall would be out injured for three weeks. This is an important injury blow for the Greek side taking into account that Fall ranks top in two-point accuracy this season at 78.3% and leads all centers with 2.7 assists per game.

Hence, Milutinov got the nod from head coach George Bartzokas, who included the Serbian center in the starting lineup against Maccabi. Morale at Piraeus was anything but high after back-to-back defeats to FC Barcelona and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain last week.

“It’s difficult when you miss a player like \[Fall\], because he is one of the key players here,” Milutinov said after the game. “I had to play a little bit more tonight than what I was playing lately and I’m just happy that I helped my team in the best possible way and that we won tonight the way we won.”

Monster night for Nikola Milutinov

The Greek side hit the ground running in the first quarter and outscored a Lorenzo Brown-less Maccabi 26-18. Milutinov shined at both ends of the floor, ending the first half on a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. Maccabi bounced back in the second quarter and cut the difference to 42-36 at halftime. However, a dominant Olympiacos went on a 12-0 run after the break and managed to secure what has probably been its most convincing victory so far this season.

Milutinov ended the game with a season-high 20 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, 9 of which were offensive boards, for a PIR of 40. These figures mean that he entered a select group of four players who have recorded a 20+20 game in the EuroLeague.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">20 PTS + 20 REB games in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a>:<br><br>2001-02 🇹🇷 Mirsad Turkcan: 27 PTS + 23 REB<br>2005-06 🇺🇸🇦🇿 Spencer Nelson: 23 PTS + 20 REB<br>2006-07 🇬🇷 Antonis Fotsis: 22 PTS + 24 REB<br>2023-24 🇷🇸 Nikola Milutinov: 20 PTS + 20 REB 👈</p>&mdash; Darius Garuolis (@DariusGaruolis) <a href="https://twitter.com/DariusGaruolis/status/1748090974004302259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We had to cover Fall’s absence, as everybody knows how important he is,” Bartzokas said after the game. “So I have to give special credit to Nikola Milutinov who had 20+20. These are huge numbers nowadays in basketball.”

Olympiacos played at a sold-out Peace And Friendship Stadium for yet another time this season, with Milutinov being hailed by fans, who rhythmically chanted his name in the last quarter.

“This is why I came back,” Milutinov laughed when asked how he felt when fans chanted his name. “It’s an amazing feeling. I want to thank the fans. It’s something really unique and this is one of the reasons why I came back to Olympiacos.”

With this home victory, Olympiacos got back to winning ways and improved to a 12-10 record. Fall is expected to be sidelined until early February, which makes Milutinov a key player for Olympiacos in the next few games. Judging from Thursday’s performance in Piraeus, the Olympiacos big man is more than ready to fill Fall’s shoes and prove why he’s considered one of the best centers in the EuroLeague.

The Olympiacos center became the fourth player in competition history to tally 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game. 

Banchi hails Virtus’s 'special night'

A home meeting for the third-placed team against the bottom-placed team should have been a matter of routine, but in the end, Virtus Segafredo Bologna needed a remarkable recovery to overcome LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne by a misleading 73-63 on Thursday night.

With just over 8 minutes remaining ASVEL led 48-56 and a big upset looked on the cards, with Virtus’s misfiring offense only scoring 29 points in the previous 22 minutes of game time.

But then Achille Polonara flew high for a putback slam and that boost of energy sparked a remarkable 14-0 run in just 4 minutes. ASVEL still tried to respond but Virtus had changed the momentum of the game and added further triples from Marco Belinelli and Daniel Hackett to surge clear for the win.

Polonara sparked Virtus in the fourth quarter

Delighted home team coach Luca Banchi was in no mood for understatement as he reviewed the breathless final quarter, which saw his team score 28 points, beaming: "This is a special night. We showed the values to believe until the end, to stay together until the end. 

“There are nights like this when we have to find solutions, and \[the players\] were incredible in the way they continued to fight and compete.”

Veteran guard Daniel Hackett played a key role by netting 10 of his 19 points in the final period, and he was also overjoyed with his team’s reaction as he said: “We found something inside of us in the fourth quarter. 

“We didn’t want to let the fans down and let each other down, and I think we showed a lot of character to come back and win this game. 

“We went back and found our defense. In the second quarter, we didn’t impose our defense, but in the fourth quarter, we played our defense. This gave us our rhythm and we made some key plays.”

Enough key plays, indeed, to turn what could have been Virtus’s worst night of the season into a triumphant occasion.

The Virtus tactician oversaw a turnaround from 11 points down to beat ASVEL by 10.

Dusko Ivanovic and his Saski Baskonia side managed to down KK Crvena zvezda, the team which dismissed the coach earlier this season, for the second time since the Montenegrin returned to the Spanish outfit.

Baskonia turned the tables on KK Crvena zvezda as Ivanovic completed the double

It was a stellar night for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz guard [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/), forward [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) and head coach Dusko Ivanovic in Round 22, as the Spanish club ground out [a captivating 90-91 road win over Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-kk-crvena-zvezda-vs-saski-baskonia/) in Round 22 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Howard poured a game-high 32 points, shooting 7-of-10 from downtown and 3-of-5 from two-point territory, engineering a spectacular Baskonia comeback after a 52-43 halftime deficit. Moneke chipped in with 13 points and 12 rebounds, including a crucial offensive board late in the game which paved the way for Baskonia’s victory.

Baskonia coach Dusko Ivanovic prepares for a swift return to Belgrade to face his former employers and help strengthen his team's push for the playoffs, whilst Zvezda wish to unleash the talents of in-form big man Joel Bolomboy, since he paired 14 points with 6 rebounds in an important gain in Milan.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 22 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Moneke’s late arrival

In his flash post-game interview, Moneke revealed an astonishing pre-game development which almost forced him to miss the titanic clash in Belgrade’s Stark Arena due to a passport issue.

“Honestly, I wasn’t even supposed to be here,” Moneke said. “I was stuck in the airport for seven hours yesterday and I only got to my hotel at 1 am. I didn’t think I would play this game.” The athletic forward went on to heap praise on Howard while he also stressed his own contribution in the contest’s dramatic finish.

“Markus carried us offensively and I was tired at the end, so I couldn’t be aggressive. However, great players make plays when they’re not scoring and that’s what I pride myself in.”

### Howard was crucial

Howard spent much of the first half on the bench after picking up 2 fouls but came roaring back in the third quarter, when he scored 17 points to flip the script and put Baskonia in the driving seat. Humble as ever, Howard lauded his teammates for a heroic effort after Zvezda dominated the opening two quarters.

“This is definitely the toughest place we’ve had to play at. We’ve got to give their fans and the organization great credit, there’s nothing but emotion here,” the 24-year-old commented.

“A lot of emotion throughout the game. We got better as a team during the game, we knew it was going to be tough. Defensively we picked up in the second half. I’ve got to give a shout to Chima for that rebound at the end of the game, that was a big play.

“So many guys made big plays in the second half. Whatever the game calls for, I try to execute to the best of my ability. My teammates give me supreme confidence, so I am just blessed, grateful and fortunate to be here.”

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡Qué PAREJA!<a href="https://twitter.com/markushoward11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@markushoward11</a> 🤜🏽🤛🏽 <a href="https://twitter.com/Chimdogg_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chimdogg_</a> <br><br>4️⃣5️⃣ PT ➕ 5️⃣2️⃣ PIR<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/WZDW7I2Rda">pic.twitter.com/WZDW7I2Rda</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1748085828864135575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Ivanovic’s return to Stark Arena

It was also a very special night for Ivanovic, who will fly back to Vitoria-Gasteiz a happy man after completing the double over his former club. Baskonia edged out Zvezda 87-85 in the reverse fixture last month, shortly after Zvezda sacked Ivanovic following a 1-3 start to the season. The home fans gave Ivanovic a rising ovation prior to the game in Belgrade and the coach was deeply moved by their appreciation for his time at the helm of the Serbian club.

“First of all, I want to thank the crowd. That was a really nice gesture,” he said. “It’s been an emotional night for me. We had no intensity and didn’t play defense in the first half, Red Star scored too many easy points. We improved in the second half, played better defense and we had an inspired Markus Howard on offense.”

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Honor for Dusko 🇷🇸❤️<br><br>El recibimiento de más de 20.000 personas a Dusko Ivanovic 🙌🏽<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/GAX4GtG3r8">pic.twitter.com/GAX4GtG3r8</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1748041332495680003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ivanovic surrendered the regional Adriatic league title to traditional city rival Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in his first season at Zvezda, while the club tailed off late in the last EuroLeague campaign. Asked whether he was disappointed by Zvezda’s decision to part ways with him just four games into the current season, the 66-year-old tactician said it seemed that both parties had benefited from the split.

“Like I said when I came to Zvezda, a year in charge is not enough time to rebuild a team,” he explained. “But such is a coach’s job; we live by our results and when you don’t have them, the heat is on. I am happy for Zvezda that they’re playing well, but I am also very happy at Baskonia and it seems things have panned out the right way for both sides.”

Greek Ioannis Sfairopoulos, who replaced Ivanovic at the helm, acknowledged that Zvezda always faced a tall order to force the final twist after Baskonia had turned an 11-point deficit into an 11-point lead, although his team came close.

“We lost the game because of our defense, they scored 91 points and took a lot of offensive rebounds,” Sfairopoulos pointed out. “It was very hard for us to come back after they turned it around. We fought until the end but unfortunately we didn’t control the boards well tonight and their 15 offensive rebounds gave them a lot of second-chance points.

“Win or lose, we have to move on because the next game is always the most important.”

More Baskonia News

Markus Howard of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz is defended by Joel Bolomboy of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in Round 22 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The visitors came storming back in the second half to give their head coach a second win over his former club.