Real Madrid Baloncesto beat Anadolu Efes S.K. 130-126 in an incredible quadruple overtime bout in Round 19 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Real Madrid comes out on top in thrilling 4OT contest with Anadolu Efes, 130-126

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Mario Hezonja of Real Madrid celebrates during the Round 19 contest against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

In a game that will forever be remembered, Los Blancos came out on top after an hour-long contest.

Real Madrid comes out on top in thrilling 4OT contest with Efes, 130-126

Real Madrid v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2024-01-05T19:45:00.000Z)

Olimpia Milano defeated FC Bayern Basketball 76-62 at the Forum in Round 19 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Olimpia Milano races away from FC Bayern Basketball, 76-62

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Devon Hall of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan shoots a jumper against FC Bayern Munich in Round 19 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Italian side got back on track after falling at Olympiacos earlier this week.

Milan races away from Bayern, 76-62

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v FC Bayern Munich (2024-01-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos B.C. secured an 81-82 win at Valencia Basket in the final seconds in Round 19 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Panathinaikos B.C. edges Valencia Basket, 81-82, in a frantic finish

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Jerian Grant of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in action against Valencia Basket in Round 19 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The game went down to the wire, before the Greens came out on top.

Panathinaikos edges Valencia, 81-82, in a frantic finish

Valencia Basket v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2024-01-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Barça Basket trailed against Saski Baskonia entering the fourth quarter of their Round 19 matchup in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season, but the hosts stepped up their game to secure an 89-85 win.

Barça Basket rallies to beat Saski Baskonia, 89-85

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Jabari Parker of FC Barcelona in action against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 19 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Roger Grimau's squad had a perfect double-round week after having downed Real Madrid earlier on Wednesday.

Barcelona rallies to beat Baskonia, 89-85

FC Barcelona v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-01-05T19:30:00.000Z)

In a tale of youngsters vs. oldsters in the second game of a double-round week, the lesson came from the players who have been there and done that.

 Virtus's veterans taught a lesson to ALBA's kids 

A first-quarter connection between 37-year-olds told the story of Virtus Segafredo Bologna's no-doubt-about-it 68-83 victory at ALBA Berlin on Friday.

[Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/) sneaked a pass through that sent [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bryant-dunston/003048/) for a rip-roaring dunk to make it 5-11 early in the game and let everyone present know that second-place Virtus was not about to have a letdown against the next-to-last team in the standings.

Belinelli, born on May 25, 1986, would quickly bury 3 shots from long range, giving him a remarkable 16 out of the last 17 games with multiple three-pointers made. And Dunston, born three days later on May 28, 1986, contributed 2 three-point makes for just the second time in his 313-game EuroLeague career. 

They are the second- and third-oldest players in the EuroLeague this season, after 38-year-old Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid. Two more 30-somethings, [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) (36) and [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) (32) were also in the Virtus starting lineup.

It didn't matter that ALBA had an extra day between games of the double-round week or that Virtus was by far the older roster of the two. Just the opposite, in fact. Virtus was there to take care of business and showed the youthful, less-experienced hosts from ALBA just how that is done.

Marco Belinelli connects big-time with Bryant Dunston

Magic Moment: Belinelli to Dunston the detonator!

### Virtus stormed out of the gates

The first quarter ended 9-26 for Virtus and late in the second the visitors led by 22-48, prompting ALBA head coach Israel Gonzalez to say at halftime, "We are not in the game."

ALBA tried with a 4-for-4 start from downtown after the break to show that it had learned the lesson that Virtus taught during the first 20 minutes. But even after getting the difference down to single digits at 49-58 late in the third, there seemed to be no groundswell to complete a comeback.

Dunston, for one, was never worried.

"No, not really," he said after the game. "Last time we played against them in Bologna they scored like 50 points after halftime, so we knew they were capable of making a run. The most important thing was to maintain our poise."

Letting the big lead drop did not sit well with another of those Virtus veterans, Shengelia.

"We have to learn how to play seriously for 40 minutes," he said. "Sometimes when we are up by many points, we get away in our heads and we have to learn how to stay focused."

That may be, but the way Virtus manhandled the hosts in the first 20 minutes was impressive. On the way to a 27-48 halftime lead, Virtus forced 11 turnovers on ALBA while committing just 4 and led the rebounding battle 20-13. At one point, the difference in team performance index rating was 52-8. Virtus finished with 14 rebounds to just 7 for the hosts and made 8 steals to ALBA's 4.

In its second game in 48 hours, the lesson was clear that in the EuroLeague, you come to play or you get trouble, even on your home floor. And it was taught by the old guard of Virtus to an ALBA team that aspires to be like them someday.

Game Videos

Game News

Virtus's veterans taught a lesson to ALBA's kids

ALBA Berlin v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-01-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Virtus Bologna kept rolling in the EuroLeague in Round 19, downing ALBA Berlin 68-83.

Virtus Bologna comes out on top at ALBA Berlin, 68-83

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Isaia Cordinier of Virtus Segafredo Bologna has possession against ALBA Berlin in Round 19 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Italian side had a dominant first 20 minutes before holding off a comeback attempt by the hosts in the second half.

Virtus comes out on top at ALBA, 68-83

Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes S.K. looks back through some of his most important photos in the EuroLeague to date.

Shane Larkin, Anadolu Efes: ‘Another day that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life’

For modern-day fans of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is among the best players to have stepped foot in the competition. After playing an important role in Efes’s back-to-back EuroLeague-winning seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the 31-year-old looks back through some of his most poignant photos to date.

Larkin’s EuroLeague journey began back in the 2016-17 campaign as he wore the jersey of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, and curiously enough his debut came against Efes. That night, October 14, 2016, the American had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in a thrilling 85-84 victory, and it is a game that he remembers well.

“It was a nice introduction into the EuroLeague, for sure,” says Larkin. “I was nervous, I just didn’t know what to expect. You get into a game like this and you start understanding this is a completely different level than I even thought it was. I had an awakening in that game as to what was ahead of me.”

### Making history

After spending a season back in the NBA, Larkin returned to the EuroLeague in the 2018-19 campaign by joining Efes. He made an instant impact for the team, but one season later – in 2019-20 – he set the EuroLeague scoring record by netting 49 points in a 104-75 win over FC Bayern Munich on November 29, 2019. It’s a night that he’ll never forget.

“I remember, after making that shot, running back and looking at the team and seeing everybody excited and celebrating,” he explains. “That was a highlight of my career, an individualized moment. Just to see all my teammates happy for me and celebrating as if they were doing it themselves was a very nice moment.”

### Going back-to-back

Another season on, Larkin would help inspire Efes to its first-ever EuroLeague title, playing an important role throughout the campaign and also in the postseason. At last, following a couple of years in which Efes was building and building, the Turkish team managed to get over the line.

“There’s so many emotions going through my head. I’m probably at this very moment like, ‘What just happened? Did we actually finally just do it?’” Larkin recalls. “Thinking of all the things that we had been through as a team and myself individually. To finally be there, to finally accomplish the ultimate goal as a team was amazing. I think this picture has all of my emotions wrapped up into one.”

Then, in the 2021-22 campaign, Efes became just the third team this century to secure back-to-back EuroLeauge crowns, with Larkin again playing a vital role. Efes had a tough start to the season but managed to bounce back en route to making history.

“Everybody was saying that we weren’t going to be able to get back to the Final Four, that we were done,” Larkin comments. “For us to persevere through these moments and solidify ourselves as one of the greatest teams in EuroLeague history, I was just looking at them with the second trophy in my hand like, ‘What have they got to say now?’ Another great memory, another great moment, another day that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

More Efes News

For modern-day fans of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is among the best players to have stepped foot in the competition. After playing an important role in Efes’s back-to-back EuroLeague-winning seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the 31-year-old looks back through some of his most poignant photos to date.

Shane Larkin, Efes: ‘Another day that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life’

The two-time EuroLeague champion looks through some of the key photos in his career to date.

Shane Larkin career album: ‘Another day that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life’

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade teenage sensation Nikola Topic suffered a knee injury in an 88-72 win over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Thursday night. He left the game with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter, and never returned.

Zvezda youngster Topic suffers knee injury

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade teenage sensation [Nikola Topic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-topic/010985/) suffered a knee injury in an 88-72 win over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Thursday night. He left the game with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter, and never returned.

Test on Friday determined that Topic will be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks, the club announced.

The 18-year old re-joined the team just last week, after spending the first part of the season on loan. And in two games with him in the lineup, Zvezda registered two resounding victories.

First, on Tuesday, Zvezda beat Fenerbahce on the road 76-85, with Topic collecting 4 points and 4 assists in 19 minutes on the floor. Last night, Topic played 11:31 before leaving the game, and in that time had 3 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, both on offensive glass, and a steal.

Topic spent the last three years in Crvena Zvezda youth system, and had signed a four-year deal with the club this past summer before he was sent on-loan to a fellow Serbian side Mega Mis Belgrade. Prior to this season, Topic had three brief EuroLeague appearances, while starring for U18 Zvezda.

He was voted to the All-Tournament Team at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals, where in three games he averaged 30.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 39.3 PIR, and was the MVP of the ANGT Belgrade event, having posted 26.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.0 steals for an average PIR of 33.5. This past summer, Topic was also tournament MVP for leading Serbia to a gold medal at the U18 European Championship.

The morning after a big win over its archrival, Crvena Zvezda learned that it's new young star will be missing in action in upcoming weeks.

After the latest Belgrade Derby, Adam Hanga and Nemanja Nedovic of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade gave their takes on the 88-72 win over archrival Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and the experience as a whole.

 Belgrade Derby winners: 'Unbelievable atmosphere' 

Anyone who witnessed the Belgrade Derby on Thursday saw the one-of-a-kind atmosphere it generates, which makes you wonder what it's like to be at Stark Arena in the Serbian capital for the spectacle as one of the competitors on the floor.

We spoke post-game to two of the derby victors, [Adam Hanga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/adam-hanga/005099/) and [Nemanja Nedovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nemanja-nedovic/000848/) of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, to get their takes on the[ 88-72 win over archrival Partizan ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2023/163/#boxscore)Mozzart Bet Belgrade and the experience as a whole.

Both were instrumental to the triumph, with Nedovic scoring a team-high 16 points.

"Unbelievable, really. Unbelievable atmosphere in the gym," Nedovic said afterwards. "I'm very happy that we got this win and that we played the way we played because of the people that came to support us. They are here since the beginning, and we really want to pay them back. For some time they will have some joy because we beat our rivals."

Hanga put up 11 points and had a game-high plus/minus rating of +22.

"When you're present and you feel the vibe and you feel the atmosphere, it's something that I think is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Hanga said. "Everybody should experience that, and I'm super happy that I was part of it and I'm super happy, of course, for the win."

Some victories resonate more than others, and with the gush of emotion that accompanies the Belgrade Derby, the winners can tell you just how much more.

Belgrade Derby winners: 'Unbelievable, really'

Some victories resonate more than others, and given the gush of emotion that accompanies the Belgrade Derby, the winners can tell you just how much more.  

Belgrade Derby winners: 'Unbelievable atmosphere'

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-01-04T19:00:00.000Z)