Round 9 in the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season has arrived, as we end the second half of this double-round week.

EuroLeague Live Blogs: Round 9 is here!

### Friday, November 17

[Zalgiris Kaunas 74-73 FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-zalgiris-kaunas-vs-fc-bayern-munich/)

It came down to the final shot, but Zalgiris Kaunas ultimately outlasted a feisty FC Bayern Munich for a 74-73 victory in Round 9 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. As Bayern did earlier this week, Zalgiris ended a four-game losing streak to break their tie in the standings and move to 4-5.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Victory! ✅ Keenan Evans hits the game-winner, as sell-out Zalgirio Arena goes crazy! 💚 <a href="https://t.co/9R0pNr7KkD">pic.twitter.com/9R0pNr7KkD</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1725601340242505950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 81-88 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-ldlc-asvel-vs-saski-baskonia/)

Markus Howard scored 35 points, making 8-of-13 triples, to lead Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz from 16 points down to an 81-88 road win over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Friday night. This is the fourth straight win for Baskonia, which remains undefeated under head coach Dusko Ivanovic and improved to a 5-4 record, while ASVEL dropped to 2-7 on the season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">¡¡¡NOS LLEVAMOS LA VICTORIA!! 💪💪<br><br>Four in a row 🔥🔥🔥🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/EIHos1rfkl">pic.twitter.com/EIHos1rfkl</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1725619382900969783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Panathinaikos Athens 90-76 Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-panathinaikos-athens-vs-virtus-segafredo-bologna/)

Panathinaikos Athens used a strong fourth quarter to take control of a tough fight against Virtus Segafredo Bologna and book a 90-76 victory at home in Round 9 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Final Score ☘️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobc</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirtusSegafredo</a> 90-76 <a href="https://t.co/zqlCEqdnSk">pic.twitter.com/zqlCEqdnSk</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1725627604030333310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[FC Barcelona 74-70 Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-barca-basket-vs-valencia-basket-club/)

FC Barcelona got back to winning ways by beating Valencia Basket at Palau Blaugrana in Round 9 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. The hosts improved to a 7-2 record, while Valencia dropped to 5-4.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">LA VICTÒRIA ES QUEDA A CASA 🫡 <a href="https://t.co/GX5ss3FB6X">pic.twitter.com/GX5ss3FB6X</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1725632704308248746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 89-74 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-kk-partizan-vs-alba-berlin/)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade bounced back from a midweek defeat at FC Bayern Munich with an 89-74 home win over ALBA Berlin in Round 9 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. As a result of this victory, Partizan improved its record to 4-5 while the visitors dropped to 1-8 and remain rock bottom of the 18-team competition.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Pobeda! Bravo crno-beli!✊🏽🖤🤍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKPartizan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKPartizan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/JirZHKgsRF">pic.twitter.com/JirZHKgsRF</a></p>&mdash; KK Partizan Mozzart Bet (@PartizanBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/PartizanBC/status/1725632022788382964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Thursday, November 16

[**Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 78-73 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/74/)

Maccabi struggled offensively and trailed for the majority of the first three quarters, but dominated the boards and eventually found a way to come back and beat Fenerbahce 78-73 at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia on Thursday night. With the win, Maccabi improved to 5-3 on the season, while Fenerbahce dropped to 5-4, registering its third consecutive loss in the Serbian capital. Lorenzo Brown scored 18 points, while Bonzie Colson amassed 13 points and a career-high tying 14 rebounds, including 7 on the offensive end.  Tarik Biberovic scored a career-high 18 points for Fenerbahce.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">💪 <a href="https://t.co/znFtUBrG6W">pic.twitter.com/znFtUBrG6W</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​🇮🇱​🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1725262392647368976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[**Olympiacos Piraeus 88-83 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/olympiacos-piraeus-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2023/75/)

Olympiacos closed out the second two-game week of the regular season with its second win in a row. The Reds enjoyed a 15-point margin midway through the last quarter that helped them withstand a late Zvezda rally. Olympiacos, which improved to 5-4, was led by Alec Peters, who scored a career-high 28 points, and Moustapha Fall posted a big double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds. Nemanja Nedovic was the game's top scorer with 26 points for Zvezda, which slipped to 3-6.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Game Stats. | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OLYCZV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OLYCZV</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/JeosSa3c2n">pic.twitter.com/JeosSa3c2n</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1725264040669139348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[**EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 92-76 Anadolu Efes Istanbul**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2023/73/)

Milan showed glimpses of why many believe the team can fight for the Final Four with a strong 92-76 home victory over Anadolu Efes. Milan saw five scorers in double figures topped by Shavon Shields’s 18 points while Devon Hall had 15 points. The victory improved Milan’s record to 3-6 including two wins in the last three games. Efes saw its two-game winning streak end for a 4-5 record despite Will Clyburn scoring 18 points to go with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Victory at home <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/aFVM4i1Ozb">pic.twitter.com/aFVM4i1Ozb</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1725264661858107611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[**Real Madrid 91-73 AS Monaco**](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-as-monaco/E2023/76/)

Reigning champion Real Madrid breezed past Monaco to remain the only unbeaten team in this season's  EuroLeague with an 8-0 record, while the visitors dropped to 5-4 after a second successive defeat. Real built an overwhelming 30-point lead in the opening three quarters before taking its foot off the gas in the fourth. Dzanan Musa stood out for the home team with 21 points and 5 assists, while Sergio Llull netted 14. At the other end, Donatas Moteijunas paced Monaco with 14 points and Mike James added 13.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔒🏀 Recital frente al <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASMonaco_Basket</a> para cerrar la doble jornada de <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>. ¡Llevamos 19 de 19 esta temporada!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalaMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalaMadrid</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/srXfJwdxhZ">pic.twitter.com/srXfJwdxhZ</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1725265063919947942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The non-stop action continues in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Game Center: Zalgiris gets back on track; Baskonia is Friday's lone road winner

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v ALBA Berlin (2023-11-17T19:45:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v Valencia Basket (2023-11-17T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos Athens v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-11-17T19:15:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2023-11-17T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v FC Bayern Munich (2023-11-17T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v AS Monaco (2023-11-16T19:45:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-11-16T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-11-16T19:15:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-11-16T19:05:00.000Z)

Two storied names in EuroLeague basketball meet up on Friday at OAKA Altion for just their fourth game this century.  

Panathinaikos, Virtus ready to keep going

Almost at the end of a busy double-round week, Panathinaikos Athens (4-4) hosts Virtus Segafredo Bologna (6-2) as both teams look for a second victory in barely three days.

This game has plenty of interesting angles and storylines. Perhaps the most appealing one is seeing Virtus center [Bryant Dunston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bryant-dunston/003048/) go against Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman. Dunston and Coach Ataman worked together for five years, from 2018 to 2023, helping Anadolu Efes Istanbul win back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022. As such, they know everything about each other. 

Dunston, a two-time EuroLeague Best Defender, has the tough mission to guard [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/), who was chosen to the 2022-23 All-EuroLeague First Team. Jordan Mickey is sidelined, so Dunston is set to see most playing time against Lessort.

### Two-decade wait following an epic final

Going back further, this is also [a rematch of the 2002 EuroLeague Championship Game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2001-02/kinder-virtus-bologna-panathinaikos-athens/E2001/275/#boxscore), a truly historical one. Panathinaikos rallied from 14 points down to shock Virtus 83-89 and win the 2002 EuroLeague title as the only champion this century to lift the trophy on the losing team's home floor. Ibrahim Kutluay led Panathinaikos with 22 points. Current Euroleague Basketball president Dejan Bodiroga added 21 and was voted the Final Four MVP. Manu Ginobili led Virtus with 27 points.

That was not only the most significant game between them this century -- until last season, it was the only one! All told, Panathinaikos and Virtus had to wait  7,508 days to see each other again in the EuroLeague. When they did so last season, each won at home. [Panathinaikos triumphed 88-85 in Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/panathinaikos-athens-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2022/80/) and [Virtus took their rematch in Bologna 74-64](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/virtus-segafredo-bologna-panathinaikos-athens/E2022/175/).

The Euroleague had a new champion, and it was none other than Panathinaikos! The Greens triumphed 83-89 over Kinder Bologna on its own court in the Euroleague Final in a thriller that should go down as one of the great title games in history.

2002 EuroLeague Final: Kinder Bologna vs. Panathinaikos

### A power forward face-off

Going into Friday's game, both teams feature power forwards who have stepped up when a teammate got injured. 

[Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/), the EuroLeague MVP for October, has led his team since fellow power forward Achille Polonara was sidelined due to a testicular tumor. Shengelia is averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists, ranking first in PIR (22.8) among all EuroLeague players. 

[Dinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/) has filled the same protagonist's role for Panathinaikos since Juancho Hernangomez has been sidelined due to injury over the last two games. Since then, Mitoglou has pushed Panathinaikos in consecutive victories against ALBA Berlin and Zalgiris Kaunas by averaging 21.5 points on 75.0% two-point and 66.7% three-point shooting along with 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a PIR of 26.5.

Mitoglou steps up big!

### Point guards with pedigree

The point guard battle should be equally critical, as two former EuroLeague champions go against each other. [Daniel Hacket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/)t, who lifted the trophy with CSKA Moscow in 2019, is set to go against [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), a three-time EuroLeague champion with Olympiacos Piraeus and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Sloukas faces a tough challenge against two elite on-the-ball defender like Hackett and [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/), and his ability to run the Greens' offense should be one of the biggest keys to this game.

The game has all it takes to wrap up a busy EuroLeague week in style: tradition, close relationships and a head-to-head battle between two of the league's hottest players.

The Players' View, starring Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv big man Jake Cohen and his former EuroLeague teammate Michael Roll, returns to [EuroLeague TV](https://tv.euroleague.net/) on Friday to live-watch a regional showdown between FC Barcelona and Valencia Basket. Both teams fell hard to other Spanish opponents to start this double-round week, so they'll be keen to escape it with at least one victory. There will be no better way to get the low-down on what's happening on the court than to listen to these two former teammates as they analyze the Barca-Valencia battle with insights that only true pros can produce.

The Players' View is available exclusively to EuroLeague TV subscribers. Get your pass now to make sure you don't miss any of the action.

Jake Cohen and Michael Roll return for Barca vs. Valencia on Friday!

The 28-year-old has taken his game to another level under new head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco.

Who’s hot: Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has started to get its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season back on the right track following the appointment of Gianmarco Pozzecco as head coach, with the team going 2-2 under the Italian tactician. Yet, one player who deserves plenty of credit for ASVEL’s recent turnaround in fortunes is forward [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/timothe-luwawu-cabarrot/012080/).

The 28-year-old, who made his EuroLeague debut with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan last season, has taken his game to another level on his return to his native France. After posting 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists with Milan, Luwawu-Cabarrot is averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals through his first six games with ASVEL.

### Luwawu-Cabarrot has lit it up offensively

Particularly in the last three rounds, Luwawu-Cabarrot has scored the most points in the entire EuroLeague with 56, giving him an average of 18.8 points per contest since coming back from an injury that forced him to miss Rounds 4 and 5. What’s more, Luwawu-Cabarrot’s return has coincided with ASVEL grabbing its first two wins of the season, with the Cannes-born player playing an integral role in those victories.

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has been on fire for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne since coming back from injury in Round 6 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Luwawu-Cabarrot's best plays between Rounds 6 and 8

It is worth remembering that ASVEL’s newest star had a combined total of 23 points from the first three games of the season, including a 0-point outing against Anadolu Efes Istanbul, so his return to form has complimented the appointment of Coach Pozzecco perfectly.

Despite doubling the amount of shots that he is getting up, Luwawu-Cabarrot has found a way to improve his shooting percentages. Through the first three games, he made 6 shots from the field from a total of 21 attempts (28.6%). Since Round 6, however, he has hit 19 field goals from 34 shots (55.9%).

### His other numbers are just as impressive

In fact, his numbers across the board have increased, with Luwawu-Cabarrot contributing more in terms of rebounding (3 rpg. vs. 4.7 rpg.), assists (0.3 apg. vs. 3.3 apg.) and steals (1.0 spg. vs. 2.0 spg.). His total PIR between Rounds 6 and 8 has more than quadrupled when compared to the first three games of the season, too.

All of this has taken place despite Luwawu-Cabarrot often guarding the top scorers on other teams, with the Frenchman going up against the likes of Zalgiris Kaunas guard Keenan Evans and AS Monaco star Mike James in late-game situations. This article is focused on Luwawu-Cabarrot’s improvement on the offensive end, but he has certainly proved himself to be an elite two-way player in this recent stretch.

More ASVEL News

The trio of Devon Hall, Stefano Tonut and Alex Poythress had key roles for Olimpia Milano in the victory over Anadolu Efes S.K. on Thursday.

Hall, Tonut, Poythress stepped up in Milan victory

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan knows that its top stars will be there up for big games, but the performances of Devon Hall, Stefano Tonut and Alex Poythress against Anadolu Efes Istanbul showed they can contribute when needed as well.

The trio helped Milan deliver one of its best games of the season in a 92-76 home win to improve to 3-6. Hall, Tonut and Poythress combined for 29 of Milan’s 31 points off the bench to go along with 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

“The players from the bench really gave us a big push. Tonut and Devon Hall really played in a matter that helped us a lot to win this game. Also Alex Poythress,” said Milan head coach Ettore Messina.

Hall matched his season high of 15 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 5 assists in displaying his high-level scoring and playmaking skills.

Tonut delivered in the energy department as the team was kind of sluggish in the second game of the two-round week. He finished with 8 points - including the final back-breaking three-pointer - 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

And Poythress chipped in 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. The big man really helped Milan’s defense down the stretch, especially with his athleticism.

The thing that Milan might remember most from this game was the fourth quarter. It not only scored 29 points but more importantly Milan held an Efes team with lots of weapons to just 15 points.

“Dev stepped up, Tonut stepped up. That fourth quarter everybody contributed, especially Nic \[Melli\]. This season is a process. We’re not going to be perfect from the start. Hopefully, we can build on this and keep stacking up wins,” said Shavon Shields, whose 18 points paced five scorers in double figures.

In the end, the message from this victory was everybody is needed - whether that’s scoring, rebounding, energy or defense.

“Everybody gave something. This is the only way we can do something. We did it this game, we did it against Valencia and Olympiacos,” Messina said referring to the team’s previous two wins. “We need to do it a little more to make up the ground we lost along the way. Today was a good team win.”

More Milan News

The trio played key roles for Coach Messina's team to defeat Anadolu Efes. 

Galvanized Real had too much firepower for Monaco

Reigning champion Real Madrid made light work of a 91-73 home win over AS Monaco that kept them firmly in the driving seat of the 18-team competition. The final score in no way flattered the home team, which had built a staggering 30-point lead through the opening three quarters before it went through the motions in the fourth.

What was billed as the outstanding fixture in Round 8 quickly became a mauling after Monaco briefly took a 2-5 lead in the opening exchanges. Real hit top gear in no time and left the visitors a mountain to climb after storming back to go 30-15 ahead in the final minute of the opening period.

Monaco slashed it to 30-20 and that was as good as it got for the French side which was ripped apart by Real’s unselfish sharing of the ball in offense. The home side’s extra pass was so quick and devastating that Real’s players got a barrage of open looks, with Monaco struggling to keep up on defense.

The writing was on the wall for the visiting team when Real surged ahead 48-26 in the closing stages of the first half and although Monaco fought hard to stay in the match, there was no way back. The third quarter produced poetry in motion as Real romped to an 80-50 lead, with Dzanan Musa leading the charge.

Dzanan Musa highlights against AS Monaco

The Bosnian forward mixed three-pointers with dazzling drives to the basket, while big men Walter Tavares and Vincent Poirier reigned supreme in the paint at both ends. Real’s selfless performance was epitomized by

27 team assists, with the home side also netting an impressive 18-of-21 shooting from two-point territory (85.7 percent).

In contrast, a disjointed Monaco was 19 of 49 from inside the arc, having relied too heavily on individual talent prompting one-on-one plays, which kept backfiring against an ironclad Real defense.

Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic conceded that Real was firmly on course to repeat last season’s success and win back-to-back EuroLeague titles, judging by current form.

“They completely deserve the role of favorites to win the EuroLeague in the end,” Obradovic told the post-game press conference. The way they are playing at the moment is amazing and we never had a chance. They were aggressive at both ends whenever we tried to respond. They are unselfish in getting everyone involved and sharing the ball.”

Counerpart Chus Mateo was delighted with his team’s performance. “We did an amazing defensive job throughout the game,” he said. “We were able to run and we enjoyed a brilliant third quarter. I am really pleased with the 27 assists. The fine individual talent we have is producing a superb team effort, thanks to the commitment of these players. We are having a lot of fun at the moment.”

More Real Madrid News

The visitors had no reply for Real’s quick transition of the ball and fast-paced offense.

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan used one of its main offensive strengths and limited one of its biggest weaknesses in picking up an important 92-76 home victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Milan was hot from outside and limited turnovers to beat Efes

Milan was lights out from long range, making 13 of 24 three-pointers (54.2%) and also committed only 10 turnovers in defeating Efes for its second win in three games to improve its record to 3-6.

Milan blew past its scoring average of 77.3 points per game - which ranked 14th in the league - for a season-high 92 points. The Italian side entered the game as the sixth-best three-point shooting team at 37.7% and its outside performance against Efes was well above its average.

One of the biggest keys for Milan was committing only 10 turnovers. Coach Ettore Messina’s team had struggled all season handling the ball, committing a league-worst 18.0 turnovers per game. The home side was helped however by Efes’s poor defense in that department. The Turkish team forced the fewest turnovers in the league at just 10.3 per game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Communication is key... <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OlimpiaMI1936</a> <br><br>Coach Messina&#39;s timeout ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/hjqMlXhA69">pic.twitter.com/hjqMlXhA69</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1725263998105309219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another strong offensive factor in Milan’s win was the reserves as Milan received 31 points off the bench compared to just 15 from Efes. Devon Hall scored 15 points and Stefano Tonut delivered 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists - not to mention some much-needed energy to help the starters.

“The players played extremely hard - like they do all the time. Sometimes we play better, sometimes we have more difficulties. Today they kept fighting, they kept defending, they kept rebounding. That was very important. And the players from the bench really gave us a big push,” said Messina.

Defensively, Milan held Efes to a poor shooting night from the outside at just 28.0%. And while Milan only forced 8 Efes turnovers, the hosts limited Efes to just 5 offensive rebounds, another of the Turkish side’s weaknesses as it had averaged only 8.9 offensive rebounds per game coming in - the second-fewest in the league.

Olympiacos B.C. Piraeus earned a hard-fought 88-83 win over visiting KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on Thursday night thanks to big games from Alec Peters and Moustapha Fall.

Peters and Fall career nights boosted Olympiacos

Olympiacos Piraeus earned a hard-fought 88-83 win over visiting Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade on Thursday night to complete a perfect two-game week and take a big step forward in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.

Despite having to douse a late run by Zvezda in the fourth quarter, the Reds set the foundations of their victory sooner, building a double-digit lead after the intermission that increased to 15 points midway through the last period.

Two of the main factors that allowed Olympiacos to take the reins of the game were its starting frontcourt of Alec Peters and Moustapha Fall. Both registered career nights, showing a deep connection to each other that turned into 54 of Olympiacos’s total points in the game, counting those they scored and those they assisted to the rest of the team.

Peters, Fall came up big against Crvena Zvezda

“I guess we have a good connection. It’s good for us, it’s good for the team,” acknowledged Fall right after the game.” Fall finished with a double-double of 14 points and 14 boards, which marked his best rebounding night ever in the Euroleague. He also dished out 3 assists, with Peters being one of the most benefitted teammates from that.

“He is a very smart player, it’s easy to find him. He is always in the good spots, it’s kind of like Sasha \[Vezenkov\], he is moving well, has a good IQ. I hope our connection can continue as much as the season goes, which will be good for us all.”

Fall, who is averaging more than 30 minutes per game in the last three contests, knew that a lot is expected from him because of the injuries of some of his teammates. “Everybody needs to step up. We have a lot of injuries, we are missing players, we had some bad losses, that meant that everybody had to step up,” he said. “I try to compete as much as possible until Milutinov comes back and have the opportunity of sharing some playing time.”

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bwinMVP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bwinMVP</a>, Alec Peters! 🥇🚀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://t.co/OcdLyAIJVr">pic.twitter.com/OcdLyAIJVr</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1725266188752593214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Peters had also a big night against Zvezda, as he recorded a career-high 28 points, adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR of 31. Peters scored consistently in all periods, making up - together with Fall - for the absences Olympiacos has been suffering from so far.

“At the beginning of the week I think everybody knew we gotta to step up, making a big step, especially with the double-week coming, not having the start that we wanted, not having the guys in the roster”, he said. “Everyone had to step up, and that’s me included. That means I needed to score for this team… These unbelievable teammates and coaches really help me out, so they must get credit.”

Asked about his connection with Fall, Peters wasn’t shy to praise his teammates big time. 

“Big credit to Mous. He is playing a lot of minutes right now”, he emphasized. “We are asking a lot from him. He is creating, he is being everywhere on defense, big credit to him. He has been and anchor for this team in the last couple of years. With Niko \[Milutinov\] out, he’s made a big step.”

More Olympiacos News

The Reds starting frontcourt put up big numbers to carry the team to victory. 

Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.
Fenerbahçe Basketball

Maccabi record-tying hustle born out a triumph

For the majority of Thursday's game, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul was in control, but it was Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv that registered the win at the very end. The hard-fought 78-73 victory was a product of improved defense in the second half as well as aggressiveness on the offensive glass.

"They outhustled us", Fenerbahce head coach Dimitris Itoudis pointed out after the game. "They had \[22\] offensive boards and we had 25 defensive rebounds. That says a lot."

This was the second time this season Maccabi tied a club-record with 22 offensive boards, but the first one came in a 28-point Round 5 loss at Monaco.

What was more important, 9 of those offensive rebounds came in the fourth quarter and helped Maccabi turn a 58-61 deficit into a 70-64 lead over a span of 6 and a half minutes.

Maccabi continue their home stretch in Belgrade as they welcome Fenerbahce with both teams looking to rebound from defeats. Maccabi were edged out by Olympiacos, while Fenerbahce were blown away by Zvezda, but who can revive their postseason-credentials here?

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Round 9 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Maccabi struggled offensively the entire night and finished with just 46.2% two-point shooting and 5-for-24 (20.8%) on three-pointers. But it got 20 second-chance points, and took 21 more field goal attempts than the visitors.

"A great win for us", Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash said after the game as his team improved to 5-3.

"After a loss against Olympiacos, and also after a bad first half for us, we found the energy and concentration to win that game against a really good team."

Bonzie Colson came up huge, scoring all of his 13 points in the second half and pulling down 14 rebounds, tying a career-high. He had 7 on the offensive boards, while Roman Sorkin and Jasiel Rivero each had 4 offensive rebounds.

Kattash pointed out that it was not the first time that Maccabi did not start games strong, but said it was not for the lack of energy, rather for playing nervous and not well offensively. However, the effort in the second half erased everything bad from the first two quarters.

"The way we showed up in the second half it was impressive", Kattash stressed. "We did a great job defensively. I am really proud of the guys."

More Maccabi News

Bonzie Colson was instrumental for Maccabi as he tied his career in rebounding.