Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade eked out an 80-78 home victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan for its maiden victory in this season’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, having bounced back from the opening 89-76 reverse at debutant Dubai Basketball.

Partizan holds on to edge out battling Milan, 80-78

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade eked out an 80-78 home victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan for its maiden victory in this season’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, having bounced back from the opening 89-76 reverse at debutant Dubai Basketball.

Partizan were made to sweat on the outcome in a packed Belgrade Arena after letting Milan back into the contest when the Italian side looked out for the count, as the Serbian outfit carved out a 53-33 lead early in the second half on the back of a 23-4 run.

Sterling Brown paced Partizan on a team-high 20 points, Carlik Jones added 15 while Jabari Parker and Isaac Bonga chipped in with 10 each for the hosts, who shot 11 of 21 from downtown and forced 16 turnovers from the visitors.

At the other end, Shavon Shields led Milan with a game-high 21 points while Armoni Brooks and Marko Guduric posted 12 apiece, the latter missing a tough three-pointer at the buzzer that would have turned the matchup on its head had it gone in.

Guduric also dished out 8 assists while Josh Nebo added 10 points and 6 boards for Milan, which missed an opportunity to complete an elusive double in the Serbian capital after dismantling Crvena Zvezda Meridian Bet Belgrade 82-92 in the opening round.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Following a balanced first quarter, Partizan took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second as Carlik Jones took over the baton from Brown and engineered a 15-2 run close to halftime, which allowed the home team to carry a 45-33 lead into the locker room at the interval.

Brown, who netted 10 of Partizan’s opening 12 points, drained another five early in the second half and Jabari Parker followed up with a long triple as the hosts ran riot, roared on by their fervent fans.

Having fallen behind by 20 points, Milan came storming back with a flurry of three-pointers and fast breaks which slashed the deficit to 69-62 at the end of the third quarter as Shields led the comeback. Partizan still looked in control after forging a 78-67 advantage in the home but then once again ran out of ideas on offense, allowing Milan to close the gap to 80-78 in the final minute.

The visiting team had 11 seconds on its last possession to complete what would have amounted to an amazing comeback but Guduric shot an air ball with a defender in his face and the home faithful were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief on the final buzzer.   

Game News

Coach Zeljko Obradovic was pleased with the outcome after Partizan showed grim determination to defend its home court.

“I am very proud of how the team played just 48 hours after an incredibly difficult trip (from Dubai),” Obradovic told the postgame press conference. “We only allowed them four offensive rebounds and forced a flurry of turnovers, while we were also able to contain our former player Zach LeDay and their other big men.

“We have to improve on offense as the movement of the ball has to be much better, but we were aggressive on defense this time after faltering in Dubai.”  

The home team nearly blew a 20-point lead after the Italian side launched a spirited fightback 

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-10-02T18:30:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich secured its first victory of the season with a hard-fought 97–88 Round 2 win over Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade at SAP Garden. The game remained tight for the first 25 minutes before Bayern seized control with a decisive 23-6 run spanning the final two quarters. 

Bayern grabs first win thanks to 9 Andi Obst three-pointers 

FC Bayern Munich secured its first victory of the season with a hard-fought 97–88 Round 2 win over Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade at SAP Garden. The game remained tight for the first 25 minutes before Bayern seized control with a decisive 23-6 run spanning the final two quarters. 

Andi Obst led the charge by scoring 31 points on 9 three-pointers. Oscar da Silva added 12 points and Isiaha Mike chipped in 11 to help the German champions even their record at 1–1.

Zvezda dropped to 0–2 despite a standout performance from Jordan Nwora, who tallied 27 points. Codi Miller-McIntyre added 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in the loss.

FC Bayern Munich-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Zvezda came out strong, with Nwora converting two early three-point plays to grab a 6–0 lead. After Bayern went scoreless for over two minutes, Vladimir Lucic knocked down a triple, only for Nwora to respond with one of his own to make it 9–3. Chima Moneke added seven points to stretch the lead to 18–9. Bayern’s offense finally came alive as Obst drained two threes and Niels Giffey added another, sparking a surge that put the hosts ahead 20–19. Zvezda answered right back with three triples – two from Miller-McIntyre – to take a 28–24 lead after one quarter.

Zvezda’s hot shooting continued in the second, with Nikola Kalinic and Miller-McIntyre pushing the margin to 34–26. Obst and Kamar Baldwin hit from deep to keep Bayern in touch, narrowing the gap to 41–38. However, the visitors kept scoring and led 51–43 before Bayern closed the half strong, trailing just 55–50 at the break.

Nwora opened the third quarter with his third three-point play to restore a nine-point cushion at 59–50. But Bayern responded quickly: Obst hit two more threes and Mike added one to cut it to 64–63. Zvezda still led 66–63 when Bayern launched a 14–2 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Mike and Obst, to go up 77–68. The lead stood at 77–71 heading into the final period.

Bayern’s momentum carried into the fourth as they held Zvezda to just one free throw in the first four minutes, stretching the lead to 86–72 with key contributions from Stefan Jovic and Justinian Jessup. A four-minute scoring drought allowed Zvezda to close the gap to 86–78, but Obst put the game away with three more triples in under two minutes, sealing the win at 95–83 with just over two minutes remaining.

The German guard scored 31 points as Bayern splits the first double-rounder

FC Bayern Munich v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-10-02T18:30:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade has announced the signing of Donatas Motiejunas, who joins on loan from AS Monaco.

Donatas Motiejunas joins Crvena Zvezda on loan

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) has announced the signing of [Donatas Motiejunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donatas-motiejunas/lcz/), who joins on loan from [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/).

The 35-year-old center is in his seventh EuroLeague season and arrives in Belgrade following the injuries to Joel Bolomboy, summer addition Jasiel Rivero, and Uros Plavsic.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет потписао је у четвртак уговор са центром Донатасом Мотејунасом!<br><br>Welcome to Crvena zvezda, Donatas!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/qIh0Qed7mY">pic.twitter.com/qIh0Qed7mY</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1973808326627487981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As confirmed by Monaco, Motiejunas has signed for Zvezda on a three-month loan with an option until the end of the season.

More Crvena Zvezda News

He arrives amidst an injury crisis for the Serbian side

We have our first winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge!

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 1 winner

EuroLeague fans, we have our first winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Eran Azoulay beat everyone else in Round 1 with his team AzoulayLocos, which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 232.25.

Eran had the following lineup: team captain Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, his teammate Omar Yurtseven, Dan Oturu of Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv, Xavier Rathan-Mayes of FC Bayern Munich and Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos Piraeus as his starters. Tyler Dorsey of Olympiacos was his sixth man. Eran's bench players were Edwin Jackson of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Sergio De Larrea of Valencia Basket, Ercan Osmani of Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Alexandros Samodurov of Panathinaikos. Sarunas Jasikevicius of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul was the head coach. 

The prize for finishing first in Round 1 is a VIP EuroLeague TV Subscription for the 2026-27 Season, and an automatic entry to a lottery to win 2x Tickets to the 2027 Final Four.

Trades are now open for Round 2 of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/). Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first two games of Round 2, FC Bayern Munich vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, are scheduled to tip off on Thursday, October 2 at 20:30 CET, and thus mark next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner! To help with that, watch the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge podcast weekly on the [EuroLeague's YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@euroleague) and on all audio platforms.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager. 

Round 1 MVP: Kendrick Nunn, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

[Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens earned Round 1 MVP honors in the 2025-26 EuroLeague season after an outstanding individual performance in a winning effort. He led his team to an 87-79 home victory over FC Bayern Munich. Nunn scored 21 points, shooting 9 of 11 from two-point range and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 3 rebounds, 10 assists (matching his career high) and 3 steals, finishing with a PIR of 29, the highest among all winning players in Round 1.

[Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) of FC Barcelona posted the highest PIR of the round, but it came in a losing effort. Clyburn scored 23 points, shooting 5 of 6 from two-point range, 3 of 5 from three-point range, and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. He also added 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and drew 2 fouls in Barcelona’s 103-87 loss to Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. 

[Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/) of Zalgiris Kaunas followed closely with a PIR of 28 in his team’s 84-89 road win over AS Monaco. Wright scored 21 points, shooting 8 of 8 from the field, including a three-pointer, and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. He also had 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 4 fouls drawn. 

[Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) of Olympiacos Piraeus and his teammate [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) rounded out the top performances of Round 1, each finishing with a PIR of 27. In a 96-102 win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, Milutinov posted 12 points, 14 rebounds and 1 steal while Vezenkov amassed 24 points, 13 boards and 1 steal.

### Individual highs: Nikola Milutinov, Olympiacos, 14 rebounds

Two of the last three EuroLeague MVPs, [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) of Monaco and Vezenkov each scored a round-high 24 points.

Milutinov pulled down 14 rebounds, the most in Round 1.

Four players registered 10 assists:  Nunn, [Omari Moore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omari-moore/014115/) (Valencia Basket), [Trent Forrest](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/trent-forrest/013367/) (Baskonia), and [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) (Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul).

Eight players each collected 3 steals in their opening round of the campaign: [Lonnie Walker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/lonnie-walker-iv/013403/) and [Jimmy Clark](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jimmy-clark-iii/013699/) (Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv), [Ish Wainwright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ish-wainright/013284/) (Hapoel), [Wenyen Gabriel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wenyen-gabriel/013383/) (Bayern), [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) (Real Madrid), [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) (Fenerbahce), [Tomas Satoransky](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tomas-satoransky/002939/) (Barcelona), and [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) (Olympiacos).

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) of Real Madrid led the league with 3 blocks in Round 1 during his team’s 74-68 road loss to Virtus Bologna.

Seven players recorded double-doubles in this round: Valencia's Moore (12 points, 10 rebounds) and [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-costello/010444/) (13 points, 10 rebounds), Olympiacos's Vezenkov (24 points, 13 rebounds) and Milutinov (12 points, 14 rebounds), Fenerbahce's Baldwin (10 points, 10 assists), Panathinaikos's Nunn (21 points, 10 assists), and Baskonia's Forrest (14 points, 10 assists).

This is Nunn's sixth MVP of the Round award in his third season in the competition.

The opening week of the season continues on Thursday and concludes on Friday with another thrilling set of matchups, including a rematch of the 2023 title game. Here’s a quick look at everything coming up.

At a glance: Round 2

The opening week of the season continues on Thursday and concludes on Friday with another thrilling set of matchups, including a rematch of the 2023 title game. Here’s a quick look at everything coming up.

## Thursday, October 2

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CEST)

Milan (1-0) will attempt to complete a perfect week in Belgrade by overcoming Partizan (0-1). The Italian team made a fine start to the season by downing Zvezda on Tuesday, led by usual suspect Zach LeDay with 21 points. Partizan is seeking a first victory after suffering defeat at Dubai two days ago, but can take encouragement from solid debuts by Shake Milton, Jabari Parker and Dylan Osetkowski. Milan displayed impressive offensive efficiency in its season opener, making 64% of two-pointers and 46% from three-point range, so Partizan will be keen to disrupt the backcourt orchestration of Nico Mannion (5 assists on Tuesday), while hoping star guard Carlik Jones rediscovers his range after making just 1 of 10 field goal attempts in Round 1.

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:30 CEST)

A first victory of the season is up for grabs as Bayern (0-1) welcomes Zvezda (0-1). Ioannis Sfairopoulos’s new-look Zvezda fell to a home loss against Milan despite a strong debut from Jordan Nwora (19 points, 6 rebounds), and will look to improve its three-point shooting after only making 6 triples in that loss. Another newcomer impressing in defeat was center Ebuka Izundu (14 points without a miss), but the Serbian team needs improved defense after allowing Milan to score 92 points. Gordie Herbert’s new-look Bayern will feature prominent roles for summer signings Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Isiaha Mike, who both scored 18 points in the season opening loss at Panathinaikos. And sharpshooter Andreas Obst will look to recover quickly after suffering a rare scoreless game earlier in the week.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> Home Opener 🔥<br><br>🏀 vs <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kkcrvenazvezda</a> <br>🏟️ 20.30 CEST at <a href="https://twitter.com/SAPGarden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sapgarden</a><br>📃 <a href="https://t.co/QB1TS5QNG9">https://t.co/QB1TS5QNG9</a><br>🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/yVER5d5ZnZ">https://t.co/yVER5d5ZnZ</a><br>📺 Live bei <a href="https://t.co/J8YZrpgpIa">https://t.co/J8YZrpgpIa</a><br>📱 <a href="https://t.co/UFWeubduSs">https://t.co/UFWeubduSs</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/FM9HIFhsKd">pic.twitter.com/FM9HIFhsKd</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1973632727636386062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:30 CEST)

A clash of heavyweights provides an early season highlight with Real (0-1) hosting Olympiacos (1-0). The Greek team has stayed in Spain after surviving a thriller at Baskonia two days ago, showing its power in the paint as Nikola Milutinov (12 points, 14 rebounds) and Sasha Vezenkov (24 points, 13 rebounds) both registered double-doubles. The Reds will also hope that Tyler Dorsey can continue his resurgence after he netted 21 points in Vitoria – his highest total for the team. Real, meanwhile, has offensive problems after a tired-looking performance in Tuesday’s loss at Virtus, where only Mario Hezonja (14 points) and Gabriel Deck (12) provided a spark. And new Real coach Sergio Scariolo definitely needs his players to find their three-point shooting range, after only making 3 triples during the loss in Bologna.

## Friday, October 3

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (19:00 CEST)

An emotional reunion on the sidelines will take center stage as Zalgiris (1-0) and Fenerbahce (1-0) attempt to round off a winning week. New Zalgiris boss Tomas Masiulis was a long-time assistant to visiting coach and hometown hero Sarunas Jasikevicius, who will be wary of the home team’s offensive capabilities following Zalgiris’s impressive Wednesday win at Monaco. Big man Moses Wright, in particular, will have confidence flowing through his veins after netting 21 points on 8-of-8 field goal shooting in that game. But Fenerbahce is also feeling good after starting its title defense by dismantling Paris on Wednesday, when Wade Baldwin’s distribution (10 assists) and the scoring power of new signing Talen Horton Tucker (20 points) showed the reigning champs are ready to roll once again.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First sold out of the season – locked in! 🔒🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/ZalgirioArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZalgirioArena</a> will be packed for the <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> home opener vs <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> on October 3. 💚 <a href="https://t.co/XlbGcVWIHs">pic.twitter.com/XlbGcVWIHs</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1970785461070368796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### AS Monaco vs. Dubai Basketball (19:30 CEST)

Dubai (1-0) will attempt to complete a perfect week against a Monaco team (0-1) eager to bounce back. Competition newcomer Dubai could not have dreamed of a better debut than Tuesday’s comfortable victory over Partizan, when its long-range shooting ability was on full display with Davis Bertans (5-of-7 triples, 20 points) and summer signing Dzanan Musa (3-of-5, 19 points) firing on all cylinders. Another offensive key for the visitors is the distribution of McKinley Wright IV, who dished 7 assists without a turnover on Tuesday. Monaco struggled defensively in its season opening home loss to Zalgiris, allowing 89 points, so needs more than the usual scoring heroics of Mike James (24 points) and new signing Nikola Mirotic (16 points) to kickstart its season.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (19:30 CEST)

Two teams attempting to complete a perfect opening week meet in Istanbul as Efes (1-0) welcomes competition newcomer Hapoel (1-0). This could become a shootout between two teams loaded with offensive potential, with Efes powered by 16 points apiece from Rolands Smits and Jordan Loyd as five different players netted in double digits to overcome Maccabi on Tuesday. Hapoel was the competition’s highest-scoring team in Round 1, blazing 103 points against Barcelona as new signings Vasilije Micic and Dan Oturu – who will both face their former club on Friday – scored 18 points apiece. Elijah Bryant is another ex-Efes star heading for a quick reunion, and his defensive attempts to slow down former teammate Shane Larkin could be crucial.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">👋 Hvala Podgorica!<br><br>See you on Friday.<br><br>🎥 Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv karşılaşmamızın ardından geriye kalan: mücadele, tempo ve galibiyet!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/ya5UYWsSsA">pic.twitter.com/ya5UYWsSsA</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1973418145718346101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:00 CEST)

After suffering narrow defeats in Round 1, either ASVEL (0-1) or Baskonia (0-1) will collect their first victory on Friday. In addition to the usual leadership of Nando De Colo (17 points, 4 assists), Wednesday’s home loss to Valencia saw the French team find reason for optimism through solid debuts from Glynn Watson (14 points) and Bastien Vautier (12 points). Baskonia can also feel good about its prospects despite losing to Olympiacos on Tuesday, when Trent Forrest showed his ability to lead the offense by recording a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists. Another key figure is former ASVEL star Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who started the season by draining 23 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting and will now attempt to hand another loss to his old teammates.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. FC Barcelona (20:15 CEST)

The latest instalment of a famous rivalry will see Barcelona (0-1) attempt to kickstart its season by overcoming host Panathinaikos (1-0). The Greek giant opened its campaign in familiar fashion as the offensive talents of reigning league MVP Kendrick Nunn (21 points, 10 assists) helped down Bayern on Tuesday, and his new backcourt teammate TJ Shorts will be desperate to add a strong contribution after being held scoreless in that game. Subduing the Greens’ offense will be a major challenge for a Barca team that allowed 103 points in its season-opening loss at Hapoel, where an excellent debut from Will Clyburn (23 points, 7 rebounds) and the return of backcourt leader Nico Laprovittola after a long-term injury provided cause for optimism on an otherwise disappointing night.

### Valencia Basket vs. Virtus Bologna (20:30 CEST)

Virtus (1-0) will attempt to ruin a special night for Valencia (1-0) as the Spanish club opens the doors to its new Roig Arena for the first time. Both teams started the season with morale-boosting victories, with Virtus leaning on intense team defense plus strong contributions from debutants Carsen Edwards (14 points) and fast rising star Saliou Niang (12 points) to overcome Real Madrid on Tuesday. Valencia's victory at ASVEL a day later owed a lot to a stunning all-round performance from newcomer Omari Moore (12 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists), while Matt Costello also started the season with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, and his power in the paint will be important in subduing the visitors on an emotional occasion.

### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Paris Basketball (21:30 CEST)

Maccabi (0-1) and Paris (0-1) have their sights set on bouncing back from Round 1 losses as they meet in Belgrade to complete the opening week. Maccabi competed well at Efes on Tuesday but needs to improve its offensive execution, with only Jaylen Hoard and Roman Sorkin (15 points) reaching double digits in scoring. Oded Kattash will also want to see better protection of the backboards after allowing 14 offensive rebounds in that defeat, and will be wary of the threat posed by new Paris center Allan Dokossi after he grabbed 10 boards in Wednesday’s defeat at Fenerbahce. Shooting star Nadir Hifi started as he means to continue by draining 20 points on 5-of-7 threes in Istanbul, and he will be crucial again for Paris on Friday.

Andy West looks ahead to the second round of the opening week in the new campaign

At a glance: Round 2 starts with three games Thursday

Several newcomers made their EuroLeague debuts in the opening round of the 2025–26 season, but Omari Moore's performance at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne stood out as one of the most complete.

Omari Moore delivers near triple-double in EuroLeague bow

Several newcomers made their EuroLeague debuts in the opening round of the 2025–26 season, but [Omari Moore](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/omari-moore/014115/)'s performance at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne stood out as one of the most complete.

Riding the momentum of their recent Spanish Super Cup triumph, [Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/valencia-basket/pam/) marked its return to EuroLeague play after a one-year absence with [a hard-fought 77-80 road win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/valencia-celebrates-euroleague-return-with-narrow-77-80-win-at-asvel/) at the Astroballe on Wednesday night.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Valencia Basket | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Fellow summer addition [Darius Thompson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/darius-thompson/011078/) led Valencia in scoring with 15 points, while veteran [Matt Costello](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/matthew-costello/010444/) contributed a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. [Nate Reuvers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nathan-reuvers/012738/) also stepped up with 13 points, 9 of which came in the opening quarter.

But while others made timely contributions, Moore was consistent throughout. In his EuroLeague debut at age 25, the Valencia guard played with poise and maturity beyond his experience – allowing the game to come to him, making smart decisions, and never forcing the action.

Moore dished out three assists in the first quarter, knocked down back-to-back triples in the second, and added five more points and two more assists in the third. In the closing minutes, he delivered two key plays: setting up Thompson for a clutch bucket that made it 75–79 with 1:22 remaining, and then finding Reuvers, who drew a crucial foul to help seal the win.

“All the credit goes to my teammates and coaches for believing in me,” Moore told EuroLeague TV postgame. “I just try to play my game – take what the defense gives me, play with effort, all that kind of stuff.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">☝🏾 victoria en <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> <br><br>Y el viernes, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FamiliaTaronja?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FamiliaTaronja</a> 🧡 <a href="https://t.co/G3qpPcjygQ">pic.twitter.com/G3qpPcjygQ</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1973482882397245579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

By the final buzzer, Moore had flirted with a rare EuroLeague triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds, an eye-catching debut that earned praise from his teammates.

“We’ve got a bunch of new guys playing EuroLeague for the first time,” said Costello in his postgame flash interview. “They’re still adjusting to the physicality and the speed, but they did great tonight. Omari’s been playing solid for us, and he just kept it going. Hopefully we carry this into Friday and then through the rest of the season.”

Having stolen the spotlight in France, Moore now turns his attention to helping Valencia go 2–0 when it hosts Virtus Bologna on Friday night. And with Roig Arena set for its EuroLeague debut, there's no better time for Moore to deliver another standout performance, this time in front of his home crowd.

Valencia’s summer signing flirted with history in a road win over ASVEL

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Valencia Basket (2025-10-01T18:00:00.000Z)

The defending champions made sure their opening night was a memorable one as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul cruised past Paris Basketball 96-77 on Wednesday. The win marked the largest margin of victory in this season’s Round 1 games, fueled by an explosive 15 made three-pointers and 25 assists.

Fenerbahce's offense already clicking: 'We play our brand'

The defending champions made sure their opening night was a memorable one as [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) [cruised past Paris Basketball 96-77](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-sinks-paris-96-77-opens-title-defense-in-style/) on Wednesday. The win marked the largest margin of victory in this season’s Round 1 games, fueled by an explosive 15 made three-pointers and 25 assists.

“It’s an incredible way to start the season, especially at home as the defending champions,” [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) said in his postgame interview with EuroLeague TV. “We’re a bit of a new team with a lot of new faces, but everyone’s fitting in well. We’re playing the right way, we’re playing our brand, and that’s why we won.”

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Paris Basketball | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Paris, led by Nadir Hifi, showcased its best efforts to keep the game competitive. Hifi displayed his unlimited shooting range, while new playmaker Justin Robinson pushed the tempo, and head coach Francesco Tabellini kept his team fresh with frequent substitutions – even swapping out the entire starting lineup just 2 minutes and 33 seconds into the first quarter.

Despite Paris's hustle, which included 18 offensive rebounds compared to Fenerbahce’s 5, and an overall 46-35 rebounding edge, their efforts only kept them in the game until midway through the third quarter.

After Fenerbahçe squandered a 13-point lead from the second quarter, Hifi’s spark helped Paris briefly take the lead. But the Turkish powerhouse quickly responded. [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/talen-horton-tucker/014124/), who struggled in the first half, erupted for 19 of his 20 points in the second half. [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) caught fire late in the third quarter, draining 9 points, all from three-pointers – including a buzzer-beater with just 1.2 seconds left.

That dagger was a crushing blow for Paris, but Fenerbahçe’s balanced attack sealed the deal. [Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/devon-hall/011205/) was also instrumental, finishing the game with a career-high 22 points, including 5-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Baldwin controlled the offense with 10 assists, helping guide Fenerbahce’s offensive flow.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">House of champs🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> start the new season with this opening show👇👀 <a href="https://t.co/TGYX6XYwCt">pic.twitter.com/TGYX6XYwCt</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1973444797693304992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius summed it up: “If you take away the rebounds and points in transition, our half-court defense and offense were solid. We’re pleased with that.”

Despite some rough patches, particularly on the boards and in transition defense, Fenerbahce showed flashes of brilliance. Horton-Tucker’s second-half surge, Melli’s timely shooting, and Hall’s consistency highlighted the depth of their roster. Even NBA newcomer [Brandon Boston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brandon-boston-jr-/014016/), playing just 9 minutes, chipped in with 5 points and 3 rebounds.

“We understand that for guys coming from the NBA, it’s not easy to adjust,” Jasikevicius said. “Paris threw defenses at them they haven’t seen in a long time. Nobody in the NBA plays such aggressive hedging. But they adjusted well. We need to be patient with them, and I’m confident they’ll help us a lot this season.”

Even with plenty of room for improvement and still a long way to go in building team chemistry, Fenerbahçe is already looking like a formidable force – one that could become even more dangerous as the season progresses.

The defending champs fended off a resilient Paris squad, leaving even Coach Jasikevicius impressed

Fenerbahce's offense already clicking: 'We play our brand of basketball’

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-10-01T17:45:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas wasted no time showing that it is ready for the new EuroLeague campaign, securing an impressive 84-89 road victory against AS Monaco, last season's finalists, in Round 1.

Zalgiris's newcomers made their presence felt in Monaco

[Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/zalgiris-kaunas/zal/) wasted no time showing that it is ready for the new EuroLeague campaign, securing an impressive [84-89 road victory against AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-grabs-statement-win-at-monaco-84-89/), last season's finalists, in Round 1.

While most of Zalgiris’s newcomers had prior EuroLeague experience, even those making their debut stepped up immediately. Their performance delivered a win and gave Tomas Masiulis a memorable start as head coach. Masiulis, a EuroLeague champion as both a player and assistant coach, was in the spotlight for his first game as the boss.

AS Monaco-Zalgiris Kaunas | Round 1 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

[Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/) was the standout player of the night. He made a huge impact in the second quarter, where he seemed to be everywhere on the floor. His play stretched the lead to 30-38 with a tip-in, a dunk, and a put-back slam.

When Monaco closed the gap to 67-71, Wright responded with a clutch three-pointer and two free throws, maintaining Zalgiris’s lead. Despite Monaco’s late rally, it came too late to alter the outcome.

Wright finished with 21 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting, 6 rebounds, and a PIR of 28.

“It was a great road win for us,” Wright said after the game. “We came out, matched Monaco’s physicality and intensity. Monaco is a great program, and Vassilis Spanoulis is a great coach, but we also have a great team.”

He continued: “We stuck together. Monaco made their run, but it didn’t affect us too much. Our captain, ‘Ula’ \[Edgaras Ulanovas\], gathered us and reminded us to stay focused and calm.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Starting the season in style, straight out of Monaco! 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/jNeCZJ61cw">pic.twitter.com/jNeCZJ61cw</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1973495945397674109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Zalgiris’s newcomers provided crucial support across the board.

[Nigel Williams-Goss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nigel-williams-goss/007982/) hit two critical three-pointers in the fourth quarter, finishing with 14 points. [Maodo Lo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/) added 11 points off the bench. [Dustin Sleva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dustin-sleva/011927/) chipped in with 6 points, including a pair of triples, and [Azuolas Tubelis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/azuolas-tubelis/008192/) scored 9.

Together, the five newcomers accounted for 61 of Zalgiris’s 89 points. They shot an impressive 64% on 2-pointers (16 of 25) and 60% on three-pointers (6 of 10).

The team also excelled in ball movement, recording 21 assists to just 8 turnovers. [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/) was particularly effective, dishing out 9 assists with only 2 turnovers.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big win in Monaco, big emotions in the locker room – including Tomas Masiulis’ baptism! 🙌🏻🔥 <a href="https://t.co/nv4PEwnTHl">pic.twitter.com/nv4PEwnTHl</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1973487991776747826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Next, Zalgiris hosts Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, a game that holds extra significance for Masiulis. Coach Masiulis helped Fenerbahce win the 2025 EuroLeague Championship and now faces his former boss, Zalgiris legend Sarunas Jasikevicius. The matchup promises to be a highly anticipated clash at Zalgirio Arena on Friday night.

“This is the EuroLeague; every minute, every second counts,” Masiulis said after the Monaco win. That will certainly be the case when Fenerbahce comes to town on Friday.

All five new players led their team to an 84-89 win in the principality

AS Monaco v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-10-01T17:30:00.000Z)