An already special night for EA7 Emporio Armani Milan was made even more so on Tuesday with a victory that was also a milestone for its head coach.


Messina joined exclusive EuroLeague 300-win club

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan was in celebration mode from the get-go of its 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague home opener on Tuesday. A pre-game ceremony [honored retired legend Luigi Datome](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/luigi-gigi-datome-milano-olimpia-armani-ea7-tribute-honor-euroleague/) and by stepping on court late in the first quarter, center [Kyle Hines broke the EuroLeague record for career games played](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/kyle-hines-euroleague-appearance-record-games-played/). 

But Milan's cause for celebration grew with[ a 65-53 victory over visiting Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/20/) that allowed head coach Ettore Messina to celebrate a rare milestone, his 300th EuroLeague win since the competition was created 23 years ago, in October 2000.

Messina is the second coach to reach 300 wins in EuroLeague history. His long-time friend and sports rival Zeljko Obradovic leads the all-time standings with 336 wins. Xavi Pascual ranks third with 241 wins, Pablo Laso is fourth at 238 and Dimitris Itoudis fifth with 212 wins. The last coach with more than 200 victories is Dusko Ivanovic with 202, but Ergin Ataman is close behind at 196.

Messina has coached five different teams in the competition. He got 36 wins with Virtus Bologna, with whom he won the original EuroLeague title in 2001 and reached the 2002 EuroLeague Championship Game. Messina went on to coach Benetton Treviso, where he recorded 44 wins. He led Benetton to the 2003 Final Four. He moved then to CSKA Moscow, reaching as many as four consecutive EuroLeague Championship Games from 2006 to 2009, winning the club's first continental crown since 1971 in 2006 and then doing it again two years later, in 2008. He also coached Real Madrid and had a second stint with CSKA before joining Milan. Messina compiled 123 EuroLeague wins with CSKA, 23 with Real and just grabbed his 74th victory with Milan.

Messina has the fourth-best winning percentage (68.3%) in EuroLeague history for coaches who have taken part in 100 games or more. Only Itoudis (72.1%), Laso (69.2%) and Pini Gershon (68.6%) have a better winning percentage.

Born in Catania, Italy, Messina is a four-time EuroLeague champion, as he previously led Virtus to its first continental crown in 1998. Other highlights include six Italian League and 9 Italian Cup titles, six Russian League crowns and VTB League trophies. Messina was chosen twice as the Alexander Gomelskiy EuroLeague Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008, and also led the Italian national team to a silver medal at EuroBasket 1997. He currently is Milan's head coach and president of basketball operations.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">300 only love <a href="https://t.co/4UXSQJrXl1">pic.twitter.com/4UXSQJrXl1</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1714387639913034235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Olympiacos Piraeus (2023-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

Georgios Papagiannis impressed with 15 points as Fenerbahce Basketball beat Panathinaikos B.C., the center's former club, 83-69 in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Georgios Papagiannis overcomes emotions in victory over former club

Back in the summer, Georgios Papagiannis decided to turn down Panathinaikos Athens’s contract extension offer and [instead joined forces with Dimitris Itoudis, his head coach with the Greek national team, at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-anchors-paint-with-georgios-papagiannis/). From the moment he penned his arrived in Turkiye, he knew that his first game against his former team was always going to be tough emotionally.

Papagiannis stepped onto the court with one minute to go in the first quarter of Tuesday's [Round 3 contest against the Greens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-fenerbahce-basketball-vs-panathinaikos-bc/) to give Johnathan Motley some rest. It took the former Panathinaikos center just a few seconds to score his first points of the game, doing so from the free-throw line.

The 26-year-old went on to sink a couple of three-pointers in the second quarter and another one after the break, meaning that he had gone an impressive 6-for-6 from behind the arc this season. A miss at the end of the fourth quarter brought that 100% streak to an end, though.

“The game for me, even before and during the game, was tense,” Papagiannis said after Fenerbahce secured its second win of the season. “It was a mix, professionally and emotionally.”

Nerves may have gotten on top of him in the second half, when Panathinaikos tried to mount a comeback and Papagiannis was forced into a couple of turnovers, but Fenerbahce took a 22-point lead, 67-45, into the last quarter.

“We had a really good game,” he added. “Personally, I made some turnovers at the end of third quarter and \[in the\] fourth quarter that were actually going to cost us, but it was a good game for us in front of our fans. We are happy for the win.”

Georgios Papagiannis scored 15 points as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul beat his former team, Panathinaikos Athens, 83-69 in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Papagiannis's highlights vs. Panathinaikos

### Praise for Fenerbahce’s guards

Yam Madar came off the bench to ditch a couple of wonderful alley-oop passes that ended with two-handed slams by the Fenerbahce center, as the hosts offered spectacle to their fans. Meanwhile, Nick Calathes stepped up after Tyler Dorsey’s injury and finished the game with 12 points and 5 assists.

“It’s great to have point guards like \[Madar and Nick Calathes\],” Papagiannis continued. “They can see the floor really well. Nick has the experience. After so many years he is great at doing that, and Yam is being taught to see the right pass and make the right decision. It’s great for us to have them.”

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul center Georgios Papagiannis spoke after his team's 83-69 win against Panathinaikos Athens in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Papagiannis's post-game interview vs. Panathinaikos

### Coming out on top

In a game that saw Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman and former Fenerbahce guard Kostas Sloukas experience a sour return to Istanbul, Dimitris Itoudis got one over the team where he spent several years as assistant coach to Zeljko Obradovic, while Papagiannis managed to overcome his emotions and scored a team-high 15 points.

The Fenerbahce big man has stood out so far this season, recording an average of 12.7 points, going 9-for-15 (60%) on two-pointers, 6-for-7 (85.7%) from deep and 2-for-2 (100%) on free throws in his first three Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games as a Fenerbahce player.

Papagiannis and Motley make quick the one-two punch at the center position, and that should spell good news for Fenerbahce during this season.

More Fenerbahce News

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul center Georgios Papagiannis dunks the ball during a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game this season.

The ex-Panathinaikos Athens center impressed once again for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Panathinaikos Athens (2023-10-17T17:15:00.000Z)

Olimpia Milano beat Olympiacos B.C. 65-53 in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season on a night in which Gigi Datome, Kyle Hines and Ettore Messina all had reason to celebrate.

Olimpia Milano 'sent a message' on historic night

In an early season collision of two teams aiming for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague glory this season, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan beat Olympiacos Piraeus 65-53 in what proved to be a defensive battle at Mediolanum Forum.

Milan's home opener was a celebratory and a historic night. It started with Luigi Datome being inducted into the club's Hall of Fame, then Kyle Hines broke the record for most games played when he entered the contest with 1:15 left in the first quarter. Come the final buzzer, there was another piece of history made as head coach Ettore Messina grabbed his 300th career win, joining a club that now only has two members: Zeljko Obradovic (336 wins) and Coach Messina.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">300 only love <a href="https://t.co/4UXSQJrXl1">pic.twitter.com/4UXSQJrXl1</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1714387639913034235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Pulling away in the fourth

It was a battle in which neither team had a double-digit lead until the final 99 seconds. Olympiacos went up 44-45 after a little more than a minute of play in the fourth quarter, but Kevin Pangos sparked Milan's offense and a 16-2 run that secured the hosts' win.

For Nikola Mirotic, the game's leading scorer with 20 points, the triumph against the Reds was a statement victory.

"It is not an easy start \[to the season\]", Mirotic said when asked about playing Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Olympiacos in Milan's first two games, and a trip to face Real Madrid in Round 4 on Thursday night. "But we are here to send a message that this year we are going to try to get there, to be on top of the EuroLeague. Every game matters for us."

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 3 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Turning up the heat on defense

While Mirotic was responsible for nearly one third of Milan's points on Tuesday night, he and his teammates played some stellar defense and therefore held Olympiacos under 50 points until the final 30 seconds of the game.

"Our defense was really at a high level and carried us the entire game", Messina commented.

The final total of 53 points is the fewest that Olympiacos has scored in nearly six years, when it scored 51 in a road loss against FC Barcelona.

"We counted missing 13 layups or two-point shots around the rim; in a high-percentage area, we missed 13 possessions", Olympiacos head coach Georgios Bartzokas stated after the game. "At the same time, we had 26.3% for threes. Scoring 53 points, we could not have won this game."

Milan rode that defense to its first win of the season, and it got a nice boost of momentum ahead of its trip to the Spanish capital, where it will take on the defending champion on Thursday night.

More Milan News

Nikola Mirotic of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan is defended by Ignas Brazdeikis of Olympiacos Piraeus during the two teams' Round 3 meeting in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Italian side improved to 1-1 after securing an impressive win against Olympiacos Piraeus.

Milan 'sent a message' on historic night

Facu Campazzo and Gabriel Deck are enjoying starring roles for Real Madrid, as shown during the club's 93-79 win against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Argentinean takeover has started at Real Madrid

Argentine duo Facu Campazzo and Gabriel Deck both signed multi-year contracts with Real Madrid in the off-season, even if one was a signing (Campazzo) and the other was a renewal (Deck). We are just three weeks into the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, but it’s clear to see that the playmaker and versatile forward are already *Los Blancos*’ new leaders.

Campazzo and Deck proved as much in Round 3, [leading Real to a 93-79 victory over the previously undefeated Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-real-madrid-vs-zalgiris-kaunas/). Real went up to 3-0 – a record only matched by FC Barcelona, although Valencia Basket could also join them on Wednesday – and Chus Mateo’s side arguably looks like the team to beat in the early weeks of the 2023-24 campaign.

"We didn't have any big changes, you know? Only me as a new player," Campazzo said after the game. "We have to keep doing this job, going this way. I think we play in so many ways, different ways, and that makes us a very dangerous team. This is the way, so we have to keep doing that."

Facundo Campazzo and Gabriel Deck both impressed as Real Madrid defeated Zalgiris Kaunas 93-79 in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Campazzo, Deck shined for Real Madrid vs. Zalgiris

### A telepathic relationship

Campazzo had 14 of his 18 points in the first quarter, putting Real on the right track to win the game. He finished the game with 9 assists. More than half of them, 5, were to Deck. Campazzo and Deck have been playing together for both Real and Argentina for many years, meaning they have a telepathic relationship on the court.

Deck led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-9 two-point shots, while he also hit his only attempt from downtown. He didn't get any rebound or dish any assist, but the way in which he finished plays allowed Real to get 26 assists and just 13 turnovers. Zalgiris had almost half of those assists, 14, against 10 turnovers.

Both Campazzo and Deck played around 23 minutes, combining for a PIR of 45. On his 30th birthday, Vincent Poirier came off the bench to get 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.

"Gaby \[Deck\] is starting to get the feel again. He played a good game today," Real head coach Chus Mateo said after the game. "Facu is playing at a very good level, nobody can deny that. I am happy for both of them, because they have a very good work ethic."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🩶 ¡EQUIPAZO! 🩶 <a href="https://t.co/3pBWrHmLYy">pic.twitter.com/3pBWrHmLYy</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1714379807541055801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Real Madrid’s wealth of talent

On a day in which round 2 MVP Guerschon Yabusele was limited to 5 points and three-time All-EuroLeague First Team center Edy Tavares got 4, Real showed that it doesn't depend on its bigger stars due to its tremendous depth.

Instead, Deck and Campazzo led the way and are becoming the natural leaders of a Real side which is hoping to win back-to-back EuroLeague titles, something the club last achieved in the 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons.

More Real Madrid News

Gabriel Deck of Real Madrid looks to score against Zalgiris Kaunas during the two teams' Round 3 matchup in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Argentina teammates Facu Campazzo and Gabriel Deck are enjoying starring roles for Los Blancos.

Real Madrid v Zalgiris Kaunas (2023-10-17T18:45:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Basketball guard Nick Calathes had a trademark performance in his team's 83-69 win against Panathinakos B.C. in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Nick Calathes rolled back the years with instrumental display against Panathinaikos

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul was dealt a major blow last week when Tyler Dorsey suffered an injury in his team’s narrow defeat at Valencia Basket in Round 2. Just a few days later, head coach Dimitrios Itoudis decided to start veteran point guard Nick Calathes against Panathinaikos Athens, and the 34-year-old managed to pay back his coach’s confidence in him.

After recording 0 points and no assists in 12 minutes across the first two games of the season, Calathes stepped up against his former team and inspired Fenerbahce to an 83-69 victory with his vision on the court. The 2010-11 EuroLeague champion scored 12 points, shooting 3-for-6 (50%) on two-pointers and 2-for-3 (66.7%) from behind the arc. He also collected 4 rebounds and dished 5 assists in just less than 30 minutes on the court.

"Calathes has tons of miles of experience," Itoudis told the post-game press conference. "He’s going to play basketball for a long time. He’s a veteran and can help younger players get some feedback, knowledge, by playing with him and seeing how \[he makes\] things happen."

Nick Calathes had an impressive performance as Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul beat Panathinaikos Athens 83-69 in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Nick Calathes's highlights vs. Panathinaikos

### Waiting for a chance to shine again

Itoudis went on to stress that Calathes’s experience helped him to bounce back after a slow start to the season, with limited minutes on the court. The Fenerbahce boss was full of praise for his experienced guard.

"It’s also about how he digests the fact that he didn’t play significant minutes in the first two games," Itoudis added. “He comes on, he puts extra effort. I know him well, he knows me well, he knows himself well. He has huge trust in what he can provide to the team and comes on and brings two big performances \[against Bahcesehir Koleji in the Turkish League and now Panathinaikos\].

"This is also about experience in how to bounce back from moments that you feel that you are falling. But Nick is falling forward, he never falls back."

### Praise from Mike James

Several reports indicated in the summer that Calathes was not a part of Itoudis’s plans ahead of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign. The former Greece international guard was linked with a move to various teams but stayed put, fought for his place in the team and managed to reap the rewards of his hard work on Tuesday night with a mature performance against Panathinaikos.

"Nick make them go honestly," his former teammate Mike James tweeted. "He off set all the scorers on the team and make their job easier."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nick make them go honestly. He off set all the scorers on the team and make their job easier <a href="https://t.co/Bgftl6QdGR">https://t.co/Bgftl6QdGR</a></p>&mdash; Mike James (@TheNatural_05) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNatural_05/status/1714363250660262091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Now, Calathes will hope to build on this performance when LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne come to town on Thursday night.

More Panathinaikos News

Nick Calathes of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in possession of the ball during his team's Round 3 matchup against Panathinaikos Athens in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The 34-year-old filled in for injured starter Tyler Dorsey and was instrumental in Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's 83-69 win on Tuesday night.

Nick Calathes rolled back the years with display against Panathinaikos

FC Bayern Munich secured a 68-76 win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season, led by Carsen Edwards, Sylvain Francisco and Niels Giffey.

Resilient FC Bayern Munich snatched a deserved win at misfiring Baskonia

FC Bayern Munich roared to [a 68-76 win at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-baskonia-vs-fc-bayern-munich-basketball/) in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season after the visitors overcame a 10-point deficit with a 6-22 run that started late in the third quarter and blew away the hosts down the stretch.

Baskonia looked like the more likely winner when it carved out a 62-52 lead, with guard Vanja Marinkovic and forward Tadas Sedekerskis leading the third-quarter charge, but the home team’s offense came to a screeching halt in the final 10 minutes.

Baskonia’s ordeal was personified by yet another poor performance from guard Markus Howard, who scored a mere 4 points and shot 0-of-4 from three-point range as Bayern’s aggressive defense stifled him out.

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-FC Bayern Munich | Round 3 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Winning the rebounding battle

Despite missing former NBA stalwart Serge Ibaka, the visitors racked up an impressive 43 rebounds, 10 more than Baskonia, highlighting their domination in the paint from start to finish.

Codi Miller-McIntyre netted Baskonia’s opening 5 points, but he too soon faded away and Baskonia relied on Marinkovic, who came off the bench, and Sedekerskis to keep them in the driving seat against a battling Bayern. The visiting team just refused to roll over and, although Bayern trailed for much of the physical contest, it forced Baskonia into submission in the final 10 minutes when it ground down the hosts thanks to aggressive defense.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙥 𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙥 🙌 First <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> win on the road!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKNBAY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BKNBAY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> (c) Stickel <a href="https://t.co/IFbuqjL6ZZ">pic.twitter.com/IFbuqjL6ZZ</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1714378147838205980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Making big shots at the end

At the other end, Carsen Edwards pulled the strings and hit some crunch shots down the stretch, as did Niels Giffey and Sylvain Francisco.

Baskonia was undone by the livewire trio, who shared the ball selflessly to engineer 17 team assists from Bayern, which had more in the tank than Baskonia down the stretch. The German side will thus head into Friday’s tough visit to Barcelona with its tail up, while Baskonia will be under pressure to deliver against Zalgiris Kaunas on its home court on Thursday.

More Bayern News

Sylvain Francisco of FC Bayern Munich attempts to get away from Codi Miller-McIntyre of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz during the two teams' Round 3 matchup in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The visitors produced ironclad defense in the fourth quarter and comfortably outscored Baskonia in the closing stages.

Resilient Bayern snatched a deserved win at misfiring Baskonia

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v FC Bayern Munich (2023-10-17T18:30:00.000Z)

There has been lots of change at Anadolu Efes S.K., but Shane Larkin and second-year forward Will Clyburn offer a reliable presence as two veterans, something that was evident against LDLC ASVEL in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season.

Old stars leading a new-look Anadolu Efes S.K.

A new-look Anadolu Efes Istanbul was inspired by its old leaders en route to a much-needed first victory of the season, with Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn combining for 37 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds in the Turkish team’s [Round 3 victory, 89-84, over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-ldlc-asvel/) on Tuesday.

Efes has enjoyed unusual stability in recent years, with head coach Ergin Ataman counting on a settled roster of players to secure consecutive EuroLeague titles in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

But that era is now over, with Ataman heading to Panathinaikos Athens and several key players – such as Vasilije Micic, Bryant Dunston and Chris Singleton – also moving on.

### Looking towards a new future

The transition under new coach Erdem Can, who replaced Ataman in the summer, has not been straightforward with Efes losing its first two games of the season as new signings like Darius Thompson, Derek Willis and Tyrique Jones gradually settled in their fresh surroundings.

But when the pressure situation of Tuesday’s meeting with ASVEL came around, with Efes desperately needing to get into the win column against an opponent it would expect to beat at home, it was the tried and trusted stars rather than the new arrivals who stepped forward.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">📢 <a href="https://twitter.com/Migros_Turkiye?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Migros_Turkiye</a> ile LDLC Asvel karşılaşmamızın <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MVP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MVP</a>’si <a href="https://twitter.com/shanelarkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shanelarkin</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LarkinSize%C4%B0yiGelecek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LarkinSizeİyiGelecek</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/SMDdSupzZw">pic.twitter.com/SMDdSupzZw</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1714365501869097436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Larkin, Clyburn bounced back

Firstly, Larkin, who netted 18 points on 3-of-7 three-point shooting and also led the team with 6 assists and 6 rebounds. Clyburn posted very similar numbers, bouncing back from a slow start to the season by scoring 19 points along with 4 assists and 6 boards. 

Tellingly, Larkin (32:19 minutes) and Clyburn (31:48) spent more time on the court than any other players, showing that Coach Can is expecting the stars he inherited to take leadership roles as the new-look team takes shape.

Will Clyburn and Shane Larkin of Anadolu Efes Istanbul combined for 37 points in their team's 89-84 win against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Best plays of Clyburn, Larkin vs. ASVEL

And having played that role to perfection, the veteran duo spoke like leaders too, insisting there is a lot more to come from this fast-developing team.

“It’s a new team, with new chemistry that we have to build,” said Larkin. “So we’ve just got to be patient and continue to stick with each other, day by day get better and see where we can end up.”

Clyburn struck a similar tone as he observed: “We struggled in our first two games but it’s a learning process. A new coach, new team, but we’re going to get it together.”

With Larkin and Clyburn still onboard and playing close to their best, the process of ‘getting it together’ should be much easier.

More Efes News

Will Clyburn of Anadolu Efes Istanbul holds off pressure from Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne during the two teams' Round 3 matchup in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn returned to form in an 89-84 win against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.

Old stars leading a new-look Efes 

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2023-10-17T17:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona beat KK Partizan Belgrade 83-92 in Round 3 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season, with the Spanish side's frontcourt coming to the fore in particular.

Barcelona's frontcourt took over at Stark Arena

In Round 3, FC Barcelona kept its unbeaten record intact by [downing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 83-92 at Stark Arena](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-kk-partizan-belgrade-vs-fc-barcelona-barca/) on Tuesday evening. In particular, its big men were rock-solid, which proved to be one of the keys to the game.

Shooting guard Nico Laprovittola paced the winners with 20 points on 6-of-10 three-pointers, but it was Barca's frontcourt that balanced the team's offense en route to a convincing road win.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">3-0. Quin inici d&#39;<a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> 😍 <a href="https://t.co/SUkg4CV4ee">pic.twitter.com/SUkg4CV4ee</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1714380763083448728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Different players stepped up

Oscar Da Silva shined early with 7 quick points, allowing Barca to shake off a slow start and get a good lead, 16-23, at the end of the first quarter. Jan Vesely stepped up after the break, allowing Barca to stop Partizan's first comeback attempt. Jabari Parker and Willy Hernangomez took over soon after that, as Barca ended up sealing the win long before the final buzzer.

Despite battling foul trouble all game long, Hernangomez finished the night with 15 points in less than 17 minutes. Vesely had a strong performance against one of his former teams, getting 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a PIR of 22. Parker barely missed a double-double with 9 points and 11 rebounds in less than 19 minutes. As for Da Silva, he finished the game with 13 points.

The best plays of Jabari Parker, Oscar Da Silva, Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez during FC Barcelona's 83-92 win at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Barcelona's frontcourt stepped up vs. Partizan

All four of Barca’s frontcourt players combined for 49 points, 25 rebounds and a PIR of 61. Partizan's Zach LeDay, Balsa Koprivica, Alen Smailagic and Frank Kaminsky, meanwhile, combined for 34 points, 13 rebounds and a PIR of 41. 

### The guards stepped up, too

It was not all frontcourt play, though. When Partizan took a 30-29 lead soon after that, Laprovittola, Alex Abrines, Rokas Jokubaitis and Nikola Kalinic combined for 5 consecutive three-pointers in a 4-15 run that gave Barca a double-digit lead, 34-44, at halftime.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">Una victòria d&#39;equip 🍍 <a href="https://t.co/VmC6oKtDd0">pic.twitter.com/VmC6oKtDd0</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1714385544627556825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

All that balance led to a valuable road win, especially since it was Partizan's first home game and the atmosphere was electric at Stark Arena. After beating Olympiacos Piraeus and Partizan on the road, Barca returns to Palau Blaugrama to face Pablo Laso’s FC Bayern Munich on Friday night.

More Barcelona News

Jabari Parker of FC Barcelona holds off PJ Dozier of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade during the two teams' matchup in Round 3 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The guards also did their part in an impressive win on the road at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v FC Barcelona (2023-10-17T16:30:00.000Z)

Kyle Hines has broken the EuroLeague games-played record after making in his 393rd appearance, which have come with Brose Bamberg, Olympiacos B.C., CSKA Moscow and Olimpia Milano.

Kyle Hines breaks the EuroLeague appearance record

Some 4,745 days after making his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut, [Kyle Hines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kyle-hines/002812/) has become the new record holder for games played the competition.

During Tuesday night's Round 3 meeting between EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Olympiacos Piraeus, the 37-year-old center stepped onto the court for the 393rd time and therefore made history, beating the 392 appearances previously by Zalgiris Kaunas legend Paulius Jankunas.

Fittingly, Hines broke Jankunas's record against a team that he used to play for: Olympiacos. The veteran big man spent just two years with the Greek side, but he made quite the impact in Piraeus, playing a key role off the bench as the Reds won back-to-back EuroLeague titles in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

Kyle Hines on his EuroLeague games-played record

Hines's 393 games to date have come across four clubs, with the American playing for Brose Bamberg (2010-11), Olympiacos (2011-13) and CSKA Moscow (2013-20) before joining Milan (2020-present). He made 10 appearances for Bamberg, 53 for Olympiacos, 218 with CSKA and now 112 with Milan.

"For me personally, it is a huge honor, especially given the many great players that have taken part of this competition over the years," Hines said before Tuesday's game. "And as an American player the achievement is probably much more significant. So, it is special for me."

Also on Tuesday, Sergio Rodriguez of Real Madrid moved into fourth place with 376 career EuroLeague games played, one more than Georgios Printezis (375) and one behind his teammate Sergio Llull (377).

### Kyle Hines and his roll of honors

It was not just with Olympiacos where Hines lifted the EuroLeague trophy, however. He became a two-time winner with CSKA in the 2015-16 and 2018-19 campaigns. Add to that his three EuroLeague Best Defender awards (2015-16, 2017-18, 2021-22) and his selection in the EuroLeague 2010-20 All-Decade Team and it's quite the roll of honors.

Want to be more impressed? Easy. Hines also holds the record for the most offensive rebounds in EuroLeague history with 789, 84 clear of former Real Madrid stalwart Felipe Reyes in second place, while he is currently third for the most rebounds of all time with 1,780. It's likely that he could finish the season in second spot, as he finds himself just 19 behind Reyes. Catching Jankunas in first with 2,010 might be a bit of a stretch, though.

There's more, too, as Hines is placed 10th in the all-time standings for steals with 275 and third all-time for blocks with 308. His combined PIR of 4,183 also places him third in those all-time rankings.

It's no surprise that the 37-year-old Hines is at the tail end of his playing career, but his status as a EuroLeague legend is something that he achieved a long time ago. Congratulations on writing your name further into EuroLeague folklore, Kyle!

Kyle Hines breaks the EuroLeague games-played record.

The EA7 Emporio Armani Milan center played his 393rd game in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague on Tuesday night.