Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv took a 0-1 lead in its best-of-five playoff series against AS Monaco on Tuesday night, winning 67-79 at Salle Gaston Medecin to steal a game on the road.

Maccabi enjoyed its first playoff win in nine years 

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv took a 0-1 lead in its best-of-five playoff series against AS Monaco on Tuesday night, winning 67-79 at Salle Gaston Medecin to steal a game on the road.

It was a historical win, too. Maccabi had not won a playoff game since 2014, when it last lifted the EuroLeague trophy. Maccabi's last playoff victory came at home in Game 4 of the 2014 playoffs against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, 86-66. That day, Ricky Hickman and Alex Tyus led the winners with 16 points apiece, while the only player still on the roster from that side is Guy Pnini. Maccabi went on to beat CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid in Milan, Italy to become the 2013-14 EuroLeague champions.

Since then, Maccabi had been on a six-game losing streak in the playoffs. In 2015, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul swept Maccabi and reached its first Final Four. Last season, Maccabi returned to the playoffs after a long absence, but Real Madrid stood in its way again, with another sweep taking place. Should Maccabi end up eliminating Monaco, it will be its third playoff series victory without having home-court advantage, following its triumph in 2014 and its series win against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2011, 1-3.

Game Videos

Game News

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-04-25T18:15:00.000Z)

Oded Kattash, Maccabi: 'We knew it was going to be a battle'

### Oded Kattash, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv head coach

"I am very proud of the guys. We did a very good job, especially defensively. We knew it was going to be a battle. We kept them only to 6 offensive rebounds. We controlled their running game. We put a lot of effort. I am really proud of the guys, but it is only the first one. Any game is really important. You saw the game – it is going to be a fight all the way until the end. It is not going to be easy.

"As you saw, it was a really intense and aggressive game, so obviously I am very proud of our players. The way we approached this game, I can say we matched their aggressiveness, controlled the defensive rebounds, which is the main goal for us: to stop their running game. Even though we struggled sometimes against their defense, which was very aggressive, we won the game through defense, obviously, so I am very happy. That's about it. We have \[an advantage of\] 1-0, but as you saw, it is going to be a battle all the way until the end. It is not going to be easy in two days."

### Sasa Obradovic, AS Monaco head coach

"We have to put this behind us – it's the playoffs. We didn't play good. We were too nervous to play on a high level. We have to forget it, learn from this and go for the next one. There are still a lot of games to play.

"First, congrats to Maccabi. They deserved to win today. We were somehow mentally not ready to play this one. We were too hectic. We wanted to end up the game fast. There were some shots which we had to score, which we did score, but somehow they took us out of our comfort zone to shoot well. They were much more physical than us and, as I said, with all this, if you just hit a couple of threes, probably the game would be different, because we were there. Defensively, we were OK until a certain moment, but this three-point shooting percentage, even open shots, plus the turnovers – 7 in the third quarter – costed us easy points on the fastbreak and probably ended the game. We have to forget this and look forward. I believe that the next one is going to be different."

### Josh Nebo, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv center

"It is going to be a very physical series. Both teams want to win, so we are going to expect it to be even more physical and tougher going into Game 2. For us, to win the series, we had to win one game on the road because they had the home-court \[advantage\]. For us, to have any chance, we had to win at least one \[in Monaco\], so I am glad we got it done today. They lost on their home court, but that doesn't mean the series is won. They can easily win in our place, so we have to stay focused, stay hungry and keep going like we did today."

### Wade Baldwin, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv guard

"It is good to take the first game, but this is a well-polished team. They went to Game 5 last year against Olympiacos and it is \[just\] one game. We have another one on Thursday that we have to take care of. We have to prepare for \[it\] and continue to fight. You are planning against a Monaco team that came off \[winning\] the French Cup. It is the first game of the EuroLeague finals \[playoffs\] away. We had a bad record away all year, but to come out with this win is big. But we have Thursday's game."

EuroLeague Playoffs Live Blog: Real Madrid vs. Partizan, Game 1

<incrowd-live-blog id="64479b8462d82f4f0d8f860c" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>



<script>
(function (document) {
  setTimeout(() => {
    const script = document.createElement('script');
    script.async = true;
    script.defer = true;
    script.src = 'https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js';
    document.body.appendChild(script);
  }, 1000);
})(document);
</script>

Game 1: Punter inspires Partizan to road win at Real Madrid

Real Madrid v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-04-25T18:45:00.000Z)

EuroLeague Playoffs Game 1: Maccabi beats Monaco on the road!

<incrowd-live-blog id="64479b60c063d8c60848b131" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>



<script>
(function (document) {
  setTimeout(() => {
    const script = document.createElement('script');
    script.async = true;
    script.defer = true;
    script.src = 'https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js';
    document.body.appendChild(script);
  }, 1000);
})(document);
</script>

Game 1: Maccabi beats Monaco on the road!

It's been a really fun Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season and the best part comes now: the playoffs and Final Four! In less than a month, we will find one team celebrating on top of the podium as the 2022-23 EuroLeague champion. By then, we will also know who won the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/home?_ga=2.240641283.1008357699.1682319962-884385655.1669721726). Yes, the competition goes on until the final game of the season!

See also: [Fantasy tips: It's playoff time!](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-tips-its-playoff-time/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/euroleague/)

To make things easier for all fantasy managers, unlimited trading is permitted before each round until the end of the season. Entire teams will be eliminated from one round to another, not to mention the 10 teams that are not in the competition anymore, so it was the only way forward. Remember: each playoff round brings a fantasy winner, and there will be very limited time to trade after certain rounds. It is truly do-or-die time in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge.

My team Gancedato scored 161.8 points in Round 34. It was not perfect, but I managed to weather the storm and remain in the top 2,000. I rank 1,831st overall despite dropping a few spots. With fewer players available, acing your team captain and choosing a winning coach will be 80% of your success in each playoff round. I am taking Georgios Bartzokas of Olympiacos Piraeus as head coach, just because his team ranked first in the regular season and is more likely to win at home than any other. That is my first choice. Next: superstars.

I think I can afford four superstars with the budget I have, especially since Bartzokas is an expensive coach (10.4 credits). I am picking Nikola Mirotic of FC Barcelona because I think he is the top candidate to be Round 1 MVP. I am also getting Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos, Wade Baldwin of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, and Mike James of AS Monaco. These are my superstars of choice. Since only Baldwin and James play on Tuesday, one of them will be my initial captain choice. Baldwin just extended his contract and should be full of confidence, so I am picking him.

I need a starting center and am going for [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) of Maccabi, as he has been really consistent lately. He won't have a monster game, but the double-digit PIR is almost guaranteed even against a really athletic opponent in Donta Hall. Finally, I need some bench players with an average cost of 6.0 or so. I am buying [Isaiah Taylor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaiah-taylor/012068/) of Zalgiris Kaunas because he is Zalgiris Kaunas's starting point guard, [Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) of Partizan because he has been on fire lately, his teammate [James Nunnally](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/james-nunnally/007400/) because he had two good games against Real Madrid, [Sertac Sanli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sertac-sanli/002968/) of Barca because his playing style fits well against Zalgiris, and [Anthony Randolph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/anthony-randolph/005757/) of Real because he has been seeing extra playing time at the '5' position without the injured Vincent Poirier.

You can take a look at my team here:

As you can see, my team features six players whose teams play on Tuesday, with Baldwin as the provisional team captain, and four more on Wednesday, including potential starters Vezenkov and Mirotic. I need all four stars on deliver, Nebo to be solid, and someone else to perform well. I hope someone will step up. It is a bit of a gamble, but I can live with it. 

Remember, the 2022-23 EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime features better prizes than ever, so get your game on now!

And don't forget to use #fantasychallenge on social media all season long. Good luck!

Fantasy Challenge, Playoffs Round 1: unlimited trades! 

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, the time has finally come! The 2023 playoffs are about to start and that brings a new scenario in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, powered by Ardu Prime. Unlimited trades are allowed until the end of the season and of course, there are fewer players available as we are down from 18 teams to just the best eight. Still, there are plenty of stars to choose from. Here we will avoid the most obvious names (yes, those players you will grab anyway) and give you other options to make your team more competitive in Games 1 and 2:

See also: [Fantasy Challenge, Playoffs Round 1: unlimited trades! ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-playoffs-round-1-unlimited-trades/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/euroleague/)

[Josh Nebo, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) (12.2 credits) – Numbers-wise, Nebo has arguably been the most consistent fantasy choice at center over the last few weeks. Nebo has had a PIR of 14 or higher in each of Maccabi's last seven games. He finished the regular season with a PIR of 24 against Real. Nebo is on fire!

[Moustapha Fall, Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/) (11.1 credits) – Fall has been a good fantasy choice all season due to his high two-point shooting percentage (75.2% 2FG), rebounding and blocked shots. Getting Fenerbahce's Johnathan Motley into foul trouble should be important and I expect Olympiacos to look for Fall down low more often.

Josh Nebo, Moustapha Fall, Aleksa Avramovic, Nikola Kalinic and Guerschon Yabusele are featured in this week's article

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Playoffs Games 1-2

[Aleksa Avramovic, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/) (6.6 credits) – It took him a while to adjust to the EuroLeague level after his injury but Avramovic has been showing his best version lately. Avramovic averaged 18.0 points and a PIR of 20.0 in the last couple of months. He should keep his momentum going in the playoffs. 

[Nikola Kalinic, FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-kalinic/004866/) (8.7 credits) – We like a lot of things about Kalinic: his versatility and the fact that he always steps up in big games are the two main reasons we recommend him. He is also experienced and must be eager to return to the Final Four after being there four consecutive times with Fenerbahce. 

[Guerschon Yabusele, Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/guerschon-yabusele/010357/) (12.3 credits) – Yabusele was on and off the team in late March due to injury and seems to be in full shape now, averaging 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists for a PIR of 23.0 in Real's last two games. It's playoff time and Yabusele should be ready to showcase his all-around skills.

Fantasy tips: It's playoff time! 

Here you can find all the latest injury news surrounding all rostered players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

EuroLeague injury report, Playoffs, Game 1

Check out all injuries and absences expected in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague before the start of the playoffs:

**AS Monaco**

After missing recent EuroLeague games, Jordan Loyd and Chima Moneke are both available for Game 1 against Maccabi, the club confirmed.

**FC Barcelona**

Alex Abrines, Nikola Kalinic and Cory Higgins sat out a Spanish League game this weekend, but they should be available against Zalgiris.

**Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**

[Devin Booker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-booker-out-three-weeks/), who suffered a knee injury last month, will miss Game 1 against Olympiacos.

Nemanja Bjelica is sidelined for Game 1 with an injury.

Samet Geyik is sidelined for Game 1 with an injury.

[Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-wilbekin-sidelined-with-knee-injury/) (knee) is questionable for Game 1 and will be a game-time decision.

Marko Guduric is questionable for Game 1 and will be a game-time decision.

[Metecan Birsen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-metecan-birsen-out-six-weeks/) ris questionable for Game 1 and will be a game-time decision.

**Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv**

[Alex Poythress](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabi-loses-poythress-for-at-least-four-months/?pageTitle=Maccabi%20Playtika%20Tel%20Aviv&historyUrl=/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/tel/), who had suffered a broken hand, saw his first action since December in a domestic game last week.

[Jalen Adams](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabis-adams-out-for-season-after-shoulder-surgery/), who last played in Round 26, is likely out for the season following shoulder surgery.

Austin Hollins has not played since Round 21 due to a knee injury.

**Olympiacos Piraeus**

Olympiacos has a full roster available ahead of its 2023 playoffs debut against Fenerbahce.

**Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade**

[Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/partizan-announces-injuries-to-exum-koprivica/) is out, recovering from mononucleosis.

**Real Madrid**

Vincent Poirier is still recovering from appendicitis and will not play in Game 1, his head coach, Chus Mateo, said.

[Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/real-madrid-sergio-llull-out-indefinitely-with-knee-injury/?pageTitle=Real%20Madrid&historyUrl=/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/), out of EuroLeague action since Round 23, played in a Spanish League game on Sunday.

Nigel Williams-Goss, out since Round 28, is back in action, also played in the Spanish League on Sunday.

Carlos Alocen (knee) is out indefinitely.

**Zalgiris Kaunas**

[Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zalgiris-evans-suffers-torn-achilles/) will miss the rest of the season after suffering an Achilles injury.

[Tyler Cavanaugh](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zalgiriss-tyler-cavanaugh-out-more-three-months/) (back) will remain out until late April after undergoing back surgery.

Liutauras Lelevicius is sidelined with a leg injury.

Real Madrid guard Dzanan Musa has had an eventful professional career so far. He made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut at the age of 16, he was the 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star in 2018, the same year he was drafted into the NBA in the first round and spent the following two years there. After returning to Europe, Musa helped Anadolu Efes Istanbul win the 2021 EuroLeague title, he became a Spanish League MVP, and now he is Real Madrid's top scorer. Musa is a superstar and an idol to many in his native Bosnia and Herzegovina. And he's still two weeks away from turning 24 years old.

Musa says his biggest basketball inspiration is the late Kobe Bryant, whom he watched numerous times before having had the chance to play against him a moment he will never forget. But for Musa, basketball represents something really special for him.

"I just love the game," he says. "It's not it's not even about fame, not about money. Even if I wasn't this, a professional basketball player, I would still play basketball in front of my building. So, for me, basketball is only love."

To be where he started out and to reach the level he wanted to reach, Musa has sacrificed a lot since early childhood.

"One thing is on top of the list: I had to leave my home when I was 11," Musa says about going from his hometown of Bihac to the capital of Sarajevo. "Leaving my parents, leaving my brother: that was the toughest moment in my life. But in terms of chasing the dream of basketball, that's something that helped me a lot, just to mature as a person, as a basketball player, to know what I want to become. And today, living my dream, it's something special for me."

It took a lot for him, and his family, to get through that period away from each other, but Musa is very satisfied where he and his basketball game have arrived.

Musa touches on some pretty incredible and memorable moments in his young career, like winning a gold medal for Bosnia and Herzgovina at the U16 European championship. It was his country's first team medal of any kind, and he was the tournament MVP. And he will never forget his EuroLeague debut in 2015, at age 16, starting a game for Cedevita Zagreb against none other than Vassilis Spanoulis and Olympiacos Piraeus.

"We were shaking hands with the other team, and when I started to shake hands with Spanoulis, my hands were shaking," Musa recalls. "It was a very special moment for me. Everything was like a dream come true for me in that moment, playing against one of the greatest players who ever played in Europe, if not the greatest. It helped me a lot to encourage myself to continue and to show myself that I'm going on a right path."

That path might have not been a straight line, but it did take him from playing in the Croatian League in front of few dozen people, then through the EuroLeague and NBA, to where he is today, back in the EuroLeague, wearing a jersey of one of greatest organizations in all of sports, Real Madrid.

"Everybody knows and everybody follows Real Madrid, whether it's football or basketball," he says. "I wouldn't call it a pressure; that's the pressure more about yourself. Because, if you're capable of doing that, in this jersey, you can do it whatever and wherever you want. It's a very special feeling to wear a white jersey every night. And you know, to represent so many people who are your fans."

For helping him get onto the right path and stay there, Musa credits his family, which has made ton of sacrifices, just like he did. His family has been there for him for all the highs and all the lows, through all the ups and downs.

Now, that he has reached the highs, he intends to stay there by staying humble and focus solely on basketball, leaving behind all the potential distractions that every young player inevitably experiences. He admits that brings more nerves and pressure, but Real Madrid guard would not want it any other way.

"Before the game, I feel scared. Especially because everybody's watching. You know what you're capable of, but you're scared. If a basketball player says they are not scared before a basketball game, they are lying," Musa says. "But even when you're scared you've got to take the shot. Even when you're scared, you've got to make a team play. I'm embracing that thing of pressure. Pressure is the most beautiful thing in the world. When you feel pressure, you know you're doing something good. So, I love being under pressure."

#RememberTheWhy with Dzanan Musa: 'I love being under pressure'

Since the current Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs format was established back in 2005, it has become a showcase for the biggest players to bring out their best basketball for the most decisive stage of the season. Whether by leading their teams to many Final Fours, stepping up against all odds, or just being consistently solid at such a critical time, many players fortified their status as EuroLeague stars in the playoffs. Here are some of our favorite playoff legends. 

Legends of the EuroLeague Playoffs!

Since the current Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs format was established back in 2005, it has become a showcase for the biggest players to bring out their best basketball for the most decisive stage of the season. Whether by leading their teams to many Final Fours, stepping up against all odds, or just being consistently solid at such a critical time, many players fortified their status as EuroLeague stars in the playoffs. Here are some of our favorite playoff legends. 

[Dimitris Diamantidis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/dimitris-diamantidis/jko/)

When it comes to being a playoffs legend, Diamantidis checks all the right boxes. In 2011, he led Panathinaikos to a 3-1 series win past defending champion Barcelona without home-court advantage on the way to that season's title. The next spring, he had 25 points, 12 fouls drawn and a PIR of 34 in a Game 5 win against Maccabi. A year later, he buried a three-pointer to win Game 1 on the road, 65-66. Although Barcelona would go on to take revence in that series, Diamantidis had already won five consecutive playoffs with the Greens in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012. He is still the all-time playoffs leader in steals, with 45, and also amassed 328 points, 119 rebounds and 147 assists in 37 games. 

[Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/)

No-one has most playoffs experience than Llull, who has played 42 games in this stage since 2005, all with Real Madrid, with whom he will start his ??th series on Wednesday against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. Since his first playoff appearance in 2011, Llull has helped Los Blancos win eight series. In 2018, Llull returned to action midway through a series against Panathinaikos to help his team reach the Final Four and go on to lift the trophy. His overall record in the playoffs is ??-?? in series and 24-18 in games (57.1%). Among playoff performers all-time, he ranks second in both scoring (465 points) and assists (160). He now has a chance to increase those numbers and help Real win its 11th EuroLeague title. 

[Victor Khryapa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/victor-khryapa/bcq/)

Khryapa holds the record for most Final Four appearances, 12, all of them with CSKA Moscow. After helping his team reach the Final Four in 2003 and 2004 from the Top 16, Khryapa went on to win 10 playoff series without a loss for CSKA, from 2005 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018. Khryapa boasts a phenomenal winning record of 23-7 (76.7%) in games. He had 190 points, 147 rebounds and 82 assists in 10 playoffs series. If Khryapa was in the playoffs for CSKA, victory was certain. 

[Luis Scola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luis-scola/ajg/)

Scola played just two playoffs series with Baskonia but he made sure he was forever remembered at this stage. In the first year of the new playoffs format, he led Baskonia to the 2005 Final Four by sweeping Benetton Treviso without the home-court advantage. In Game 1 of the series, Baskonia thrashed Benetton 59-98 behind 34 points on 15-of-16 two-point shooting from Scola. His PIR of 43 from that game is still a playoffs record. In 2006, Baskonia became the first (and so far, only) team to win a do-or-die showdown on the road, defeating Panathinaikos 71-74 to reach the Final Four as Scola contributed 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

[Chris Singleton](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chris-singleton/006614/)

Singleton is the ultimate Game 5 hero, putting together two of his best-ever EuroLeague performances in this do-or-die situation. In 2016, he led Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar to the Final Four with 16 points, 12 rebounds and a PIR of 27 in an 81-67 win over FC Barcelona that was worth a trip to the Final Four. It was Singleton's first EuroLeague double-double and would remain his only one through his first 66 games. Then, in 2021, he exploded again in another Game 5, posting career highs of 26 points and 38 PIR as Anadolu Efes Istanbul outlasted Real Madrid in a classic, 88-83, on the way to the first of its back-to-back EuroLeague titles.

[Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) 

Sloukas's main playoff moment came in Game 4 of the 2017 series between Olympiacos and Barca, when his no-look pass allowed Georgios Printezis to hit a game-winning three-pointer that sent the Reds to the Final Four. Sloukas is a playoffs specialist, advancing to the Final Four eight times in nine playoffs series. His only loss came in 2014, when Real beat Olympiacos 3-2. Sloukas is tied with Andrey Vorontsevich for the most playoff games won, 26, which means he will take over first place with the first victory by Olympiacos in its series against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, which starts on Wednesday. He has a playoffs record of 26-11 (70.3%). 

[Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vassilis-spanoulis/juo/)

Spanoulis took part in eight playoffs series, winning five of them. Despite ranking just fourth in games played (38), Spanoulis is the all-time playoffs leader in scoring (531) and assists (189). He averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 assists, 5.0 fouls drawn and a PIR of 13.2 . He had 22 points, 6 assists and 10 fouls drawn in Olympiacos's come-from-behind victory against Efes in Game 5 of the 2017 playoffs. His playoffs heroics led to even bigger accomplishments: Spanoulis won three EuroLeague titles, earning Final Four MVP honors each time.