Nikola Mirotic, Barca: 'I love to play here in OAKA'

### FC Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius:

"Congratulations to our players and fans for the win. As always, I want to thank the Panathinaikos people for the great welcome here. Well, every time you win an away game in the EuroLeague, you have to be happy. I thought we found some solutions, first with Mike Tobey and then with Niko Mirotic, who had an unbelievable second half. I thought our rebounding was obviously amazing after the first quarter, that kind of solved our 18 turnovers. Overall, it was not an easy game, 18 turnovers show obviously that we were lacking some things in concentration and some situations but okay, like I said, here is not easy and we found the way. 

"I always say, it is not the first time that I say it, probably one of the 20 coolest seconds of my season, from the entrance to OAKA until there, it brings huge memories. Every time you enter OAKA, I have a great relationship with the fans and what can I say? Thank you one more time, and I hope this relationship will continue for a long time."

### Panathinaikos Athens head coach Christos Serelis:

"I think we didn't have a lot of solutions, defensively and offensively. Our guards had to play injured and also, I want to tell you that Paris \[Lee\] also had some problems and we tried to handle him. So I think at the end, we didn't have a clear mind, defensively and offensively, to play with discipline what we asked from the players.

"It was a tough result for us because I think that we tried a lot. But we didn't have, I think, in the fourth quarter, the clear mind, let's say, offensively and defensively, to score some easy points or some open shots, and after to defend better situations against the good players that Barca has. But the main reason why we lost the game, I think, was our defensive rebounds, because, from their offensive rebounds, they scored 17 points. Especially in the first half, when we played better, those points hurt us a lot. For sure, we had again one more game that we played without two basic players, and we also had Paris \[Lee\], who wasn't 100% healthy to play the game. In the end, he played 24 minutes. So we had to live with that and have to be ready for the next game." 

Game Videos

### FC Barcelona guard Tomas Satoransky:

"They just told me, it was without stats-padding \[almost getting a triple-double\], I didn't know about those numbers. But I am extremely happy that we won the game. We expected it to be a well-fought game. I think they came out with a lot of energy and good execution. We didn't hit some open shots and it was tougher at the beginning, but I think we reacted well, Mike Tobey played great and gave us a little push, and Nikola Mirotic in the second half as well. I am happy to get a win in the EuroLeague, it is always special."

### FC Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic:

"It is a great feeling \[being in the playoffs\], especially after winning this tough game here in OAKA. We knew that they were going to battle, and it is just something that we have done before also, making it to the playoffs. We have bigger goals, obviously, but there are four games left and we are already in the playoffs, this is great for us. We need to stay humble and keep working. I think we are in a good moment, improving as a team. This is how it should be. I am always saying it is all about my teammates. It is all about them, who pass me the ball, and the coaching staff, making plays for me. I am just trying to deliver and play my best game. Sometimes it is not just about offense, it is about feeling good and enjoying basketball. It is also sometimes hard to enjoy, but today, it was a great moment. I love to play here in OAKA, it is always great. I am happy about it."

### Panathinaikos Athens forward Dimitris Agravanis:

"I think from the second quarter we had a concentration problem. We had energy but we made a lot of mistakes. Mirotic is a great player. I was facing an injury problem, I missed some games and as a result, I didn't have a rhythm in my game. Today was my first day at Panathinaikos that I was completely healthy. I'm looking forward and I'm optimistic about the future."

Game News

Panathinaikos Athens v FC Barcelona (2023-03-23T18:30:00.000Z)

EuroLeague Live Blog: Fenerbahce vs. Milan

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Thursday Blog: Barca cruises into the playoffs, Maccabi wins again

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-03-23T19:00:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-03-23T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2023-03-23T18:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade rose to the occasion and fended off possible elimination this week by putting the breaks on the top offense in the EuroLeague for a 74-63 home win over Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Nemanja Nedovic led the winners with 20 points. Ben Bentil added 12, Ognjen Doric 11 and Hassan Marin 10. Baskonia got 15 points from Darius Thompson and 10 from Rokas Giedraitis. 

 Zvezda smothers Baskonia for crucial 74-63 win 

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade rose to the occasion and fended off possible elimination this week by putting the breaks on the top offense in the EuroLeague for a 74-63 home win over Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Down by 12 after 13 minutes, Zvezda dominated the rest of the game defensively, holding Baskonia to just 28 points in those final 27 minutes. Zvezda's record goes up to 13-17 while Baskonia drops to 15-15 and could fall out of the playoff zone as soon as tonight. 

Nemanja Nedovic led the winners with 20 points. Ben Bentil added 12, Ognjen Doric 11 and Hassan Marin 10. But the real difference was the 19 turnovers forced by Zvezda's defense on Baskonia, which got 15 points from Darius Thompson and 10 from Rokas Giedraitis. Baskonia's road record fell to 4-11 with its second-lowest scoring output of the season, almost 25 points below its league-leading 86.3 per game coming into Thursday. 

Baskonia made scoring look easy, though, as it started 0-7 on Thompson's second-chance triple and Maik Kotsar's inside baskets. The lead widened to 16-22 as Giedraitis added 4 points on the way to the visitors holding a 21-26 advantage after 10 minutes. The beat went on as a string of Baskonia players off the bench kept adding to the difference until it hit a high of 23-35 early in the second quarter on basket by Vanja Marinkovic. Then, it was like a switch flipped as Luca Vildoza and Facundo Campazzo started making steals and Bentil a block to ignite a Zvezda comeback with an 11-0 run to get within take a 39-38 halftime lead on Dobric's putback on the buzzer. Baskonia was held without a point for a full 7 minutes after having had that 12-point lead.

Dobric and Luka Mitrovic kept lifting Zvezda's advantage to 47-40 early in the third quarter as both teams went completely cold from outside until Nedovic broked the spell to make it a double-digit difference, 53-43. That spelled a 22-point turnaround in the span of 15 minutes. His next triple gave Zvezda its biggest lead yet, 62-51, after 30 minutes. Thompson took it upon himself to make 4 layups early in the fourth quarter, but it only got Baskonia as close as 65-57, and then Nedovic struck again from downtown to end the threat at 69-61. Mitrovic soon scored to restore the double-digit lead and Zvezda's defense took the air out of the ball the rest of the way to win handily.

Zvezda smothers Baskonia for crucial 74-63 win

 Dusko Ivanovic, Zvezda: 'We played excellent defense' 

### Dusko Ivanovic, Crvena Zvezda head coach

"I think seven minutes at the end of the second quarter defined the way of how we had to play against Baskonia, who is a team with so many talents and excellent shooters. But I think we played excellent defense."

"After the first 12 or 13 minutes, we found the way to win this game against the best offensive team in the EuroLeague and the Spanish League, because we played good defense."

### Joan Penarroya, Baskonia head coach

"I think in the first 15 minutes, we played our basketball, we played well, we controlled the rhythm. I think it was 23-35 in the first 14 minutes, but after the second foul they used, the rhythm and the game changed. It was very difficult to win. We have had 19 turnovers, and Zvezda had 12 more shots and 10 more free throws. In the second half, they controlled the rhythm and it's possible we played our worst game on the offensive end all season."

### Luka Mitrovic, Crvena Zvezda player

"Once we started playing defense – our guards, especially, put great effort on the defensive part of the court – we started playing better. To keep Baskonia on 63 points is really hard. They're an extremely talented and offensive-oriented team. So, I think that we did a pretty good job starting with the defense. \[Markus Howard\] is for sure one of the most dangerous shooters in Europe, not just on their team. So one of our focuses was to stop him. But, you know, Baskonia is a great team. We had to do the job on other players, too."

### Nemanja Nedovic, Crvena Zvezda player

"Luka and Coach said it very well. Our defense was on a high level tonight. We managed to stop a very high-scoring team like Baskonia. I think they scored just 63 points. That's a great achievement and I'm very happy with this win. We have four more games left, with this one five. I'd like to think this was the first win out of five, so let's see."

Dusko Ivanovic, Zvezda: 'We played excellent defense'

On Thursday afternoon, Valencia Basket announced a contract extension with guard Chris Jones for three more seasons, until the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Jones (1.88 meters, 30 years old) arrived to Valencia the summer of 2022 from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, when he had a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague breakout season. This season, Jones is averaging 14.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game for an average PIR of 16.0 in 23 EuroLeague appearances, 20 of them as a starter.

Valencia, Chris Jones together until 2026

On Thursday afternoon, Valencia Basket announced a contract extension with guard [Chris Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chris-jones/010568/) for three more seasons, until the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Jones (1.88 meters, 30 years old) arrived to Valencia the summer of 2022 from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, when he had a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague breakout season. This season, Jones is averaging 14.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game for an average PIR of 16.0 in 23 EuroLeague appearances, 20 of them as a starter.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">📝🧡 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChrisSabeCosas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChrisSabeCosas</a> <br><br>Cas 👉 Chris Jones seguirá siendo taronja hasta 2026<a href="https://t.co/vh1ajYPO9l">https://t.co/vh1ajYPO9l</a><br><br>Val 👉 Chris Jones continuarà sent taronja fins a 2026<a href="https://t.co/Cfi5U91qL2">https://t.co/Cfi5U91qL2</a><br><br>Eng 👉 Chris Jones extends with Valencia Basket until 2026 <a href="https://t.co/8zWcpDUGtw">https://t.co/8zWcpDUGtw</a> <a href="https://t.co/92iHbCUIXG">pic.twitter.com/92iHbCUIXG</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1638917457816752128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jones made his debut in the EuroLeague with Maccabi Palytika Tel Aviv in 2020-21, and this is his third season in the league. He has played a total 88 games so far and he is currently one of the players leading the Valencia charge for one of the playoffs spots in one of the tighest races ever. Jones has proven he can be a decisive player for coach Alex Mumbru and the team, and the club counts on him to be an important piece in the project for the coming years. 

Chris Jones extended his contract with Valencia Basket until the end of the 2025-26 season!

2022-23 EuroLeague highlights: Chris Jones, Valencia

[Vasilije Micic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vasilije-micic/002580/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul steps into the spotlight for the first episode of the "Remember The Why", a Euroleague Basketball and Adidas collaboration in which Turkish Airlines EuroLeague stars discuss their personal journeys.

The two-time EuroLeague champion and Final Four MVP was interviewed about the key moments of his career that propelled his path to stardom and the lessons he learned along the way.

Micic emphasized that some of his biggest decisions didn't seem logical to others: leaving the EuroLeague to sign for Tofas Bursa at age 22 in a quest to fulfil his potential; moving to Zalgiris Kaunas the next season with a backup role under coach Sarunas Jasikevicius; and, most successfully, joining an Efes team that had ranked dead last in the EuroLeague before he signed in the summer of 2018.

"It is definitely the best satisfaction so far in my career," Micic says. "At that moment, I felt that my experience with Zalgiris and Coach Saras was more than enough that I felt that I wanted to prove that somewhere. I wanted to show that knowledge on the court, not just by talking about basketball. And I felt the opportunity in Efes came at the right time. Even though everybody was kind of shocked, I felt that this was good because I wanted to create something from the bottom, from zero."

Use setting options to watch also with Turkish or Serbian subtitles.

Remember The Why I Vasilije Micic I Adidas x EuroLeague 

##### ***(Use setting options to watch also with Turkish or Serbian subtitles.)***

One year later, Efes was in the EuroLeague Championship Game, completing one of the greatest turnarounds in basketball history, and launched on its way to back-to-back continental titles in 2021 and 2022.

"I realized after that first season that it's time to stay there and prove it one more time, one more time," Micic says. "And then, without knowing that we will win the championships, but having that improvement on my skin and great experience, it's great."

Micic spoke, too, about overcoming a severe knee injury he had at age 17. Always aware of his great talent, he learned from that injury that good and bad things can happen in a basketball journey, but being able to weather the storms and enjoy the good times is part of the process.

"These situations never put me back; they always pushed me up and made me stronger..." Micic says. "Nothing accidentally happened in my life, to be honest. I mean, with some sort of talent that I obviously have, there was a lot of work that nobody followed or nobody saw, but I knew how much I did. And that's why I think each player who arrived to this level has that opportunity to believe in these things."

Micic also emphasizes the importance of filtering outside comments to instead trust your own skills and the people around you. Among the biggest lessons he learned was that, way more than stats, putting the team first is essential for success.

"Not checking your statistics or your individual details – about the points, whether it's assists or rebounds – that can really help you to maintain that level of professional success," he says. "Most of the players are willing to have the best statistic for themselves, but it's really impossible to be always on that level and to be able to succeed to win championships. So for me, this is something that each player should work on if you want to win."

Micic concludes that one of the biggest features of his progress to stardom has been to recognize that consistency matters most.

"There are many, many talented players that can shine for one month, two months," Micic says. "But to be able to do their work the best for the team and still stay recognizable individually, it's something that I bring – I think, in the last years – always to the table."

#RememberTheWhy with Vasilije Micic: 'I wanted to create something from the bottom, from zero'

Check out all injuries and absences expected in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague before Round 30:

**ALBA Berlin**

Johannes Thiemann did not play in Round 29 due to knee problems and is questionable for the game against Efes.

Tamir Blatt (thumb) and Yanni Wetzell (back) are questionable ahead of Round 30 game.

Yoval Zoosman has not played since Round 24 due to a shoulder injury.

Marcus Eriksson is out indefinitely due to a leg injury.

**Anadolu Efes Istanbul**

Bryant Dunston will not play in Round 30 against ALBA due to injury.

Rodrigue Beaubois missed two games Efes played last week, but is expected to play in Berlin.

Head coach Ergin Ataman, who was hospitalized with pneumonia earlier this week, traveled with the team and is expected to be on the sideline.

Dogus Balbay is out long-term after undergoing surgery on his left hip.

**AS Monaco**

[Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/monaco-temporarily-suspends-mike-james/) has been suspended by the club until further notice.

**Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**

Tadas Sedekerskis (muscle discomfort) did not play in Round 29.

[Pierria Henry](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/baskonia-henry-suspend-their-agreement/) is unavailable until further notice.

**Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**

Branko Lazic has been missing in action since Round 25.

Nemanja Nedovic and Ognjen Dobric are expected to return to action against Baskonia on Thursday.

**EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**

Kevin Pangos suffered an abdominal muscle strain and will miss at least two weeks, according to the club.

Shavon Shields returned after a long absence, but suffered another injury in the Italian League and has missed the last two games.

[Devon Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/milan-devon-hall-out-at-least-four-weeks-with-injury/) and Paul Biligha have been deactivated from Milan's roster.

Luigi Datome sprained his ankle in Round 25 and has not played since.

**FC Barcelona**

Cory Higgins (ankle) traveled for Round 30 but his participation will be a game-time decision.

**FC Bayern Munich**

Othello Hunter (back), who missed Round 29, is not expected to play in Round 30 at Milan.

Ognjen Jaramaz, who has played just once since Round 24, returned to training.

[Augustine Rubit](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/bayerns-rubit-out-indefinitely/) is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for an Achilles injury.

Elias Harris suffered a foot injury in Round 21 that has kept him out since then.

**Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**

[Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-wilbekin-sidelined-with-knee-injury/) will miss at least two weeks with a knee injury.

[Dyshawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-pierre-out-up-to-a-month/) will not be available until late April approximately.

[Metecan Birsen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahces-metecan-birsen-out-six-weeks/) will be sidelined into April with injury.

Samet Geyik and Ismet Akpinar are deactivated due to coach's decision.

**LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne**

[Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/asvels-lauvergne-suffers-torn-acl/) is out indefinitely due to a torn ACL.

Zaccharie Risacher remains out, having last played in Round 26.

**Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv**

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

[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/)remains sidelined since Round 11 with a broken hand.

**Olympiacos Piraeus**

Head coach Georgios Bartzokas is ill and not expected to travel to Belgrade for Round 30.

Kostas Sloukas, who missed Round 29, played domestically over the weekend.

**Panathinaikos Athens**

Mateusz Ponitka (ankle) and Dwayne Bacon (ankle) will not be available for Round 30 against Barcelona.

Derrick Williams and Paris Lee are dealing with minor injuries and they are questionable.

**Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade**

[Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/partizan-announces-injuries-to-exum-koprivica/) has been diagnosed with mononucleosis and is expected to be out indefinitely.

**Real Madrid**

[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/) is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

Carlos Alocen (knee) is out indefinitely.

Anthony Randolph (knee) has not played this season and is out indefinitely.

Nigel Williams-Goss missed Round 29. His status is uncertain for Round 30.

**Valencia Basket**

[Klemen Prepelic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencia-prepelic-out-4-weeks/) will miss four weeks due to a leg injury.

[Sam Van Rossom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-van-rossom-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) is out indefinitely due to a knee injury.

[Martin Hermannsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencia-re-signs-guard-hermannsson/) returned to action last week after a long-term injury.

Millan Jimenez is sidelined due to an ankle problem.

[Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-kyle-alexander-out-one-month/?pageTitle=Homepage&historyUrl=/euroleague/) is expected to be back in late March due to an ankle sprain.

**Virtus Segafredo Bologna**

Isaia Cordinier has not played since Round 23 due to a foot injury. His status is uncertain.

Semi Ojeleye has not played since suffering an internal abdominal oblique injury in Round 27.

Milos Teodosic has not played in the domestic league derby against Milan over the weekend and is expected to miss Round 30.

**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) has been sidelined since Round 14, and will remain out until late April after undergoing back surgery.

Liutauras Lelevicius is sidelined with a leg injury.

Isaiah Taylor is questionable with hamstring injury.

EuroLeague injury report, Round 30

We have entered crunch time in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season and while there’s an unprecedented dogfight among several teams for the available playoff spots, there seems to be a one-horse race in the battle for the MVP. No one can make a stronger case than Sasha Vezenkov as he dominating and most of his rivals are falling behind.

While Vezenkov seems to be in a league of his own right now, the rest of the MVP Ladder reflects mainly the players who have raised the level of their game to give their teams a necessary push as we enter the most decisive part of the regular season.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1479474/euroleague-2022-23-mvp-ladder-by-eurohoops-vol-4/)

EuroLeague MVP Ladder Vol. 4

Two teams fighting for the same goal meet on Thursday night (19:00 CET) at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade playing host to Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 30. Baskonia (15-14) ranks eighth right now and is looking to grab a good-as-gold road victory before heading back home for a three-game stretch at Buesa Arena, where it is 11-3. Zvezda (12-17), meanwhile, is in a do-or-die situation but is feeling confident, as it plays four of its five remaining games in front of its incredibly passionate fans. 

Key battle in playoff race as Zvezda, Baskonia face off

Two teams fighting for the same goal meet on Thursday night (19:00 CET) at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, with [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade playing host to Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Round 30](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-cazoo-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2022/262/). Baskonia (15-14) ranks eighth right now and is looking to grab a good-as-gold road victory before heading back home for a three-game stretch at Buesa Arena, where it is 11-3. Zvezda (12-17), meanwhile, is in a do-or-die situation but is feeling confident, as it plays four of its five remaining games in front of its incredibly passionate fans. 

Of course, it will be a special game for Zvezda head coach Dusko Ivanovic, who led Baskonia to the European basketball elite in the early 2000s. With Ivanovic leading the team, Baskonia made it to the 2001 EuroLeague Finals and the 2005 Final Four, as well as winning the Spanish double (league and cup titles) in 2002 and lifting another Spanish Cup trophy in 2004. Above all, Coach Ivanovic is credited with Baskonia's trademark competitiveness, what has been known as "Baskonia Character". 

Ivanovic had two more stints with Baskonia, lifting the Spanish Cup in 2009 and winning two more Spanish League titles in 2010 and 2020. In the latest one, Baskonia beat FC Barcelona on a go-ahead backdoor layup by [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/), who is now playing under Ivanovic again, although this time in the red and white of Zvezda.

Vildoza is one of only five players to have worn the jerseys of both Baskonia and Zvezda in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, along with Jaka Blazic, Taylor Rochestie, Landry Nnoko and Milko Bjelica. Only Ivanovic has coached both teams in Europe's marquee competition. Igor Rakocevic, a legend for both clubs, played three seasons for Baskonia, reaching back-to-back Final Fours in 2007 and 2008. Rakocevic, however, never played in the EuroLeague with Zvezda in his three stints with the club.

Earlier this season, Baskonia downed Zvezda [92-75](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/cazoo-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2022/26/) in Round 3 behind 30 points on 7-of-12 three-pointers by [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/), who amassed a season-high PIR of 32. [Luka Mitrovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luka-mitrovic/002553/) led five Zvezda players in double digits with 17 points. This time, Zvezda has Coach Ivanovic on the sideline and a revamped backcourt, led by its Argentinean point guard duo of Vildoza and [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/).

Zvezda is 4-3 at home against Baskonia, and it also won the last time they met in the Serbian capital. Baskonia's last road victory at Zvezda came in the 2019-20 season, 64-72, thanks to 22 points from Nik Stauskas. Curiously, not a single player on Baskonia's roster that day is still on the team. Vildoza ended up at Zvezda, joining three players that were on the floor in that game: [Ognjen Dobric](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ognjen-dobric/004007/), [Ognjen Kuzmic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ognjen-kuzmic/003479/) and [Branko Lazic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/branko-lazic/luo/).

This season, Baskonia leads the EuroLeague in scoring (86.3 ppg.) due to its excellent shooting percentages (57.7% 2FG, 36.3% 3FG), while Zvezda is 15th overall (76.1 ppg.). However, on the road, Baskonia's offense has not been quite as fluid, averaging 78.3 points on 56.4% of its two-pointers and 31.1% of its three-pointers. Zvezda raises its defensive level at home, allowing an average of 78.7 points overall but just 76.1 in front of its fans.

Above all, this is a must-win game for Zvezda, and its fans know it. Expect nothing but a wild basketball atmosphere in the Serbian capital this evening. Baskonia is 1-7 in its last eight EuroLeague road games and hopes to bounce back at a crucial moment in the season, knocking out a direct opponent in the playoff race in the process. As Coach Ivanovic said after Zvezda's loss against FC Barcelona last week: "We have small chances \[to go to the playoffs\], but we will fight as if we had a big chance. It is the same to us."