It only takes a quick look at the stats sheet to see exactly how important Dante Exum was for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in its 79-88 victory at Virtus Segafredo Bologna on Tuesday night.

The Australian guard did a lot of everything by registering 17 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, which was enough for a PIR of 33. That’s the second-highest ranking of Exum’s two-season EuroLeague career, just trailing the PIR of 35 he recorded in a defeat at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne earlier this season.

Exum, who first appeared in the competition last season with FC Barcelona, also reached a career milestone by surpassing 500 EuroLeague points, which came on his 51st appearance as he continued a fine run of form which has seen him reach double digits in scoring in 14 of the last 15 games.

The best plays of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard Dante Exum during his team's 79-88 win at Virtus Segafredo Bologna in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Dante Exum's best plays vs. Virtus

This particular evening certainly did not start well for Exum, who picked up an unsportsmanlike foul for crashing down on Daniel Hackett only five seconds after he entered the game off the bench midway through the first quarter.

But that was quickly forgotten as the 27-year-old launched into a typically all-action display, and he was particularly decisive during a key phase of the game.

Midway through the fourth quarter Exum exploded back-to-back dunks and then added a spinning layup, scoring those three baskets in just over two minutes as he extended Partizan’s lead from a slender 65-67 to a commanding 65-75. That was enough to seal a hard-fought road win, which keeps the Serbian team’s playoff hopes very much alive.

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Dante Exum's all-round performance powered Partizan past Virtus

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-03-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas had struggled to score points recently, so the Lithuanian side made sure that ALBA Berlin couldn’t easily put points on the board. And it worked to perfection, as it went to Mercedes-Benz Arena and grabbed a vital win in the fight for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Zalgiris failed to score 80 points in its last eight games, so it used its defense to get a 63-66 win at ALBA. The guests did not allow ALBA, a team that likes to run to get easy points, to score a single point on the fast break.

Zalgiris also helped itself by outscoring ALBA 6-15 from points off turnovers. Lukas Lekavicius and Achille Polonara both picked up 3 steals to lead the team's efforts on defense.

Zalgiris slowed down ALBA to secure important win

ALBA Berlin v Zalgiris Kaunas (2023-03-07T19:00:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich held its nerve to defeat LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 76-72 at Audi Dome on Tuesday night, a win that keeps its slim playoff hopes alive. Bayern looked in trouble offensively for much of the game, but Andreas Obst and Niels Giffey hit three-pointers to give the hosts the lead for good, before Corey Walden scored 8 of his 10 points in the final 3 minutes of the game to help seal it. Bayern improved its record to 11-16, three games behind eight place in the standings. ASVEL dropped to 8-19.

Obst paced Bayern after shooting 5-for-8 from long range and finishing with a team-high 15 points. D.J. Seeley scored 12 in just 16 minutes on the floor for Bayern, who pulled down 20 offensive rebounds. ASVEL's Dee Bost scored 12 of his game-high 18 points in the first half, making 5-of-10 triples. David Lighty had 13 points, Youssoupha Fall paired 12 points with 7 rebounds, and Jonah Mathews had 10 in a losing effort.

The two teams traded blows in the first quarter. Isaac Bonga nailed a three-pointer for the hosts, but Antoine Diot hit one before Bost hit back-to-back triples to give ASVEL a 12-16 edge. A triple from Obst helped Bayern take a 21-19 lead into the second quarter, when two more threes from Obst opened a 31-21 margin. However, ASVEL stepped up defensively, while on the offensive end, Fall did the damage inside and Bost made another triple during a 0-10 run to tie the game at 33-33. Bayern held 38-36 at halftime.

Nick Weiler-Babb gave Bayern an offensive spark at the start of the third quarter, helping it to a 44-36 lead, before Lighty and Seeley traded triples. An alley-oop dunk from Bost to Alex Tyus put the visitors in front, 49-50, but Othello Hunter and Niels Giffey made sure the hosts held a 53-50 advantage after 30 minutes. 

Retin Obasohan and Mathews restored ASVEL's lead in the fourth, 56-59, but 3 three-pointers – 2 from Obst and 1 from Giffey – on consecutive trips down the floor restored Bayern's advantage, 65-62. Lighty got ASVEL within 1 point before Walden stepped up, drawing fouls to get to the free-throw line but also nailing a shot from way downtown to help Bayern open a 6-point margin before the hosts closed out the game.

Bayern holds off ASVEL, 76-72

FC Bayern Munich v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2023-03-07T19:45:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus is back on top of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season standings with seven games left to play thanks to a 77-70 comeback home win over FC Barcelona on Tuesday. It was the Olympiacos bench brigade – Giannoulis Larentzakis, Shaquielle McKissic, Alec Peters and Tarik Black  – who made the difference.

 Reds' bench brigade assured pivotal win over Barca 

Olympiacos Piraeus is back on top of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season standings with seven games left to play thanks to [a 77-70 comeback home win ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/olympiacos-piraeus-fc-barcelona/E2022/236/#boxscore)over FC Barcelona on Tuesday that gave the Reds a sweep of their four games this season with Barca and Real Madrid, the two teams right behind them.

On this occasion, it was the Olympiacos bench brigade that made the difference. Olympiacos was behind 11-22 on its home floor early in the second quarter and getting outhustled by Barca when Giannoulis Larentzakis hit a three-pointer off an assist from Shaquielle McKissic to start the turnaround. Alec Peters had 4 more points and Tarik Black 2 in that 12-0 run, which changed everything. 

Barca would take the lead back briefly after that, but McKissic's three-pointer on the halftime buzzer would mark the last time that Olympiacos would trail in the game as its second unit took the reins the rest of the way. As Barcelona hung tough into the final quarter, coming within 59-55, it was McKissic, Peters, Larentzakis and Black combining for 13 of the team's last 18 points to put the victory on ice.

Giannoulis Larentzakis, Shaquielle Mckissic and 2 others Highlights vs. Barcelona, 03/07/2023

Olympiacos bench brigade highlights vs Barcelona

McKissic would finish with a team-high 16 points and Larentzakis 14 while Black had 5 of the team's 15 offensive rebounds. That was Black's third game in the last 12 with 5 offensive rebounds.

"I think that second unit, you know, sometimes we have competitions with the first unit, and today was just our day," McKissic said after the game. "I believe in \[Larentzakis\] a lot and he believes in me, so we have a lot of fun out there. Coach believed in us, and we just went out there and fought hard."

All told, those four Olympiacos reserves – the only ones called into action by head coach Georgios Bartzokas – scored 58.8% of the team's 77 points and had 56.1% of the team PIR of 82. They made what started as a tough night turn into one that proves the Reds don't have to rely on their stars to win even after spotting 11 points to one of the best teams in the EuroLeague.

Reds' bench brigade assured pivotal win over Barca

Olympiacos Piraeus v FC Barcelona (2023-03-07T19:00:00.000Z)

In a hard-fought basketball battle that went down to the final two plays, Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz improved its chances to reach the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs after edging Real Madrid 81-85 in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night. Baskonia improved to 15-12 in the standings, breaking a six-game road losing streak, while Real dropped to 18-8. Matt Costello won the game with a four-point play in the final second.

Costello led the winners with 20 points, 6 of which came in the final 35 seconds. Darius Thompson added 18 points, 14 assists and 3 steals, while Maik Kotsar scored 13 points and Markus Howard had 11. Dzanan Musa led Real with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Walter Tavares contributed 13 and Vincent Poirier chipped in with 10 for the hosts.

Adam Hanga and Nigel Williams-Goss fueled a 9-0 run that Poirier capped with a dunk for a 9-2 Real lead. Baskonia found a go-to guy in Thompson, who joined forces with Kotsar to bring the guests within 16-12. Guerschon Yabusele allowed *Los Blancos* to extend their margin to 22-17 after 10 minutes. 

Steven Enoch took over with a one-handed alley-oop dunk, and Costello struck twice from beyond the arc to make Baskonia regain a 28-29 edge. Max Heidegger soon boosted the guests' lead to 32-38. Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez each buried a triple, before Musa's three-point play fixed the halftime score at 43-40.

Kotsar stepped up after the break, then Thompson and Vanja Marinkovic each buried a three-pointer to give Baskonia a 47-52 margin. Thompson kept pacing Baskonia, and Costello's third triple boosted the guests' lead to 50-59. Real found a go-to guy in Musa, who had 7 points in a 10-0 run that he capped with a bomb from downtown. Fernandez and Tavares kept Los Blancos ahead, 65-62, after 30 minutes. 

Thompson, Rokas Giedraitis and Howard each struck from downtown for a 71-71 tie with over 6 minutes left. Tavares and Musa fueled a 7-0 run that gave Real a 78-71 lead. But, Howard and Costello allowed Baskonia to tie the game again, 79-79. In the closing stages, Costello erased Gabriel Deck's layup with a dunk and took advantage of a huge block by Daulton Hommes to with the game with a four-point play at the buzzer!

Matt Costello the hero as Baskonia beats Real, 81-85

Real Madrid v Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2023-03-07T19:45:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan celebrated its fifth successive win on Tuesday night after Shabazz Napier had a career-high 28 points to lead the Italian side to an epic 84-88 win at Valencia Basket on Tuesday night, which rekindled visitors' hopes of reaching the playoffs. This victory improved Milan to 11-15, whereas Valencia fell to 13-14.

Fit-again Kevin Pangos, who returned to action for the first time since November after being sidelined by injury, posted 13 points and 6 rebounds. Nicolo Melli netted 11 points and Billy Baron chipped in with 10 points for Milan, who erased an 11-point deficit thanks to sound three-point shooting (15-of-32) and a strong third quarter that saw Ettore Messina's side outscore Valencia 13-26.

Chris Jones paced Valencia with 19 points. Jared Harper and Josep Puerto posted 15 each, while Josep Rivero netted 10, but the home team’s captain, Bojan Dubljevic, was confined to just 8 points on a tough night for the Montenegrin center.

Valencia made the brighter start as the home side raced into a 14-7 lead on the back of physical defense and quick transitions, with the advantage soaring to 28-17 early in the second quarter. Milan’s big men, Melli and Johannes Voightmann, made little impact in the first half as Valencia's aggressive defense swarmed them in the paint. But, the visiting team started making up ground, with Napier and Pangos firing on all cylinders late in the second quarter.

The Napier-Pangos tandem continued to enjoy themselves after the break, with Napier being particularly lethal, mixing long-range shots with lightning drives to the basket which left his markers bedazzled. Milan carried a 55-65 advantage into the final 10 minutes and it looked like the visitors would win comfortably when clutch shots from Pangos and Napier, the latter drilling in a three-pointer with 1:50 left on the clock, gave them a 72-80 lead.

However, Valencia was not about to roll over and, driven by Harper, the hosts staged a spirited late fightback which slashed the deficit to 84-86 in the final minute. Napier then missed the second of 2 free throws with Milan trying to run down the clock, but Melli came up with a huge offensive rebound and Napier was back on the foul line a few seconds later.

The versatile point guard sank both free throws this time and Valencia then threw away its last possession, suffering a potentially damaging defeat which could cost the Spanish side a post-season berth.

Milan keeps rolling at Valencia, 84-88

Valencia Basket v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-03-07T19:30:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade strengthened its playoff push by outlasting Virtus Segafredo Bologna 79-88 in an exciting tussle at Virtus Segafredo Arena on Tuesday night. Partizan improved to 15-12 after winning six of its last seven games, while Virtus dropped to 12-15 with three losses in four.

Partizan made a lightning start to take early control, but Virtus roared back to lead by 2 at the break. It stayed close throughout the third quarter and most of the fourth, before Partizan pulled clear in the final stages. Dante Exum was the main inspiration with 17 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals, while James Nunnally scored 18 points and Kevin Punter added 17. Jordan Mickey had 13 points and 9 rebounds for Virtus, and Milos Teodosic recorded a double-double of 11 points and 12 assists but also committed 8 turnovers.

Daniel Hackett and Punter both scored 5 points in a fast-paced start, 12-13. Two more baskets apiece for Punter and Mathias Lessort bettered three scores from Semi Ojeleye to keep the visitors ahead, 26-28, after 10 minutes. Awudu Abass netted three times as Virtus surged ahead, 38-34, but two battling scores from Zach LeDay kept it close, 47-45, at the interval.

Alen Smailagic and Nunnally both scored twice as Partizan started the second half with a 2-9 run to lead 49-54, and after several free throws, Nunnally stayed hot with a long two to close the third quarter with the score at 63-65. Exum scored 6 fast points including two big dunks, to stretch the lead to 67-77 midway through the fourth, but two baskets from Jaiteh helped pull it back to 76-79. Punter’s triple revived Partizan, and Exum scored again to seal the outcome.

Partizan finishes strong to overcome Virtus, 79-88

 Niels Giffey, Bayern: 'We had a solid game' 

### Andrea Trinchieri, FC Bayern Munich head coach 

"The game did not look good, but the test of the win is very good. In the game like this we did not have a rhythm, they tried to make us fall asleep with their very containing defense, and we had to take some shots. We were shooting a lot of three-point shots because the paint was really locked. I take the win and I go home. I believe the game was tougher because we were not able to gear up in the game. We were very slow. I understand. It is never easy play play play, and always find the same good vibes, the same good rhythm, offense and defense. Despite another great game, we go home with a win.

"I think it is a great quality for a team to be able to win without playing good. I know \[that there are\] a lot of games when you play great but you don't win. We did not have the same energy we did in the last games, and the athleticism of ASVEL caused us some problems on offense. We did not have rhythm, we did not have players able to read situations, especially \[our\] guards. It is a great thing that a team is able to win in the EuroLeague without playing at its best.

"We shot a lot of three-point shots because they had a big guy \[Youssoupha Fall\] in the paint; they did not move from the paint, they parked their bus in the paint like \[famous football coach Jose\] Mourinho, and it was difficult to find something in the paint. On the other hand, we don't have our best post-up player \[Vladimir Lucic\]. So, we were forced to play a lot of pick and rolls, more than I want, and to shoot the ball. It is a great thing to be able to go so strong to rebound, and it was the reason we won the game. Extra possessions gave us pure oxygen on offense. But that number \[of 20 offensive rebounds\] is because the game was going in that direction."

### Morgan Belnou, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne coach 

"In the EuroLeague, it is in details. When Bayern takes 20 offensive rebounds it is difficult to win on the road. But I am proud of the players, they showed resistance to the physical impact from Bayern."

### Niels Giffey, FC Bayern Munich forward 

"It was good for us to protect home court. It is important for us to keep improving our game as the season goes on and prolongs. Step by step, that is what we are doing. We had a solid game, and in the end we had to take a win at the free throw line. It was important to keep our composure, and we made some good shots."

### Andreas Obst, FC Bayern Munich guard 

"I think we had great open looks. Credit goes to the team, we moved the ball, shared the ball and rebounded the ball. All season long, as a team, we have a good chemistry. Everybody can have a good game, maybe nobody has ever 20 points, but a lot of players have double digits, a lot of us sharing the points. That tells a lot about our team. Against Olympiacos we've got to be focused for 40 minutes. I think last year we had a tough game there. Going there is not easy, they are a great team playing good basketball, smart, have experience. Great talent. We have to be focused and fresh for the game."

Niels Giffey, Bayern: 'We had a solid game'

Zalgiris Kaunas earned a critical victory in its fight to make the playoffs after beating ALBA Berlin 63-66 at Mercedes-Benz Arena. In a topsy-turvy game in which the biggest lead on the night was 6 points, the contest was not decided for good until Rolands Smits’s layup with 1.8 seconds left. Zalgiris finally won on the road again, snapping a four-game losing streak, while ALBA lost its eighth game in its last nine to drop to 7-20.

 

Isaiah Taylor scored 14 points for Zalgiris, who also had Edgaras Ulanovas pick up 10 points in the win. Achille Polonara enjoyed his best game since joining Zalgiris mid-season, posting 9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. ALBA forward Luke Sikma had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Jaleen Smith hit a three-pointer early on as ALBA opened an 8-4 lead after four minutes. Zalgiris’s defense started getting stops and that allowed the visitors to lead 14-15 after 10 minutes. 

ALBA twice evened the game – 22-22 and 27-27 – but Zalgiris’s defense held the German side scoreless for the final 2:25 minutes of the half. Lukas Lekavicius sparked Zalgiris with 7 points and 2 steals in the final 4 minutes for a 27-33 advantage at the interval.

ALBA was unable to find its usual rhythm on offense, but Sikma and Maodo Lo hit a three-pointer apiece in a 10-2 run during the first 6 minutes of the second half to see the home side nudge in front, 37-35. ALBA remained ahead, 45-44, after 30 minutes.

Thanks to its defense, Zalgiris was able to hold ALBA scoreless for nearly three minutes, with Taylor scoring 4 points down the other end to help the guests move ahead, 47-52. Christ Koumadje helped ALBA trim the margin to 52-53 and, thanks to Zalgiris missing some free throws, Lo put ALBA up 56-55. Ulanovas and Taylor scored tough baskets in the paint and, after the team had made just 7-of-15 free throws in the quarter, Ulanovas drained 2 foul shots with 6.6 seconds to go for a 60-64 lead. Rolands Smits added a layup with 1.8 seconds remaining to finish off the game.

Dante Exum's all-round performance powered Partizan past Virtus

Zalgiris slowed down ALBA to secure important win

Bayern holds off ASVEL, 76-72

Reds' bench brigade assured pivotal win over Barca

Matt Costello the hero as Baskonia beats Real, 81-85

Milan keeps rolling at Valencia, 84-88

Partizan finishes strong to overcome Virtus, 79-88

Niels Giffey, Bayern: 'We had a solid game'

Zalgiris survives back-and-forth battle at ALBA, 63-66