Here are the games EuroLeague.net staff members are most excited about in April. 

Games I am looking forward to in April 

Here are the games staff members are most excited about in April. They already selected their must-see games for [Round 1](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-round-1/), [October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-october/), [November](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-november/), [December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-december/), [January](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-january/), [February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/games-i-am-looking-forward-to-in-february/) and March.

### Round 33: Saras can exact some late revenge over Barcelona

*Geoff Gillingham*

In the penultimate round of the regular season, Saras Jasikevicius’s [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/roster/ulk/?season=2024-25) takes on [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/roster/bar/?season=2024-25), the club the Lithuanian coach left in acrimonious circumstances after the 2022-23 season. In the period between his exit from Palau Blaugrana and taking the job at Fenerbahce in mid-December last year, Jasikevicius wasn’t afraid to reveal his frustration over his departure from Barcelona. Therefore, it would be particularly sweet for the Lithuanian tactician if he is able to affect Barcelona’s seeding – or postseason hopes – by leading Fenerbahce to a victory in this Round 33 matchup.

Fenerbahce has a very strong roster entering the new season and will be hoping to reach back-to-back Final Fours for the first time since making five straight under Zeljko Obradovic between 2015 and 2019. A triumph over Barcelona would be a statement win, one which could instill even more confidence for a Fenerbahce squad aiming to finish the regular season on a high.

 

### Round 33: Monaco's ex-Greens host the champs

*Frankie Sachs*

The drama levels could be very high when we reach April. In this penultimate round of the regular season, both [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/roster/mco/?season=2024-25) and [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2024-25) could have plenty to play for. Preseason predictions would have them in the fight for the top spots in the standings, but one never knows how vital this game might be.

Just imagine a pack of teams clawing for positions, where the difference between winning and losing could be home-court advantage in the playoffs – or even the difference between the playoffs and Play-In Showdown. And a trio of former Panathinaikos stars – reigning MVP [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/), assists king [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and stud center [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) – host the Greens in Round 33! Now that is drama and thus a game I would not want to miss.

Nick Calathes and Mike James took Panathinaikos Athens to the 2017 and 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

2017-18 EuroLeague highlights: Calathes and James, Panathinaikos

### Round 33: The stakes rise with late-season Derby d'Italia

*Igor Petrinovic*

A rivalry game in the penultimate round of the regular season is a real treat and there is no other way to look at [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/roster/vir/?season=2024-25) hosting [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/roster/mil/?season=2024-25) in the first week of April. The two proud clubs and former continental champions have faced each other more than 210 times in all competitions, but just four times in the EuroLeague this century. And there are not many things better than two rivals bringing their rich head-to-head history into the EuroLeague… And the competition is better for it. Especially when it also means watching arguably the two best duos of forwards butting heads, with [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/will-clyburn/004888/) and [Tornike Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) going against Milan's [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/) and [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/).

Then there is the other thing that comes into play, the recent success of the two teams, or better, lack thereof. Despite big ambitions, neither team has reached the playoffs the past two years. Last season, Virtus was ousted in the Play-In Showdown, while Milan disappointed with a 15-19 record in each of the last two seasons and is determined to put an end to the drought. Being on the EuroLeague menu very late in the regular season, the biggest derby of the Italian basketball carries even more weight. And I am all for it.

 

### Round 34: Partizan, Real to finish regular season with a bang

*Javier Gancedo*

Tradition and rivalry come together when [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/roster/mad/?season=2024-25) visits [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-nis-belgrade/roster/par/?season=2024-25) at Stark Arena in the teams’ regular-season finale. Real won its first road game against Partizan 87-100 on February 14, 1980. Belgrade Arena hosted the [2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/eb-final-four-2018/), in which Real won its 10th EuroLeague championship behind an unstoppable [Luka Doncic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/luka-doncic/005929/). Two seasons ago, Real arrived in Belgrade with a 0-2 deficit in its best-of-five playoff series against Partizan, won twice on the road and advanced to the Final Four with a memorable come-from-behind victory in Madrid.

While already missing the talents of Kevin Punter via suspension, Partizan try to cope without Aleksa Avramović after a hand injury versus a Los Blancos outfit led by the towering Walter Tavares and bidding to repeat the heroics in the previous encounter and level the tie.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs Real Madrid - Playoffs Game 4 - Highlights

The fact that this is the final game of the regular season should add a lot of spice to the showdown. Real has done well against Partizan in Belgrade, winning its last three games. [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) played a decisive role in the 2023 playoffs, and [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) led Real to back-to-back wins over Partizan in the 2023-24 season. It is always special to host Real and Partizan fans will be ready to deliver a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Last season's [Alexander Gomelsky EuroLeague Coach of the Year](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/chus-mateo-is-voted-by-his-peers-as-the-euroleague-coach-of-the-year/) award winner Chus Mateo goes against nine-time champion Zeljko Obradovic. At this point of the pre-season, being under the April skies seems far away but this game checks all the boxes to guarantee a good time, both at Stark Arena and in front of your TV. Circle it in your EuroLeague calendar!  

Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action.

Games I am looking forward to in April

Serbia led from tip to buzzer in routing Puerto Rico 66-107 on Wednesday at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. The win lifted Serbia to 1-1 at the Olympic Games and dropped Puerto Rico to 0-2. The teams that finish first and second in each group as well as the two third-place teams with the best records will all advance to the quarterfinals on Tuesday, August 6.

Filip Petrusev of Olympiacos Piraeus scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds and Nikola Jokic tallied 14 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists to pace seven Serbia scorers in double figures. All 12 Serbian players scored. Christopher Ortiz was the top scorer for Puerto Rico with 19 points.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Serbia 🇷🇸 roll past Puerto Rico 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/hZ0TJ2jovA">pic.twitter.com/hZ0TJ2jovA</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818693937642484159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Petrusev was on point early with 8 points in the first 3 minutes as Serbia raced to a 4-10 start. A Bogdan Bogdanovic triple gave Serbia its first double-digit lead, 6-17, and Olympiacos center Nikola Milutinov’s dunk made it 12-24 after 10 minutes. A pair of Ortiz threes gave Puerto Rico hope at 18-26, but former EuroLeague MVP Vasa Micic scored twice and found Milutinov for a slam in a 0-11 run as Serbia pulled away. Jokic added 8 points in the last 2-and-a-half minutes of the second quarter as Serbia took a comfortable 35-52 halftime lead.   

Aleksa Avramovic had the hot hand early in the third quarter and then it was Nikola Jovic as the margin continued to grow, reaching 51-79 with 10 minutes remaining. Milutinov pushed the difference to 30 and Serbia continued to extend its advantage until the final buzzer sounded.

Nikola Milutinov was 1 rebound shy of a double-double against Puerto Rico. (Photo: FIBA)

### USA races past South Sudan

The United Stats of America clinched a spot in the quarterfinals by beating South Sudan 103-86 in Wednesday’s late game. The Americans sit atop the group at 2-0 and South Sudan is 1-1. Bam Adebayo led the winners with 18 points, Kevin Durant scored 14 and Anthony Edwards 13. The top scorer for South Sudan was Nuni Omot with 24 points, Carlik Jones, who has been linked to Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade for the coming season, produced 18 points and 7 assists, Bul Kuol added 16 and Wenyen Gabriel of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv collected 10 rebounds before fouling out.

LeBron James scored the game’s first 4 points as the Americans went up 6-0, but South Sudan responded with a 0-7 run and led again 8-10 after a Marial Shayok triple. Durant came off the bench and made an instant impact to give the USA the lead. A Derrick White triple extended the margin to double figures and Adebayo made it 26-14 after 10 minutes. Adebayo and Durant continued to shine, leading what became a 25-4 run.  Peter Jok knocked down a three as South Sudan continued to fight. Omot heated up, but the best South Sudan could do was trade baskets. Adebayo’s three from the corner made it 53-33 and the scoreboard showed 55-36 at halftime.

Carlik Jones of South Sudan drives past Stephen Curry of USA. (Photo: FIBA)

Jayson Tatum gave the USA a 21-point lead to open the second half, but soon a pair of threes by Kuol helped South Sudan trim the gap. More triples by Omot and JT Thor made it 62-52. Edwards stepped up for the Americans, who pushed the difference back up to 19. Shayok’s three-point play ended the third quarter at 73-57. South Sudan reeled off 8 straight points to get within 77-66, but that was as close as it would get. The Americans made one more push to take the margin to 22 and wrap up the win.

The four teams in Group C all played their second games on Wednesday

Serbia, USA win big on Wednesday

Leading the way for Serbian in its 66-107 win over Puerto Rico in the Olympic Games was Olympiacos Piraeus big man Filip Petrusev, who finished the game with 15 points and 9 rebounds

Serbia’s Filip Petrusev had his Olympic star turn against Puerto Rico

Serbia claimed an impressive first win at the Olympic Games on Wednesday by crushing Puerto Rico 66-107 at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. All 12 Serbia players scored, but leading the way for the winners was Olympiacos Piraeus big man [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/), who finished the game with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

The numbers were impressive, especially considering his 7 for 9 shooting. Petrusev posted a PIR of 20, which was second on the team to NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. What makes those numbers stand out even more is the fact that Petrusev did it all in just 16 minutes, which were  the fourth-fewest among the Serbians.


Petrusev was active from the start, securing a defensive rebound on the game’s first possessions and taking a Jokic pass for a second-chance score for the game’s first points. He had 8 points in the game’s first 3 minutes as Serbia went ahead 4-10 and would add yet another bucket before taking his first rest.

The big man added a jumper and a free throw late in the second quarter to help Serbia take a commanding 35-52 halftime advantage. Petrusev scored once more in the third quarter before taking a seat for good. He was not needed at all in the game’s final quarter and a half.

Serbia has one more game remaining against South Sudan in Group C on Saturday night and Coach Pesic knows he can count on Petrusev to deliver again when needed.

The Olympiacos big man led his team in scoring on Wednesday

FC Barcelona completed the remake of its frontline with the signing of Youssoupha Fall for the 2024-25 season. 

Barca rebuilds frontline with Youssoupha Fall

FC Barcelona completed the remake of its frontline with the signing of [Youssoupha Fall ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/youssoupha-fall/006568/)for the 2024-25 season. Fall (2.21 meters, 29 years old) arrives from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, where he spent the past three seasons. He averaged 8.8 points on 61.3% shooting and 6.6 rebounds over 31 EuroLeague games last season. Fall was fourth in the league in rebounds per game. He joins Chimezie Metu, who was signed earlier in the week, as the newest members of the team. They will join Jan Vesely, Willy Hernangomez and James Nnaji to form an intimidating frontcourt for the Blaugrana.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔵🔴 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐮𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜̧ 𝐝’𝐚𝐥𝐜̧𝐚𝐝𝐚 <br><br>✅ El pivot senegalès, de 29 anys i 2.21 metres, signa per una temporada<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/CpLaJzuLLf">https://t.co/CpLaJzuLLf</a> <a href="https://t.co/5xqkxlxwkH">pic.twitter.com/5xqkxlxwkH</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1818663571447746886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A native of Senegal, Fall moved to France at the age of 17 to join the junior team at Le Mans. He made his professional debut there and also played for Potiers and Strasbourg before making his EuroLeague debut with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 2019. He would spend two seasons with Baskonia before joining ASVEL. 
Fall, who scored his 1,000th EuroLeague point last season, is 13th all-time in two-point shooting accuracy at 64.7%. His trophy case includes winning the French League once each with Le Mans and ASVEL as well as the Spanish League once with Baskonia. Fall also won the French Leaders Cup with Strasbourg. 


Best of Youssoupha Fall: 2023-24

More Barcelona news

The towering center enters his sixth season in the EuroLeague

Spain captured its first win at the 2024 Olympic Games by defeating Greece 84-77 on Tuesday afternoon. The result left Spain 1-1 in Group A and dropped Greece to 0-2. Both teams play their final group stage games on Friday. The top two teams from each group and the two third-place teams with the best records will reach the quarterfinals.

Santi Aldama paced Spain with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Sergio Llull of Real Madrid tallied 13 points and 7 assists, FC Barcelona’s Willy Hernangomez posted 11 points and 7 boards, Rudy Fernandez added 10 points and Lorenzo Brown of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens dished 10 assists for the winners.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece with 27 points and 11 rebounds, Vassilis Toliopoulos of Aris Midea Thessaloniki contributed 14 points and Nick Calathes had 8 points and 7 assists in defeat.

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scream. 🗣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/wYu8SCW4fc">pic.twitter.com/wYu8SCW4fc</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818245657955627254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Greece jumped out to a 3-9 start thanks to triples form the AS Monaco duo of Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis. Giannis Antetokounmpo started to leave his mark and his steal and dish to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward Konstantinos Mitoglou made it 10-17. That’s when Spain went to its bench and Llull came in. After a Calathes three extended the Greece lead to 12-20, Llull scored 8 points in less than 2 minutes to bring Spain within 21-22 at the end of the first quarter. His next three gave Spain its first lead and he later dished assists to threes for Valencia Basket’s Jaime Pradilla, Fernandez and Brown as Spain went ahead 36-29. Alex Abrines of FC Barcelona added 2 more triples as Spain roared to a 49-35 halftime lead.

Despite strong play from Brown, back-to-back threes by Thomas Walkup and Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus sparked Greece and Antetokounmpo’s dunk made it 55-47. Willy Hernangomez restored a double-digit lead for Spain. A three-pointer by Toliopoulos on the third-quarter buzzer drew the Greeks within 62-56. Antetokounmpo scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter before Fernandez responded with a three for Spain. Antetokounmpo completed the comeback with a dunk to even things at 71-71 with less than 5 minutes remaining. However, Spain held Greece scoreless for the next 3+ minutes while Aldama started and finished an 8-0 run to regain control. Greece fought back to within 3, but Antetokounmpo missed a three-pointer and Willy Hernangomez all but iced the game from the line with 21.8 seconds to go.

Willy Hernangomez dunks for Spain against Greece. (Photo: FIBA)

### Canada improves to 2-0 by downing Australia

Canada took a big step towards the quarterfinals with a 93-83 victory over Australia. The result lifted Canada to 2-0 in Group A and saw Australia drop to 1-1. After trailing by 4 at halftime, R.J. Barrett scored 17 points in third quarter alone as Canada turned the game around and held on for good.

Barrett led the way for the winners with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks added 16 points apiece and Luguentz Dort scored 11. Josh Giddey amassed 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for Australia, former Zalgiris Kaunas star Jock Landale posted 16 points and 12 rebounds and Dante Exum netted 15 points in defeat.

Led by Giddey, Australia was ahead for most of the opening quarter, which finished 26-28 in favor of the Boomers. Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort combined on a 7-0 Canada run early in the second quarter to make it 33-31. Despite some great plays by Gilgeous-Alexander, a strong finish by Australia, including a Jack McVeigh three-pointer and a Giddey floater, made it 45-49 at the break.

Canada came out with more energy with the restart and outscored Australia 21-7 over the first 6 minutes of the second half with a red-hot Barrett scoring 9 of those points. The last of those gave Canada a double-digit lead, 66-56. Former EuroLeague star Exum revived the Boomers and a pair of McVeigh triples made it 72-70 at the end of the quarter. An 11-2 run top open the fourth quarter capped by a three by Barrett gave Canada a double-digit lead. Exum and Landale tried to fuel an Australian comeback, but Canada held firm until the final buzzer.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FRANCE 🇫🇷 SURVIVE IN THE OT ❤️‍🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/8YVHuPsx7N">pic.twitter.com/8YVHuPsx7N</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818334938929738101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### Strazel leads France to OT victory

France remained undefeated in Group B by edging Japan 90-94 in overtime. AS Monaco guard Mathew Strazel took the game to overtime with a four-point game with 10.2 seconds left in regulation. France improved to 2-0 while Japan dropped to 0-2.

Victor Wembanyama, formerly of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, led the winners with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Strazel added 17 points, Evan Fournier had 14 while Guerschon Yabusele of Real Madrid got 13 for France. Yuki Kawamura led Japan with 29 points. Rui Hachimura added 14 and Josh Hawkinson 16.

Hachimura stepped up early, giving Japan a 7-5 lead. Wembanyama followed a jumper with his second three-pointer to put France in charge, 7-12. Rudy Gobert and Fournier stepped up for Les Bleus, then Yabusele sank back-to-back triples to boost the French margin to 18-27. Virtus Segafredo guard Isaia Cordinier singlehandedly kept France ahead, 25-32, after 10 minutes. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens center Mathias Lessort dunked twice and added a layup for a 34-40 French lead midway through the second quarter. Japan used an 8-0 run that Hachimura capped with a fadeaway jumper to take a 42-40 lead. Fournier and Strazel provided answers on offense, making France regain a 44-49 edge at halftime.

Kawamura and Hawkinson each struck from downtown for a 55-51 Japanese lead soon after the break. Strazel and Yabusele rescued France and Gobert's dunk fixed the score at 64-69 after 30 minutes. Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne kept France in charge, 72-77, with 6 minutes left. Yakamura and Hawkinson fueled an 8-0 run that made Japan regain an 80-77 lead. Fournier struck from beyond the arc and Kawamura hit 4 of 4 free throws in the final minute for a 84-80 game. With the game of the line, Strazel sent the crowd to their feet with a wild four-point play off the dribble that tied it at 84-84 with 10.2 seconds left. Kawamura missed almost at the buzzer. Wembanyama had the game's next eight points, allowing France to get a 84-92 lead. Japan rallied within 90-92 but Strazel sealed the outcome from the foul line.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">No trouble for Germany 🇩🇪<br><br>World Champs secure the quarter-finals of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> with a win over Brazil! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/lqScDHw6rh">pic.twitter.com/lqScDHw6rh</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818390956368183766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

### Germany wins again in Group B

Germany remained undefeated and set a do-or-die game for first place in Group B by topping Brazil 73-86 on Tuesday. Germany and France face each other on Friday. Both teams locked their quarterfinals spot, and the winner will be the first-ranked team in the group. Brazil faces Japan and only the winner will have chances to reach the next round. 

Dennis Schroeder paced the winners with 20 points. Franz Wagner added 17, former FC Bayern Munich forward Isaac Bonga had 15 while Andreas Obst of Bayern got 14 for Germany. Yago dos Santos of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade led Brazil with 18 points. BKT EuroCup champion Vitor Benite added 17. 

Obst struck twice from downtown and added a three-point play in a 2-13 run that gave Germany its first double-digit lead, 6-17. Bonga followed a triple with a layup to boost his team's lead to 10-22 after 10 minutes. Bruno Caboclo, dos Santos and Benite brought Brazil back to the game and Gui Santos's three-pointer complete his team's comeback, 31-30. Schroeder and Franz Wagner allowed Germany to tie it again, 40-40, at the break. 

Schroeder and Franz Wagner kept pacing Germany after the break, restoring a 42-49 lead. Bonga dunked twice and Schroeder scored again to boost the German lead to 51-60 at the end of the third quarter. Germany kept excelling on defense early in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Bonga and Obst each hit one from beyond the arc to break the game open, 56-70, with 7 minutes remaining, as Germany kept full control of the game until the final buzzer. 

Spain, Canada, France and Germany grabbed respective wins in a busy Tuesday in Lille, France. 

Spain tops Greece; Canada, France, Germany improve to 2-0

Real Madrid's Sergio Llull provided the spark for Spain to take control en route to an 84-77 victory that lifted his team to a 1-1 record at the 2024 Olympic Games. 

Sergio Llull was the agent of change for Spain against Greece

Shortly after [Sergio Llull](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sergio-llull/tgb/) entered the game for the first time on Tuesday, Greece took an 8-point lead, which would be its biggest of the night. Then Llull provided the spark for Spain to take control en route to an 84-77 victory that lifted his team to a 1-1 record at the 2024 Olympic Games.

Llull scored 8 points in the last 2 minutes of the first quarter to bring Spain within 21-22. His next basket was a three that gave Spain its first lead. He added 4 assists in the second quarter – including for three-pointers by Valencia Basket’s Jaime Pradilla, his longtime Real Madrid teammate Rudy Fernandez and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens’s Lorenzo Brown. Those helped Spain pull away to lead 49-35 at halftime.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sergio Llull is up to 11 PTS and 3 threes in 6 minutes 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris2024</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Basketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Basketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/AAfYGF82Vc">pic.twitter.com/AAfYGF82Vc</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1818216826460848514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Greece rallied late, but Llull was there when needed with an assist and a layup in the game-deciding 8-0 run.

Llull finished with 13 points and 7 assists. He was second on the team in scoring with 13 points, in assists with 7 and in PIR with 18. Llull tied for the lead in +/- with 12.

Despite being one of the older players in the Olympics at age 36, Llull had all the energy needed in addition to his wealth of experience to make the difference and to lead Spain to a much-needed win.

The Real Madrid guard came off the bench to provide an early spark

Barça Basket has confirmed the signing of Chimezie Metu, who spent last season playing for the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons in the NBA.

Chimezie Metu joins Barcelona

FC Barcelona has announced the signing of Chimezie Metu on a one-year deal.

Metu (2.08 meters, 27 years old) split last season between two franchises in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons. 

With the Suns, the American big man averaged 5.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 37 games. Then, with the Pistons, he posted 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 14 appearances.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">🔵🔴 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐳𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐮, 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨́<br><br>✅ L’aler pivot nord-americà, de 27 anys i 2.08 metres, signa per una temporada<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/EyUzTHKwnS">https://t.co/EyUzTHKwnS</a> <a href="https://t.co/ScOFU6YU4e">pic.twitter.com/ScOFU6YU4e</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1818196434522370335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

By moving to Barcelona, Metu will make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut next season after having spent his entire career to this point in the United States.

Metu’s professional career began with the San Antonio Spurs, where he played between 2018 and 2020. During that time, he also represented the Spurs’ G League team, the Austin Spurs.

He then spent the next three years with the Sacramento Kings before splitting last season between the Suns and the Pistons.

More Barcelona News

New FC Barcelona signing Chimezie Metu in action for the Phoenix Suns in the 2023-24 NBA season.

This will be his first time playing in Europe

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and big man Jake Cohen will spend a ninth season together after they agreed to terms on a new deal.

Jake Cohen signs for a ninth season with Maccabi

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and big man [Jake Cohen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jake-cohen/005145/) will spend a ninth season together after they agreed to terms on a new deal. Cohen (2.10 meters, 34 years old) averaged 3.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 36 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season and was even more productive in the playoffs when he produced 5.6 points per game against eventual champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens.

In the Israeli League, Cohen contributed 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 24 games. He won his fifth league championship with Maccabi.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">➕1⃣ <a href="https://t.co/7anWHgYpVb">pic.twitter.com/7anWHgYpVb</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1817931508763537428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cohen burst onto the scene as a two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year at Davidson College, after which he first joined Maccabi in 2013. Cohen finished his first season on loan at Maccabi Rishn Lezion and then spent a season each at Aris Thessaloniki in Greece and Maccabi Ashdod back in Israel. He returned to Maccabi in 2017 for three more seasons and then played the 2020-21 season in Spain with Obradoiro. He began his current run with Maccabi in 2021 and has been there ever since.

Best of Jake Cohen: 2023-24

More Maccabi news

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of promising guard Mantas Rubstavicius to a long-term deal of which he will spend the first season on loan at BKT EuroCup side 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. 

Mantas Rubstavicius signs long-term deal with Zalgiris

Zalgiris Kaunas has announced the signing of promising guard [Mantas Rubstavicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mantas-rubstavicius/009299/) to a long-term deal of which he will spend the first season on loan at BKT EuroCup side [7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/roster/lkb/?season=2024-25). Rubstavicius (1.98 meters, 22 years old) has previous experience at both clubs and comes off a season in the Australian National Basketball League with the New Zealnd Breakers. He averaged 9.4 points on 43.3% three-point shooting and 61.1% two-point shooting plus 2.1 rebounds in 25 NBL games last season.

Rubstavicius began his professional career in Lietkabelis before joining Zalgiris as a 17-year-old in 2019. He spent three seasons there, playing for the club’s junior team, B team and senior team and made his EuroLeague debut in April 2021. Rubstavicius returned to Lietkabelis for the 2022-23 season before moving to New Zealand last season. He has also played for the Lithuanian national team at the junior levels and helped it win the silver medal at the 2022 European U20 Championship.

Best of Mantas Rubstavicius: 2022-23

The club will loan him to EuroCup side Lietkabelis in the first season