In the latest round of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, there were several players that made a sizeable impact in victories for their teams.
Round 10 roll call: Making telling contributions in wins
Stats
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Nnaji had a career game in Belgrade
FC Barcelona had to wait until the final second to beat Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 90-92 in Belgrade, Serbia. Barca was without starting center Jan Vesely while its other star big man, Willy Hernangomez, was in foul trouble. That gave James Nnaji the chance to see extended playing time – and boy, did he make the most of it. He set new career highs of 11 points and a PIR of 16 and had a perfect shooting night, hitting his 4 two-point attempts and 3 free throws. Nnaji added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls drawn, in addition to surprising Maccabi with his mobility. In one of the biggest plays of the game, Nnaji stole the ball and ran the court like a point guard before detonating a two-handed slam.
'Chacho' worked his magic
Despite Real Madrid's perfect start to this season, Sergio Rodriguez has been struggling a bit, averaging just 2.5 points, 3.3 assists and a PIR of 0.4 in his eight opening games. However, Rodriguez turned things around against ALBA Berlin as he showcased his elite passing skills. 'Chacho' finished the game with 8 points, 10 assists and a PIR of 15 in less than 17 minutes. He had dished his 10th assist in just 12 minutes on the floor. Rodriguez and Facu Campazzo became the first teammates to reach double digits in assists in the same game; the Argentine had 13. They helped Real to get 32 assists, a new season high. Above all, Rodriguez proved he will be ready to deliver when his number is called.
Booker led Bayern to 2OT win
FC Bayern Munich needed double overtime to beat LDLC ASVEL VIlleurbanne 100-101 at the brand-new LDLC Arena. Devin Booker played a major role in that win, finishing the game with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds in over 40 minutes on the floor. It was Booker's second double-double in three games and the seventh in his career. Booker pulled down 3 rebounds in the fourth quarter and as many as 6 in both overtimes combined. What’s more, he buried a couple of three-pointers late in regulation which eventually allowed Bayern to force the first overtime period. When the dust settled, Booker had delivered a rock-solid performance en route to a memorable victory for Bayern.
Cacok stepped up against Fener
Virtus Segafredo Bologna grabbed its fifth consecutive home victory on Thursday, as it downed Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 87-79. Devontae Cacok had not posted big numbers until now, averaging 1.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and a PIR of 0.9 prior to Round 10. With Jordan Mickey sidelined, Cacok saw extended playing time and made the most out of this opportunity. He finished the game with career-high numbers in almost all statistical categories: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 fouls drawn and a PIR of 16. Cacok received a warm ovation went he went to the bench, as the Virtus faithful recognized his efforts and the energy he provided in an important game.
Brown flexed his muscles on D in Vitoria-Gasteiz
AS Monaco pulled out a thrilling 75-77 road win over Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday night, and it was the visitors’ defensive effort that secured them the win. John Brown stood out for Monaco, as he helped limit his teammate from last season, Chima Moneke, to just 4 points and 4 rebounds, along with 3 turnovers. Moneke entered this contest as the league's second-best scorer with 18.0 points per game, and he had scored in double figures in eight straight contests. Yet, with Brown on him for most of the night, he was limited to 2-of-7 shooting from the field and did not get to the foul line once. Brown deserves a great deal of credit for this, while also helping on the offensive end with 8 points and 8 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass.