Name: Top 10 Plays | Playoffs Game 3 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Top 10 Plays | Playoffs Game 3 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Kendrick Nunn returned to form in Game 3 as Panathinaikos BC beat Anadolu Efes to take a 2-1 lead in their EuroLeague playoff series.

Coach Ataman hails mature Nunn performance ahead of Game 4 blockbuster

Reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champ [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) is on the cusp of sealing a return to the Final Four after the competition’s top performer [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) produced a vintage display to give the Greek giant a 2-1 lead against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in their quarterfinal playoff series.

The two teams meet again in Game 4 on Friday and after coming through a bruising encounter to grind out [a 77-81 road win in Game 3](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-beats-efes-77-81-in-game-3-to-edge-closer-to-final-four/), the Greens will be hopeful of punching their ticket for the May 23-25 showpiece event in Abu Dhabi.

Having endured a pair of torrid tests of his credentials in the opening two games when the rivals shared the spoils, Panathinaikos guard Nunn finally caught fire in Game 3 as he poured in 25 points, drawing praise from his head coach Ergin Ataman.

“Nunn is a great player and he understands that he needs to move the ball when he’s got two or three players marking him aggressively. In critical situations he attacked the basket superbly and was able to score 25 points,” Ataman told the postgame press conference after seeing his team fend off a fierce Efes onslaught in the fourth quarter.

“Once again, it was a great game between these two teams. Our offense started to work much better when [\[Kostas\] Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) came on to the court in the second quarter as we scored 25 points in that period and gained confidence. In the third, Efes kept playing aggressive defense on Nunn but this time he found a way to move the ball and we were able to take control of the game,” the Turkish tactician added.

Panathinaikos looked in trouble after Efes found another gear in the final 10 minutes to wipe out a 13-point deficit, but the holders showed the mettle and resolve akin only to the royalty of European club basketball as they weathered the storm.

The visitors thrived on a huge contribution from power forward [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/), who buried a clutch three-pointer to give Panathinaikos a 74-79 lead before Nunn sealed victory with a pair of free throws in the dying seconds.

Ataman acknowledged his team would take nothing for granted ahead of Game 4 with Efes showing the ability to bounce back from any kind of adversity.  

“In the last quarter we gave away some turnovers, offensive rebounds and last-gasp shots, putting the game on the line,” Ataman said. “Ultimately, we were able to find points through Nunn and win the game. Still, it’s only 2-1 and we know that Efes will continue to fight as they are a great team playing outstanding basketball.”

It was a tough loss for Efes head coach Luca Banchi, who hoped that his team would turn the series on its head after rallying from a similar deficit to win Game 2 in Athens, 76-79, levelling the series after Panathinaikos had won the opening clash 87-83.

The Italian tactician revealed that towering center [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) got limited time on the court on Wednesday after picking up an injury in Game 2. Poirier did not feature in the second half of Game 3 as he only netted 2 points, both of them from the foul line in 16 first-half minutes, which allowed Panathinaikos to grab a barrage of offensive rebounds. 

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">EFES vs PANATHINAIKOS Postgame conference is live now! 👀<br>Tune in here to hear from the coaches &amp; players of both teams <a href="https://t.co/2433Dnh9V5">https://t.co/2433Dnh9V5</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1917676601447256293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Banchi was adamant that his men would recuperate for the do-or-die Game 4, with [PJ Dozier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/perry-dozier-jr/012742/) also nursing a sore hand as the grueling series takes its toll amid plenty of physical contact throughout. 

“Unfortunately, Vince suffered an injury during Game 2 which cost him in preparations for Game 3 and we saw during the game that he wasn’t moving as well as he normally does,” Banchi stressed.

“I am sure we will be able to compete again in 48 hours regardless of the fatigue, the level of our opponent and the frustration with the tough loss we suffered. We will bounce back.

“We want to grow and improve as a team in the series because we know we are facing the defending champions. They came into the Istanbul part of the series with great desire and focus to avenge the one defeat they suffered in Athens but I believe we are responding well to adversity. There is room for improvement and that’s why we have to stay calm,” added Banchi, whose team steamrolled into the playoffs after winning their last eight regular-season games to jump from bottom-half doldrums into the postseason.

In order to keep their Final Four hopes alive, Banchi’s men will have to show every bit of that resolve in order to tie the series and take it back to Athens for a Game 5 tiebreaker. 

Game News

The regular season’s top scorer and MVP lifted Panathinaikos to a crunch Game 3 victory against Efes

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-04-30T17:45:00.000Z)

Injuries have not been an excuse for FC Barcelona, which downed AS Monaco Basket in Game 3 to breathe new life into their playoff series.

Barcelona keeps turning problems into opportunities – now its all to play for in Game 4

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) has had a troubled season when it comes to injuries. After playing less than 10 minutes in Game 2 of his team's playoff series against AS Monaco, former EuroLeague MVP [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/) returned to Barca's injury list, joining [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/), [Juan Nunez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juan-nunez/010106/) and [Chimezie Metu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chimezie-metu/013379/). Its only mid-season signing, playmaker Raul Neto, played just three minutes and 33 seconds this season.

In Game 3, head coach [Joan Penarroya](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/penarroya-joan?season=E2024) had three U18 players on his team's 12-man roster in [Raul Villar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/raul-villar/012317/), [Sayon Keita](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sayon-keita/012885/) and [Mathieu Grujicic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathieu-grujicic/012103/). Coach Penarroya managed to find the right response back at Palau Blaugrana, despite consecutive double-digit losses in Monaco, by doing what his team has done all season: turn problems into opportunities with a next-man-up mentality.

[Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) had never played point guard before this season and is now excelling at it. Since Nunez got injured ahead of Round 27, Brizuela has been able to distribute the ball better without losing his scoring punch, making the most out of his extended playing time. 

He had twice as many assists (24) than turnovers (12) in eight regular-season games without Nunez. In Game 3, Brizuela posted 14 points, 4 assists and just 2 turnovers in less than 17 minutes, missing just one shot, and had 10 of those points in the first half, with star guard [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) going scoreless.

FC Barcelona star guard Kevin Punter eventually found his scoring much, scoring all of his 14 points in the second half while also taking good care of the ball, finishing the game with five assists and just one turnover in Game 3 of his team's playoffs series against AS Monaco.

Punter steps up after the break

Punter eventually found his groove, netting all 14 of his points in the second half while also taking good care of the ball, finishing the game with 5 assists and just 1 turnover. After hitting 41.3% of his three-point shots in regular-season action, Punter is 4 of 17 from beyond the arc (23.5% 3FG) in the series against Monaco. 

That said, Punter is finding ways to help his team, hitting all 16 of his free-throw attempts while averaging 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 5.7 fouls drawn.

"First and foremost, we wanted to protect home court, and it was a must-win \[game\] for us, so I just wanted to be focused and locked in," Punter said. "We have to stay focused, take it one game at a time."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ca" dir="ltr">GRÀCIES PEL VOSTRE SUPORT, PALAU!!! 💪💙❤️ <a href="https://t.co/Fo8nK2Gfbi">pic.twitter.com/Fo8nK2Gfbi</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1917665259135066610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Before Punter took matters into his own hands, Barcelona used a mammoth 17-0 run to get the lead early in the second quarter. Barca held Monaco scoreless for more than five minutes and with Vesely sidelined, [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) proved why he is one of the best per-minute scorers in the competition. He had 6 points in that run, joining forces with [Joel Parra](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-parra/007464/) and [Alex Abrines](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alex-abrines/003478/) to put Barca ahead for good, 41-27. Hernagomez had 19 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3, giving Barca the frontcourt threat it needed.

"We improved our energy and our rhythm and our defensive situations \[in the second quarter\], and I think we deserved to win the game," Coach Penarroya said after the game. "It is a good result but the most important thing for us tonight is to rest well and prepare for the next game. The playoffs are finished when a team arrives to three wins."

Injuries have not been an excuse for FC Barcelona, which continues to fight through adversity


FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-04-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 39th winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! George Kleidonas beat everyone else in Game 3 of the EuroLeague Playoffs with his team 'PAO94', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 211.35.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Playoffs Game 3 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 39th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! George Kleidonas beat everyone else in Game 3 of the EuroLeague Playoffs with his team 'PAO94', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 211.35.

George had the following starting lineup: Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos Piraeus as team captain, then Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Mike James of AS Monaco, Nigel Hayes-Davis of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, and Willy Hernangomez of FC Barcelona. His sixth man was Alberto Abalde of Real Madrid. The rest of the bench consisted of Barcelona's Kevin Punter, Real Madrid's Eli Ndiaye, Panathinaikos's Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, and Olympiacos's Tyler Dorsey. His team's head coach was Barcelona play-caller Joan Penarroya.

The prize for finishing first in Round 39 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, George!

Marko Djukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 6,679.89 points.

Trades are now open for the 40th round of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/), which is Game 4 of the EuroLeague Playoffs, and there are an unlimited number of trades.

The first game of Game 4 tips off on Thursday, May 1 at 21:00 CEST as Real Madrid hosts Olympiacos, marking the next round's deadline.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become our next round winner!

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager. 

Kendrick Nunn and Konstantinos Mitoglou were the star men for Panathinaikos BC as it beat Anadolu Efes in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in its series in the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Nunn and Mitoglou bounced back to carry Panathinaikos at Efes in Game 3

Harried and hustled out of his rhythm in the opening two playoff games against [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/), [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) came back with a vengeance in Game 3 to inspire reigning Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champs [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/).

Nunn poured in a game-high 25 points to give the competition’s holder [a huge 77-81 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-beats-efes-77-81-in-game-3-to-edge-closer-to-final-four/) over the home team and a 2-1 lead in the series ahead of Friday’s potentially decisive Game 4, with a win guaranteeing the Greek giant a berth at the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

Unlike in Game 1 and 2, when he was clearly rattled by relentlessly aggressive defense from his markers, Nunn did not force the issue from three-point range this time. Instead of firing a barrage of tough shots from deep, having made just 4 of 16 in the opening two acts, Nunn relied on his enviable ball-handling skills to hurt Efes from inside.

The livewire guard weaved his way through traffic to sink one layup after another as well as some sweet mid-range jumpers, complementing that with a perfect 7 of 7 from the foul line to drive the Greens to the verge of promised land.

In his postgame comments, Nunn – who shot 9 of 13 from two-point range – acknowledged the bruising encounter was set to produce more thrills and spills, with all three games played so far going down to the wire and keeping fans on the edge of their seats throughout.    

“The last stretch was tough,” said Nunn. “It was a battle, they made a run and it really came down to the last two minutes of the game. We didn’t get as many stops as we wanted but we converted on the offensive end and knocked down some crunch free throws.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Family moments 💚<br><br>Full content on CLUB 1908 📲<br><br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/O0jvBD37wn">https://t.co/O0jvBD37wn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneClubOneApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneClubOneApp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToAbuDhabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToAbuDhabi</a> <a href="https://t.co/vKUuaq8zbM">pic.twitter.com/vKUuaq8zbM</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1917682681866805374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/), who netted a season-high 18 points after being scorned by his head coach Ergin Ataman that he needed to step up following a tough 76-79 home loss in Game 2, came up big as he drained a clutch three in the final minute which game the visiting team a 74-79 lead.

Mitoglou conceded that there was no room for error against an opponent as tenacious as Efes, with the home side rallying from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter before it was forced into submission in a heart-stopping finale.  

“We headed into the game aggressively and made all the right decisions to take a 13-point lead but Efes then came right back at us and one or two mistakes at our end was all it took for them to bounce back,” the power forward elaborated. “We expect the next game to be even tougher but our goal is to win it. I was confident taking those long-range shots, it’s something I work on every day,” added Mitoglou, who was 4 of 5 from downtown.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">W ☘️💚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneClubOneApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneClubOneApp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToAbuDhabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToAbuDhabi</a> <a href="https://t.co/gKtrq6YcHG">pic.twitter.com/gKtrq6YcHG</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1917674869371609407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ataman, too, was pleased with his team’s valiant effort and the fact that the Greens stood firm in the wake of a ferocious Efes onslaught in the fourth quarter.

“We played a perfect game until the last quarter, but then again it’s not easy in the last quarter on the road,” said the Turkish tactician, who lifted back-to-back EuroLeague titles with Efes in 2021 and 2022.

“Efes played aggressive defense on the pick and roll so we made a lot of turnovers and they also hit some incredible shots. It’s a big win for us because Efes is an extremely good team and all the games in the series have been very tough. We are 2-1 up now but it’s not over and we’ll try to win on Friday again to qualify for the Final Four.”  

The home team’s head coach Luca Banchi was only too aware that simple errors in the home straight cost battling Efes, which must now win Game 4 to stay alive: “Another tough game in the series decided by fine margins and we know we have to be very demanding to ourselves because every single mistake can be punished,” he stated.

If the opening three chapters are anything to go by, Friday’s encounter is set to produce another epic clash between these two heavyweights.  

The duo recovered from poor performances in Game 2 to engineer a massive road win in Istanbul

Defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champs Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ground out a priceless 77-81 road win over Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Game 3 to move a step closer towards reaching the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

Panathinaikos beats Efes, 77-81, in Game 3 to edge closer to Final Four

Defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champs Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens ground out a priceless 77-81 road win over Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Game 3 of their quarterfinal playoff series to move a step closer towards reaching the 2025 Final Four in Abu Dhabi.

Player of the game Kendrick Nunn produced a monster performance, scoring 19 of his game-high 25 points to lead the Greens while Konstantinos Mitoglou chipped in with 18 points and 6 boards, including a clutch three down the stretch.

Kostas Sloukas netted 10 points as Panathinaikos won the battle of the boards 35-26, having racked up 15 offensive rebounds and shot 16 of 16 from the foul line. At the other end, Shane Larkin paced Efes on 17 points, Dan Oturu added 14 and Elijah Bryant netted 13 to go with 7 boards. Ercan Osmani scored 10 points for the hosts, all of them in the first quarter as Efes led 23-20 after 10 minutes.

Game Videos

Having trailed after the opening 10 minutes, Panathinaikos roared back with a 6-17 run which propelled the Greens into a 31-37 lead on the back of effervescent shooting from Sloukas and Mitoglou as Nunn was tightly marked and given no breathing space in the backcourt.

The regular season’s MVP, who struggled in the opening two games, beat the halftime buzzer with one of his many audacious layups to give the visitors a 39-45 lead at the interval before carrying on at full throttle in the third quarter.

Nunn scored his team’s opening 6 points after the break, firing Panathinaikos into a double-digit lead as Efes stalled on offense and looked bereft of ideas. With Mitoglou hitting yet another three and Nunn adding four more points to his tally, Panathinaikos romped away into a 50-63 advantage late in the third quarter and looked set for some plain sailing in the final 10 minutes.

However, Efes had other ideas. The home side closed the gap to 64-65 with a fierce 14-2 run prior to Nunn making a three-point play, briefly halting the Turkish giant’s charge. Moments later, however, a sublime Larkin floater made it 72-72 and with the rivals all square, the stage was set for a highly dramatic climax.

Mitoglou came up big with a massive spot-up three which allowed Panathinaikos to take a decisive 74-79 lead and although Thompson replied swiftly at the other end, Nunn sealed the contest with a pair of ice-cool free throws to silence a vociferous home crowd.   

The reigning champs prevailed in a tense finish to take a 2-1 lead in the series 

Panathinaikos beats Efes, 77-81, in Game 3 to edge closer to Final Four 

Follow the post-game press conference after Game 3 between Anadolu Efes and Panathinaikos BC in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Follow the Efes-Panathinaikos Game 3 post-game press conference

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Kendrick Nunn spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Game 3 of their 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Kendrick Nunn: 'I'm just glad it's not my tooth!'

Willy Hernangomez was a crucial figure as FC Barcelona beat AS Monaco Basket in Game 3.

Barcelona found new ways to attack Monaco's defense in Game 3

[FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/) came into Game 3 of its best-of-five playoff series [against AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-beats-monaco-in-game-3-to-stay-alive-100-89/) knowing that it was win-or-go-home time. In Games 1 and 2, Monaco protected its home court with consecutive double-digit wins in the principality to take control of the series – and it looked almost unstoppable for large portions of both contests, too.

Heading into Wednesday night, Barcelona knew it needed to raise its intensity and capitalize on second-chance opportunities. In Game 1, Barca outrebounded Monaco 30-39, pulling down 13 offensive rebounds, but coach [Vassilis Spanoulis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/spanoulis-vassilis?season=E2024)'s team limited its opponent to just 18-of-36 two-pointers (50% 2FG). Barca finished the game with 11 assists and as many as 18 turnovers.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🌟 M𝐖P 🌟 <a href="https://t.co/sRRCy40qmg">pic.twitter.com/sRRCy40qmg</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1917672806252437875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Barca won the battle of the boards against Monaco in Game 3, 32-27, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds, but was way more effective in the paint at Palau Blaugrana. The hosts made 26-of-42 two-pointers (61.9% 2FG) and found a go-to guy in [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/), who was everywhere. 

Hernangomez had 7 offensive rebounds in Game 3, hitting 8-of-9 two-pointers. In the two previous games in Monaco, Hernangomez averaged 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and a PIR of 5.5 in less than 10 minutes per night. By finding a new offensive weapon, Barca managed to balance its offense and everything flowed better.

Youssoupha Fall and Willy Hernangomez helped FC Barcelona outrebound AS Monaco by 32-27.

Barcelona got more second-chance points in Game 3

In Monaco, Barca combined for 15-of-43 three-pointers in Games 1 and 2 (34.9% 3FG). With Hernangomez being a constant threat in the paint, Monaco was forced to double-team him, and Barca was smart enough to circulate the ball really well. The hosts finished the game with 21 assists and just 8 turnovers, hitting 12-of-26 shots from beyond the arc (46.2% 3FG). Monaco shot the ball really well (62.5% 2FG, 48.1% 3FG) but took nine less field-goal attempts (68-59) with the same exact number of free-throw attempts (15) than Barcelona.

"We have another opportunity on Friday to keep going in this series against a great, great team, so we are going to keep working and try to beat them again here at home," Hernangomez said after the game. "It's going to be super tough, but we are able to do it, for sure. I was trying just to give my best to help the team. Whatever the coach needs me to do, like all year, I try to do my best."

Long story short, Barca found a go-to scoring threat in the paint, took a better care of the ball and earned the right to stay alive against Monaco.

Coach Penarroya took advantage of the last few days to create a winning game plan

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens forward Konstantinos Mitoglou spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Game 3 of their 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Konstantinos Mitoglou: 'We expect a tougher game in the next game'

A monster dunk from Oturu! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night

Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Crucial block by Juancho! Motorola Magic Moment

Follow the post-game press conference after Game 3 between FC Barcelona and AS Monaco Basket in the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs.

Follow the Barcelona-Monaco Game 3 post-game press conference

FC Barcelona center Willy Hernangomez spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat AS Monaco in Game 3 of their 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.

Willy Hernangomez: 'Friday, we have another big opportunity'

FC Barcelona guard Kevin Punter spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat AS Monaco in Game 3 of their 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs series.