Name: Top 10 Plays | RS Round 24 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

Some statistical insight to the games that will finalize the BKT EuroCup playoff picture

Stats review: Looking back to prepare for this week's key clashes

The final round of the BKT EuroCup has arrived with seven teams vying for five remaining postseason berths and five teams competing for the two remaining byes to the quarterfinals as the drama of the regular season will not be decided until the final buzzer next on Wednesday.

While [Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/hta/) and [Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-bank-yahav-jerusalem/jer/) control their destinies among the teams racing for second place in their respective groups, things in the middle of the standings are a lot more complicated.

[Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/)’s result in Round 18 will go a long way to settling things in Group A as it travels to Lithuania to take on [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-twinsbet-vilnius/wol/). Buducnost crystallizes the top-three teams in the current standings above as playoff qualifiers with a win while Wolves gets in with a win, but leaves the other two spots up for grabs. In their first matchup in Round 9, Buducnost shot 13 for 27 from beyond the arc to cruise to a comfortable win as its defense stepped up. Buducnost has risen into the top four in offensive efficiency but has shot 43% from beyond the arc at home compared to 31% on the road — a trend Wolves will need to hope holds in Twinsbet Arena to find its way into the postseason field.

[Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-fibabanka-istanbul/bes/) and [ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) are both in with a win, with Besiktas hosting six-win [Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/trn/) and Ulm facing a Hapoel Tel Aviv team that with a win in Germany can secure a bye into the quarterfinals. Besiktas put together a standout defensive performance to beat Trento in Italy in Round 9 while Ulm scored perhaps its biggest win of the season in a two-point victory over Hapoel that same week. Even if Wolves upends the standings with a win, Ulm – whose youth has been apparent in its ups and down defensively this season – will likely need to find a way to score another victory against one of the league’s hottest teams to keep their season alive.

Things are a bit less complicated in Group B where the final seedings may hinge on [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/)’s ability to go to La Fonteta and defeat a Valencia Basket team that still has something to play for as a win will assure it home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Bourg fell victim to one of Valencia’s ten 100-point games — and considering that it has not scored less than 96 points in a home game this season — may have to rise to that level to score the upset.

Holding the top efficiency differential among the teams yet to punch their ticket to the playoffs, [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) will travel to Greece to take on [Aris Midea Thessaloniki](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/ari/) — a team that has had a hard getting shots to fall on the year, but has done a good enough job getting stops to notch a few upset wins when it has. After starting the year 0-3, Cluj has turned its season around and holds tiebreakers over Group B’s other nine-win teams giving it the inside track to one of the two remaining playoff slots.

[Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) has scratched and clawed its way here with intense defense and rebounding over the second half of the season and will have a chance to finish the regular season on a high note at home against [7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/). After beating Cluj to create this scenario in Round 17, Lietkabelis has not relented following their 2-8 start. Reyer has to avoid the upset to have a chance to move on.

The tension heading into the final week of the season is palpable even as the cut line is a little higher than it was a year ago.

Some statistical insight to the games that will finalize the playoff picture

Maximizing trips to the free-throw line is having an impact on the EuroLeague's offensive renaissance this season

Stats review: Making noise from the foul line

It was an eventful week in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague capped by a tense duel between [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) and [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) in the Belgrade derby that did not see either team ever lead by more than 6 points.

In victory, Zvezda did not convert a single catch-and-shoot jump shot, but went 20 of 24 from the foul line to close out [a two-point win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-earns-bragging-rights-over-partizan-in-belgrade-derby-71-73/) after Partizan had pulled things even in the final minutes. With seven different players making at least 2 free throws, the away team’s poise in front of one of the sport’s greatest atmospheres was critical to the win.

Zvezda’s free throw shooting in the Belgrade derby was just another example of how teams are finding ways to win games on the margins this season. There are currently seven teams with a point differential of under two points per game; the details matter more than ever in the EuroLeague.

The table above shows which teams have gotten to the line at the highest rates this season, the percentage of their total points that have come from foul shots, and their free-throw percentage.

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) and [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) have gone to the line more consistently than any other teams on the year and rank first and second in overall offensive efficiency, respectively. While Olympiacos has been able to rely on its back-to-the-basket threats to draw fouls in one-on-one situations, it has been Milan’s ability to draw contact driving closeouts and using advantages off screens from the perimeter that has driven its placement on this list.

The EuroLeague at large has an interesting relationship with the foul line relative to other top-tier leagues at the moment.  And there is one big reason: the four players who have made over 100 free throws so far this season are shooting a combined 90% at the line.  Perhaps just as notable is the fact that only one of those players — [Theo Maledon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/theo-maledon/007027/) who has made 47 more free throws than anyone else this season by drawing fouls in bunches — is a primary ball handler. The other three players above that mark are [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/), [Nikola Mirotic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-mirotic/000796/), and [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/).  Olympiacos and Milan have been as deliberate about the process of getting their versatile frontcourt stars to the line as any teams in the sport, and the payoff for them has been staggering.

[Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) represents a more conventional free-throw generating profile. The collective effort and physicality of its lineups in transition and on the offensive glass bolster the efforts of its main offensive options. Twenty-three-year-old center [Momo Diouf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mouhamet-diouf/013374/) is the most glaring example of how the aggressiveness of Virtus's role players has contributed to the team's success as he’s drawn a staggering 8.7 trips to the foul line per-40 minutes in his 15.7 minutes per game on the floor — one of the highest marks in the EuroLeague.

Among the other leaders in fouls drawn per-minute: [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) of Zvezda and [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) of Partizan. While Jones led the Belgrade derby drawing 5 fouls, he only attempted 1 free throw as it is not always the player drawing the fouls reaping the benefits in the box score. Regardless of how teams manufacture and maximize their trips to the line, there’s little doubt that it is having an impact on the league's offensive renaissance this season.

When Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade lock horns, life in a city of some two million souls comes to a standstill.   

The latest Belgrade derby delivered in so many ways 

Belgrade, Serbia -- First-time city derby goers who flocked to the Serbian capital for the event must have felt like they were in another universe on Friday night. Those of them fortunate enough to scramble a ticket for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague’s most anticipated regular season fixture surely got their money's worth.

When [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/par/) and [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) lock horns, life in a city of some two million souls comes to a standstill.

It had the buzz of a championship game, but, in fact, it was just another city derby, like many before. By Serbian standards, that is. In a country where basketball is so much more than just a game and the rivalry is so intense, the atmosphere is beyond pulsating whenever these two clash even in a pre-season warmup, let alone in a EuroLeague blockbuster.

This time was no different, as 20,000 fervent Partizan fans turned the gym into a cauldron, shaking the Belgrade Arena to its core with support so frenetic that it sends a chill down the spine of any visiting team and their supporters.

Not Zvezda, though, as Partizan’s bitter city foes are all too familiar with the atmosphere and they were able to weather the perfect storm by [coming out on top, 71-73](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-earns-bragging-rights-over-partizan-in-belgrade-derby-71-73/), allowing their own 1,000 fans in the venue to do all the singing and dancing at the end of a grueling matchup.

In no small part thanks to [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/), who produced yet another monster performance to lead Zvezda with 17 points and 8 boards, having been complemented by [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) as the twin tower racked up 14 points and 8 rebounds.

The duo subdued Partizan’s big men [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/) and [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/) while playmaker [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/) provided the backcourt spark required to tame Partizan’s perimeter, where [Carlik Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carlik-jones/013369/) cut a lone wolf with a game-high 20 points.

Petrusev keeps excelling in his second spell with Zvezda on loan from Olympiacos Piraeus after a brief stint in the NBA and in his post-game comments, he revealed just how strength-sapping the captivating low-scoring contest was. 

“I don’t remember playing a tougher game,” Petrusev told reporters as his jubilant teammates headed out of the locker room. “It was a real fight and it wasn’t pretty, but such is the derby sometimes. We showed character and the will to win, as we racked up a lot of loose balls and offensive rebounds.

“We were under pressure as they had caught up with us in the standings so we were really focused and at full strength this time, as Joel was absent in the reverse fixture. We knew what to expect so we put our game faces on when we stepped out there.”

Asked by [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net) how big an impact Bolomboy has made after missing Partizan’s 77-89 victory in the reverse fixture as well as a bunch of other games earlier this season, Petrusev was unequivocal in heaping praise on Zvezda’s silent water that runs deep.

“Joel’s return from injury is priceless,” he said. “He brings so much to the team and to me personally because we complement each other when we’re both on the court. We switched on defense a lot so having two big men out there for much of the game really helped.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">С’ тобом Црвена звездо ја сам јак! 🔴⚪️<br><br>Сјајна подршка у Арени!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrvenoBelaPorodica?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CrvenoBelaPorodica</a> <a href="https://t.co/D5yt7Yn5Nv">pic.twitter.com/D5yt7Yn5Nv</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1885775987901653021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Brazilian guard [Yago dos Santos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/yago-dos-santos/012044/), who performed the thankless job of facilitating at both ends in a manner not reflected by statistics, summed up the magnitude of the result which propelled Zvezda to 14-10 and lifted it back into the playoff picture.

“This is the Belgrade derby, the best game in Europe,” he told [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net). “There is nothing like it and winning it can change your season so we’re delighted for the club and the fans. We played good defense on Partizan’s guards as we knew they had the quality so we knew we needed to contain them.”

The clash was also a stern test for Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos, who got his first taste of defeat against Partizan in the reverse fixture after eight successive wins against counterpart Zeljko Obradovic and his men in all competitions.

The stone-faced Greek tactician refused to get carried away at the postgame press conference, insisting Zvezda must keep its feet on the ground after a monumental effort to come out on top against Partizan this time in a most dramatic finish.

Yago Dos Santos: 'We played good defense on Partizan's guards'

“It wasn’t an easy game for either team,” said Sfairopoulos. “We believed that we could do something good tonight and we controlled the rhythm for the best part of the game. Partizan has a lot of quality but we were focused and we had so much desire to win. We wrestled away most of the 50-50 balls and picked up a lot of offensive rebounds.

“Now we have to take it one game at a time in the remaining 10 rounds. I want to thank our fans for being here to support us. We played good defense. We didn’t shoot well from outside but we did well from inside and from the foul line.”

Having seen his men roar back into postseason contention with a 10-3 run after a dismal 2-8 start to the season, Obradovic must now go back to the drawing board and lift his troops for the final push in the home stretch, as Partizan handed over the city’s bragging rights back to Zvezda. Obradovic was also brave in assessing his own shortcomings on a night when thin lines made all the difference.

“It’s simple, the players didn’t react the right way tonight and that means the coach too didn’t do his job to the best of his abilities,” he said.  “We’ve got to knuckle down back to some hard work, it’s the only thing we can do. We had a chance to win despite being very apprehensive, but it didn’t pan out for us.

“Things just didn’t go our way when the chips were down. We won’t roll over, there are 10 games left and we’ll do all we can to reach the postseason.”

Game News

The rugged and physical contest between Serbia’s big two created an unmatched atmosphere in which brave Zvezda prevailed   

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-01-31T19:30:00.000Z)

EuroLeague top photos of the week

Look back at all the action from Round 24 of the regular season by checking out the best photos of the week!

Top 10 photos of the week: Round 24

Virtus Segafredo Bologna boosted its roster with experience by signing Justin Holiday, the club announced Saturday. Holiday has inked a three-month deal with the Italian club, with an option to extend it for another two months.

Virtus inks former NBA champ Justin Holiday to short-term deal

Virtus Segafredo Bologna boosted its roster by signing Justin Holiday, the club announced Saturday. The sides penned a three-month deal with an option to extend it for another two months. 

Holiday (1.98 meters, 35 years old) last played with the Denver Nuggets, where he appeared in 70 games last season and helped the team reach the Western Conference Semifinals with 3.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in the regular season and the playoffs combined.

Holiday returns to Europe after more than 10 years in the NBA. He made his debut there in 2013 with the Philadelphia 76ers, before spending a year with the Golden State Warriors, with which he won the NBA championship in 2015. He also played with the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Denver.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓-𝐈𝐍 ⚪️⚫️<br>Welcome Justin Holiday 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/tmXzyD5U8X">pic.twitter.com/tmXzyD5U8X</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1885679627852464575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Holiday played more than 700 games in the NBA, posting averages of 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 680 regular-season games. He averaged at least 10 points in four of his 11 NBA seasons.

Holiday started his professional journey in 2011 with Okapi Aalstar in Belgium and has spent the 2013-14 season in Hungary with Szolnoki Olaj. He has also played for the Santa Cruz Warriors and Idaho Stampede in the G League. Holiday is now set to make his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut.

More Virtus News

The veteran small forward won the NBA title with the Golden State Warriors in 2015

Virtus signs former NBA champ Justin Holiday

A wonderful performance for an undermanned EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has seen Zach LeDay secure Round 24 MVP honors with a season-high PIR of 39.

Round 24 MVP: Zach LeDay, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

A wonderful performance for an undermanned EA7 Emporio Armani Milan has seen [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/) secure Round 24 MVP honors with a season-high PIR of 39.

LeDay tied his career high with 33 points – a total he had only managed once before, back in Round 15 of this current season – after making 7-of-10 two-pointers, 5-of-7 three-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws. He also grabbed 8 rebounds, dished 1 assist, drew 6 fouls and had a +18 in the plus/minus column, the second best of any player in this round. This is the third time this season that LeDay has secured the MVP of the Round prize, having done so in Round 7 and Round 15. It is his fourth MVP of the Round award overall, as he first took home this honor in Round 10 of the 2018-19 season.

The Milan forward was not the only player to post a 39 PIR in this round as Virtus Segafredo Bologna’s [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) did so as well, yet it came in defeat as his team fell to a 95-81 loss at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. That 39 PIR is a career high for Shengelia, who also posted a career-best mark with 35 points on 10-of-14 two-pointers, 2-of-3 three-pointers and 9-of-10 free throws. Shengelia added 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 fouls drawn to his tally.

The third-best PIR in Round 24 belonged to Zalgiris Kaunas’s [Sylvain Francisco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sylvain-francisco/007975/), who had a career-high 36 PIR in his team’s 82-97 defeat against FC Bayern Munich. Francisco posted a personal-best 33 points on 5-of-8 two-pointers, 5-of-8 three-pointers and 8-of-8 free throws, 1 rebound, 5 assists and 7 fouls drawn.

Rounding out the list of Round 24’s top performers are Olympiacos Piraeus’s [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/), Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz’s [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) and Bayern’s [Nick Weiler-Babb](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-weiler-babb/010391/), all with a PIR of 34. Vezenkov amassed 26 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 7 fouls drawn in Olympiacos’s 92-89 win over Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Moneke recorded 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 8 fouls drawn in Baskonia’s 88-86 triumph over FC Barcelona, while Weiler-Babb had a near-perfect performance in Bayern’s win at Zalgiris with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, 3 fouls drawn and zero turnovers.

### Individual highs: Toko Shengelia, Virtus, 35 points

Shengelia led all players in Round 24 with a career-high 35 points. Vezenkov is the leading scorer in the EuroLeague with 20.3 points per game.

[Juancho Hernangomez ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/)of Panathinaikos pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds in Round 24, more than anyone else. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade’s [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) averages a league-best 8.0 boards per night.

Nick Weiler-Babb set a new career best with a round-high 13 assists. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv’s [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/) leads the league in assists with 7.5 per game.

[Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/) of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade made 6 steals in Round 24, which is the joint most of any player this season. Weiler-Babb is atop the steals charts with 1.6 per night.

[Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/) of Baskonia tied his career high by blocking 4 shots this week, the most of any player in Round 24. Real Madrid’s [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/), the EuroLeague’s all-time leader in blocks, is the season leader in this category with 1.4 per game.

Weiler-Babb (14 points, 13 assists), ALBA Berlin’s [Martin Hermannsson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/martin-hermannsson/008780/) (11 points, 11 assists) and AS Monaco’s [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) (12 points, 10 assists) were the only players to record a double-double in Round 24, and all three did so without committing a turnover.

This is his third MVP of the Round award this season

Marcus Weathers is making his way up the ranks in Europe, having reached the EuroCup in just his second season on the old continent. The Trefl Sopot forward believes he can accomplish even bigger things, but one major dream would be to play again with his twin brother.

Trefl’s Marcus Weathers dreams of playing with twin brother Michael again 

[Marcus Weathers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/marcus-weathers/013297/) is making his way up the ranks in Europe, having reached the BKT EuroCup in just his second season on the old continent. The [Trefl Sopot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/trefl-sopot/tso/) forward believes he can accomplish even bigger things, but one major dream would be to play again with his twin brother.

Weathers has put together a strong EuroCup debut for the Polish club, including pouring in 25 points against Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius in Round 5. All told, he has averaged 9.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist and a 12.2 PIR in 12 games, having returned from a five-game injury layoff in Round 17.

"I think my expectations for the EuroCup were pretty simple. I believe that I belong at this level and an even higher level. But it was just to go out there and show that I can play with guys like that – win or lose. That’s what I expected, just to compete,” the 27-year-old American told David Hein.

The top plays of Trefl Sopot forward Marcus Weathers between Round 1 and Round 17 of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season.

Marcus Weathers's best plays this season

Weathers already had experience of playing against EuroCup and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams before the season. He played most of the 2023-24 campaign with Montenegro club Mornar Bar, competing in the ABA League and facing the likes of EuroLeague clubs Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, as well as Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica from the EuroCup.

“I was very excited and happy to play those teams,” said Weathers, who averaged 18.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 16 ABA League games. “My level of play rises when I go up against teams like this. It’s an underdog mentality for me. Basically, I want to prove myself against those guys. I did, and I was very happy with the result.”

Weathers was the third-best scorer in the ABA League and second most prolific rebounder, while he finished last season very strong with four 20-point, 10-rebound double-doubles in the last four games.

Weathers arrived at Mornar Bar in late November 2023 after starting the season in the Turkish second division at Ankaragucu, where he averaged 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

“My mind was all over the place playing there. Türkiye was a lot of highs and lows. I was playing very well individually, but our team just wasn’t built the right way or good enough to compete. So I would just question a lot of things and ultimately, I wasn’t very happy being there,” he said.

That was Weathers’s first experience in Europe after spending the 2022-23 season spilt between the Philippines and Taiwan.

While that was happening, Weathers’s twin brother Michael was debuting with Montenegro side Sutjeska Niksic. Last season his fraternal twin Michael, who is three minutes older, starred in Austria, winning the league MVP while playing for Dukes Klosterneuburg.

“I followed my brother the whole season. We are very close with each other. To say the least I was beyond proud of him and what he was doing over there in Austria because he’s been through so much. It was absolutely incredible to see him be the front-runner of his team and ultimately the MVP of the season. That is incredible, we talk all the time about that and I say: ‘Damn, man that’s insane you accomplished that,’” the 1.96-meter forward said of his brother.

Michael, a guard who stands 1.90 meters, has since moved to the German League and is playing for MLP Academics Heidelberg, a club that narrowly avoided relegation last season but is one of the surprises of this season and one of the top teams in the standings.

Marcus and Michael starred together on their high school team, finishing as the second and first all-time leading scorers in school history, respectively. They played their college freshman season together at Miami, Ohio. and then went separate ways. They took advantage of the NCAA giving players an extra year of eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic and played their fifth season again together at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

“It was the best season of my life,” Marcus remembered. “You get to go through that process with your family member and it’s hard to really trade that. Every day I woke up, I just felt honored and blessed to be playing basketball with my brother and that showed.”

The SMU Mustangs reached the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and both brothers averaged at least 11.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Marcus admitted the brothers have thought about joining forces again in Europe.

“We actually talk about playing in Europe together all the time,” he revealed. “My brother really wants that and I would really want that too. So hopefully down the road in the future – maybe in a year or two – it all aligns. That would be something extremely incredible, something that me and him would love to experience.”

When asked what a team which signed both Weathers brothers would be getting, Marcus said: “They would be getting two guys who love to work. We actually have experienced a lot – from being the ‘man' to being whatever the team needs, actually. So it would just go hand in hand with us. We are both extremely athletic and just love the game and most importantly love the people and the fans. We come from a place where those things are important and matter.”

And naturally, playing with family on the same team again – and this time with a European club – would be a dream for Marcus Weathers.

More Trefl News

Weathers is starring in Poland while his twin is a leader at Heidelberg in Germany

Top 10 Plays | RS Round 24 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Round 24: Top 10 plays

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 24th winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Sava Aleksic beat everyone else in Round 24 with his team 'sava.05', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 252.05.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 24 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 24th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Sava Aleksic beat everyone else in Round 24 with his team 'sava.05', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 252.05.

Sava had the following starting lineup: Zach LeDay of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan as team captain, then FC Bayern Munich's Nick Weiler-Babb, Virtus Segafredo Bologna's Toko Shengelia, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz's Chima Moneke, and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade's Joel Bolomboy. His sixth man was Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul's Marko Guduric. The rest of Sava's bench consisted of Baskonia duo Kamar Baldwin and Ousmane Ndiaye, and Milan duo Diego Flaccadori and Giampaolo Ricci. His team's head coach was Bayern play-caller Gordie Herbert.

The prize for finishing first in Round 24 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Sava!

Marko Dukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 4,081.09 points.

Trades are now open for Round 25. Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first game in Round 24 tips off on Tuesday, February 4, as Anadolu Efes Istanbul hosts Real Madrid at 18:30 CET. That game marks 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. 

On Friday night, Nick Calathes showed that he is still more than capable of playing an important role for a title-chasing team, leading AS Monaco to a big 77-73 victory over Real Madrid with a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists.

Nick Calathes back to his best to boost Monaco past Real Madrid

[Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) is one of the most decorated players in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history, leading the competition’s all-time charts in both assists and steals.

Naturally, plenty of excitement was generated by his arrival at [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/) this past summer, allowing him to team up with all-time scoring king [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) and another duo of talented guards, [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/) and [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/), to create what looked like a dream backcourt.

The opening half of the season didn’t follow that script, however, as Calathes was sidelined by a knee injury which prevented him from making his Monaco debut until Round 19, and then understandably needed time to recover his rhythm and gain familiarity with his new teammates.

On Friday night, though, Calathes showed that he is still more than capable of playing an important role for a title-chasing team, leading Monaco to [a big 77-73 victory over Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-takes-control-of-third-place-by-downing-real-madrid-77-73/) with a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists.

Calathes also showcased his ball-thieving skills with a pair of steals, and proved his competitive edge by grabbing 3 rebounds and committing 4 fouls. Perhaps most significantly, though, the 35-year-old spent 33 minutes and 30 seconds on the floor – more than any other player – to demonstrate firstly that he has returned to full physical fitness and secondly that he’s earned the total trust of coach Vassilis Spanoulis.

Although that heavy workload was partly necessitated by injuries to teammates Loyd and Okobo, Calathes’s experience and knowhow was vital in managing the tempo, containing Real’s potentially explosive offense and allowing his team to never fall behind after moving ahead early in the second half.

In fact, it should have been an easier win as Monaco led by 10 points with less than three minutes remaining, before committing a series of errors to allow Real to keep fighting until the very end.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔥 𝑫𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆-𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆<br><br>Bald Eagle had a night! 🦅<br><br>🎯 12 points<br>🎁 10 assist<br>⚡️ 17 PR<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DagheMunegu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DagheMunegu</a> <a href="https://t.co/5bbia48i4l">pic.twitter.com/5bbia48i4l</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1885430025727435239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And rather than dwelling on his strong personal contribution, Calathes preferred to focus on the improvements his team need to make when he reflected on the action. “We’ve got to be able to close it out better,” he told [EuroLeague.TV](http://EuroLeague.TV)

“Obviously we made some stupid mistakes, and if we want to win big games we’ve got to be solid.”

However, the veteran playmaker did acknowledge his team’s achievement in downing a fellow title candidate as he added: “Real Madrid is Real Madrid. They’ve been playing great basketball.

“Obviously they’ll be in the playoffs and be contenders like they always are. But every game for us is like a final, and we’ll see how it goes throughout these last ten games.”

With Calathes getting back to his best, Monaco looks in great position to use those remaining games to seal a top-four finish.

The all-time assists leader guided his team to an important victory 

AS Monaco v Real Madrid (2025-01-31T18:00:00.000Z)

Evan Fournier and Sasha Vezenkov stepped up – as they have done on many times this season – and combined for half of Olympiacos BC’s points in a 92-89 victory over Anadolu Efes in Round 24.

Vezenkov, Fournier led by example again in bounce-back victory over Efes

Last week’s [home loss to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-stands-strong-to-down-olympiacos-77-87/) was a tough blow for [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) as it saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end. Back at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday night, the Reds knew they needed to respond in front of their fans.

Enter [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) and [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/). The two Olympiacos stars stepped up – as they have done on many times this season – and combined for half of their team’s points in [a 92-89 victory over Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-holds-off-efes-to-grab-92-89-win/) in Round 24.

Fournier needed just over nine minutes to hit double digits in scoring. Having gone 4 for 4 from the field, the Olympiacos swingman finished the first quarter with 10 points as the Reds took a 29-14 lead into the second period. Fournier netted another 10 points in the second half, this being the 11th game in which he has scored at least 20 points in his debut Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

More importantly, Fournier also set the tone on defense, showing hustle and determination that led to important stops and deflections, as he ended the game with 2 steals.

“If we’re going to win, we’ve got to have strong defense,” Fournier told EuroLeague TV after the game. “It starts with the guys who start the game. As one of the leaders of the team, I have to impact the game on both ends of the floor. I try to be aggressive, be smart and follow the game plan. We have good defense when we do that.”

Fournier’s impact on both sides of the floor is as crucial as Vezenkov’s. The latter pulled off yet another player-of-the-game performance with 26 points, having gone an impressive 10 for 14 from the field.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bwinMVP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bwinMVP</a> of the game, Sasha Vezenkov!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a> <a href="https://t.co/HMpm8m8S5F">pic.twitter.com/HMpm8m8S5F</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1885448019337757138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Vezenkov also contributed big time on the other end by protecting the boards with 7 defensive rebounds, finishing the night with a total of 9.

“It was really important for us to win this game,” he said on EuroLeague TV. “We knew that Efes was coming with confidence. They have a great team. We lost the previous game, so we needed to bounce back.”

This boost in morale comes at the best time for Olympiacos, which faces an upcoming double-round week with demanding road games at [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) and [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/). Despite being a team that thrives through collective effort, the Greek side will look to lean Vezenkov and Fournier once more. But that’s what leaders are for, right?

They combined for half of Olympiacos’s points in a home win

Olympiacos Piraeus v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-01-31T19:15:00.000Z)

KK Crvena zvezda forward Filip Petrusev spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat KK Partizan in Round 24 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Filip Petrusev: 'We came for the win, we came to look good, and that's what we did'

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade forward Filip Petrusev spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 24 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Derby games often bring out the best in certain individuals, and that was certainly the case for Filip Petrusev in KK Crvena zvezda’s 71-73 triumph over KK Partizan in Round 24.

Filip Petrusev showed in Belgrade derby that he can be ‘the future of Serbian basketball’

Derby games often bring out the best in certain individuals, and that was certainly the case for [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) in [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade’s 71-73 triumph over Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-earns-bragging-rights-over-partizan-in-belgrade-derby-71-73/) on Friday night.

Petrusev is no stranger to this derby, with this being the fourth time he has faced Partizan as a Crvena Zvezda player in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, but this was his most complete performance yet.

Despite finishing with 20 points and 8 boards the last time they met in Round 11, a game Partizan won 77-89, the Serbian forward led from the front all night long in the Round 24 rematch as Zvezda earned the bragging rights this time around – and it was a performance that shows his evolution as a player.

Once the final buzzer sounded inside Belgrade Arena on Friday, Petrusev had racked up 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks as he did a bit of everything. Whether it was causing headaches for Partizan with his offense or helping restrict [Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyrique-jones/011981/), [Brandon Davies](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/brandon-davies/007870/) and [Isaac Bonga](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/isaac-bonga/006760/) to a combined 22 points, Petrusev played like a veteran.

“He’s the future of Serbian basketball, for sure,” teammate [Nemanja Nedovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nemanja-nedovic/000848/) said on [the EuroLeague’s postgame show](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2WD0h-1o64). “I’m happy that he’s with us again. We try to use him the best way we can. I’m a big fan of his and I enjoy being his teammate.”

For Petrusev himself, he specifically changed his habits in the lead up to the Belgrade derby in order to have the best performance possible on the floor.

“I was so ready today,” he stated, also on the postgame show. “The last five days, I didn’t go out. I went to sleep at 11, which I never do. So I was just really getting ready for this game.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasPlayeroftheGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasPlayeroftheGame</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a> R24 <br><br>📊 17 pts, 7/10 2FG, 8 reb, PIR 25<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/P8ixgH80a6">pic.twitter.com/P8ixgH80a6</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1885466323452301716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In the second quarter, Tyrique Jones found himself on four fouls and had to make his way out of the game having been called for his third and his reaction towards the officials seeing him hit with an unsportsmanlike foul. Naturally, coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos wanted Petrusev, fellow forward [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) and center [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) to take advantage.

“Yes, the idea was to take advantage of Tyrique’s foul trouble and all three big men, meaning Bolomboy, Petrusev and Brown, did a great job at both ends of the court,” Sfairopoulos commented in the postgame press conference. “Petrusev was particularly impressive, and even more so defensively.”

Petrusev is still just 24 years old, but he showed in Friday’s Belgrade derby just what he can do on the big stage. As Nedovic said, Petrusev is the future of Serbian basketball.

An incredible performance on both ends paid dividends for the 24-year-old

Olympiacos BC  got back to winning ways by beating Anadolu Efes 92-89 on Friday night at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. 

Olympiacos holds off Efes to grab 92-89 win

Olympiacos Piraeus got back to winning ways by beating Anadolu Efes Istanbul 92-89 on Friday night at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. The Reds led from start to finish and even secured an 83-65 cushion with 6:29 minutes remaining. Efes responded with a late 5-18 surge to get back into the game (90-87), but the hosts sealed the outcome from the free-throw line. The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leader protected its home court and improved to 17-7, with Efes dropping to 11-13.

Sasha Vezenkov led all scorers with 26 points, with Evan Fournier and Nikola Milutinov scoring 20 and 11, respectively. Elijah Bryant paced Efes with 21 points. Jordan Nwora and PJ Dozier netted 12 apiece, with Dan Oturu adding 10.

Game Videos

Moustapha Fall opened the scoring from inside before four points from Vezenkov and a slam from the former gave Olympiacos an 8-5 lead. Bryant and Rodrigue Beaubois opened their accounts on the other end, but five points from Fournier and another basket by Vezenkov allowed the hosts to maintain a 15-10 cushion. Nigel Williams-Goss and Bryant traded triples off the glass, but Olympiacos ended the first quarter with a 9-0 run fueled by Fournier and Kostas Papanikolaou, who made it 29-14 from the line.

Dozier completed a three-point play, but Milutinov answered with back-to-back dunks to restore a 33-19 lead. Alec Peters responded with a triple to a midrange jumper from Dozier, but a Larkin three-pointer and seven points from Nwora slashed the difference to 41-37. Papanikolaou and Nwora traded triples before a couple of free throws by Shaquielle McKissic gave Olympiacos a 47-40 cushion at halftime.

Bryant and Poirier opened the third quarter with buckets inside, but Vezenkov’s triple was followed by back-to-back three-point plays from Williams-Goss and Fournier, who opened a 56-46 lead. Rolands Smits replied with five straight points before a jumper by Oturu brought Efes within 60-53. With both teams in foul trouble, the game turned into a free-throw contest before buckets from Bryant and Ercan Osmani cut the margin to 64-59. Yet, four points from Vezenkov and an inside score by Milutinov gave Olympiacos a 74-61 cushion heading into the closing quarter.

Milutinov and Thompson exchanged baskets before five points from Vezenkov extended Olympiacos’s lead to 83-65. Bryant netted four straight points, but Vezenkov nailed a layup in transition to make it 85-69. Efes fired on all cylinders in the closing stages and responded with a 5-18 run inspired by Bryant, who took his tally to 21 points from deep and brought Efes within 90-87. Yet, Williams-Goss went 2 for 2 from the line to seal the outcome.

Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier combined for 46 points


Olympiacos BC forward Sasha Vezenkov spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Anadolu Efes in Round 24 of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

Sasha Vezenkov: 'The EuroLeague is unpredictable'

Olympiacos Piraeus forward Sasha Vezenkov spoke to EuroLeague TV after his team beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Round 24 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Olympiacos Piraeus-Anadolu Efes Istanbul | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Nemanja Nedovic – as he did in the first-ever EuroLeague Belgrade derby – became the hero for KK Crvena zvezda by scoring the points that won the game against KK Partizan, with Ioannis Sfairopoulos's men downing Zeljko Obradovic's side 71-73.

Crvena Zvezda earns bragging rights over Partizan in Belgrade derby, 71-73

Never before has the Belgrade derby taken place this deep into the regular season, but Nemanja Nedovic – as he did in the first-ever Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Belgrade derby – became the hero for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade by scoring the points that won the game against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, with Ioannis Sfairopoulos's men downing Zeljko Obradovic's side 71-73.

This win improved Crvena Zvezda's record to 14-10 while Partizan dropped to 12-12. Partizan does hold the tiebreaker advantage, however, after winning by 12 points when they met back in Round 11.

Filip Petrusev led Crvena Zvezda in points with 17, followed by Joel Bolomboy with 14. Both players also pulled down 8 rebounds. Codi Miller-McIntyre paired 11 points with 6 assists for the winners. Carlik Jones was the only Partizan player to score in double figures, netting 20 points.

Roared on by 20,000 home fans in an immaculately fervent atmosphere, Partizan took an early 5-3 lead as Brandon Davies hit the ground running and lit up the stands in the cauldron of Belgrade Arena.

Galvanized by a pair of monster blocks, the Partizan crowd created an expectably unmatched atmosphere and Carlik Jones sank a deep two to keep the hosts in the driving seat, 10-7, midway through the first quarter.

Jones followed that up with a layup before Nikola Kalinic replied with a three off the dribble at the other end, setting the scene for a tit-for-tat battle. Zvezda edged ahead 14-18 with some tough plays as defense got ramped up at both ends of the floor.

Carlik Jones got Partizan and the crowd going again with a two-handed slam but Zvezda managed to keep the upper hand at the end of the first quarter, 18-21, as Partizan threw the ball away for a turnover in its final possession.

Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic called a timeout 40 seconds into the second quarter as the hosts continued to turn the ball over but Zvezda kept returning the favor, allowing Partizan to stay in touch.

Thriving on good work from big men Joel Bolomboy and Filip Petrusev, Zvezda was able to say ahead until Arijan Lakic propelled Partizan into a 27-26 lead with a delightful drive to the basket. Another monster block from Tyrique Jones on Isaiah Canaan followed by a Sterling Brown baseline jumper made the atmosphere reach fever pitch.

Another layup by Lakic made the score 33-33 with 3:30 minutes left in the first half as the titanic tussle carried on relentlessly, Serbia’s eternal rivals resembling a pair of heavyweights trading punches in a boxing ring.

A lovely drive by Canaan produced a three-point play as Zvezda’s livewire guard drew a foul too and then taunted the home fans, giving th visitors a 35-38 lead with 84 seconds left in the second quarter.

Zvezda finished the first half on a high as Codi Miller-McIntyre ripped through Partizan’s defense for a pair of successive layups, giving Zvezda a thoroughly deserved 37-42 lead at the interval.

Carlik Jones opened his second half account with a lovely drive, with baskets becoming increasingly difficult in the wake of aggressive defense at both ends of the floor. Dejan Davidovac replied for Zvezda before Jones sank a triple to raise the decibel level through the roof, as Partizan closed in to 42-45.

The fired-up Jones made another one before Filip Petrusev tipped in an offensive board at the other end, keeping Zvezda in the driving seat midway through the third quarter of a strength-sapping matchup.

Roared on by support so frenetic it would send a chill down any opposition’s spine, Carlik Jones continued to do his thing and sank a long three after nailing a pair of free throws to give Partizan a 51-49 advantage with under four minutes left in the third.

Clearly rattled, Zvezda was struggling on offense as it seemed bereft of ideas against an ironclad Partizan defense but Rokas Giaedraitis managed to flush down a layup and Miller-McIntyre followed up with a jumper before Joel Bolomboy denied Iffe Lundberg with a huge block at the other end.

Miller-McIntyre buried two more from the foul line to give resilient Zvezda a 53-55 lead ahead of the final 10 minutes, as Jones fired a wayward three-pointer on the third quarter’s buzzer.

Petrusev carried on for Zvezda with a big dunk in the opening play of the fourth and that seemed to spur both teams into some high quality offensive action, with the visitors holding a 60-63 advantage with 6:26 minutes left on the clock.

Petrusev then profited from a barrage of Zvezda’s offensive rebounds in a single possession to extend the lead with a three-point play, forcing Obradovic to call another time out as he also silenced the home crowd’s deafening roar.

Partizan, refused to roll over and clawed its way back with a 5-0 run before an Isaac Bonga triple levelled the score at 68-68, only for Bolomboy to make a three-point play in Zvezda’s next possession. A dramatic finished ensued as Bonga sank a pair of free throws before Tyrique Jones missed a chance to swing the lead Partizan’s way when he charged into a Zvezda defender.

Zvezda was running an empty on offense, though, allowing the hosts yet another steal which ultimately led to more free throws for Carlik Jones, who made one of two to tie the score 71-71 with 69 seconds left.

In a heart-stopping finish to regulation time, Brown clattered into Zvezda’s Nemanja Nedovic one second before the buzzer and the point guard made no mistake from the line, sinking two of three shots from the line to give his team a priceless win.

The game went right down to the wire, but Nemanja Nedovic's free throws gave the red-and-white half of Belgrade the win