Name: Top 10 Plays | Round 12 | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup
Channel: Euroleague Basketball

\- The last time they played, Baskonia edged Panathinaikos 75-73 as Chima Moneke collected 20 points and 13 rebounds, earning co-MVP of the Round 18 honors with a 34 PIR.

 

\- Last season in Athens, when Panathinaikos beat Baskonia 95-91, Mathias Lessort scored 23 points and set career highs with 14 rebounds and 7 offensive rebounds. He earned MVP of the Round honors with a PIR of 31.

 

\- Baskonia has won two playoff series against Panathinaikos. It swept the Greens in the 2016 playoffs and eliminated Panathinaikos in 2006 by winning the decisive Game 3 on the road 71-74.

 

\- Panathinaikos and Baskonia battled in the 2007 EuroLeague Semifinals in Athens, Greece. Panathinaikos downed Baskonia 53-67 behind 15 points each from Sani Becirovic and Mike Batiste. The Greens went on to win the EuroLeague championship.

 

\- Panathinaikos tied its record for rebounds in EuroLeague play this century with 51 against Baskonia in April 2016.

 

\- Panathinaikos set club records with 31 assists and tied another with 18 three-pointers made against Baskonia in October 2013.

 

\- The Panathinaikos trio of Ioannis Papapetrou, Konstantinos Mitoglou and Dimitris Moraitis have been teammates of Baskonia's Nikos Rogkavopoulos on the Greek national team.

 

\- Moraitis and Rogkavopoulos were also teammates at AEK Athens in the past.

 

\- Panathinaikos forward Ioannis Papapetrou dished a career-high 6 assists while playing for Partizan against Baskonia in January 2023.

 

\- Panathinaikos guard Lorenzo Brown made a career-high 7 three-point shots while playing for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a 113-85 win over Baskonia in the first round of the 2024 Play-In Showdown.

 

\- Panathinaikos swingman Marius Grigonis grabbed a career-high 4 steals for Zalgiris Kaunas against Baskonia in February 2019.

Game Videos

Game News

Game Notes: Panathinaikos vs. Baskonia

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2024-12-19T17:45:00.000Z)

A stunning individual performance in an outstanding team win allowed Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos BC to earn Round 16 MVP honors with a PIR of 38.

Round 16 MVP: Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos BC

A stunning individual performance in an outstanding team win allowed [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) of [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) to earn Round 16 MVP honors with a PIR of 38.

Vezenkov was everywhere in his team's 87-77 home victory over Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade. He had 27 points on 6-of-9 two-pointers, 2-of-3 three-pointers and 9-of-11 free throws, as well as 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 8 fouls drawn to get a PIR of 38, the highest in this round and his highest PIR this season. This is Vezenkov's 12th MVP of the Round award, only trailing Shane Larkin (17 times) and Nando De Colo (16). Vezenkov has earned MVP of the Round honors for the third time this season, having shared this accolade with Neal Sako of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 2 and exclusively in Round 3.

[Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens led his team to a 103-74 home victory over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan with a career-high 39 points on 4-of-7 two-pointers, 8-of-16 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws, adding 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 fouls drawn for a personal-best PIR of 37. 

[Maodo Lo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/maodo-lo/007032/) of Paris Basketball amassed a PIR of 35 in his team's 85-96 home loss against Real Madrid. Lo had 30 points on 9-of-10 two-pointers and 4-of-8 three-pointers, in addition to 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 5 fouls drawn. 

[Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) led FC Barcelona to a 90-63 home win over Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul with 25 points on 6-of-11 two-pointers, 2-of-2 three-pointers and 7-of-7 free throws. He added 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 6 fouls drawn to reach a PIR of 32. 

[Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-jokubaitis/007519/) of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, with a PIR of 31, completes the top individual performances in Round 16. Jokubaitis posted 22 points, shooting 7 for 10 on two-pointers, 1 for 2 from deep, and 5 for 5 on free throws, and he also had 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

### Individual highs: Balsa Koprivica, Partizan, 4 blocks

Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos led all scorers with 39 points, a new season high among all players. [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/) of FC Bayern Munich remains atop the overall standings with 20.4 points per game.

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) of Real Madrid led all rebounders by pulling down 14 boards. He is also the runaway leader with 8.4 boards per night.

[Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/) of Anadolu Efes Istanbul dished 12 assists, more than any other player in this round. [Tamir Blatt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tamir-blatt/011193/) of Maccabi is first overall with 8.6 assists per game. 

Larkin also led Round 16 in steals, getting 4. Alpha Diallo leads the way in steals with 1.6 per game.

[Balsa Koprivica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/balsa-koprivica/011050/) of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade had 4 blocks in this round. Tavares leads this season's standings with 1.6 blocks per night.

Tavares (10 points, 14 rebounds) and Olympiacos Piraeus’s Sasha Vezenkov (27 points, 10 rebounds) were the only players to get a double-double in Round 16.

Round 16 MVP: Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos Piraeus

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 17 game between Paris Basketball and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, scheduled to be played on December 19, has been suspended due to the impossibility of Paris Basketball to have a minimum of eight players included on the Authorization List and fit to play due to injury or illness.

Paris Basketball – Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul suspended

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 17 game between Paris Basketball and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, scheduled to be played on December 19, has been suspended due to the impossibility of Paris Basketball to have a minimum of eight players included on the Authorization List and fit to play due to injury or illness.

Euroleague Basketball will evaluate with the affected teams the best possible options to reschedule the game. Further information will be released as warranted in the coming days.

Paris Basketball v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-12-19T19:30:00.000Z)

Be sure to take a look at the best ten plays of the 2024 25 BKT EuroCup Regular Season Round 12!

Top 10 Plays | Round 12 | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

 Be sure to take a look at the best ten plays of the 2024 25 BKT EuroCup Regular Season Round 12!

Be sure to take a look at the best plays of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 16!

Top 10 Plays | RS Round 16 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Top 10 Plays: Round 16

After the successful events put on in Poland and Italy in collaboration with Trefl Sopot and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, respectively, Euroleague Basketball’s One Team and Motorola teamed up with Paris Basketball to organize yet another special day on December 18 at Campus Île-de-France Sport dans la Ville in Pantin, Paris, to deliver 400 basketballs to not only the young people from the Sport dans la Ville association that participated in the sport and life values workshop delivered last December 10 by One Team in association with Motorola, but also to local public schools and Paris Basketball One Team program.

Motorola and One Team’s “Bouncing for Good” brings joy to young people in Paris

After the successful events put on in [Poland](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/one-team/news/one-team-motorola-partnership-begins-with-community-events-in-sopot/) and [Italy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/one-team/news/local-communities-in-milan-benefit-from-the-one-team-motorola-partnership/) in collaboration with Trefl Sopot and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, respectively, Euroleague Basketball’s One Team and Motorola teamed up with [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) to organize yet another special day on December 18 at Campus Île-de-France Sport dans la Ville in Pantin, Paris, to deliver 400 basketballs to not only the young people from the Sport dans la Ville association that participated in the sport and life values workshop delivered last December 10 by One Team in association with Motorola, but also to local public schools and Paris Basketball One Team program.

With the presence of  women’s first-team player Touty Gandega, 50 enthusiastic children aged 9 to 13 from Sport dans la Ville received their new basketballs and exhibited the “perfect ball” they created the previous week during a workshop.

These children come from some of the most socially disadvantaged areas of Paris, and through this donation, they will have the tools to continue their passion for sport and develop life skills that support their personal growth and future opportunities.

Amara Sy, Paris Basketball One Team ambassador: “As a former player and as Sports Director of Paris Basketball, I pay a great deal of attention to the One Team program. I've been its ambassador for the past 3 years. As a young person who grew up in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, I know just how empowering it is to have a basketball. Today, with Motorola and the EuroLeague, I'm very happy that we can offer 400 balls to all these children.”

“This initiative embodies our commitment to empowering young people through sports and technology,” said **Daniela Idi, EMEA Marketing Director at Motorola**. “By collaborating with Paris Basketball and Sport dans la Ville, we aim to create opportunities for growth, inspire dreams, and provide tools to help these students achieve their goals.”

The Sport dans la Ville association plays a critical role in providing young people from these disadvantaged neighborhoods with the tools to succeed, both on and off the court. Through the power of sport, they instill core values such as teamwork, perseverance, and discipline that help the children build confidence, open doors to professional opportunities, and pursue their dreams. The “Bouncing for Good” initiative is aligned with this mission, strengthening the collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and Motorola, and in this case Paris Basketball, to give these youngsters the confidence and support they need to thrive.

In addition, the program will continue on December 19, during the Paris Basketball vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul game at Adidas Arena in Round 17 as a young participant from Sport dans la Ville will present the “perfect ball” to the 8,000 fans in attendance, highlighting the creative and empowering journey these children have embarked on. The “perfect ball” is the result of the kids’ collective effort to think express their thoughts and ideas about sports and life values painted in a real basketball.

This initiative also serves as the first chapter in a long-term partnership between Euroleague Basketball, Motorola, and Sport dans la Ville. Every year, this collaboration will support hundreds of young people, enriching Paris Basketball’s One Team program and fostering new connections, including meetings between these young participants and refugee minors in the club’s One Team program. Through sport, they will continue to bridge gaps, forge lasting friendships, and offer hope for a brighter future.

With its focus on community, empowerment, and sustainable change, “Bouncing for Good” is more than a donation – it's an investment in the future of Paris's youth, fostering the next generation of leaders, athletes, and dreamers.

Congratulations to Christine Susa, our 12th winner in the 2024-25 EuroCup Fantasy Challenge! Christine's team, 'BUM BUM', posted a score of 203.05.

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge: Round 12 winner

Congratulations to Christine Susa, our 12th winner in the 2024-25 [EuroCup Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Christine's team, 'BUM BUM', posted a score of 203.05.

Christine had the following starting lineup: Umana Reyer Venice's Mfiondu Kabengele as team captain, then Reyer duo Kyle Wiltjer and Tyler Ennis, and ratiopharm Ulm pair Alfonso Plummer and Marcio Santos. Ulm's Justinian Jessup was their sixth man.

Their team's head coach was Ulm play-caller Ty Harrelson, while the four bench players were Reyer duo Davide Casarin and Jordan Parks, and Ulm pair Isaiah Roby and Alec Anigbata.

The prize for finishing first in Round 12 is a free subscription to Euroleague TV for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Christine!

The leader in the overall standings remains Milos Mihajlovic and his squad, 'BallIsLife', which has a total of 2,066.70 points after the first 12 rounds. Trades are now open for Round 13. Remember, four trades are allowed before each round until the end of the regular season.

Make new teams now or improve your existing ones and try to become EuroCup Fantasy Challenge's next winner!

EuroCup Fantasy Challenge offers weekly prizes to the top team manager, so get in the game and go for the gold!

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 16th winner in this season's EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge! Furkan K beat everyone else in Round 16 with their team 'KastapooL', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 239.60.

EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Round 16 winner

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans, we have our 16th winner in this season's [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/)! Furkan K beat everyone else in Round 16 with their team 'KastapooL', which had a Fantasy Challenge score of 239.60.

Furkan had the following starting lineup: Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens as captain, then Olympiacos Piraeus's Sasha Vezenkov, Real Madrid's Walter Tavares, and Anadolu Efes Istanbul duo Elijah Bryant and Dan Oturu. His sixth man was FC Bayern Munich's Nick Weiler-Babb. On the bench, Furkan had Efes's Ercan Osmani, Paris Basketball's Maodo Lo, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade's Vanja Marinkovic, and ALBA Berlin's Tim Schneider. His team's head coach was Zalgiris play-caller Andrea Trinchieri.

The prize for finishing first in Round 16 is a free VIP Euroleague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season, so congratulations, Furkan!

Marko Dukic and his team 'Kughat' remains the leader of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/) overall standings with 2,759.90 points.

Trades are now open for Round 17. Remember, four trades are allowed before each round. You can either trade up to four players, or a head coach and three players.

The first game in Round 17 tips off on Thursday, December 19, as Panathinaikos hosts Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz at 18:45 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. 

Joventut Badalona managed to smile again after a three-game losing streak thanks to a hard-fought 92-89 victory against last-placed Trefl Sopot in front of its home crowd.

Strong start paid off for Joventut against Trefl

[Joventut Badalona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/jov/) managed to smile again after a three-game losing streak thanks to [a hard-fought 92-89 victory against last-placed Trefl Sopot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/joventut-survives-trefl-rally-wins-92-89/) in front of its home crowd.

The visitors had the last possession to tie the game, but a contested three-point attempt missed by [Jakub Schenk](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jakub-schenk/013298/) didn’t go in and allowed the Joventut supporters to celebrate again.

 “A win is a win. The whole team is happy that we won. I mean, we needed a win bad in the EuroCup,” Joventut’s top scorer on the night, [Yannick Kraag](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yannick-kraag/010161/), admitted after the game. “The game didn't go as we wanted. But I think it's always good to win as a team. I think everybody contributed, everybody played hard, and we fought to the end, and I think the last few possessions we executed really good.”

What Kraag was talking about when he said it didn’t go the way Joventut wanted was in relation to the last three quarters of the game, as Trefl won those three periods 21-34, 17-20 and 15-18. With that in mind, how is it possible that the visitors lost the game?

The answer is, among other factors, a nearly perfect start to the game from Joventut.

The Spanish team trailed 6-8 early in the first quarter when all hell broke loose for Trefl. A 20-2 run in 4 minutes broke the game apart, and despite a Sopot timeout, the punishment continued with another 13-7 spark that helped the hosts amass a 39-17 lead at the end of the first period. It was a record-breaking scoring mark, as Joventut’s previous best offensive performance was 34 points.

At that moment, nine different Joventut players had scored already, and the difference kept growing to 44-17 when [Pep Busquets](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/pep-busquets/006771/) became the 10th to contribute with a triple early in the second quarter. Moreover, Joventut’s shooting from two remained perfect, with [Artem Pustovyi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/artem-pustovyi/004834/) converting his team’s twelfth two-pointer in as many shots soon after. It was [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), after 14:32, who missed the first two-pointer for Joventut after 13 attempts.

 “The most positive thing is the victory and the first quarter,” Joventut head coach Dani Miret recognized. “Then we had the same problem we had in a lot of games; the physicality, the rhythm, the capability to compete to the limit.

“We had it an amazing performance in the first quarter. And after this first quarter, we didn’t play as we were supposed to do. Everything that is not our hundred percent is not enough to compete at this level. We lost the next quarters, but finally, in a very tight last minutes, we were able to we finish with a victory that that allows us to keep on fighting for the next games.”

The Spanish side set a new club record with 39 first-quarter points

Joventut Badalona v Trefl Sopot (2024-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Kyle Alexander had a truly iconic performance for Turk Telekom Ankara, finishing the game with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 6 blocks against Cedevita Ljubljana at Stozice Arena 


Kyle Alexander led Turk Telekom with a rare performance

The visiting team was able to rely on another strong effort from center [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) as [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/roster/ttk/) grabbed a pivotal [74-80 road win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/turk-telekom-grabs-pivotal-win-in-ljubljana-74-80/) over [Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/roster/lju/) in the Slovenian capital on Wednesday. Coach Erdem Can's team is now 2-0 against Cedevita, which is setting itseld up to be a direct opponent in the playoff race.

Turk Telekom relied on its frontcourt to make things happen all game long. [Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/) already reached double digits in scoring before the end of the first quarter, leading Turk Telekom to a 19-28 lead after 10 minutes. He kept finding his spots all night long, both inside and outside the arc. Makoundou finished the game with 22 points on 5-of-6 two-point shooting and 4 of 5 on three-pointers. He added 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks for a PIR of 26. 

With [Braian Angola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/braian-angola/010465/) sidelined and [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/) limited to 8 points, Makoundou was ready to provide the fireworks. And his frontcourt mate, Alexander, was there to take care of business in the paint. 

Kyle Alexander had 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 6 blocks against. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

Kyle Alexander's historical performance in Ljubljana

Alexander had a truly iconic performance, finishing the game with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 6 blocks. He became just the second player in EuroCup history to reach double digits in points and rebounds while getting at least 5 steals and 5 blocks.

In order to look for a similar individual performance, you need to back to the 2006-07 EuroCup season. [Ksistof Lavrinovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ksistof-lavrinovic/blh/) of UNICS Kazan had 13 points, 16 rebounds, 7 steals and 6 blocks in a 106-88 home win against EiffelTowers Ben Bosch on [November 14, 2006](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2006-07/unics-kazan-eiffeltowers/U2006/34/#boxscore).

Turk Telekom led most of the way, but Cedevita used an 11-0 run to take a 71-70 lead with over 4 minutes left. Makoundou and Alexander stepped up big when their team needed them, too. Makoundou quickly hit a jumper to put Turk Telekom ahead for good, then had a big block on [Devante Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devante-jones/013260/). Alexander had a dunk, 2 blocks, 2 rebounds and 1 steal in the final 3 minutes to round out his incredible game.

"It has been a crazy season for us, up and down, but this is a big win for us. We needed it," Alexander said after the game. "And I hope we can start building on this as a team."

Kyle Alexander stepped up big at Stozice Arena 


Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Turk Telekom Ankara (2024-12-18T17:30:00.000Z)

Reyer Venezia starters Mfiondu Kabengele, Rodney McGruder, Tyler Ennis, Jordan Parks and Kyle Wiltjer combined for 85 of their team's 102 points in an impressive 99-102 road win at JL Bourg.

Reyer’s starters delivered offensively to swat aside Bourg

In a highly entertaining duel on Wednesday night, [Umana Reyer Venice](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/vnc/) saw its starters deliver when it mattered most to clinch [a 99-102 road victory at Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/reyer-holds-off-bourg-in-rollercoaster-clash-99-102/). This clash had simply everything – a high-scoring first quarter (33-31) was followed by a defensively dominant display from Reyer in the third, before an extraordinary 18-point comeback from Bourg was halted in crunch time by the guests.

The main protagonists were Reyer’s starting five, who netted 85 of their team’s 102 points in what was their highest-scoring game of the season. [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-tshimanga-kabengele/012796/) recorded his seventh double-double of the campaign by combining his career-high 26 points with 10 rebounds. Starting guards [Rodney McGruder](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rodney-mcgruder/012800/) and [Tyler Ennis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tyler-ennis/008858/) netted 16 and 13 points, respectively, with the former going 5 for 8 from deep.

Reyer forward [Jordan Parks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-parks/011909/) put together a double-double of his own by pairing his 13 points with 10 boards, while [Kyle Wiltjer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-wiltjer/008052/) netted 17 points, 8 of which, including three huge baskets from inside, came in the last five minutes. In fact, Reyer’s starters scored all but one of their team’s 19 points in the closing quarter, sealing an important win that allowed them to get back to winning ways after [a home defeat to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/cedevita-gets-pivotal-win-in-venice-75-80/) last time out.

After a frenetic first half that ended 56-56, Reyer outscored Bourg 9-27 in the third quarter to take a 65-83 lead into the fourth. But Bourg refused to give up. The hosts went on an astonishing 24-5 run to get back in front, 89-88, midway through the final frame. Despite that huge blow in morale, the Italian side showed character and fought back, with Wiltjer coming to the fore and fueling a 4-10 surge that allowed the visitors to seal the outcome.

“I believe that we have to be proud and we have to congratulate my players for how they reacted when Bourg came back and we went down by one point,” Reyer assistant coach Emanuele Molin, who was in charge as Neven Spahija is off sick, said in the post-game press conference. “Because, at that moment, if we are not a team with cohesion, maybe we give up. And there we played good defense and had patience to look for the right players on offense, we built a little bit of advantage and we ended up \[winning\] the game.”

Currently boasting a 6-6 record, Reyer remains in the playoff conversation in Group B. Coming up next is a tough home clash against an unbeaten Valencia Basket (10-0), but Reyer demonstrated on Wednesday night at Bourg that it has the scoring firepower to trouble any defense in the BKT EuroCup.

The five players who began the game netted a combined 85 points in an important win for the visitors

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Umana Reyer Venice (2024-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket's first half against U-BT Cluj-Napoca now belongs to the BKT EuroCup's record books


Valencia smashed another scoring record

[Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/valencia-basket/roster/pam/) remained undefeated in Group B through 11 games after roaring for [a 108-80 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-thrashes-cluj-at-home-108-80/) over [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/roster/clu/) at La Fonteta on Wednesday. Valencia passed the 100-point scoring mark for the seventh time this season - a competition record, which it has done in just 11 games.

Its 108 points tied the club's second-best mark in competition history. It previously scored as many points in an 89-108 road victory against EWE Baskets Oldenburg on [January 13, 2016](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2015-16/ewe-baskets-oldenburg--valencia-basket/U2015/201/), also with current head coach Pedro Martinez leading the team. Earlier this season, Valencia recorded [a 109-80 home win over Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-remains-perfect-with-blowout-of-cedevita-109-80/) which remains its [best scoring night ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/valencia-set-its-scoring-record-in-chris-jones-return/)in the the EuroCup.

Valencia set the record for most points ever in a half in competition history. Valencia led 73-47 at the break, shattering the previous record of 71. Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar had previously scored that many points in the first half of a 94-114 road win against Telenet Giants Antwerp.

Valencia did everything right in the first half, making 16 of 18 two-pointers (87.5%). Its first miss inside the arc came midway through the second quarter. Valencia also buried 9 of 18 three-pointers and 14 of 17 free throws, outrebounding Cluj by 21-14 and getting 16 first-half assists.

Valencia had 73 points in the first half of its Round 12 showdown against U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Valencia breaks EuroCup record

"Offensively, we were good, we scored almost 50 points, that's not a problem," Cluj head coach [Mihai Silvasan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/silvasan-mihai/) said at halftime. "But to receive 73 points at this level is something, I never saw this."

Valencia cooled off in the second half, making 10 of 20 two-pointers, 5 of 14 three-pointers and more turnovers (9) than assists (8) but the damage was done. The hosts had cruised to another win long before the final buzzer.

A balanced attack has helped Valencia become even more dangerous on offense. Eight players finished the game with double digits in scoring, led by [Josep Puerto](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/josep-puerto/006643/), [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/) and [Semi Ojeleye](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) with 14 apiece. It was the first time in over nine years that eight teammates had scored at least 10 points each. Avtodor Saratov managed to do that against Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in an 81-97 victory on [October 28, 2015](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/game-center/2015-16/lietuvos-rytas-vilnius-avtodor-saratov/U2015/49/#boxscore).

Valencia now has the chance to qualify for the playoffs if it beats 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in a postponed Round 6 game on Friday.

Its first half now belongs to the BKT EuroCup's record books


Valencia Basket v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-12-18T19:30:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup   

Olympiacos BC overcame a second-quarter collapse to subdue Virtus Bologna 87-77 after the home team’s top performers Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier produced masterclass performances against the Italian outfit.

Olympiacos leaned on Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier to beat Virtus 

[Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) overcame a second-quarter collapse to [subdue Virtus Segafredo Bologna 87-77](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-sinks-virtus-87-77-thanks-to-strong-second-half/) after the home team’s top performers [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) and [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) produced masterclass performances against the Italian outfit.

Vezenkov engineered an enviable PIR of 38 on the back of 27 points and 10 boards, having shot 8 of 12 from the floor and 9 of 11 from the foul line, while Fournier added 20 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds as Olympiacos bounced back from a second-quarter slump.

<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/REMO6GbrX9">pic.twitter.com/REMO6GbrX9</a></p>&mdash; Olympiacos B.C. (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1869495356381405391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Having led 25-7 late in the first, the hosts lost their way and allowed Virtus to turn the matchup on its head as [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/) caught fire and facilitated a 43-46 advantage at halftime for the visiting team.

Having been under pressure to deliver after a patchy run of form, including [last week’s fiasco at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/shorthanded-crvena-zvezda-blows-away-olympiacos-87-73/), Vezenkov acknowledged that Olympiacos was forced to dig deep against its Italian rival.  

“It was tough as we had a very bad performance last week and we knew that we didn’t play well the last two or three games,” Vezenkov told EuroLeague TV in a courtside interview. “We started well but the second quarter was terrible and at halftime we knew we had to start over again.

“We confined Virtus to just 10 points in the third quarter and kept pushing, although we didn’t play our best basketball. We are a great team and we’ve got big expectations, but we have to prove it every week.” 

Fournier, who ignited the second-half comeback when he drained in his shots from all over in the third quarter, revealed that the team took some bruising criticism from head coach [Georgios Bartzokas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/bartzokas-georgios/?season=E2024) at halftime, after the stalwart tactician charged his team with being “softer than butter” on defense in last week’s 87-73 reverse at Zvezda. 

“I was frustrated with how we closed out the first half as the second quarter was really bad,” said the Frenchman. “If we want to be at the top, we need to have certain standards and they have to be maintained for the full 40 minutes. I tried to give the team a boost and some energy in the third. The coach cursed us \[at halftime\] big time, which is exactly what we needed.”

Fournier also heaped praise on Vezenkov, as the two linked up to devastating effect when the chips were down. “Sasha is such an easy player to play with because he is even better without the ball in his hands than with it. That creates a lot of danger for the opposition because of his movement,” Fournier pointed out.

Bartzokas too was unhappy with his team’s temporary meltdown but overall he was pleased to see his team grind out an important win on the back of 23 assists and 42 rebounds, 13 of which were on the offensive end. Olympiacos also shot a solid 13 of 29 from deep, while committing only 9 turnovers.

“For three quarters we controlled the pace but the second quarter was a disaster,” he said. “We stopped passing the ball and defending hard but we are happy that in the end, we returned home with a win. In two days we have another home game against ALBA Berlin and we are looking forward to it.” 

The Greek team’s dynamic duo led the charge in the wake of adversity 

Olympiacos Piraeus v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-12-18T19:15:00.000Z)

Ben Saraf hits ahead to Karim Jallow who posterizes Wolves’ Marek Blazevic.

 Jallow posterizes Blazevic! Magic Moment of the Night 

 Ben Saraf hits ahead to Karim Jallow who posterizes Wolves’ Marek Blazevic.

ratiopharm Ulm v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2024-12-18T18:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice got back to winning ways by defeating Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 99-102 at Ekinox

Reyer holds off Bourg in rollercoaster clash, 99-102

Umana Reyer Venice got back to winning ways by defeating Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 99-102 at Ekinox on Wednesday night. A high-scoring first quarter saw Bourg take a narrow 33-31 lead into the second, with the two teams going into halftime tied at 56-56. The visitors tightened up their defense and outscored Bourg 9-27 in the third to take an 18-point lead into the closing quarter. But the hosts pulled off an incredible comeback to get back in front, 89-88, midway through the fourth. Yet, Reyer showed character and turned the game around to improve its record to 6-6 – the same as Bourg following its home loss.

Mfiondu Tshimanga Kabengele led all scorers with 26 points plus 10 rebounds for yet another double-double. Kyle Wiltjer netted 17, Rodney McGruder had 16 and Jordan Parks chipped in with a double-double of his own by recording 13 points and 10 boards. Tyler Ennis also scored 13, with Amedeo Tessitori adding 12 points. Jordan Usher paced Bourg with 24 points and Maksim Salash netted 21 – 16 of which came in the fourth quarter. Xavier Castaneda scored 13 points, Hugo Benitez had 12 and Joel Ayayi added 10.

Kabengele got Reyer going with a midrange jumper and a triple for an early 2-7 lead. Usher replied with 5 unanswered points before Ayayi put Bourg in front, 11-9, with back-to-back baskets. Jean-Marc Pansa and Ayayi scored from close range, but Reyer responded with a 0-7 run fueled by Parks, who tied it at 18-18. Usher completed a three-point play that took his tally to 10 points, but a bucket from Kabengele and a triple from Ennis put Reyer back in front, 21-23. Baskets from Usher, Benitez and Maxime Courby gave Bourg a 31-28 edge. Then, a triple from Juan Fernandez was followed by a buzzer-beating bucket from Ayayi for a 33-31 lead after 10 minutes.

Courby and McGruder traded triples to start the second quarter before a layup from Wilson Jacques made it 38-34 for the hosts. Two hard-fought baskets from Tessitori sandwiched Ayayi’s bucket inside before a Jacques jumper and a Courby slam in transition opened a 44-38 lead. McGruder and Benitez exchanged triples, with the latter netting inside to maintain a 50-43 cushion. Then, McGruder scored again from deep before a floater from Wiltjer, another three from the former and a basket from Kabengele put Reyer ahead, 52-54. Yet, Castaneda and Adrian Nelson netted in the paint to tie things up, 56-56, at the break.

Parks opened the third quarter with a couple of dunks followed by a layup to open a 57-64 lead for Reyer. Five unanswered points from Kabengele, including a three-point play featuring a monster slam, gave the visitors their first double-digit cushion, 57-68. Then, Wiltjer completed a three-point play and Tessitori scored inside to pull away, 58-74. Bourg netted its first field goal of the third quarter with 1:50 to go, when Benitez completed a three-point play that reduced the deficit to 61-76. Tessitori scored 4 points off the bench to restore a 65-83 lead heading into the closing quarter.

Bourg opened the fourth with a 15-1 run, as Usher scored 6 points, Salash added 7 to his tally and Castaneda made 2 from the charity stripe to slash the difference to 80-84. It took Reyer almost 3 and a half minutes to score a field goal, with Kabengele netting back-to-back baskets to restore an 82-88 lead. Salash nailed 2 triples to complete Bourg’s incredible comeback by putting his team back in front, 89-88. But Reyer fought back, with Wiltjer netting three clutch baskets and Kabengele scoring inside to make it 93-98 and practically seal the outcome. 

Bourg rallied from 18 points down, but Reyer showed character in crunch time

Top 10 Plays | Round 12 | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

Top 10 Plays | RS Round 16 | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Valencia Basket-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

Jallow posterizes Blazevic! Magic Moment of the Night

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup

ratiopharm Ulm-Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius | Round 12 Highlights | 2024-25 BKT EuroCup