The playoffs are here! The eight quarterfinalists will be in action on Tuesday and Wednesday as we tip off the best-of-five series with a bang, and here’s everything you need to know.

### Tuesday, April 22, 2025

#### [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 83-78 Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-paris-basketball/E2024/313/)

Fenerbahce edged out Paris, 83-78, in a very closely contested encounter featuring 15 lead changes to start the playoff series with home-court advantage intact. Paris made a fast start, but Fenerbahce soon responded to take a 49-42 halftime advantage. The second half was back and forth until the final possessions, which Fenerbahce controlled to grab the win. 

Wade Baldwin led six Fenerbahce players in double digits with 15 points, followed by Nigel Hayes-Davis (14), Devon Hall (13), Tarik Biberovic (11) Errick McCollum (11) and Bonzie Colson (10). Nadir Hifi paced Paris with 21 points including 5 triples, with Tyson Ward netting 19 and TJ Shorts pairing 17 points with 7 assists

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Huge home W for Fenerbahçe! ✅<a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> takes the 1-0 lead in the series! 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/a0asicx2ux">pic.twitter.com/a0asicx2ux</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914767694475485417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#### [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 87-83 Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2024/312/)

\--

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paobcgr</a> W after an intense game in OAKA! ✅<br><br>Panathinaikos takes the 1-0 lead in the series! 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/ViWgjoutw7">pic.twitter.com/ViWgjoutw7</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914778776212324544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Wednesday, April 23, 2025

#### AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona

After securing a fourth-placed regular season finish, [AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/as-monaco/mco/?season=2024-25) will attempt to defend its homecourt with a visit from increasingly dangerous [FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/?season=2024-25).

The Spanish team roared into fifth place by winning six of the last seven games, and will believe it has nothing to fear after comfortably beating the Roca Team twice during the regular season – [86-71 at home](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-breezes-past-monaco-86-71/) in October, and [84-98 on the road](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/dario-brizuela-blasts-barca-past-monaco-84-98/) in Round 20.

The sharpshooting of [Dario Brizuela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dario-brizuela/009992/) was key to that most recent triumph with 27 points on 6-of-8 three-point shooting, and the shooting guard has become a real offensive leader for a Barca team which will also lean heavily on the scoring skills of [Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kevin-punter/009862/) and [Jabari Parker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jabari-parker/012745/).

Visiting coach Joan Penarroya has also been boosted by the return to fitness of [Jan Vesely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jan-vesely/000925/), and the Czech veteran faces an intriguing matchup in the paint against Monaco big man [Daniel Theis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-theis/004132/), who has averaged 13.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game since his mid-season arrival.

Vassilis Spanoulis’s team will look for the energy and defensive excellence of [Alpha Diallo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alpha-diallo/011226/), who has just signed [a new three-year contract](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/monaco-pens-alpha-diallo-to-long-term-extension/), to unsettle the visiting team. In turn, that could allow playmakers [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) and [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) to control the rhythm and create scoring opportunities for dangerous duo [Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jordan-loyd/009754/) and [Elie Okobo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/elie-okobo/011212/), who is an injury doubt for Tuesday’s series opener.

Playoffs-G1 Head-to-Head: James vs. Punter

#### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Real Madrid

A rematch of [the 2023 title game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/championship-game-blog-olympiacos-piraeus-vs-real-madrid/) will see [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/?season=2024-25) host [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/?season=2024-25) for the start of a series that promises to offer a full-blooded battle between two true continental giants.

Real unleashed its full potential by [thrashing FC Bayern Munich 93-71](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-crushes-bayern-93-71-to-complete-playoff-picture/) in Friday’s decisive play-in, and has gathered plenty of momentum by winning seven of its last eight games. Olympiacos has struggled with injuries in recent weeks but rallied to win its last two regular season games, sending a reminder of its offensive talent by netting 99 and 100 points in those triumphs.

For Real, finding a way to minimize the impact of [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) (20.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game) is vital. One key figure in that quest could be [Gaby Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/gabriel-deck/009005/), who is getting back to his best after an injury layoff and averaged 8 points in last week’s play-in games.

On the wings, a pair of three-point shooting specialists will attempt to outscore each other as [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) (2.6 triples per game) takes on [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) (1.9), with the likes of [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/) and [Dzanan Musa](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dzanan-musa/006540/) also capable of lighting it up from long-range.

Olympiacos appears to have more backcourt options following the return to fitness of [Keenan Evans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/keenan-evans/011218/) and the signing of [Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/saben-lee/013389/), who could become X-factors in a series opener that will see [Facundo Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) carry a heavy load in directing the Real offense.

Playoffs-G1 Head-to-Head: Fournier vs. Hezonja

There will be two games each night from Tuesday through Friday 

Game Center: Fenerbahce, PAO triumph on opening night of playoffs

Olympiacos Piraeus v Real Madrid (2025-04-23T18:30:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v FC Barcelona (2025-04-23T17:00:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-22T18:30:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-04-22T17:45:00.000Z)

The final two rounds of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the Play-In Showdown, the EuroLeague Playoffs and the EuroLeague Final Four are set to be packed with drama, so make sure you secure a front-row seat with EuroLeague TV's Crunch Time Pass.

Catch the business end of the season with the Crunch Time Pass

The final two rounds of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the Play-In Showdown, the EuroLeague Playoffs and the EuroLeague Final Four are set to be packed with drama, so make sure you secure a front-row seat with [EuroLeague TV's Crunch Time Pass](https://euroleague.tv/signup?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mar2025_crunchtime).

This pass, which is only available for a limited time, also covers Game 3 of the BKT EuroCup Semifinals, the EuroCup Finals and the NextGen Finals, plus you will have access to the top-notch documentaries and much more that are found on [EuroLeague TV](https://euroleague.tv/signup?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mar2025_crunchtime).

The 'Every Game Matters' mantra is completely true during the regular season, but it takes on a new meaning in the postseason. Witness it for yourself and [purchase the Crunch Time Pass now](https://euroleague.tv/signup?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mar2025_crunchtime).

This includes the final two rounds of the regular season, as well as the entire postseason

FC Barcelona v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-04-11T18:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-04-11T18:15:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v AS Monaco (2025-04-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-04-11T17:30:00.000Z)

Paris Basketball v ALBA Berlin (2025-04-10T18:45:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Real Madrid (2025-04-10T18:30:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-04-10T18:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2025-04-10T18:15:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-04-10T18:00:00.000Z)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-04-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-04-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-04-04T18:00:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Olympiacos Piraeus (2025-04-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Paris Basketball (2025-04-03T19:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v FC Bayern Munich (2025-04-03T18:30:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-04-03T17:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-04-03T17:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v FC Barcelona (2025-04-02T17:45:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-04-02T18:30:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-04-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahçe Beko has gone 3-0 versus Paris Basketball this season, but the French side should still feel confident heading into Game 2 of their playoff series.

Fourth time lucky? Paris aiming to bounce back against Fenerbahce

Heading into Game 1 of their playoff showdown on Tuesday night, [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) and [Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/paris-basketball/prs/) had already sent a signal of how close this series might be.

Their first-ever matchup came in Paris in Round 17 of the regular season, when the Turkish team [sneaked away with an 83-87 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-overcomes-paris-83-87-to-strengthen-grip-on-second-place/) after overturning a double-digit first quarter deficit. Then, in Round 31, an even closer battle again saw Fenerbahce recover a big margin as [Nigel Hayes-Davis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nigel-hayes-davis/008962/)’s buzzer-beating three-pointer [secured a dramatic 101-100 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nigel-hayes-davis-the-hero-as-fenerbahce-beats-paris-101-100-to-make-playoffs/).

Those two thrillers sparked hopes that we were in for a treat during this five-game quarter-final, and the opener certainly didn’t disappoint.

Paris started strong to lead by 6 midway through the first, but Fener fought back to take a 7-point lead into the halftime break. And then the second half was a constant source of momentum swings, with neither team able to take control and stamp its authority on the action.

Between [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nadir-hifi/012640/)’s three-pointer for a 54-55 Paris lead midway through the third quarter and [Errick McCollum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/errick-mccollum/005216/)’s triple to make it 74-72 for Fenerbahce nine minutes later, there were no less than 12 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than 3 points.

Heading into the final minute of regulation, Hifi’s fifth triple of the night to make it 80-78 ensured the outcome was anyone’s guess for the final few possessions. But Paris missed its last chance to go ahead when [TJ Shorts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tj-shorts/012608/) was off the mark, then [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) sealed the deal with a coolly converted long two-point strike with just 10 seconds remaining for the final points of the night as [Fenerbahce wrapped up an 83-78 Game 1 triumph](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-outlasts-paris-83-78-to-take-series-opener/).

That means now this season between the teams it’s Fenerbahce 3, Paris 0... but with a combined difference of just 10 points over those three contests. So anyone expecting Fenerbahce to simply roll its way into the Final Four over the next couple of games may be sorely mistaken, and Hayes-Davis certainly sees it that way.

“The mindset going into this is that it’s a best-of-five series,” he told EuroLeague TV after Tuesday’s showdown. “You’ve got to break it down into a season. Each game is one season. Make or break, do or die. We had one season today, the game’s over, we won it, but we have a new season that starts on Thursday. So we have to watch the film tomorrow, try to figure out how we can improve, do a little bit better and try to get the same result.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Bu fotoğrafa bir emoji bırak! 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/The_Fourth_Wade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@The_Fourth_Wade</a> <br><br>Admin: 😤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EuroLeague</a> <a href="https://t.co/udrLkvUOrY">pic.twitter.com/udrLkvUOrY</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1914786504033149231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Visiting coach Tiago Splitter definitely isn’t in the mood to surrender, saying: “We saw some of the stuff that we prepared that worked, some that didn’t, and I think we’ve got to regroup, watch film, get to practice and walk through some of the stuff.

“Hopefully we’ll have a better shooting night – it feels like we had a bunch of open shots that our shooters didn’t make. We’re playing against a great team and we’ve got to be more prepared next time.”

One specific area where Paris definitely needs to be better prepared is protecting its backboard. Fenerbahce crashed the glass to the tune of 19 offensive rebounds on Tuesday, enabling it to score 21 second-chance points compared to just 8 for Paris.

Between two teams so closely matched, that’s clearly a significant statistic. So if Paris can rectify its defensive rebounding by Thursday night, don’t rule out the French team making it fourth time lucky in its battles with Fener.

Game News

The French club has suffered three very close defeats to Saras Jasikevicius’s team so far this season

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Paris Basketball (2025-04-24T17:45:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes Istanbul looked like staging an upset for much of Game 1 of its EuroLeague Playoffs series at defending champion Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, but the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague holder showed the makings of a title-winning outfit when it mattered.

Panathinaikos ground down Anadolu Efes with airtight defense 

[Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/?season=2024-25) looked like staging an upset for much of Game 1 of its EuroLeague Playoffs series at defending champion [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/?season=2024-25), but the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague holder showed the makings of a title-winning outfit when it mattered.

Trailing 64-72 at the end of the third quarter after being down by as many as 12 points, Panathinaikos dug deep into its resources and eked out [an 87-83 victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-beats-efes-87-83-in-game-1/) after an ironclad defensive performance in the fourth.

Efes had started the game on 0 of 6 from deep in the first quarter and finished the rip-roaring contest with another barrage of misses from downtown, a testament to Panathinaikos making life difficult for the Turkish outfit when the game was on the line.

The home team’s big man [Juancho Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/juancho-hernangomez/012712/) emerged with career highs of 20 points and 16 boards, pouring in the baskets at one end of the court while racking up the rebounds at the other to help Panathinaikos protect its home-court advantage.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/juanchiviris41?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@juanchiviris41</a> furiously starting the playoffs with 6 career-highs! <br><br>P.S. 40 on PIR on Game 1?! 😳 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheGreens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheGreens</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LiveTheGreenMagic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LiveTheGreenMagic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Club1908?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Club1908</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneClubOneApp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OneClubOneApp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToAbuDhabi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToAbuDhabi</a> <a href="https://t.co/c2fgqPmV1f">pic.twitter.com/c2fgqPmV1f</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/1914784520311615987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hernangomez acknowledged the performance left a lot to be desired despite the outcome and singled out the home team’s pack leader [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), who battled through a tough night to register 15 points and 5 assists.

Crucially, the last of those was one when he dished out a superb pass to [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/), who sank a clutch three to make the score 85-80 and effectively seal the game as a contest. 

“We never give up but this Efes team is really dangerous,” a visibly relieved Hernangomez said in his post-game comments. “We were up and down, to be honest, we really didn’t play well. So let’s watch the tape and be back for the second game.

“We have a lot of talent on this team and many players who are able to step up. We have the league’s MVP in Nunn and we follow his lead. He did a great job dishing out passes tonight, not least the one to Grant whose shot decided the game. We need everyone as this could be a long series.” 

Game Videos

Grant added: “We’ve only won one game and we know we have to win three so we have to play better than we did tonight.”

The home team’s head coach Ergin Ataman, who faced his former club Efes for the first time in a postseason matchup after winning back-to-back titles with the Turkish team in 2021 and 2022, praised Hernangomez before addressing his team’s dip in the second quarter.  

“Juancho put in a great performance tonight, he spent 39 minutes on the court and congratulations to him,” Ataman told the postgame press conference.

“I am not happy with our defense in the second quarter as we conceded 30 points in this period of the game but having trailed, we got more aggressive when we needed to. The real problem in the second quarter was the offense as we took too many early shots and hence gave away a lot of fast break points.”

When the chips were down, the Greens closed shop and forced its rival into submission 

Wade Baldwin had a team-high 15 points, including a clutch late basket, as Fenerbahçe Beko took a 1-0 lead in its playoff series against Paris Basketball.

Wade Baldwin shined on milestone evening as Fenerbahce took Game 1

[Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) surpassed a personal milestone of 2,500 points as he totalled a team-high 15 in [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul’s 83-78 Game 1 victory over Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-outlasts-paris-83-78-to-take-series-opener/) in Tuesday night’s playoff opener, also sending another reminder that he is one of the most dangerous scorers in the continent.

Baldwin has now netted 2,014 points in his 180 games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. And although that might rank him only 40th (and rising) in the all-time scoring list, his average of 14.0 points is up there with the very best: all-time greats Vassilis Spanoulis (12.44) and Juan Carlos Navarro (12.18) both averaged lower than Baldwin’s per night score.

Wade Baldwin shined in Game 1

Showcasing another of his qualities, many of Baldwin’s baskets on Tuesday night came at important times: the former Olympiacos, Bayern, Baskonia and Maccabi guard twice broke long scoring droughts to get his team back on the scoreboard when they needed it the most, once in the first quarter and again in the third. He also finished the first half strong with the last two baskets before the break, including an ice-cool long two to beat the halftime buzzer.

Most importantly, Baldwin's propensity to seize the big moments in his hands saw him strike the evening’s decisive blow with another long two-point conversion with just 10 seconds left on the clock, giving Fenerbahce a two-possession lead which ultimately proved enough for a hard-fought victory.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WADE BALDWIN IV CALLS GAME IN ISTANBUL 🥶<a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBBasketbol</a> <a href="https://t.co/7cuyVvrnia">pic.twitter.com/7cuyVvrnia</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1914768548758438332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This hasn’t been the easiest year for the 29-year-old, who had to endure two separate spells on the sidelines through injury, including a nine-game absence between Rounds 17 and 27.

But he’s now back and arguably in his best shape of the season, reaching double digits in scoring in four consecutive games following his heroics off the bench against Paris on Tuesday.

That might not be enough to earn him a spot in the starting five for Thursday’s Game 2, however. As coach Saras Jasikevicius somewhat enigmatically explained after the action: “We always say that our bench players are not exactly bench players. This is a luxury we have at Fenerbahce and we’re trying to use it to the best.

“For me, there are no starters or bench players. The starters are the guys who finish the game. So you can see the starting line-up at the end of the fourth.”

That might sound a little confusing, but one thing is crystal clear: Wade Baldwin is a major factor in Fenerbahce’s push for the EuroLeague crown.

The guard led his team to victory as he surpassed 2,500 career points

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens took the lead in its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series against Anadolu Efes Istanbul with an 87-83 home win in Game 1 on the back of an impressive fightback in the last 10 minutes of an absorbing contest

Panathinaikos beats Efes, 87-83, in Game 1 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens took the lead in its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series against Anadolu Efes Istanbul with an 87-83 home win in Game 1 on the back of an impressive fightback in the last 10 minutes of an absorbing contest. Juancho Hernangomez paced defending champs Panathinaikos with career-highs of 20 points and 16 boards in an epic battle against Efes big man Vincent Poirier.

Kendrick Nunn, who was awarded his EuroLeague MVP Trophy by EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga prior to the game, struggled from the floor all night but still netted 15 points on 4-of-15 shooting while Omer Yurtseven racked up 14 points and 7 boards. Kostas Sloukas scored 13 points for the Greens and Cedi Osman chipped in with 11 against his boyhood club.

At the other end, Shane Larkin and Poirier poured in 17 points apiece for Efes but each missed a clutch free throw in the home stretch, enabling Panathinaikos to grind out the win after Jerian Grant sank a corner three, his only points of the game, to make the score 85-80 in the final minute. Elijah Bryant netted 14 points for Efes and Derek Willis added 11, all of them in the second quarter when the Turkish outfit came up with a breathtaking 0-17 blitz that turned a 32-23 deficit into a 32-40 lead. 

A balanced workload on offense saw Panathinaikos engineer a 21-18 lead at the end of the first quarter, as the visitors relied entirely on Poirier and Bryant to score their points in the opening 10 minutes.

Panathinaikos romped away to 30-20 early in the second quarter but then came the Efes whirlwind which silenced a fervent home crowd at OAKA Arena and helped the visiting team to a promising 40-48 lead at the interval.

Panathinaikos looked in trouble as Efes extended its advantage to 43-55 early in the second half, with Nunn misfiring and Poirier dominating the paint. Both teams played in fits and starts throughout the third quarter, with Hernangomez instrumental in keeping Panathinaikos alive with a monster performance at both ends of the court.

Having trailed 60-72 late in the third quarter, Panathinaikos came up with a 12-0 run powered by the unstoppable Hernangomez, who was 9-of-12 from the floor including 7-of-7 from inside while he also relentlessly picked up the rebounds in his own paint.

With the game hanging in the balance late in the fourth, Larkin and Poirier faltered from the foul line while Grant put a subdued performance behind with the crunch three which sealed a titanic battle.

The reigning champs produced a stellar fourth-quarter comeback against the Turkish team to nose ahead in the series

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul edged out Paris Basketball, 83-78, in a very closely contested encounter featuring 15 lead changes to start the playoff series with home-court advantage intact.

Fenerbahce outlasts Paris, 83-78, to take series opener

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul edged out Paris Basketball, 83-78, in a very closely contested encounter featuring 15 lead changes to start the playoff series with home-court advantage intact.

Paris made a fast start, but Fenerbahce soon responded to take a 49-42 halftime advantage. The second half was back and forth until the final possessions, which Fenerbahce controlled to grab the win. 

Wade Baldwin led six Fenerbahce players in double digits with 15 points, followed by Nigel Hayes-Davis (14), Devon Hall (13), Tarik Biberovic (11) Errick McCollum (11) and Bonzie Colson (10). Nadir Hifi paced Paris with 21 points including 5 triples, with Tyson Ward netting 19 and TJ Shorts pairing 17 points with 7 assists.

Khem Birch’s layup opened the scoring, but Shorts netted twice for Paris’s first lead. Ward dunked before Shorts and Mikael Jantunen added three-pointers to make it 8-12. Colson scored 5 fast points for Fener, but a pair of dunks by Kevarrius Hayes kept Paris ahead. Neither team scored for more than three minutes until Hifi’s fast-break layup stretched the lead to 11-19, and Baldwin ended Fener’s five-minute drought with a three-ball. Hayes responded with a layup-and-one, before Baldwin and Hayes-Davis made it 18-22 after 10 minutes.

Hall’s three-pointer and Biberovic’s layup were answered by two buckets from Ward early in the second, before Colson’s triple gave Fener the lead, 28-26. Shorts and Birch traded inside scores, but Hayes-Davis kept the hosts ahead from long-range. Collin Malcolm, McCollum and Hifi all struck from deep, keeping it tight at 36-35. Colson’s tip-in, McCollum’s triple and Hall’s strong finish were met by Malcolm and Shorts from close range, before a pair of Baldwin buckets made it 49-42 at the break.

Ward netted the first 4 points of a low-scoring start to the second half, before Baldwin got Fener back on the scoreboard. Hifi’s layup was bettered by Biberovic’s deep strike for a 54-49 lead midway through the quarter. Hifi stayed hot with an off-balance three-pointer, and added another for a lead change, 54-55. Hayes-Davis hit straight back from mid-range, before Ward and Biberovic traded triples. Shorts and Hall netted at the rim, and Hifi’s skillful scoop shot was answered by another Hall score for a 63-62 Fener lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Ward restored Paris’s lead from long-range, but Biberovic hit right back with his own three-ball. Ward stayed hot with another triple, but Dyshawn Pierre did the same at the other end to make it 71-68. Yakuba Ouattara scored two straight baskets for another lead change, but McCollum hit another three-ball to help give Fener a 76-72 lead. Hifi’s triple was answered by McCollum’s floater, and it was 80-75 heading into the last two minutes. Another Hifi three-ball made it a one-score game, but Shorts’s miss was followed by Baldwin’s nerveless long two to seal the win.

The playoffs opened with a hard-fought home victory in Game 1

In this special episode of EuroLeague & Friends, as it welcomes Kendrick Nunn, the newly crowned 2024–2025 EuroLeague MVP. Just before the playoffs tip off, Kendrick opens up about his incredible season, the emotional journey behind his MVP win, and what it means to lead Panathinaikos into the postseason. From his days in Chicago to becoming the face of EuroLeague basketball, Nunn reflects on choosing greatness, committing long-term in Europe, and embracing the competitive fire that drives him. 


The EuroLeague & Friends gang are joined by MVP Kendrick Nunn

In this special episode of EuroLeague & Friends, as it welcomes Kendrick Nunn, the newly crowned 2024–2025 EuroLeague MVP. Just before the playoffs tip off, Kendrick opens up about his incredible season, the emotional journey behind his MVP win, and what it means to lead Panathinaikos into the postseason. From his days in Chicago to becoming the face of EuroLeague basketball, Nunn reflects on choosing greatness, committing long-term in Europe, and embracing the competitive fire that drives him. 

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has set a new benchmark for fan engagement, with the 2024-25 regular season becoming the most attended in the competition’s history. The average attendance reached a record-breaking 10,589 spectators per game.

EuroLeague regular season attendance sets new record

- **Average attendance rose to an all-time high of 10,589 spectators per game**
- **More than 3 million fans attended games in person**
- **Four straight seasons of record-breaking attendance**

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague has set a new benchmark for fan engagement, with the 2024-25 regular season becoming the most attended in the competition’s history. The average attendance reached a record-breaking 10,589 spectators per game, surpassing last season’s mark of 10,383 and representing a 2% increase, an average of 206 additional fans per game. For the fourth consecutive season, the attendance record has been broken, highlighting the strong bond between the fans and the league.

A total of 3,039,060 spectators attended EuroLeague games throughout the season, 38,219 more than the previous year. Notably, eight clubs sold at least 90% of their available tickets, up from six the previous season. This figure could have been even higher as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv was forced to relocate its home games to Belgrade due to external circumstances, often playing with limited capacity or no spectators.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade once again led the league in both average attendance, 18,486, and fill rate (98%), closely followed by Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade with 18,239 spectators per game and a 94% fill rate. Olympiacos Piraeus also recorded a 94% attendance rate during the regular season, with an average of 11,546 fans attending each game. The league-wide average fill rate of 84% marked a 2% increase from the previous season, highlighting the EuroLeague’s growing connection with fans across Europe.

FC Bayern Munich recorded the highest growth in attendance, with a 75% year-over-year increase following the move to the new, state-of-the-art SAP Arena, which seats 12,500. Bayern averaged 10,872 spectators per game with a 97% fill rate.

Reigning champions Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens also saw a remarkable 17.8% increase in average attendance, driven by their 2024 title win in Berlin and the upgrades made to the historic OAKA arena. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, a Final Four semifinalist, posted a 10.46% increase, with an average crowd of 10,785.

With seven clubs averaging more than 10,000 spectators per game, the EuroLeague continues to set the standard for professional basketball in Europe, both on the court and in the stands.

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Pregame quotes hub: Playoffs, Game 1

## Tuesday, April 22

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball (19:45 CEST)

**Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul head coach**

"We're very excited to start the playoffs. We understand the difficulties of Paris; obviously and more importantly, their speed, their transition game, try to make it as difficult as possible for their main players. We understand that it's gonna be a long and difficult series and understand that we're gonna have to suffer."

**Nicolo Melli, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul forward**

"Tough game. First game of the series. We need to defend our home-court advantage. They've been playing great all season long. They have a very specific identity. We will try to impose our rhythm, our style of basketball. It's not gonna be easy. It's the EuroLeague Playoffs, so it's gonna be a tough matchup, but we will try everything to keep the home-court advantage and advance. The fans whenever we need them this year, they've showed up. I know how Ulker Arena can be. For sure, it will be an extra push for us with them supporting us."

Saras Jasikevicius: 'It's gonna be a long and difficult series'

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CEST)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens head coach**

"They have big potential. They didn't start the season well, but after that, after injured players came back to the team, they found their rhythm and played good basketball. Of course, now it's the playoffs. Both teams will put their power onto the court. It's the first game and we will be ready to win the game. Efes has great offensive players and they very well on offense, with good organization. Defense will be key in this series. I have great respect for Efes. Many players are my players, and we made history in European basketball. But now we are on separate paths and I will do everything on the court to send my team to the Final Four."

**Lorenzo Brown, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard**

"\[We can stop Efes by\] just being us. That's the way we can do it, coming out and being physical from the start of the game. Doing what we need to do win the rebounding game, and also points as well. Two very experienced teams, high-level players. It's going to be a battle, for sure. I'm always ready for what's coming. This league is full of great players and Efes is one of those teams with a number of great players on their team, so it's not going to be an easy matchup. Elijah Bryant has been playing tremendous this year and Shane \[Larkin\] is always going to be Shane. They have many other pieces, too. Just got to pay attention to the details on our end, study film and play our game."

**Luca Banchi, Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach**

"We are very excited to approach this playoff series against the defending champion, Panathinaikos. There are many reasons that make the playoffs special. Of course, Anadolu Efes is back in the playoffs after two years. We arrive after eight wins in a row that made our path unique and we will face a basketball icon of Anadolu Efes and in general Turkish basketball, Coach Ataman, and a team full of talent. Starting from the best scorer in the competition Kendrick Nunn, but having so much talent and so much possibility to represent a danger for every team. Panathinaikos - despite finishing third in the regular season - still represents probably the main candidate for the title. But on the other hand, we want to approach this series conscious and confident that what we've built, especially in the last month, is something that has to represent a point of reference for our performances. So I really hope our players arrive at this appointment healthy and confident because we would like to transform this series at the peak of our season in terms of the quality of basketball we will show on the court starting from the first two games in such a special atmosphere like OAKA. Tickets are sold out since the day Panathinaikos qualified for the playoffs. But I'm pretty sure that we will respond in the right way in such a special atmosphere."

**Shane Larkin, Anadolu Efes Istanbul guard**

"Panathinaikos is obviously a great team with championship pedigree, champion coach and experienced players. They also have one of the best fan bases in the league. If we want to compete at a high level and give ourselves a chance to win there, we have to remain focused and disciplined. Hustle plays and winning the small details will be the key."

Luca Banchi: 'We approach this series conscious and confident that what we've built'

## Wednesday, April 23, 2025

### AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona (19:00 CEST)

**Joan Penarroya, FC Barcelona head coach**

"Logically, seeing the talent of both teams, the way both teams played during the regular season and the players of both sides, it would be logical to see high-scoring games rather than low-scoring ones. But this is the playoffs and we will see how the series unfolds. We know that they have a lot of talent, but we know that we can't only think about our offense. We are talking about a team that has always made it to the playoffs in each of the last four years and has played in the Final Four, with a roster that, at the beginning of the season, unlike ours, everyone thought it was a clear candidate to play in the Final Four. There are other teams that people may like or not, but there is no doubt that when it comes to depth and quality, Monaco is a clear candidate to become champions. Daniel Theis is a very important player, knowing that they already had \[Georgios\] Papagiannis, \[Donatas\] Motiejunas and \[Mam\] Jaiteh. We are talking about very experienced players in the EuroLeague. With Daniel Theis, some of them have played very few minutes. We are talking about a player who knows the game very well. He is an experienced, solid player who knows what he has to do in every moment, and it's clear that he has given them a quality leap and he makes them even more dangerous. It is a team which main strengths, especially on offense, are its perimeter players. It is a team full of stars. Mike James is obviously the most relevant but you have \[Elie\] Okobo, Jordan Loyd, \[Matthew\] Strazel, Nick Calathes, \[Alpha\] Diallo... There are not enough minutes in a game to fit so many star players. It is a team full of talent, with a lot of individual skills to play one-on-one. If we want to be in the Final Four, we have to play against these teams. This is what we wanted. We will have problems, but I am sure he will also have problems against our offense."  

**Dario Brizuela, FC Barcelona guard**

"Monaco is a team that invests a lot of their game on its backcourt. We know that: Monaco has players like Mike James, who has marked an era in the last few years of EuroLeague with his way of playing, his ability to score and to lead teams to win. He's a reference for those like me who come from behind in his position or with his way of understanding basketball. It's exciting to be able to play against him, but I love to compete. He loves it, too, just like everyone else. As much as I like him as a player, I want to try to win and make things hard for him. From my own experience, having won both regular season games doesn't have much of an impact. In the regular season, there are many factors that can influence a game: The schedule, how you get to that game, many things. And now the playoff is completely different. It's 40 new minutes, each game. They come with a player they didn't have before \[Daniel Theis\] and we come without players we had before, so the picture changes a lot. Every game is different, so we won't care at all about winning those \[previous\] two games, but more about how we played and what we did well so they won't feel comfortable. That's what we are going to try to replicate as much as possible, knowing that it's going to be a completely new game from Wednesday to Friday. We are two teams very focused on scoring a lot of points. If both teams have a hood day on offense, we easily get to 90 or 100 points. I think the key will be on the other side of the court, being able to make the opponent uncomfortable, not finding the situations they want to look for, not feeling comfortable. I think both teams are very good in transition."

Dario Brizuela: 'It's exciting to be able to play against Mike James, but I love to compete'

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Real Madrid (20:30 CEST)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach** 

"Τhe experience at this stage of the competition definitely helps . Not so much for me - we’re not talking about me - but mainly for the players; it helps to have experience in big games. Of course, the same can be said about Real. The fact is that this is a moment we all wish to be part of. We worked hard all season to finish first. Our opponent is Real, no complaints about bad luck, that we could have had an easier draw. Every opponent has its value and its talent. All eight teams are very talented. I expect four very exciting series in all the matchups for a place in the Final Four. Ours is one of them. These are two teams with experience in such situations. The good thing for us is that we have home-court advantage; if it goes to five games, we’ll play three at home. We worked a lot for that all season. It’s important we take advantage of it as quickly as possible.”

**Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos Piraeus forward** 

"We’re talking about a team with history, with the most EuroLeague titles. They were last year’s finalists and there haven’t been many major changes to their roster. The same players who played in the final last year are essentially still the core this year. The fact that they had a poor regular season doesn’t mean we should be complacent or think it will be an easy task. We’re going into a playoff series where you have to be focused and give everything to reach the Final Four. That’s our only goal, regardless of opponent; that’s what we’d pursue either way. With the seriousness and work we need to show on the court, if we are who we’re supposed to be, we can achieve what we want. We certainly face a very worthy opponent, but I don’t think any of the top eight, or even the top 10, teams played bad basketball this season or didn’t deserve to be here. Even the 10th-placed team deserved to fight for a playoff spot. It’s a process where a lot can change from game to game, momentum plays a huge role. That’s why we’ve been working all week, to be in the best possible shape and present our best possible version. Our goal is to reach the Final Four and win the EuroLeague. To reach that goal, we have to overcome any obstacle in our path, whether it’s considered easy or hard by public opinion. The goal has been clear since the beginning of the season. That’s what we’ve all focused on. The coach has said it many times. And as I said before, as long as we’re focused on what we need to do on the court, we’ll be fine, we’ll have the upper hand and control. We don’t have anything to fear, nor do we envy anything from any team. I believe we’re ready to fight for the wins we need to reach the Final Four." 

**Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach**

"We face the best team in the playoffs. Olympiacos comes off an extraordinary regular season in which it was able to get a well-deserved top spot. It played automatically, being really solid at both ends of the court. It was able to choose the shots it took really well, with two reference on the offensive end like \[Evan\] Fournier and \[Sasha\] Vezenkov, but counting on other players who are able to score at ant given time. Defensively speaking, Olympiacos is really solid and is very well-coached, with a coach that always makes the most of a team that really plays like that, as a team. It is a big game and a big playoff series."

**Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid forward**

"We all have waited for this moment of the season, the key moment. We had a lot of ups and downs to get here, but the most important is getting to this point. The team is ready to face this playoff series. In the last years, the games between Real and Olympiacos, in Madrid and Piraeus, have been really important even in regular season action. Both teams always have very good players and coaches, and every time we face each other, you can feel both clubs' pride, which makes these games even bigger. Olympiacos has been the best regular season team by far, but we are in good form and with good rhythm because we have played many do-or-die games lately. I think that can help us. We have to carry on playing this way."

Mario Hezonja: 'We all have waited for this moment of the season, the key moment'

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs

Playoffs pregame quotes, Game 1: 'We need to defend our home-court advantage'

All the latest injury news surrounding all registered players ahead of Game 1 of the 2025 EuroLeague Playoffs.

EuroLeague Playoffs injury report: Game 1

Follow all the latest injury information for registered players in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, as reported by the clubs, and get your [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home?_ga=2.101462721.1199459303.1696273873-903329349.1669636775) teams up to date!

## Game 1: Tuesday, April 22

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball (19:45 CEST)

#### Fenerbahce

- Scottie Wilbekin, who went down with an injury in the first game of the regular season, remains out, the club has confirmed.

#### Paris

- Paris has not yet sent an injury report ahead of Game 1.
- Maodo Lo is out for 'several weeks' with a hamstring injury, [the club's website stated on March 24](https://parisbasketball.com/en/2025/03/medical-statement-from-paris-basketball/).
- Daulton Hommes is out for 'several months' with a hand injury, [the club's website stated on March 24](https://parisbasketball.com/en/2025/03/medical-statement-from-paris-basketball/).
- Leon Kratzer returned to action in the Play-In Showdown.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CEST)

#### Panathinaikos

- Panathinaikos has not yet sent an injury report ahead of Game 1.
- [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/all-euroleague-center-mathias-lessort-leaves-game-with-leg-injury/) suffered a broken fibula in Round 17 and is still working his way back from injury.
- Marius Grigonis (lower back surgery) has not played since Round 4.

#### Efes

- Rodrigue Beaubois, who suffered an injury in Round 33, is ruled out for Game 1, the club has confirmed.

## Game 1: Wednesday, April 23

### AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona (19:00 CEST)

#### Monaco

- Monaco has not yet sent an injury report ahead of Game 1.

#### Barcelona

- Nico Laprovittola, Juan Nunez, Chimezie Metu and Dame Sarr are all unavailable for Game 1, the club has confirmed.

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Real Madrid (20:30 CEST)

#### Olympiacos

- Olympiacos has not yet sent an injury report ahead of Game 1.
- Moustapha Fall missed the last two games of the regular season.
- Nikola Milutinov missed the last four games of the regular season.
- Luca Vildoza missed the last four games of the regular season.
- Thomas Walkup last played in Round 20, meaning he missed the last 14 games of the regular season.
- Keenan Evans, who has recently returned from a long-term injury, is yet to make his season debut.

#### Real Madrid

- Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report ahead of Game 1.
- Bruno Fernando, who last played in Round 30, [has been dealing with discomfort in his Achilles](https://x.com/pilarcasado/status/1914658668953354649).
- Eli Ndiaye, who last played in Round 28, [has been dealing with a shoulder issue](https://x.com/pilarcasado/status/1909957418328502603).
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes last played in Round 27 but has been fit and ready to play.

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs

Playoffs injury report, Game 1: Beaubois still out for Efes

Fresh off being named the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP of the Month for March and April, Real Madrid star center Walter Tavares spoke to Euroleague.net’s Geoff Gillingham at the club’s training complex in Valdebebas to reflect on the last month and a half.

Walter Tavares, March-April MVP: ‘It’s hard these days to be a big man’

Fresh off being named the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP of the Month for March and April, [Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/mad/) star center [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) spoke to [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net)’s Geoff Gillingham at the club’s training complex in Valdebebas to reflect on the last month and a half.

Tavares, who has equaled Olympiacos Piraeus’s Sasha Vezenkov for the third most MVP of the Month awards all-time with four, discussed a number of topics during the interview.

The 33-year-old explained the evolution of his game over the years, flying the flag for big men in the EuroLeague, Real Madrid’s 6-0 end to the regular season, his game-winning basket against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, plus much more.

News