Aris Thessaloniki signs Kostas Antetokounmpo on loan from Olympiacos. The EuroLeague and NBA champion prepares for his first EuroCup experience and a bigger role in Thessaloniki. 

Kostas Antetokounmpo moves from Olympiacos to Aris

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson has secured the services of [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/) on loan from Olympiacos Piraeus for the remainder of the season. The move gives the Greek big man an opportunity to make his EuroCup debut and take on a more prominent role after limited minutes in Piraeus.

Antetokounmpo (2.08 meters, 28 years old) appeared in three EuroLeague games for Olympiacos this season, where he totaled 4 points and 3 rebounds in 16 minutes. He also contributed 2.5 points and 2.0 rebounds across 10 Greek League contests. He now joins an Aris squad aiming to strengthen its frontcourt for the second half of the EuroCup campaign.

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A EuroLeague and NBA champion, Antetokounmpo signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos last summer after finishing the previous season with UCAM Murcia in Spain. He previously played for Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, with which he won the EuroLeague in 2024. Antetokounmpo lifted the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. His career also includes stints with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in France, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkiye, and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

The move makes Kostas the second Antetokounmpo to play for Aris this season; his younger brother Alex began the season with the club, but made only one official appearance before leaving. Now, Antetokounmpo brings size, athleticism, and experience to Aris as he embarks on his first EuroCup adventure.

More Aris news

The EuroLeague and NBA champion moves on loan to Aris, where he will make his EuroCup debut

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 21 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 21

## Friday, January 9

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (19:00 CET)

**Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach**

"We’re facing an athletic opponent with a lot of talent. They’re not a very favorable matchup for us because they’re physical, have size, and play a lot of switching defense. It will be a very serious challenge. Everyone has ups and downs; over the course of a season that’s normal. Strong teams are starting to find their rhythm now, while maybe we were in better shape at the beginning of the season. We’re not missing much, but in recent games it’s been small details that have been lacking."

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:15 CET)

**Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach**

"Bayern are playing well. They have mainly changed their defensive philosophy under Coach Pesic. They put more pressure on the ball, even with players who are not used to doing that. They are tougher defensively. They have two big men, Gabriel and McCormack, who are good defenders. They are mobile players. In general, they are a team that shows a different image compared to what we are used to from Bayern. Of course, they also have offensive talent. They have good shooters, experienced players, and a very experienced coach at this level. They are coming off a win and have one day less to prepare for the game, but we have all accepted within the team that respecting the opponent—neither underestimating nor overestimating anyone—leads to good results. Not long ago, when we were leaving to play four away games, including the league, everyone said it was a mountain of a schedule. In the end, as it turned out, it wasn’t. However, things are not just as easy now that we are playing at home. It’s a difficult game and we must approach it as such."

**Monte Morris, Olympiacos guard**

"Bayern are a very good team. They are on a winning streak and are very dangerous. We need to stay focused and play our game. I really like it here. I like the food, the team, and the fans. The coach and my teammates have welcomed me warmly. I try to improve every day and learn the system day by day. I’m adjusting every day. I’ve been learning since the first day and continue to do so every day. I’ve only played a few EuroLeague games. We have many games ahead of us, and I’ll try to keep improving so I can help more."

**Svetislav Pesic, Bayern head coach**

"The game at Olympiacos doesn’t come at a good time, although a clash with this historic club is always a very big challenge. We’ve now won a few games in the Bundesliga and also in the EuroLeague, but we will be missing some players who are banged up. I hope others will seize their opportunity and give us fresh energy. Despite the problems and the great quality of Piraeus, we want to stay on our path."

Monte Morris: 'I try to improve every day and learn the system day by day'

### FC Barcelona vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

**Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach**

"Joan \[Penarroya\] was our coach, and first of all, I hope the Palau gives him a warm welcome. Beyond the challenges that coaches face — which are huge — sometimes things go well, sometimes they don’t, he’s a person… First, he’s a really good guy, and second, he gave absolutely everything to try to do the best possible with Barça. People may judge his work differently — better or worse — that’s their opinion, but he’s one of ours, and I hope the fans show him a lot of respect tomorrow. He’s also a very good coach, and it will be a very tough game. Partizan is a team that went through a lot of challenges with their coaching change. Slowly, they’re looking more solid — in Valencia they competed very well, in Monaco there was a moment where the game slipped away, but they were still in it. They have a very good team with talented players. There's the signing of \[Cam\] Payne, they now have two players who were very important at Barça, like \[Jabari\] Parker and \[Nick\] Calathes, a player who was key in Madrid, Bruno Fernando, a player who excelled in Malaga and was highly sought after, \[Dylan\] Osetkowski, a player coming from CSKA, \[Tonye\] Jekiri, who will bring a lot of experience and is a very good player. They also have players like \[Isaac\] Bonga, a champion of the last \[international\] championship, and others like \[Sterling\] Brown, \[Vanja\] Marinkovic — an excellent shooter — and \[Duane\] Washington, who every team in Europe was chasing after when he left the G League. In short, they have an extraordinary roster with a lot of individual talent, and it will be a very difficult game."

**Toko Shengelia, Barcelona forward**

"Maybe we’ve given people reason to say that, but I’d say our ceiling is still higher. We’ve played those games without Jan \[Vesely\], without Will \[Clyburn\], I’m not back at 100% yet, and logically we still have plenty of room to improve. But I’d say we’re on the right path, it’s positive, and we’re getting better every day. That’s the most important thing. It doesn’t matter where Partizan is in the standings, we have to protect our home court. Defense will be key because they have very talented players who can suddenly get hot and take control of the game. And once they gain that confidence, it becomes very difficult here. The key will be to start the game very focused and stay locked in for all 40 minutes. I think, logically, tactically it’s going to be a bit complicated \[coming up against Joan Penarroya\]. Maybe he knows us very well: our game, our character. But at the same time, that’s something we’ll take into account too, and we’ll definitely prepare the game with Xavi \[Pascual\], also preparing for him as an opponent. On an emotional level, we’re human. Joan was our coach not long ago, we have a lot of affection for him, and I think he also deserves for the Palau to welcome him with a lot of warmth and applause. From my side, I’ll definitely do that. He did everything he possibly could. We had moments we really enjoyed — not only during my month and a half here, but even before, when he had already been the coach at Barça for years. And from my side, I’ve told him this before and I’ll say it again now: I’m grateful for everything he’s done for this club and for me."

**Joan Penarroya, Partizan head coach**

"We’re facing another tough game after the matchup with Monaco. Barcelona is also a big club with a great atmosphere and over the past two months they’ve won a lot of games. Overall, it’s going to be a very demanding matchup, but we need to stay committed to our game plan and believe in ourselves. Even though Barcelona is playing well and has a lot of quality players, I think this is a good moment for us to continue building our character and growing as a team. We also need to perform much better than we did in the previous game, especially compared to how we played in the first half."

**Duane Washington, Partizan guard**

"We lost the last game against them on Clyburn’s half-court buzzer-beater, and we are well aware of what that game meant. We also know that this team used to be coached by our coach, Penarroya, which makes the matchup even more meaningful for us. Still, we are excited about this opportunity and we will give everything we have, play our game and do our best to win."

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CET)

**Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach**

"It is a very important game for us, as always in the EuroLeague, but it comes on a very special day for our club and, before the eyes of our fans, we intend to play an intense and tough game. However, we fully understand that Efes is a team much better than what the record indicates so we will go there prepared to play a very difficult game."

**Pablo Laso, Efes head coach**

"To play against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on the road is always difficult. They are very aggressive at home and come in with a lot of confidence after beating Panathinaikos on the road. This game is very important for us and will be a good test to show that we can be competitive against any team. The first thing I ask my team at every game is to be competitive and show what our players can contribute to the team. Every player has to be on the same page, knowing that we are facing a great team with talented players at every position."

**PJ Dozier, Efes guard**

"Much needed win for us. We are fighting for our season to turn around in the direction we want."

Peppe Poeta: 'Efes is a team much better than its record'

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CET)

\--

## Thursday, January 8

### Dubai Basketball vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (17:00 CET)

**Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach**

"We need to play 40 minutes very focused and concentrated. There's not much time to prepare. They're playing great of late, but we're playing at home. We need to get back to our rhythm, to our mindset, and only like this – with continuity of 40 minutes – can we match the team like they are in this moment."

**Dwayne Bacon, Dubai forward**

"I think we have to play together, move the ball, and play defense for four quarters. Right now we're just known as a first-half team that will fold in the second half, typically the third quarter. If we don't play the same way for 40 minutes, we won't win the game. They're hot right now, so it has to be consistent with us for 40 minutes. We have to be on the same page. Wade Baldwin is playing great, Talen Horton-Tucker is playing great. I saw yesterday Brandon Boston played great. He hasn't played in a while. Can't forget Bonzie Colson, Devon Hall. The list goes on. They have a full team. It's the reason why they won the championship last year. They took out a guy \[in Nigel Hayes-Davis\], but they probably added a guy that is right around the same talent but way younger. In their last 11, they're like 10-1 in the competition, so there's a reason why these guys are top of the league. A lot of these guys are veteran players, they know how to win in tough environments, and if we don't play for 40 minutes we don't have a chance."

**Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach**

"Dubai is a very physical team that they beat us in Istanbul. The size of the team is really impressive, the front line. The three positions are all extremely tall and physical. So this is the first thing we need to do. Prepare our offenses and know, understand how we can attack them."

**Talen Horton-Tucker, Fenerbahce guard**

"Tomorrow we know that we're playing against a physically bigger team, and they're pretty organized with having a good guard. There are a lot of assists. Being able to try to limit them as much as we can. Not fouled them and keep them off the line. Their easy attempts are something that we need to focus on and just continue to come out, play hard, rebound. Play physical. Just impose our will is the most important thing for us."

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Virtus Bologna (20:15 CET)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach**

"At this moment, we should not focus on creating drama. In the EuroLeague, everything happens. Just as we lost four games at Telekom Center Athens, we achieved big away wins this year in Madrid, against Fenerbahce, and in Kaunas. Yesterday, in the second half, everything fell apart. Everything went wrong, nothing worked. But this happens. That’s how sports are. Sometimes these results occur. It is not time to panic. We did not lose the title. We suffered a bad loss in a game that everyone thought would be easy for us. But this is the EuroLeague. Sometimes it doesn’t work the way you think. The team is the same. The same team that two weeks ago won in Fenerbahce and in Kaunas, and that beat Hapoel with a very good performance. It is not time to panic. All teams go through difficult periods. Now we focus on tomorrow’s game. It will be tough. It is a good team, with good guards. We must be ready for tomorrow. I want to say something more important in this situation. I know that some people lost their trust in the team, I heard it yesterday as well. Maybe they also lost trust in me. That is normal. We are talking about sports; the past belongs to the past, we look to the future. I want to say one thing. I trust my players and my team a lot. I want to put another important challenge on the table. As you know, I have one more guaranteed year on my contract with the team. However, if at the end of the season we have not won the EuroLeague or the Greek championship, I will leave Athens. That’s all."

**Cedi Osman, Panathinaikos forward**

"Obviously, defense is the key. They played two excellent games against Milan and Zalgiris. It will be a tough game tomorrow. We need to get back to winning and to the basketball we showed one to two weeks ago against Fenerbahce and Zalgiris. Obviously, we need to return to the basketball we know, and everything will be fine. We must stay focused for 40 minutes. In the first half, we played excellently; they scored only 30 points. Then our energy dropped, and we cannot allow that to happen. We are upset by these two losses, and we know how the fans feel."

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach**

"Very difficult game in front of us, because Panathinaikos is a veery good team with a very good players. They lost last games at home so will be more difficult for us. But I think that they are in a good rhythm and we'll try to do our best to play a very serious game."

**Saliou Niang, Virtus forward**

"Another tough match awaits us. Panathinaikos will certainly be eager to win after a few matches that didn't go their way. Today, we tried to recover as much energy as possible to face tomorrow's challenge in the best possible way against a top-level team that always manages to take advantage of the support of its fans at home."

### Valencia Basket vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)

**Darius Thompson, Valencia guard**

"Every game in the EuroLeague really is a tough challenge, but the guys AS Monaco have are some of the best scorers in the league. So we've got to watch them and see what we can do to slow them down. Defense for sure will be key. Trying to do our best to limit their main guys and then for us just trying to play at our rhythm. Try to play as fast as we can. That's basketball in general; basketball is a game of runs. There's gonna be ups and downs, but for us is just staying together fighting as a team and hopefully at the end of the game we stayed together long enough and fought hard enough that we come out with the win. Having the fans with us gives us more energy; even they travel with us to Belgrade. They've been traveling with us everywhere and now we got a full fan base here with us. So we try to use that energy and make the best out of it."

**Vassilis Spanoulis, Monaco head coach**

"We know what to expect against Valencia, a team that is full of confidence and plays very fast. On our side, we feel that the team is sharing the ball very well, which is key for us. When we play together in this unselfish way, it also has an impact on our defense. We have to be humble and continue to work hard, and keep going in this direction as a team."

**Terry Tarpey, Monaco guard**

"Valencia play very fast, they have talent, they're not top of the table by chance. The season is still long, but we're also in a good position. Everyone knows their role and we're making progress towards our goals. The key will be to always defend well so we can adjust the transitions."

### Real Madrid vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:45 CET)

**Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach**

"It's an unusual game in which we have to find all our resources, motivation, energy, and competitiveness within ourselves, because we won't have the support of our fans. We have to face a game against a talented team with scoring ability, great one-on-one play, and atypical players who can get in and out of the paint. They have a great ability to attack the offensive rebound and play at a very fast pace, so defensive transition will be very important. It is important that we are solid in controlling the defensive rebound."

**Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid forward**

"We're really looking forward to it after losing unexpectedly to them in the first round. The team played well against ASVEL, and we are on the right track, improving our game and racking up wins that we missed out on in the first round. Maccabi, at home, and then the next two games coming up are also very important for us to continue growing as a team and improving our position in the EuroLeague. We are two wins behind the leader, so it is very important to keep winning."

**Will Rayman, Maccabi forward**

"We've just got to get back to playing better team basketball, playing defense better, starting games better. I think that's the biggest thing: starting games better. We can't be down 15 points in the first quarter. We've got to get back to winning basketball, back to our winning ways and win another game in the EuroLeague."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 21 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season

Pregame quotes, Round 21: 'I’m grateful for everything he’s done for this club and for me’

FC Barcelona v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2026-01-09T19:30:00.000Z)

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2026-01-09T19:30:00.000Z)

Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2026-01-09T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v FC Bayern Munich (2026-01-09T19:15:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2026-01-09T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2026-01-08T19:45:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v AS Monaco (2026-01-08T19:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Virtus Bologna (2026-01-08T19:15:00.000Z)

Dubai Basketball v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2026-01-08T16:00:00.000Z)

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs ahead of Round 21 of the 2025-26 season.

Injury report: Round 21

## Friday, January 9

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (19:00 CET)

##### Zalgiris Kaunas

Arnas Butkevicius is a game-time decision for Zalgiris's game against Crvena Zvezda on Friday, [coach Tomas Masiulis confirmed in his pregame press conference](https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/t-masiulis-apie-neparankia-crvena-zvezda-ir-protesta-bolonijoje).

- Arnas Butkevicius did not feature in Round 20.
- Dovydas Giedraitis's only appearance of the season came in Round 16. He has been out ever since. Ahead of Round 20, coach Tomas Masiulis stated: "He's not traveling to Bologna yet, but he’s close to returning."

##### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Crvena Zvezda has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Zalgiris on Friday.

- Ognjen Dobric returned to action in Round 20.
- Joel Bolomboy has re-joined the team and is closing in on his long-awaited return after suffering a Lisfranc injury last March.
- Tyson Carter has been [diagnosed with pulmonary embolism](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zvezdas-tyson-carter-facing-extended-absence-with-pulmonary-embolism/) and faces a lengthy absence. He has been discharged from hospital and will continue his treatment at home.
- Jasiel Rivero hurt his foot in Round 1 and is expected to be sidelined for several months.
- Isaiah Canaan [suffered an ACL injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-loses-isaiah-canaan-to-acl-injury/) and is out long term.

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:15 CET)

##### Olympiacos Piraeus

Tyson Ward and Shaquielle McKissic are doubtful while Keenan Evans and Moustapha Fall are ruled out for Olympiacos's game against Bayern on Friday, the club has confirmed. Nikola Milutinov is available.

- [New signing Tyrique Jones](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-overhauls-frontcourt-with-tyrique-jones/) has been registered and, in theory, could make his debut in Round 21.
- Frank Ntilikina was listed as doubtful for Round 20 and ultimately did not play. He is listed as available for Round 21.
- Nikola Milutinov missed Round 20, but he is available for Round 21.
- Tyson Ward last played in Round 13 due to an injury.
- Shaquielle McKissic last played in Round 11.
- Keenan Evans [ruptured his Achilles tendon in Round 10](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/keenan-evans-suffers-achilles-rupture-in-euroleague-return/).
- [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-center-moustapha-fall-suffers-knee-injury/) could miss the entire season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee during the Greek League finals in June.

##### FC Bayern Munich

Bayern has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Olympiacos on Friday.

- Bayern will be without Vladimir Lucic in Piraeus due to a muscle strain, according to the club website.
- [New signing Neno Dimitrijevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-reinforces-backcourt-with-nenad-dimitrijevic/) made his debut in Round 20.
- Isiaha Mike was not available in Round 19, but he returned to action in Round 20.
- Kamar Baldwin was a late scratch for Round 10 and has not played since. He was a game-time decision for Round 20 but did not play.
- Justus Hollatz was a game-time decision for Round 20 but did not play.
- [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayerns-rokas-jokubaitis-suffers-knee-injury/) will be sidelined until the spring following knee surgery.
- Elias Harris has yet to return to action following a knee injury suffered in June.

### FC Barcelona vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

##### FC Barcelona

Dario Brizuela is questionable while Will Clyburn and Juan Nunez are ruled out for Barcelona's game against Partizan on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Toko Shengelia, out since Round 16, returned to action in Round 20.
- Jan Vesely, who did not play in the Spanish League this past weekend, returned to action in Round 20.
- Dario Brizuela did not play in the Spanish League this past weekend. He was questionable for Round 20 and did not play.
- Will Clyburn suffered an injury in Round 17 and [will be out for approximately the next six weeks](https://x.com/FCBbasket/status/2002694206280614084).
- [Juan Nunez is out ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-guard-juan-nunez-to-miss-6-months/)due to a knee injury. He expected to be sidelined until April.

##### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Carlik Jones and Mario Nakic are the only two players out for the game at Barcelona on Friday.

- Duane Washington missed Round 20 due to illness but is back for Round 21.
- New [signing Tonye Jekiri](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/partizan-adds-presence-in-the-paint-with-tonye-jekiri/) is registered, has joined the team in Barcelona, and is set for his team debut.
- Aleksej Pokusevski, out since Round 15, returned to action in Round 20.
- Shake Milton (foot), out since Round 18, returned to action in Round 20.
- Mitar Bosnjakovic (ankle) was ruled out for Rounds 19 and 20, but is available for Round 21.
- Carlik Jones (ankle), who last played in Round 5, has yet to return to action.
- Mario Nakic (knee) has been sidelined with a knee problem.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CET)

##### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Quinn Ellis is a game-time decision while Nate Sestina, Ousmane Diop and Stefano Tonut are ruled out for Milan's game against Efes on Friday, the club has confirmed. Shavon Shields and Leandro Bolmaro are both available.

- Shavon Shields was listed as questionable for Round 20 and ultimately did not play. He is listed as available for Round 21.
- Quinn Ellis was a late scratch for Round 20. His participation in Round 21 will be determined closer to game time.
- Leandro Bolmaro, who last played in Round 15, remained sidelined in Round 20. He is listed as available for Round 21.
- Diego Flaccadori did not play in Round 19, but he returned to action in Round 20.
- Ousmane Diop, who had arthroscopic knee surgery, [the club announced on December 4](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ousmane-diop-has-arthroscopic-knee-surgery/), remains sidelined in Round 20.
- Stefano Tonut, who last played in Round 12, remains out in Round 20.
- Nate Sestina suffered a triceps injury in Round 10 and has not played since. He remains out in Round 20.

##### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Vincent Poirier, Shane Larkin, Georgios Papagiannis and Burakcan Yildizli are ruled out for Efes's game at Milan on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- [New signing Saben Lee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/saben-lee-leaves-reds-links-up-with-efes/) made his first EuroLeague appearance for the club in Round 20.
- Vincent Poirier was listed as questionable for Round 19 but ended up playing. However, he did not play in the Turkish League this past weekend and missed Round 20.
- [Shane Larkin will be out until early February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/shane-larkin-undergoes-groin-surgery-out-for-two-months/) after undergoing groin surgery, the club announced on December 3.
- [Georgios Papagiannis is expected to miss eight months](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-ercan-osmani-out-three-weeks-georgios-papagiannis-to-miss-eight-months/) following ACL surgery, the club confirmed on October 18.

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CET)

##### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Baskonia has not yet sent an injury report for its game against ASVEL on Friday.

- Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot did not travel for Baskonia's game at Bayern in Round 20, with coach Paolo Galbiati stating: "I hope we can have him on Friday."
- Markus Howard did not play in Round 20.
- Tadas Sedekerskis underwent ankle surgery, [Baskonia announced on its website](https://www.baskonia.com/es/noticias/parte-medico-tadas-sedekerskis-5) on December 11. He last played in Round 11.

##### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

ASVEL has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Baskonia on Friday.

- [New signing Paul Eboua](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/asvel-brings-rebounding-ace-paul-eboua-aboard/) made his debut in Round 20.

## Thursday, January 8

### Dubai Basketball vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (17:00 CET)

##### Dubai Basketball

Dubai has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Fenerbahce on Thursday.

- Sertac Sanli did not play in Round 20.
- Kosta Kondic last played in Round 16.
- Boogie Ellis last played in Round 13 due to a right hamstring injury.
- Dzanan Musa has been out since Round 2 with a knee injury.
- Nate Mason, who hasn't played this season, has undergone a discectomy after sustaining a cervical injury during practice.
- Summer signing Mam Jaiteh suffered an Achilles injury and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

##### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Onuralp Bitim, Scottie Wilbekin and Arturs Zagars are ruled out for Fenerbahce's game at Dubai on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- [New signing Nando De Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/nando-de-colos-return-provides-experience-and-excellence-for-fenerbahce/) has not yet been registered.
- [New signing Chris Silva](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-fortifies-frontcourt-with-chris-silva-signing/) made his debut in Round 20.
- Arturs Zagars suffered a hamstring injury, [the club confirmed on December 28](https://x.com/FBBasketbol/status/2005231973967511693). He has not played since.
- Onuralp Bitim suffered an ankle injury, [the club announced on December 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-loses-onuralp-bitim-to-ankle-injury/). He has not played since.
- Scottie Wilbekin is receiving treatment for knee swelling, [the club confirmed on November 10](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/scottie-wilbekin-receiving-treatment-for-knee-swelling/). He has not played since.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Virtus Bologna (20:15 CET)

##### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Konstantinos Mitoglou and Mathias Lessort are ruled out for Panathinaikos's game against Virtus on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Konstantinos Mitoglou did not feature in Round 20.
- Nikos Rogkavopoulos did not feature in Round 20, but he is listed as available for Round 21.
- Alexandros Samodurov was questionable for Round 19 and did not play, but he did return to action in the Greek League this past weekend. He did not play in Round 20. He is listed as available for Round 21.
- Mathias Lessort, still recovering from an injury, is yet to play this season.

##### Virtus Bologna

Luca Vildoza, Aliou Diarra and Abramo Canka are ruled out for Virtus's game at Panathinaikos on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Momo Diouf was ruled out for Round 20, but he is listed as available for Round 21.
- Aliou Diarra has missed Virtus's last two games.
- Carsen Edwards missed Round 19 but returned to action in Round 20.
- Alen Smailagic missed Round 19 but returned to action in Round 20.
- [New signing Francesco Ferrari](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/virtus-invests-in-top-prospect-francesco-ferrari/) has been registered and was on the game-day roster for Round 20, but he did not play.

### Valencia Basket vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)

##### Valencia Basket

Pedro Martinez has his entire roster available for Valencia's game against Monaco on Thursday, [according to the club's website](https://www.valenciabasket.com/valencia-basket-recibe-en-el-roig-arena-al-equipo-mas-en-forma-de-la-euroliga-el-as-monaco).

- Sergio De Larrea was listed as questionable for Round 19 but did not play. He returned to action in Round 20.
- Xabi Lopez-Arostegui was listed as available for Round 19, although he was not on the game-day roster. He returned to action in Round 20.

##### AS Monaco

Monaco has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Monaco on Thursday.

- Yoan Makoundou last played in Round 17.

### Real Madrid vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:45 CET)

##### Real Madrid

Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Maccabi on Thursday.

- Sergio Llull did not play in Round 20.
- Gaby Deck did not play in Round 20.

##### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv

Maccabi has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Real Madrid on Thursday.

- Lonnie Walker (shoulder) made the trip to Barcelona but ultimately did not play in Round 20.
- [Zach Hankins is expected to miss the next two to three weeks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabis-zach-hankins-to-miss-23-weeks-with-bone-bruise/) with a bone bruise.
- [Jeff Dowtin Jr. is expected to be out until February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-jeff-dowtin-out-six-weeks-with-foot-injury/) with a torn ligament in his foot.

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

Injury report, Round 21: Lucic out; Washington, Milutinov, Shields, Bolmaro all available

The EuroLeague Regular Season Round 14 game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, originally suspended on December 4, 2025 due to severe weather conditions, has been rescheduled.
The game will now be played on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 with tip-off scheduled for 21:15 local time.


Rescheduled Olympiacos-Fenerbahce game to be played on March 17, 2026

The EuroLeague Regular Season Round 14 game between Olympiacos Piraeus and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, [originally suspended on December 4, 2025](https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euroleaguebasketball.net%2Fes%2Fnews%2Folympiacos-piraeus-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-suspended%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfrankie.sachs%40ext.euroleague.net%7C8d733393f34b42dfa9c608de4eecdac7%7C2b3d64f0329542979f1528435f0a62ce%7C1%7C0%7C639034976355881161%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=SSQ%2Bh4ke5TmgrvAS1J3FF0cZbYINyvGi4epb2tqig%2Bc%3D&reserved=0) due to severe weather conditions, has been rescheduled.

The game will now be played on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 with tip-off scheduled for 21:15 local time.

Olympiacos Piraeus v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2025-12-04T19:15:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens bounced back from two straight losses by defeating Virtus Bologna, fueled by a dominant defensive display and Richaun Holmes’s 16-point, 9-rebound performance.

Panathinaikos Overpowers Virtus Bologna with Defensive Intensity

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens snapped a two-game skid by defeating Virtus Bologna 84-71 on Thursday night in the Greek capital. Heading into the duel, the Greens were desperate to regain momentum after consecutive home losses, and Ergin Ataman’s side showed that the route to success begins on defense.

Locked in from the off, Panathinaikos held Virtus to just 15 points in the first quarter and 18 in the second, taking a 39-33 lead into the second half.

And then came a suffocating third period for the visitors. Panathinaikos raised its intensity even more, turning defense into offense with devastating buckets in transition that delivered blow after blow to the Italian side.

The third quarter saw the hosts record 4 steals and 3 blocks, with Panathinaikos scoring a total of 20 points off turnovers throughout the game.

When Virtus cut the difference to 39-37 in the opening stages of the second half, Richaun Holmes and Juancho Hernangomez stepped up to ignite the crowd.

A sequence of two straight possessions was enough to get the building buzzing, as Juancho rejected Carsen Edwards with authority before Kendrick Nunn hustled to keep the ball alive and found TJ Shorts, who lobbed it up for an alley-oop slam by an incoming Holmes.

A few seconds later, Cedi Osman got the steal on one end and Shorts ran full-speed to grab the ball on the other before setting up Nunn, who finished with the layup in transition. Virtus head coach Dusko Ivanovic called a timeout, but it was too late.

Hustle plays on both ends brought the fans into the equation, with Panathinaikos rediscovering its confidence to pull away in the fourth quarter.

“Tonight we showed great hustle,” Ataman told EuroLeague TV. “Defensively, we worked very well, and of course, the rebounds. Tonight, Holmes gave great contributions in all situations: defensively, rebounds, offensively on the roll.”

<center>
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In fact, the Panathinaikos center dominated the paint, finishing the game on 16 points after going 5-for-8 from inside the arc and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. More importantly, he downed 9 boards, including 4 on the offensive end to provide his team with valuable extra possessions.

“\[Holmes\] was a big transfer for us at the beginning of the season, but unfortunately he stopped for two months because of a very important injury and now he came back to the team and he showed his potential,” Ataman said in the post-game press conference. “It’s very important for sure for the big goals we have for the season.”

Having drawn energy from his family, who attended the game and celebrated each of his plays, Holmes also registered 2 blocks and 1 steal in a complete outing.

“Every time I see \[my family\] in the crowd, it’s extra motivation,” he admitted after the game. “I want to just put on another show for them. I just love seeing them out there.”

His intensity was matched by Juancho, who picked up 8 rebounds to go with his 3 steals and 2 blocks as Panathinaikos managed as many as 10 steals and forced Virtus to 16 turnovers.

Having found their defensive footing with a solid display against Virtus, the Greens channeled their energy into offense. By outhustling one of the most compact teams in the competition, Ataman’s side have set the blueprint moving forward.

Game News

Energy and hustle fuel a second-half surge as Greens rediscover winning ways

Richaun Holmes shines as Greens bounce back against Virtus

AS Monaco extended its winning streak to five games with a 101-92 victory over Valencia Basket, fueled by a dominant second quarter and key contributions from Mike James and Nemanja Nedovic.

Monaco Outguns Valencia in 101-92 Road Win 

High-octane, high-scoring excitement was pretty much guaranteed when Valencia Basket hosted AS Monaco at the Roig Arena on Thursday night.

After all, Valencia came into the game as the league co-leader, looking for a fourth straight victory, just one win ahead of a Monaco team that was already on its own four-game win streak. And the only team that had scored more points than Valencia’s average of 90.2 per night was, you guessed it, Monaco with 91.2.

So it was all set up to provide a memorable encounter, and the game did not disappoint – except for Valencia fans, who saw their team suffer just its second home defeat of the season as Monaco deservedly prevailed, 92-101.

The initial action unfolded in a blur, with a lightning-fast pace maintained by both teams. This is the way Valencia always plays, but Monaco was unafraid to keep pace with the hosts, and the 14-14 scoreline midway through the opening period was a fair reflection of the unrelenting tempo.

But that changed in the second quarter, when Monaco maintained more or less the same offensive pace, but married it with hard-working defense, which suffocated Valencia, holding the home players to just 14 second-quarter points while forcing them into 8 turnovers in less than 7 minutes.

That proved decisive, because the rest of the game reverted to the same kind of back-and-forth pattern as the opening minutes, with both teams enjoying brief bursts of momentum but on the whole baskets traded evenly.

Try as hard as they might, Valencia could not find the run required to seriously narrow the gap. And Monaco’s grip on the game was visibly evident after Mike James made his second three-pointer of the night, making it 58-72 just past the third quarter’s midway point. The previously boisterous Roig Arena crowd fell quiet; soon after Matt Costello was called for a technical foul after protesting a no-call. A palpable sense of frustration all around for the hosts, with Monaco getting under Valencia’s skin.

And although Valencia kept on fighting for that elusive route back into the game, Monaco always had the answer. Whether it was Nemanja Nedovic draining 11 points in less than 2 minutes to start the fourth quarter, Kevarrius Hayes patrolling the paint with power and precision, Alpha Diallo covering every inch of the court or James scoring and orchestrating in his usual dominant fashion, the visitors had enough contributions from throughout the roster to ensure its lead never dropped below 6 points throughout the second half.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Moneydovic 💸🤩<br><br>👑 Nemanja Nedovic MVP 🆚️ Valence 🍊<br><br>🪣 16 points <br>🎯 4/5 <br>🍽 3 assists<br>👋 3 steals <br>📊 21 PIR<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/JQucinJXjd">pic.twitter.com/JQucinJXjd</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/2009384556600713545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coach Vassilis Spanoulis was rightly proud of that effort, telling EuroLeague TV after the game: “We played good basketball.

“We fought for every ball. The players understood where we are, what is the situation now in the second round \[of the regular season\], and they made an unbelievable effort. Everybody is ready to contribute to the team; I count on everybody. Everybody knows this and is ready to accept this role, and be the star of his role.”

This was the second consecutive impressive road win for Monaco in Spain, having also triumphed at FC Barcelona, 74-90, with an equally eye-catching performance on December 30. Bridging the old and new years by winning at a pair of opponents whose combined home record reads 16-5 (with two of those five wins taken by Monaco) is a pretty good way to demonstrate title credentials.

That precise point was made by Nedovic, who emphasised the significance of the victory as he told EuroLeague TV. “This was a statement win for us.

“Valencia was playing the best basketball in this part of the season, and we wanted to come in here and make a statement win. We did it, so I’m very happy. The good teams are making a run now, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

A statement win it certainly was. And around the rest of the league, that message has surely been received, loud and clear.

The Roca Team became only the second visitor to win at Valencia’s Roig Arena this season

Monaco wins at Valencia to extends win streak to five 

Real Madrid defeated Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 98-86 in the Spanish capital on Thursday for its 17th consecutive home victory over the Israeli squad. Edy Tavares was at the heart of the home team's effort as he became the EuroLeague's all-time leading rebounder in the third quarter. He finished the game with 2,016 rebounds to his name. 

Edy Tavares becomes rebounding king in Real Madrid's win over Maccabi 

Real Madrid defeated Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 98-86 in the Spanish capital on Thursday for its 17th consecutive home victory over the Israeli squad, whose last victory in Madrid came on March 11, 2010. Real struggled early in the game and found ways to gradually improve and cruise to a no-doubt-about-it victory.

[Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) was at the heart of the home team's effort as he became the EuroLeague's all-time leading rebounder in the third quarter. He finished the game with 2,016 rebounds to his name. 

Maccabi built a 33-41 lead midway through the second quarter, and this is when Real found answers from beyond the arc. [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) buried the first one, then [Andres Feliz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/andres-feliz/011247/) sank 3 consecutive three-pointers to tie it at 45-45. Right after [Roman Sorkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/roman-sorkin/011219/) rolled off a high-post pick to score around the basket, [Chuma Okeke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chuma-okeke/014006/) struck from downtown to give Real a 48-47 lead at halftime. *Los Blancos* made 1 of 6 three-pointers in the first quarter before downing 7 of the next 9 to take the lead.

Tavares had been limited to one field goal attempt and had not managed to prevent Maccabi from scoring in the paint. At halftime, the visitors had made 14 of 22 two-point shots (63.6% 2FG). Coach [Oded Kattash](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/tel/kattash-oded) used different strategies against Tavares, mainly bringing him out of the paint by using small lineups. Real made adjustments after the break and the picture was very different in the second half.

Tavares finished the game with 11 rebounds to become the competition's rebounding king. He came into the game needing 6 rebounds to pass [Paulius Jankunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/euroleague/players/jankunas-paulius/bwi/) (2,010 boards). He was already the EuroLeague's all-time shot blocker, now at 512 and counting. A two-time champion, 2023 Final Four MVP, three-time EuroLeague Best Defender and six-time All-EuroLeague, Tavares added yet another milestone to his legendary career.

"I think if I wasn't be here for so long, 8-9 years, it would not be possible. I have seen how Felipe \[Reyes\] has been all these years getting rebounds! It is amazing to do this in only nine years," Tavares said about his record. "I will try to keep up and do my best until I retire."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🙌 ¡<a href="https://twitter.com/waltertavares22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@waltertavares22</a> se convierte en el máximo reboteador histórico de la <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>! <br>🧲 2.016 rebotes <a href="https://t.co/jOCOU2IRB1">pic.twitter.com/jOCOU2IRB1</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/2009385497928298751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Tavares did what he does best, too, contest shots both inside and outside the paint to make every Maccabi player doubt his chances to score. Maccabi was limited to just 4-of-18 two-point shooting after the break (22.2% 2FG), which explains the impact Tavares had in the game once he found his defensive flow. 

Real finished the game with a season-high 11 steals from 12 Maccabi 12 turnovers. The home team ended up making 14 of 29 three-pointers -including 13 of 23 attempts (56.5% 3FG) in the final 30 minutes. [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/) led five Real scorers in double figures with 16 points and spoke about how Real can get even better.

"It's January now, so obviously we know what we what we have to do. We needed to be very selective with our offense and cleaned it up a lot \[in the second half\]. It is a work in progress," Hezonja said after the game. "We had some very good games coming back in a third quarter We are used to it, but I think we need to focus more on the first and second quarter so this doesn't happen. If it happens, it's good, but it shouldn't happen."

Real plays its next three games at home, starting with *El Clasico* against FC Barcelona on Friday, January 16.

The 33-year-old center became the EuroLeague's all-time top rebounder 



Dubai Basketball lit up Round 21 of the EuroLeague with a blistering 91-82 home win over the competition’s holder, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, as a number of key players stood out in a fascinating clash played in a cracking atmosphere on Thursday. 
Among the home team’s heroes, big man Kenan Kamenjas took center stage with an impressive double-double of 20 points and 15 boards

Kenan Kamenjas shines as Dubai stuns Fenerbahce

Dubai Basketball lit up Round 21 of the EuroLeague with a blistering 91-82 home win over the competition’s holder, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, as a number of key players stood out in a fascinating clash played in a cracking atmosphere on Thursday.

Among the home team’s heroes, big man Kenan Kamenjas took center stage with an impressive double-double of 20 points and 15 boards, which generated a career-high PIR of 34 after he came off the bench to rip through his opponents in the paint at both ends.

Guard McKinley Wright chipped in with a game-high 22 points and 4 assists, shooting 9-of-11 from inside as he dominated the backcourt, while Dwayne Bacon scored 10 of his 15 points in the first quarter. Mfiondu Kabengele racked up 14 points to go with 5 boards and Justin Anderson netted 11 points, including a spectacular alley-oop reverse slam, which had the home faithful in raptures.

The evening’s plaudits went to Kamenjas, though, as the 25-year-old Bosnian keeps going from strength to strength in his maiden EuroLeague campaign, having joined newcomers Dubai from Buducnost VOLI Podgorica during the offseason.

With Kabengele doing the early damage in the paint as Dubai jumped into the driving seat, Kamenjas picked up all the offense scraps close to the basket after coming off the bench and hurt the visitors with quiet yet lethal finishing while constituting a wall at the other end, as Dubai outrebounded Fenerbahce 42-21.

“Dubai were more physical and the rebounding stats show they were better than us today,” Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius said. “The more aggressive team won and we tried to prepare the players for the fact that it was a must-win game for Dubai. We made a lot of bad fouls and gave them a lot of cheap points; we didn’t deserve to win,” he added.  

Smarting from a pair of successive defeats, including an 85-60 mauling at Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv in the previous round, Dubai’s players dug deep and fought as if their lives depended on the outcome.

Fenerbahce trailed by as many as 15 points and, having closed the gap to 73-69 early in the fourth, it looked like raw talent and the makings of a champion might prevail, but Dubai fended off the Turkish side’s fightback superbly.

<center>
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“A great victory for us against a very good team who are now probably in the best rhythm in the EuroLeague,” Kamenjas said after Dubai snapped Fenerbahce’s four-game winning streak. “I want to thank the fans for their amazing support. We did a good job from the first minute to the last as we stayed together as a team.”

The action on the court went hand in hand with a vocal battle on the terraces, where a large contingent of visiting Fenerbahce fans contributed to a fantastic atmosphere. The home faithful did all the singing and dancing after the final buzzer, though, giving Dubai a standing ovation. 

Home coach Jurica Golemac stressed consistency was the key as |Dubai kept its composure and intensity for the entire contest after being blown away 49-19 by Hapoel in the second half on Tuesday. 

“Congratulations to the players, they were extremely focused today,” the Slovenian tactician said. “We played smart and physical for the full 40 minutes, as 42 rebounds against Fenerbahce is an achievement showing that we played with a lot of desire tonight. We had issues at the start of the second half lately, but this time we managed to share the minutes and keep the same intensity.”

“We rose to the challenge as we didn’t look too good in the last two games. Congratulations to the fans too, as they competed with the Fenerbahce supporters in the stands just like we did on the court.”

Wright also gave Dubai value for money as he put in a highly efficient performance and ran the backcourt, his partnership with Kamenjas once again coming to the fore as both men joined Dubai from Buducnost during the summer. The guard made it clear in no uncertain terms what was at stake for Dubai, which remains well placed to contest a postseason spot.

“We had our backs against the wall after two straight losses, but we stayed together for 40 minutes tonight and took care of business on home court against a really good Fenerbahce team,” he said. “We stuck to the game plan and it’s a big win for us.”

The big man served up a career high PIR of 34 for the hosts as they trumped the champs 

The first double-round week of 2026 concludes with a selection of direct matchups in the race for the playoffs. Here’s your guide to Thursday and Friday’s nine games, with Paris’s trip to Hapoel rescheduled for March 3.

At a glance: The playoff race continues to heat up in Round 21

The first double-round week of 2026 concludes with a selection of direct matchups in the race for the playoffs. Here’s your guide to Thursday and Friday’s nine games, with Paris’s trip to Hapoel rescheduled for March 3.

## Thursday, January 8

### Dubai Basketball vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (17:00 CET)

Reigning champ Fenerbahce (13-6) is targeting a perfect double-round week as it travels to home-court experts Dubai (9-11). The competition newcomer boasts an outstanding 7-2 record at home, but is coming off a rotten night at Hapoel when its offense never got started and only scored 60 points. Long-range shooting was a particular problem with only 4 triples converted, and Dwayne Bacon and Dairis Bertans will look to recover their usual accuracy after going for 1-of-7 combined. But Fenerbahce – which has nine wins out of 10 – is growing in confidence all the time, with offensive leader Wade Baldwin in fantastic form after pairing 17 points and 11 assists in Tuesday’s win over Olympiacos. Talen Horton-Tucker is also playing at a high level, averaging 19.0 points in the last six games.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Virtus Bologna (20:15 CET)

After suffering consecutive home losses, Panathinaikos (12-10) needs a return to form with the visit of motivated Virtus (10-10). The Italian team climbed within one win of the top 10 by edging out Zalgiris earlier this week, and will look for more heroics from Derek Alston after he scored 20 points in two games straight. Carsen Edwards is ready to resume his scoring duel with Greens star Kendrick Nunn – the former came out on top when the teams last met in October, pouring in 22 points to power his team to a 92-75 victory. Panathinaikos needs to take better care of the basketball after committing 17 turnovers in Tuesday’s loss to Milan, and would be well served by following the model of consistency provided by veteran Kostas Sloukas (10 assists with 1 turnover last time out).

### Valencia Basket vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)

Two high-scoring high-fliers go head-to-head for a mouth-watering matchup as co-leader Valencia (14-6) welcomes Monaco (13-7). The visiting team has won four straight after comfortably downing Partizan earlier in the week, with its multi-faceted offense featuring six different double-digit scorers. Valencia is also on a hot three-game win streak after triumphing at Zvezda on Tuesday, and is now the league’s joint second-highest scoring team with 90.1 points per game – behind only Monaco (91.2). One key matchup will see rising star Jean Montero (25 points in Belgrade) face all-time competition scoring leader Mike James (16.6 points and 6.4 assists per night), and get ready for an all-action confrontation between dynamic duo Omari Moore (10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game) and Alpha Diallo (12.3 points, 4.1 boards and a league-high 1.7 steals per night).

### Real Madrid vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:45 CET)

Real (12-8) will look to complete a perfect week as it welcomes faltering Maccabi (8-12). Real big man Walter Tavares will take center stage on the night that could see him become the EuroLeague’s all-time leading rebounder – he needs 6 to overtake Paulius Jankunas. Maccabi will try to counter his dominance of the paint through the hustle of Jaylen Hoard, who had 15 points and 5 rebounds in Tuesday’s loss at Barcelona. That game also featured 17 points and 9 assists from Tamir Blatt, who will attempt to take that form into his backcourt battle with Real’s undersized playmaker, Facu Campazzo (20.0 points per game in the last three outings). Blatt’s game-winning three-pointer decided a thriller when the teams met in October, but Real – 8-1 at home – is a different proposition in Madrid.

## Friday, January 9

### Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (19:00 CET)

A pair of direct rivals fighting to stay in the all-important top 10 meet in Kaunas as Zalgiris (11-9) welcomes Zvezda (11-9). Both teams have struggled to maintain their outstanding early-season form, with Zalgiris suffering its latest loss at Virtus on Tuesday despite another strong game from Azuolas Tubelis (22 points, 5 rebounds). He faces a big battle with Zvezda’s stretch four Chima Moneke, whose 15 points and 9 boards were not enough to prevent a fifth defeat in seven games against Valencia earlier this week. The home team defense will have to deal with Jordan Nwora, who has netted 24 and 22 points in the last two games, while Zvezda’s defensive focus is disrupting the playmaking of league leading distributor Sylvain Francisco (7.0 assists per game).

### Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:15 CET)

Olympiacos (11-8) faces a tough test on its home floor from rejuvenated Bayern (7-13). The German team made it two wins out of two by scoring 36 fourth-quarter points to down Baskonia on Wednesday, with Andreas Obst serving another reminder of his scoring abilities (37 points). Olympiacos is looking to rebound from a defeat at Fenerbahce, when the usual heroics from Sasha Vezenkov (24 points) were not enough to overcome poor long-range shooting (5-of-23). The Reds hope to have Nikola Milutinov back from injury – if not, more responsibility will be placed on the shoulders of Donta Hall, who had a double-double (16 points, 11 boards) in Istanbul. Bayern has added backcourt depth with the addition of Nenad Dimitrijevic, who made a solid debut with 8 points and 4 assists on Wednesday night.

### FC Barcelona vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

It is a night of reunions at the Palau Blaugrana as Barcelona (13-7) welcomes free-falling Partizan (6-14). The visiting team will be led by former Barca coach Joan Penarroya, who will look for big contributions from a pair of players in equally familiar surroundings: playmaker Nick Calathes and shooter Jabari Parker. The game will be preceded by December’s MVP presentation to home star Kevin Punter who – like teammate Jan Vesely – will try to pile more pain onto his former club. Partizan slipped to a fifth straight loss at Monaco earlier this week while Barca got back into winning ways by downing Maccabi, with big man Toko Shengelia making a successful return from injury as he powered to 22 points. Finding defensive resistance to repel him, Punter and fit-again Nico Laprovittola is Partizan’s challenge.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CET)

Milan (10-10) will look to keep pushing towards the top 10 by downing struggling Efes (6-14). The Italian team showed its potential with an impressive road victory over Panathinaikos on Tuesday, led by the usual long-range scoring heroics of Armoni Brooks (24 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting). The visitors, who have lost four in a row, will hope to get a boost from new backcourt signing Saben Lee, and would greatly welcome Vincent Poirier’s presence if the big man can return from injury – if he is absent, Efes could struggle to contain the threat of Milan powerhouse Josh Nebo, who has averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 boards in the last three games. Milan won 93-97 when the teams met in Istanbul in October, and will fancy its chances of completing a sweep on Friday.

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CET)

Two teams fighting to escape last place meet in Vitoria as Baskonia (6-14) hosts ASVEL (6-14). Baskonia needs to overcome the disappointment of a fourth-quarter collapse at Bayern on Wednesday, and hopes to welcome back former ASVEL star Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and fellow shooter Markus Howard after they were unavailable in Round 20. The French team will lean heavily on the backcourt duo of ex-Baskonia playmaker Thomas Heurtel and Glynn Watson, while new frontcourt signing Paul Eboua will hope to continue his integration with significant minutes. ASVEL has not won on the road all season but can take confidence from beating Baskonia in Round 2, when 23 points from Zac Seljaas, including 5 triples, secured a 102-95 win. Seljaas has gone 0-of-9 from deep in the last two games, so a return to form would be welcome.

Andy West previews Round 21 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season