By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nicolas Laprovittola was named Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 26 MVP, Euroleague Basketball announced Saturday.
Laprovittola, 32, enjoyed returning to WiZink Center to face his former team Friday. He poured 20 points behind 7/8 field goals, seven rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes guiding FC Barcelona to the Clasico win against Real Madrid. The 27 PIR was the highest among winning teams Thursday and Friday getting him the MVP nod.
Per the press release: “A big win against his former team in El Clásico allowed Nico Laprovittola of FC Barcelona to earn the Round 26 MVP honor, the first of his four-season Turkish Airlines EuroLeague career.
Laprovittola led Barcelona to a 68-86 victory against Real Madrid with a performance index rating of 27, the highest among winning players in this round. He finished the game with 20 points on near-perfect shooting: 2 of 3 two-pointers, 5 of 5 three-pointers and 1 of 1 free throws. Laprovittola added 7 rebounds – the highest total for either team – 2 assists and 4 fouls drawn for the third-best PIR of his career.
From the same game, Walter Tavares of Real had a PIR of 35, the highest in Round 26, but in a losing effort. Tavares scored 25 points on 10-for-10 two-point and 5-for-6 free-throw shooting, adding 6 rebounds, an assist, a steal and 5 fouls drawn. Wade Baldwin of Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz also amassed a PIR of 27 in his team’s road loss against AX Armani Exchange Milan. Baldwin had 16 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assist, a steal and 7 fouls drawn. Scottie Wilbekin of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Vasilije Micic of Anadolu Efes Istanbul, each with a PIR of 25, completed the top individual performances in Round 26.”
Game-winning Kostas Sloukas handing Olympiacos the overtime win versus Anadolu Efes conquered the Round 26 Top 10 Plays.
Photo Credit: EuroLeagueBasketball.net