By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a busy Tuesday to start Round 23 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, Olympiacos survived a rocky second half and moved to 14-8 with a 100-93 victory versus Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv in the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
Sasha Vezenkov stood out with 28 points, including 6/8 three-pointers. With 1:35 left and with a safe 10-point cushion for the hosts, Nikola Milutinov left due to a head injury and is considered questionable to play in the Round 24 fixture opposite Anadolu Efes in Turkcell Basketball Development Center on Thursday.
A clutch triple by Chris Jones with 24.4 seconds on the clock kept Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv on top of the standings, creating a two-possession advantage en route to a comeback win, 71-66, over Anadolu Efes in Sofia’s Arena 8888. The visitors led most of the way and peaked at ten points in the third period, but eventually fell to a seventh loss in a row.
Starting the week half a game behind Hapoel, AS Monaco was forced to a 15-8 record after an overtime loss, 100-96, to Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet in Salle Gaston Medecin. Powered by Ebuka Izundu’s 22-point, 12-rebound double-double, the Belgrade outfit improved to 13-10, despite mishandling an 18-point lead in Salle Gaston Medecin.
Snapping a seven-game losing streak, Partizan Mozzart Bet edged out FC Bayern Munich, 67-63, in SAP Garden. Cameron Payne recorded a game-high 18 points. Carlik Jones (foot), Vanja Marinkovic (illness), Shake Milton (hand), Mario Nakic (knee), Jabari Parker (foot), and Duane Washington Jr. (back) were all out for Joan Penarroya’s side.
Without the Most Valuable Player of the 2024-25 season, Kendrick Nunn (ankle), Vassilis Toliopoulos unexpectedly took over for Panathinaikos Aktor in a lopsided win, 93-74, over Kosner Baskonia in Telekom Center Athens. The 29-year-old guard piled up 21 points over 26:19 after only 13 minutes and two appearances earlier this season.
In Palau Blaugrana, FC Barcelona escaped with a 91-89 victory against Dubai, with Dario Brizuela netting the game-winner. The 31-year-old guard ended up with 25 points, and Kevin Punter chipped in 20 points. A game-high 29 points belonged to McKinley Wright IV of the visitors.
Real Madrid blew out EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, 106-77, to record a fifth consecutive win and 11th across 12 games in Movistar Arena. Headlining a total of six double-digit scoring contributions for the team coached by Sergio Scariolo, Trey Lyles registered a game-high 17 points.
Zalgiris was already on the way to a comfortable win, 96-77, over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, when captain Edgaras Ulanovas suffered a scary knee injury early in the fourth quarter at Astroballe. The 34-year-old forward did not return.
Meanwhile, Kameron Taylor made 8/13 from the field for 28 points, a new personal best in Europe’s premier club competition, lifting Valencia over Paris, 98-84, in Roig Arena.
EuroLeague Round 23
Olympiacos – Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 100-93
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv – Anadolu Efes 71-66
AS Monaco – Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet 96-100 OT (90-90)
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – Zalgiris 77-96
Panathinaikos Aktor – Kosner Baskonia 93-74
FC Barcelona – Dubai 91-89
FC Bayern Munich – Partizan Mozzart Bet 63-67
Valencia – Paris 98-84
Real Madrid – EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 106-77
Virtus Bologna – Fenerbahce Beko (21/1)
Standings
1. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv 16-6
2. Fenerbahce Beko 14-7
3. AS Monaco 15-8
4. Valencia 15-8
5. Real Madrid 15-8
6. FC Barcelona 15-8
7. Olympiacos 14-8
8. Panathinaikos Aktor 14-9
9. Zalgiris 13-10
10. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet 13-10
11. Virtus Bologna 11-11
12. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 11-12
13. Dubai 10-13
14. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv 9-14
15. Kosner Baskonia 8-15
16. FC Bayern Munich 8-15
17. Paris 7-15
18. Partizan Mozzart Bet 7-16
19. Anadolu Efes 6-17
20. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 6-17
– Top 6 teams clinch a playoff berth
– Teams ranking 7th through 10th advance to Play-In Showdown