By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Milutinov has been named Most Valuable Player in Game 1 of the Playoffs for the 2025-26 edition of the EuroLeague.
Euroleague Basketball confirmed the 31-year-old Olympiacos center as the latest MVP of the Round on Thursday.
Per the press release: “Nikola Milutinov set the tone in anchoring Olympiacos Piraeus to a commanding 91-70 home victory over AS Monaco to earn MVP of the Round honors for Game 1 of the 2026 EuroLeague Playoffs. In a matchup loaded with star power, it was the Olympiacos center’s control of the paint and two-way efficiency that defined the night and delivered the best PIR among players on winning teams.
Milutinov finished with a PIR of 25, leading all contributors in victories during the round. He posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, asserting himself on both ends while providing Olympiacos with consistency every trip down the floor. His work on the glass – including 7 offensive boards – stood out in a game that Olympiacos steadily put out of reach, reinforcing his all-around impact in a lopsided win.
Dan Oturu produced the highest PIR of the round overall, registering a 38 for Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv in its 86-82 road loss at Real Madrid. Oturu scored 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting and had the most rebounds in a playoff game in more than two decades with 17. He was followed by Mike James with a PIR of 30 for Monaco. He posted 19 points, 7 assists and 2 steals.
Nigel Williams-Goss of Zalgiris Kaunas, scored a career-high 24 points and dished 6 assists for a PIR of 24 in his team’s 89-78 defeat at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. The home team’s stars, Wade Baldwin and Tarik Biberovic, rounded out the list of top performers in the playoff openers, each recording PIRs of 22 for Fenerbahce. Baldwin racked up 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Biberovic scored 26 on 6-of-8 three-point shooting.
Individual highs: Dan Oturu grabs 17 boards
Biberovic led all scorers in the playoff openers with 26 points in Fenerbahce’s win over Zalgiris. Oturu topped the rebounding charts with 17, which were a career-high, club record and the most in the EuroLeague Playoffs in the current format. Hapoel’s Chris Jones authored 8 assists to lead all players in Game 1. Alpha Diallo recorded a round-best 4 steals for Monaco, while Donta Hall protected the rim with 3 blocks for Olympiacos. Milutinov and Oturu were the only players to record double-doubles.”