Real Madrid strengthened its frontcourt for years to come by signing center Vincent Poirier through the end of the 2023-24 season, the club announced Monday. Poirier (2.13 meters, 27 years old) will not be eligible to play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this season, since the deadline to register new players in the competition has passed. He arrives from Philadelphia of the NBA, where Poirier appeared in 10 games this season.

Poirier returns to the EuroLeague after playing for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz from 2017 to 2019. In the second of those seasons, he averaged 11.9 points on 61.7% two-point shooting and 8.3 rebounds in 34 games. Poirier was the competition's top rebounder and ranked fourth in PIR (17.7 per game), which led to his selection as a member of the 2018-19 All-EuroLeague Second Team. Poirier started his career with Paris-Levallois (currently Boulogne Metropolitans 92) and played for another French team, Hyeres-Toulon, before joining Baskonia. He has also played for Boston in the NBA. Poirier is a member of the French national team, which he helped to win a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2019.

Real pens Poirier to deal through 2024

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Olympiacos Piraeus finished the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season in style by downing Khimki Moscow Region 82-75 at home on Friday.

Olympiacos finishes season with a win

Olympiacos Piraeus finished the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season in style by downing Khimki Moscow Region 82-75 at home on Friday. Olympiacos finished 12th overall with a 16-18 record after recording its fifth win in seven games. Khimki finished the 2020-21 season at the bottom of the standings with a 4-30 record. Sasha Vezenkov led the winners with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Georgios Printezis added 14 points and Octavius Ellis 11 while Vasilis Charalampopoulos, Kosta Koufos and Shaquielle McKissic each scored 10 for Olympiacos. Errick McCollum led Khimki with 17 points. Egor Vialtsev added 14 and Sergey Karasev 12. Olympiacos led 24-18 after 10 minutes but Khimki rallied to get a 37-41 margin on a three-pointer by Anton Ponkrashov. Olympiacos regained a 42-41 edge at the break, extending that to 63-55 after three quarters and then again to 79-66 to seal the outcome way before the final buzzer. 

Vladislav Sharapov scored down low and Karasev added a jumper for Khimki but Vezenkov soon tied it at 4-4. Karasev buried a rainbow triple that Vezenkov answered with a jump hook and Charalampopoulos added a layup for an 8-7 Olympiacos lead. Vialtsev sank back-to-back three-pointers before Ellis, Vezenkov, and Charalampopoulos fueled an 11-0 Olympiacos run that made Khimki call timeout at 19-15. Evgeny Valiev scored in the paint, Sergey Monia and Charalampopoulos each struck from downtown, and a put-back layup by Vezenkov fixed the score at 24-18 after 10 minutes. Printezis took over with a three-point play and a layup early in the second quarter. Sharapov and Koufos traded layups and McCollum added a three-point play to get Khimki within 31-23. Koufos scored twice in the paint but Monia and McCollum fueled a 0-10 Khimki run, getting help from McCollum and Ponkrashov to give Khimki a 37-41 lead. Kostas Sloukas buried a triple and fed Koufos for a layup that restored a 42-41 Olympiacos lead at the half. 

Catch up on Olympiacos Piraeus vs Khimki Moscow Region from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 9 2021

Olympiacos Piraeus vs Khimki Moscow Region Highlights - Round 34 - April 9, 2021

Vezenkov struck from deep soon after the break to start a 12-0 run that Charalampopoulos finished with a fastbreak layup. Karasev and Ponkrashov tried to change things for Khimki but Ellis gave Olympiacos a 52-48 lead. Karasev kept pacing the guests while McKissic and Vezenkov stepped up to keep the Reds out of trouble, 61-53. Voronov and Printezis traded layups for a 63-55 score after 30 minutes. Printezis scored again early in the fourth quarter. Vialtsev sank his fourth three-pointer, which Vezenkov matched with a layup-plus-free throw. Vialtsev buried a jumper and McCollum added a triple that gave Khimki hope at 70-63, with 6 minutes left. McKissic dunked and Printezis boosted the Reds' lead to 74-63. Evgeny Voronov sank one from downtown but McKissic scored in penetration and a three-pointer by Printezis sealed the outcome, 79-66, with 3 minutes to go. 

### Pivotal performer

Sasha Vezenkov had yet another big game for Olympiacos, being highly effective at both ends. He finished the game with 20 points on 6-of-8 two-point shooting and 11 rebounds – including a career-high 9 defensive boards – plus an assist, a steal, and 4 fouls drawn for a PIR of 31.
### Game-changing moment

Anton Ponkrashov hit a triple from the top of the key for a 37-41 Khimki lead in the first half. Kostas Sloukas answered from downtown, igniting a 12-0 run that extended into the third quarter. Vezenkov joined the three-point shootout and Vasilis Charalampopoulos capped it with a fastbreak layup for a 49-41 Olympiacos lead, giving the Reds full control.
### Stellar stat

Olympiacos dominated in the paint, hitting 24-of-35 two-point shots (68.6%). Khimki struggled to score around the basket, making such 13 of 34 two-point shots (38.2%). Olympiacos got 10 steals and Khimki picked up 15 turnovers.
### Did you know?

Vassilis Spanoulis became the first player to break the 1,600-assist mark in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague history. Spanoulis had 9 assists against Khimki and leads the all-time standings with 1,607. He is also the all-time scoring leader with 4,455 points.
### Next game

Both teams finished their respective EuroLeague campaigns on Friday. 

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Olympiacos Piraeus v Khimki Moscow Region (2021-04-09T18:00:00.000Z)

In a regular season finale for two playoff-bound teams, AX Armani Exchange Milan rose to the challenge and downed Anadolu Efes Istanbul 98-75 to clinch fourth place in the standings and lock up home-court playoff advantage on Friday night. 

Milan routes Efes to get home-court in playoffs

In a regular season finale for two playoff-bound teams, AX Armani Exchange Milan rose to the challenge and downed Anadolu Efes Istanbul 98-75 to clinch fourth place in the standings and lock up home-court playoff advantage on Friday night. Milan opened a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter and never allowed Efes closer than 7 points the rest of the night, making sure it will open the playoffs on its home floor. Shavon Shields led Milan with 19 points and Kevin Punter scored 18. Zach LeDay added 15 points, while Vladimir Micov and Jeremy Evens had 10 apiece. Rodrigue Beaubois had 15 points for Efes, Chris Singleton scored 12 and Tibor Pleiss added 11 in a defeat.

The teams traded blows from the start, with Pleiss and Micov each sinking a triple before LeDay and James Anderson did the same. A corner three from Adrien Moerman put Efes up 8-11, but the Micov and Punter answered to put Milan ahead. A triple from Micov, Shields knocked down a pair of mid-range jumpers and Sergio Rodriguez fed Evans for three dunks, including one to end the first quarter 29-19. Shields scored 6 points in a 7-0 Milan run that gave the hosts 36-21 advantage early in the second. Singleton and Bryant Dunston fought for baskets inside and Micic had a pair of layups that cut the difference to 38-29. Punter and Micov restored Milan’s double-digit margin before another dunk from Evans made it 46-31. Efes finished the first half with back-to-back threes from Singleton and Pleiss, making it 49-39 at halftime.

Catch up on AX Armani Exchange Milan vs Anadolu Efes Istanbul from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 9 2021

AX Armani Exchange Milan vs Anadolu Efes Istanbul Highlights - Round 34 - April 9, 2021

Micic scored twice and served Beaubois for an open corner triple to get Efes within 55-48 after the break. Punter responded with 6 points, including a triple, to get Milan’s margin back to 13 points. Sertac Sanli hit a long jumper and Beaubois had another triple for the visitors, but back-to-back threes from Shields and Rodriguez, followed by a fastbreak dunk from Shields, made it a 20-point game 73-53. Jeff Brooks beat the buzzer to end the third quarter and make it 78-56, before Milan extended it to 26 points early in the fourth. Dogus Balbay and Tolga Gecim cut into the deficit, but LeDay scored 10 consecutive points to extend the margin to 30 points 98-68, before Efes scored the last 7 points of the night.

### Home-court clinched

Milan entered the game knowing it needs a win to clinch home-court advantage in the best-of-five playoffs, and delivered by scoring 98 points, tied for the team’s season-high on its home floor.

### Key contributor

Sergio Rodriguez did not score until the third quarter, but he did a great job of running the Milan offense, dishing 7 assists in the first half as the hosts took control. Rodriguez finished with a season-high 10 assists, and also had 7 points and 3 steaks in 20 minutes on the floor.

### Efficient Milan

Milan finished making 27 of 46 (58.7%) two-pointers in the game and 10 of 20 shots from three-point range. Its 27 two-pointers made tied the team’s season high.

### Milan returnees

Just in time for the playoffs, Milan got back Malcolm Delaney and Jeremy Evans. Delaney had 7 points in just under 17 minutes after missing seven games due to a knee surgery. Evans had 10 points plus 7 rebounds in 16 minutes after missing the last three games.

### Next up

The next time both of these teams take the EuroLeague floor, it will be for Game 1 of the playoffs which both teams will hosts. Efes as the third seed will face Real Madrid and Milan as the fourth seed will host FC Bayern Munich.

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AX Armani Exchange Milan v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2021-04-09T18:45:00.000Z)

FC Bayern Munich claimed a solid 72-82 victory over FC Barcelona at Palau Blaugrana on Friday night to earn fifth place in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague standings at the end of the regular season. 

Bayern tops Barcelona in Gasol's return

FC Bayern Munich claimed a solid 72-82 victory over FC Barcelona at Palau Blaugrana on Friday night to earn fifth place in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague standings at the end of the regular season. The visitors never trailed as they built a 22-29 first-quarter lead resisted all of Barcelona's comeback attempts. Bayern, whose record improved to 21-13, was led by Jalen Reynolds, who scored career-high 26 points on 13-of-17 two-point shooting, grabbed 5 boards and added 3 steals in just 25 minutes against his former team. He was followed by Wade Baldwin IV, who tallied 18 points and 6 assists, and Vladimir Lucic, who contributed 14 points for the winners. Leo Westermann and Leandro Bolmaro paced the hosts with 12 points apiece, while Brandon Davies chipped in 11 in the losing effort. Barcelona dropped to 24-10 but had already secured the first place. Club and European basketball legend Pau Gasol started in his first game back with the team after 20 years. He scored 9 points and pulled 4 boards in 13 minutes on the floor. 

The visitors used a strong start in which Leon Radosevic hit a three and Baldwin added a three-point play to get an early 4-11 lead. The hosts fed Gasol on the offensive end to stay close until Westermann nailed a three to 13-13 after 5 minutes. Both squads ran quick offenses, but Bayern benefitted the most from it. A triple by Lucic, 6 points in a row by Reynolds, and another bucket by JaJuan Johnson opened a 17-26 margin for the guests. Diego Flaccadori made it bigger with a three-pointer, but Bolmaro beat the buzzer from deep as the first quarter closed at 22-29. Davies brought Barcelona within 26-31 early in the second quarter, but after a Bayern timeout, Lucic and Reynolds rebuilt a comfortable advantage, 26-35. Baldwin and Reynolds combined later to push it to double digits, 31-41, as the hosts switched lineups attempting to find their momentum. Gasol joined Victor Claver in Barcelona's frontcourt, and that combination worked better, especially on defense. Bayern didn't hit a field goal for more than 4 minutes, allowing Barcelona to close within 37-43 at halftime on a late layup by Claver and a free throw by Gasol. 

Catch up on FC Barcelona vs FC Bayern Munich from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 9 2021

FC Barcelona vs FC Bayern Munich Highlights - Round 34 - April 9, 2021

Defenses kept dominating after the break. Rolands Smits became the go-to guy for Barcelona, scoring 6 points to reduce the gap to 43-47. Gasol added a layup to make it a one-possession game, forcing a Bayern timeout. Reynolds returned on court then and scored twice to calm Bayern, while Zan Sisko showed up from deep to soon extend the margin to 46-54. Westermann and Adam Hanga combined on offense to help Barcelona keep the visitors in sight, 55-60, entering the fourth quarter. Davies tried to boost his team with an inside bucket, but Bayern reacted quickly once again. Lucic hit a jumper to start a 2-10 run in which Baldwin and Reynolds provided several highlight plays to make it a double-digit lead, 59-70. Hanga hit from beyond the arc then assisted Bolmaro to keep alive Barcelona's fire. A timely three by Bayern's Paul Zipser cooled it, however, then Baldwin and Lucic joined to rebuild a solid 66-77 margin with 3 minutes to go. Barcelona got stuck in Bayern's tough defense, unable to score from the field, so when Reynolds dunked it for a 67-79 lead, both teams understood things were decided already. Alex Abrines tried to fight against the odds with a three-pointer, but a quick answer from Baldwin entering the last minute definitely sealed the outcome. 

### Gasol and the Euroleague reunited

Pau Gasol returned to the EuroLeague for the first time in over 20 years, marking longest period between appearances of any player this century. Starting the game, Gasol didn't need much time to score. He hit a five-meter jumper after 45 seconds and followed that with 4 more points before heading to the bench after almost 5 minutes on court. He finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes.

### Pivotal performer

Jalen Reynolds, who had played 9 games for Barcelona at the end of 2017-18 season, had a terrific performance against his ex-team. He was dominant all over the court, against everyone he faced, providing several highlight plays. Reynolds made 13 of 18 two-pointers, matching the season high in the EuroLeague, on his way to a career-high scoring night of 26 points.

### Bayern led all over the way

The visitors dominated the game from the beginning to the end, never trailing. FC Barcelona could only forge a tie in the first quarter, the last time when Leo Westermann hit a three and a bucket to get it all square at 15-15.

### Time to rest

FC Barcelona took advantage of its first seeding having already been secure to rest some major players. March MVP Nikola Mirotic, Cory Higgins and Pierre Oriola all sat out for head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.

### Next game

FC Barcelona will have to wait to know who will face to start its EuroLeague Playoffs series, as Zenit St Petersbourg will play against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens on Monday, April 14, to decide the last playoff spot. FC Bayern Munich will play against AX Armani Exchange Milan in the Italian capital on Tuesday, April 20. 

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FC Barcelona v FC Bayern Munich (2021-04-09T19:00:00.000Z)

Zenit St Petersburg will continue fighting to reach the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time in club history after handily downing Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 86-69 at home on Friday. 

Zenit wins big to stay alive

Zenit St Petersburg will continue fighting to reach the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time in club history after handily downing Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 86-69 at home on Friday. Zenit raised its record to 19-14 to move into the eighth and final playoffs place ahead of Valencia Basket (19-15). Due to a tie-break disadvantage against Valencia, however, Zenit must win again in a rescheduled Round 6 game against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens on Monday or be eliminated. Zenit never trailed against Maccabi, turning a 44-37 halftime lead to 66-48 thanks to a 14-2 run in the third quarter. Austin Hollins led five double-digit Zenit scorers with 15 points. Kevin Pangos added 13 points, Will Thomas and Tarik Black 11 each, and Mateusz Ponitka 10. Zenit's defense took 9 steals and forced 16 turnovers on Maccabi, which got 15 points from Tyler Dorsey and 11 from Chris Jones. 

Hollins dunked off a steal by Ponitka and Pangos beat the shot clock from deep as Zenit zoomed ahead 7-2. Hollins and Thomas drilled three-pointers as Elijah Bryant steadied the visitors with 5 points. But Black blocked 2 shots and got to the free throw line to raise the Zenit lead to 19-11. Dorsey and Chris Jones scored off the Maccabi bench, but K.C. Rivers and Alex Poythress matched them as Zenit led 25-15 after 10 minutes. Dragan Bender, Bryant, Dorsey and Othello Hunter dropped the difference to 29-23 early in the second quarter before Billy Baron struck from deep for Zenit. Ponitka restored the hosts' double-digit lead, but Dorsey converted a tough three-point play for Maccabi. Hollins struck again from deep and hit a free throw at 38-27. T.J. Cline and Oz Blayzer added triples as Maccabi got within 5 points, but Dmitry Khvostov made it 44-37 for Zenit at halftime. 

Catch up on Zenit St Petersburg vs Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 9 2021

Zenit St Petersburg vs Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Highlights - Round 34 - April 9, 2021

Ante Zizic dunked for Maccabi to start the second half, but Hollins responded with consecutive baskets and Pangos added another and fed Black to make it 52-43. Wilbekin steadied the visitors with a triple but Pangos matched him on the shot-clock buzzer at 57-46. Ponitka took over with an assist to Thomas before a steal-and-dunk combo as the difference soared to 66-48 after 30 minutes. Zenit was content to trade scores early in the fourth quarter to stay ahead 77-56 as Pangos fed a no-look pass to Andrey Zubkov and scored a second-chance layup with 6 minutes left, leaving too little time for Maccabi to challenge. Zenit was still alive in the playoffs race and one win away from a historic qualification 

### Pivotal performer

Zenit center Tarik Black started against Maccabi, his only former EuroLeague team, and was a major factor all night, especially on defense. His 2 early blocks and a steal set the tone as Zenit jumped to quick and consistent leads. Black finished with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in 24 minutes in the absence of fellow center Arturas Gudaitis. His team-high PIR of 21 was Black's best in eight games since joining Zenit in late January.
### Key sequence

It was 52-46 midway through the third quarter when Mateusz Ponitka led a 14-2 charge that pretty much decided the outcome. Ponitka had 4 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals in that spell, which was punctuated by a triple from Kevin Pangos and a second-chance three-point play by Tarik Black. The run left Zenit in charge 66-48 through three quarters, after which Maccabi did not challenge the lead.
### Shooting streaks

Zenit's Billy Baron has now made three-pointers in 23 consecutive games. That is the EuroLeague's highest current streak and the second-longest ever in a single season. Among four players with 24 consecutive is Maccabi's Scottie Wilbekin, who did so earlier this season. Baron's closest pursuer is his own teammate, Kevin Pangos, who lengthened his three-point streak to 22 games in a row.
### Moving up the charts

With his 1 three-pointer in the game, Maccabi's Scottie Wilbekin moved ahead of Trajan Langdon for 14th place all-time in the EuroLeague with a total of 340 shots made from the arc.
### Next game

Zenit will finish its season on Monday in a rescheduled Round 6 home game against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens. Zenit will qualify for the playoffs with a victory, but will be eliminated if it loses. Maccabi has finished its EuroLeague season with a ?? record.

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Zenit St Petersburg v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2021-04-09T17:00:00.000Z)

In a do-or-die battle for both teams to stay in the race for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Valencia Basket kept its chances alive by downing TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 86-81 at La Fonteta on Thursday. 

Valencia beats Baskonia to stay alive

In a do-or-die battle for both teams to stay in the race for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Valencia Basket kept its chances alive by downing TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 86-81 at La Fonteta on Thursday. Valencia finished the regular season with a 19-15 record and now must get some help from others to qualify for the playoffs. Baskonia finished with an 18-16 record in 10th place. Derrick Williams led the winners with 16 points, Klemen Prepelic added 14, Mike Tobey 13, Nikola Kalinic 12 and Bojan Dubljevic 11 for Valencia. Pierria Henry paced Baskonia with 19 points, Rokas Giedraitis added 17, Achille Polonara 16 and Zoran Dragic had 10 for the guests. Kalinic and Williams helped Valencia to a 25-21 lead after 10 minutes. Behind Henry and Giedraitis, Baskonia led 39-44 at halftime. A wild three-pointer by Prepelic put the hosts ahead, 60-59, at the end of the third quarter. It all came down to the final minutes, in which a three-point play by Tobey and free throws by Williams sealed the outcome. 

Giedraitis got Baskonia going with a three-pointer and Luca Vildoza scored off a steal for a 0-5 lead. Polonara and Kalinic each struck from downtown and Williams got Valencia within 7-8. Polonara and Mike Tobey traded dunks and Kalinic's fastbreak layup gave the hosts their first lead, 11-10. Polonara dunked again and Dragic added a driving layup, but Sam Van Rossom and Prepelic boosted Valencia's lead to 18-14. Williams took over with a three-point play and Williams scored again, but Henry kept Baskonia within 25-21 after 10 minutes. Alex Peters found his first points early in the second quarter and Henry scored again. Bojan Dubljevic buried a triple and Prepelic added a layup for a 30-26 Valencia lead. Joan Sastre and a red-hot Henry traded three-pointers. Giedraitis bettered Tobey's put-back slam with a layup-plus-foul. Tobey kept pushing Valencia with a tip-in. After Polonara scored in penetration, Vildoza and Giedraitis each struck from beyond the arc for a 37-40 Baskonia edge. Giedraitis and Henry boosted the margin to 39-44 at halftime. 

Catch up on Valencia Basket vs TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 8 2021

Valencia Basket vs TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz Highlights - Round 34 - April 8, 2021

Tobey dunked again right after the break and Kalinic made it a one-point game. Dragic scored twice around the basket, Henry downed a jumper and Giedraitis hit a corner triple for a 45-53 Baskonia edge. Sastre stepped up with a backdoor layup that Giedraitis bettered with a three-pointer. Williams dunked and got help from Prepelic to give Valencia hope at 54-56. Vanja Marinkovic capped an 8-0 run with a three-pointer, but Polonara and Prepelic - at the third-quarter buzzer - also struck from downtown for a 60-59 score after 30 minutes. Dubljevic and Dragic exchanged baskets early in the fourth quarter and Henry added a three-point play for a 62-64 Baskonia edge. Prepelic scored down low and Dubljevic put Valencia in front with 6 minutes left. Polonara hit a triple and Tadas Sedekerskis added a fastbreak layup to put their team in charge, 68-71. Marinkovic insisted from beyond the arc and soon gave Valencia a 74-72 lead with under 4 minutes to go. Kalinic dunked in traffic and found Tobey for a layup, but Henry and Sedekerskis made it 78-77. Tobey answered with a three-point play and Williams hit free throws for an 83-77 Valencia edge with 55.3 seconds left. Peters scored down low and Sedekerskis hit free throws that brought Baskonia within 83-81 with 10.4 seconds remaining. Williams split free throws and Dubljevic sealed Valencia's win in style with a reverse layup. 

### Pivotal performer

Derrick Williams had an outstanding performance and led Valencia to what could become a go-ahead victory. He finished the game with 16 points on 4-of-4 two-point shooting plus 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, a block and 6 fouls drawn for a season-high PIR of 25.
### Stellar stat

Rebounds and two-point shots made the difference in this game. Valencia outrebounded Baskonia 42-30 and grabbed 13 offensive boards. Baskonia hit 17 of 18 shots inside the arc (44.7%). Valencia did much better, scoring 20 of its 32 two-point shots (62.5%).
### Did you know?

To qualify for the playoffs, Valencia needs Zenit St Petersburg to lose at least once of its two remaining games. Zenit hosts Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv on Friday, April 9 and also plays at home against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in a postponed game from Round 6 on Monday, April 12. If Zenit wins twice, it will go to the playoffs.
### Next game

Baskonia has played its final game of the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Valencia, however, may still reach the playoffs depending on other results. If it does, it will automatically qualify for the 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. 

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Valencia Basket v TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2021-04-08T19:00:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin finished its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season on a high note as it defeated Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 81-58 at home. Peyton Siva collected 17 points and 8 assists to lead ALBA, which snapped a four-game losing streak for a 12-22 final record.

ALBA finishes season on high note with win over Zvezda

ALBA Berlin finished its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season on a high note as it defeated Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 81-58 at home. Peyton Siva collected 17 points and 8 assists to lead ALBA, which snapped a four-game losing streak for a 12-22 final record. Simone Fontecchio chipped in 13 points, Marcus Eriksson had 12 points and Jayson Granger added 8 assists for the winning side. Marko Simonovic scored 12 points to lead Zvezda, which finished second-to-last in the standings, one spot behind ALBA at 10-24. Jordan Loyd tallied 10 points and Landry Nnoko picked up 7 points and 11 rebounds against his former team. 

Loyd started the scoring with a three-pointer for the guests. ALBA needed more than 2 minutes to score on an Eriksson three-pointer. Fontecchio followed with a three-point play and triple among his 8 points in a 13-2 run in building a 13-5 lead. Zvezda put together its first minor run of 3-8 including a Simonovic three-pointer to pull within 18-15. Simonovic added another triple and Zvezda trailed 24-22 after 10 minutes. Dejan Davidovac hit a layup to start the second quarter and knot the game at 24-24. ALBA punched back with Eriksson, Siva and Fontecchio all nailing triples in a 17-2 run for a 41-26 advantage. Nnoko scored 4 points against his former team only to see ALBA get the final 6 points of the first half for a 49-30 score at the break. 

Catch up on ALBA Berlin vs Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 8 2021

ALBA Berlin vs Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade Highlights - Round 34 - April 8, 2021

Ognjen Kuzmic made the first basket of the second half and was answered by Luke Sikma at the other end. Zvezda mounted a modest 2-6 run - including another Davidovac triple - to pull within 55-38. ALBA would have nothing of a comeback with Eriksson sandwiching three-pointers around a Johannes Thiemann triple in an 11-3 surge for a 66-41 cushion. Zvezda tallied the final 5 points and it was 66-46 after 30 minutes. Malte Delow opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer and Christ Koumadje made it 71-46. Zvezda tried to make things interesting with 9 straight points on a Nnoko three-point play and triples from Aleksa Uskokovic and Loyd to trim the gap to 71-55 midway through the final frame. ALBA was not impressed and Jonas Mattisseck and Siva both drained three-pointers as the German champs went up 81-55 in the final minutes. 

### Five-game win streak

ALBA and Zvezda have faced off six times and the German champion has now compiled a 5-1 record, including five straight victories over the Serbian club.
### Pivotal performer

Peyton Siva did a bit of everything for ALBA as he scored 17 points with 3 three-pointers to go with 2 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals for an index rating of 21.
### A little help from my friends

While Peyton Siva was the main man for ALBA, the playmaker got plenty of help as all 12 ALBA players scored at least 2 points and Marcus Eriksson was the only one who didn’t grab at least 1 rebound.
### Telling numbers

ALBA dominated the game as it turned 19 Zvezda turnovers into 35 points while the guests got just 11 points off 11 ALBA miscues. ALBA also had a 20-9 advantage in second-chance points. And ALBA held Zvezda to just 27.8% shooting on two/-pointers.

Thiemann-003958.jpg

ALBA Berlin v Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (2021-04-08T18:00:00.000Z)

CSKA Moscow finished second in the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season by downing LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 88-70 at home in Megasport Arena on Thursday. 

CSKA beats ASVEL to clinch second place

CSKA Moscow finished second in the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season by downing LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 88-70 at home in Megasport Arena on Thursday. CSKA improved to 23-10 in the standings, registered its fifth consecutive victory, and clinched second place due to its potential tie-break advantage against Anadolu Efes Istanbul (1-1, +5), which ranks third at 22-11. ASVEL finished its EuroLeague campaign with a 13-21 record. Iffe Lundberg led the winners with 23 points. Michael Eric added 21 points and Johannes Voigtmann 13 for CSKA. Guerschon Yabusele led ASVEL with 23 points while Norris Cole added 15. CSKA was up 18-15 after 10 minutes and extended its lead to 39-26 shortly before halftime. ASVEL got within 42-36 at the break and took a 56-60 lead at the end of the third quarter. Lundberg, Eric, and Daniel Hackett combined for all points in an 18-0 run that sealed the outcome down the stretch. 

Moustapha Fall got ASVEL going with a layup but Eric and Darrun Hilliard quickly put CSKA ahead, 6-2. Hilliard struck from downtown before Yabusele and Cole kept the guests within 9-7. Eric kept pacing CSKA with a put-back layup and Daniel Hackett matched Antoine Diot's floater with a jumper. Ismael Bako stepped up for ASVEL and Derrick Walton took over with a four-point play but Voigtmann and Lundberg kept CSKA ahead, 18-15, after 10 minutes. Voigtmann and Lundberg kept pacing CSKA early in the second quarter. Bako detonated an alley-oop slam but Voigtmann struck from beyond the arc and added a tip-in to make ASVEL call timeout at 28-17. Janis Strelnieks scored in penetration and Lundberg added a jumper but Cole and Yabusele each hit a triple to keep ASVEL within 32-23. Yabusele and Semen Antonov traded three-pointers and Eric scored twice in the paint to restore a 39-26 CSKA margin. Cole followed a jumper with a triple and got help from Diot and David Lighty to bring ASVEL within 42-36 at halftime. 

Catch up on CSKA Moscow vs LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 8 2021

CSKA Moscow vs LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne Highlights - Round 34 - April 8, 2021

Fall scored down low soon after the break. Will Clyburn followed a jumper with a coast-to-coast layup and Eric dunked twice for a 50-42 CSKA lead. Diot buried a three-pointer and Yabusele scored in the paint but Eric and Nikita Kurbanov each dunked to give CSKA fresh air at 54-47. Yabusele and Cole hit their third three-pointers, Lighty added a three-point play and Paul Lacombe's driving layup completed the guests' comeback, 56-58. Bako hit free throws and Lundberg kept CSKA within 58-60 after 30 minutes. Lundberg buried a floater early in the fourth quarter. Charles Kahudi and Yabusele each struck from downtown to let ASVEL regain a 62-66 lead. Lundberg joined the three-point shootout and fed Eric for a wild alley-oop dunk. Daniel Hackett swished a jumper and a red hot Lundberg added a huge four-point play and a floater that boosted CSKA's lead to 75-66. Eric made a put-back layup and Hackett sealed the outcome with a three-pointer that capped an 18-0 run, 80-66, allowing CSKA to lock up second place in the regular season standings. 

### Pivotal performer

Michael Eric was a dominant force at both ends, especially on offense, getting as many as five dunks. He finished the game with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals for a PIR of 27. His 10 two-point shots made are the most for CSKA player since Nenad Krstic had 11 against Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul on February 14, 2014.
### Game-changing moment

ASVEL led 62-66 early in the fourth quarter, but when CSKA needed answers on offense, Iffe Lundberg stepped up. He hit a three-pointer, found Michael Eric for an alley-oop slam, and soon added a four-point play and a floater in an 18-0 run that put CSKA ahead for good, 80-66.
### Stellar stat

CSKA limited its turnovers to just 6 and forced ASVEL to pick up as many as 15. CSKA had a much better shooting percentage than ASVEL inside the arc, hitting 23 of 39 two-pointers (59.0%). ASVEL hit 14 of its 30 attempts for a 46.7% two-point shooting rate.
### Did you know?

CSKA continues its great run against French teams in the Russian capital. It has a 22-1 record against French squads in Moscow. ASVEL was the only French team to ever beat CSKA in Moscow, 83-91 on March 8, 2001, behind 34 points from Bill Howard. Those 22 CSKA home wins against French teams were by an average margin of 22.4 points.
### Next game

CSKA will play a rescheduled Round 25 game against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens on Wednesday, April 14 before it gets set to start its EuroLeague Playoffs series in the Russian capital on Tuesday, April 20. ASVEL has played its final game in its 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. 

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CSKA Moscow v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2021-04-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid marched into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs with an outstanding performance to beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 67-93 on Thursday.

Dominant Real blasts Fenerbahce to secure playoff ticket

Real Madrid marched into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs with an outstanding performance to beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 67-93 on Thursday. The visitors dominated the early stages, leading by as much as 7-23 towards the end of the first quarter. The gap grew to 20 points in the second quarter and although Fener initially fought back after the break – getting as close as 50-58 – Real pulled away again to cruise home. Nico Laprovittola led Real with a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists, while Fabien Causeur poured in 20 points and Gabriel Deck scored 19. Nando De Colo offered the chief resistance for the home team, scoring 23 points. Lorenzo Brown, with 16 points, was the only other Fenerbahce player to score in double figures. Both teams finished with 20-14 records, with Real taking the tiebreaker after winning both games against Fenerbahce.

Laprovittola's triple started the scoring and inside baskets from Alex Tyus and Walter Tavares gave Real a 4-9 lead as Fener struggled to find an offensive rhythm with only 1 field goal – a driving layup from Dyshawn Pierre – in the first 5 minutes. An alley-oop from Tyus and triples from Causeur and Laprovittola stretched the lead to 7-18. Deck scored inside and Trey Thompkins added a three-pointer to complete a 0-11 run before Brown and Kyle O’Quinn rescued Fener to make it 11-23 after 10 minutes. Causeur’s layup, Deck’s tip-in and triples from Thompkins and Causeur gave Real a 13-33 cushion. Marko Guduric and De Colo tried to get Fener moving and Jarell Eddie added a pair of triples to reduce the deficit to 23-38, despite another Causeur three. De Colo’s layup-and-one kept the momentum moving towards the host, but Sergio Llull netted a pair of deep threes to settle Real. Brown scored 6 points in a hurry but Alberto Abalde responded with another triple to make it 36-49 at the break.

Catch up on Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs Real Madrid from Round 34 of the 2020/21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, April 8 2021

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs Real Madrid Highlights - Round 34 - April 8, 2021

Ahmet Duverioglu opened the second half with a layup, but Tavares responded with 4 consecutive points and Laprovittola added a deep strike for a 40-56 lead. De Colo’s layup followed by triples from Guduric and De Colo gave Fener fresh hope, 50-58, with an 8-0 run. But Laprovittola snapped that sequence from deep and Deck’s fastbreak slam extended the margin to 50-63. The relentless De Colo added 5 more points to make it 57-67 with 10 minutes left. Deck’s three-pointer and Causeur’s layup opened the final frame and Laprovittola’s breakaway score gave Real a margin of comfort, 57-74. Deck and Causeur hit further triples to compete a 0-15 run, which was inevitably ended by De Colo. Rudy Fernandez kept on delivering from deep for Real, sending the visitors ahead 61-85 with less than 5 minutes remaining, and there was no way back for Fener.

### Playoffs opponents…to be confirmed

The teams will now wait to see where they finish in the final standings. Depending on other results Real will end up fifth or sixth, while Fenerbahce’s position will be sixth or seventh leading to a date with either CSKA Moscow or Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the playoffs.
### Real sets three-point record

Real’s three-point shooting was superb all night and saw the visiting team set a new club record by making 19 triples on 38 attempts. Fabien Causeur (5 of 9) and Nico Laprovittola (4 of 6) were the chief deep threats, while Gabriel Deck, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Llull and Trey Thompkins also made multiple threes.
### Offensive control boosts Real

Real looked after the ball really well at the start of the game, not committing any turnovers in the first half. Fenerbahce, meanwhile, made 5 turnovers in the opening quarter alone, helping to explain why Real was able to jump out to a big and ultimately decisive lead.
### Llull back with a bang

Real got a big boost ahead of the playoffs with the return of Sergio Llull, who played for the first time since Round 25 after recovering from injury. The veteran backcourt ace entered in the second quarter, immediately scored a jumper and soon added a pair of trademark deep threes to show he is ready to play a full role over the coming weeks.

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Real Madrid marched into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs with an outstanding performance to beat Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 67-93 on Thursday.


Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v Real Madrid (2021-04-08T17:45:00.000Z)