April 28, 2014 - MVP for April: Alex Tyus, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
When
the crucial month of April began, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv had lost
five of its previous eight games, all coinciding with an injury to one
of the team's signature centers. Today, after winning every game it had
to win this month, Maccabi is returning to the Final Four, thanks in
great part to the emergence of an exciting talent, forward Alex Tyus,
Euroleague Basketball's choice as bwin MVP for April. Despite coming
off the bench and playing out of position, Tyus gave Maccabi the same
stabilizing inside presence that teams usually rely on experienced
veterans to provide. Tyus seized his new role by the horns and didn't
stop battling until Maccabi had become the only team to overcome a
home-court disadvantage in the playoffs. Between the last two Top 16
games to start the month and Maccabi's 3-1 playoff series win over EA7
Emporio Armani Milan, Tyus posted four of the best six performances in
his two-year Euroleague career. Read more here.
April 26, 2014 - Playoffs Game 5 bwin MVP: Sasha Kaun, CSKA Moscow
Sasha
Kaun saved his best performance for when his team needed it most. The
CSKA Moscow center dominated Friday in leading the Russian champs back
the Final Four with a 74-44 victory over Panathinaikos Athens in Game 5
of the Euroleague Playoffs. In addition to celebrating his fifth trip
to the Final Four, Kaun can take pride in earning Playoffs Game 5 bwin
MVP honors. Kaun tallied a season-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting
plus 9 rebounds and 2 blocks for a performance index rating of 29,
which was the most among the 44 players to take the floor in Playoffs
Game 5. Kaun didn’t only dominate, but he set the tone early with 8
points and 4 rebounds in the first seven minutes. He reached 12 and 6
by halftime before his teammates took control in the third quarter and
CSKA cruised to victory. Read more here.
April 25, 2014 - Game 5
Real Madrid 83 - 69 Olympiacos Piraeus
There
will be a new champion at the end of this Turkish Airlines Euroleague
season. Real Madrid knocked out back-to-back champion Olympiacos
Piraeus with an 83-69 victory at home on Friday. The result sends
Madrid to its sixth Final Four – and third in four years – by winning
their best-of-five series 3-2. Madrid will face archrival FC Barcelona
in the semifinals next month in Milan. Sergio Llull led the winners
with 20 points. Felipe Reyes and Rudy Fernandez each added 15, while
Nikola Mirotic had 10 for Madrid. Vassilis Spanoulis led Olympiacos
with 19 points. Matt Lojeski added 15 for the Reds. Three-pointers by
Lojeski and Spanoulis allowed Olympiacos to get an early 7-9 lead.
Mirotic and an outstanding Llull stepped up to give Madrid an 18-12
lead after 10 minutes. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow 74 - 44 Panathinaikos Athens
CSKA
Moscow rose to the occasion by dominating rival Panathinaikos Athens
74-44 to win their best-of-five playoffs series and a spot in the
Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four for the 11th time in 12 seasons.
Sasha Kaun and Victor Khryapa led the CSKA attack at both ends in a
game that was one-side for much of the night. CSKA held Panathinaikos
to a club record-low in scoring, which was also the second-fewest
points by any club in playoff history. The 30-point margin of
difference the worst defeat the Greens had ever suffered, too. Kaun
took control early with 8 points and 4 rebounds in the first seven
minutes. The lead swelled into double figures in the second quarter
before Vladimir Micov highlighted an 11-0 charge in the third that gave
CSKA total control. Read more here.
April 25, 2014 - Playoffs, Game 5: a historical playoffs night!
The
gates to the Final Four will open for two teams - and close for two
others - in an exciting Friday in which playoffs action will come to an
end. It all goes down to one game for CSKA Moscow, Panathinaikos
Athens, Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus. CSKA and Madrid have
history on their side, as home teams have always won Game 5 and no team
has rallied from a 2-0 deficit in a five-game series in competition
history. Of course, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos will try to rewrite
history by advancing to the Final Four. CSKA faces Panathinaikos at
18:00 CET, followed by Madrid vs. Olympiacos at 20:45 CET, two
thrillers with a Final Four berth on the line. Don't miss a historical
night of action, drama and great basketball! Read more here.
CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens 74-44 - Stats
April 24, 2014 - Playoffs Game 4 bwin MVP: Bryant Dunston, Olympiacos Piraeus
Another
stellar performance in the paint in a must-win game from Bryant Dunston
not only extended Olympiacos Piraeus’s season, but for the second game
in a row has earned the big man bwin MVP honors. Dunston is the
Playoffs Game 4 bwin MVP following a clutch performance as his Reds
defeated Real Madrid 71-62 on Wednesday. Dunston tallied 13 points on
5-of-6 shooting plus 9 rebounds in compiling a performance index rating
of 25, which was the highest among players on winning teams in Game 4
of the playoffs. Dunstan, who was also Playoffs Game 3 bwin MVP, not
only led Olympiacos, but he was at his best when the game was on the
line. He scored 8 fourth-quarter points, including 6 in a row after
Madrid tied the game early in the quarter. Read more here.
April 23, 2014 - Game 4
Olympiacos Piraeus 71 - 62 Real Madrid
Two-time
defending champion Olympiacos Piraeus protected its home court to beat
Real Madrid 71-62 Wednesday at Peace and Friendship Stadium, tying
their best-of-five playoffs series 2-2 and setting up a decisive Game 5
in the Spanish capital on Friday. With the game tied 49-49 early in the
fourth quarter, Bryant Dunston scored 6 straight points to give the
Reds the lead for good. Matt Lojeski later added a pair of clutch
threes as Olympiacos pulled away for its seventh straight playoff home
win. Dunston and Lojeski each scored 13 points to lead the winners.
Dunson added 9 rebounds too. Vassilis Spanoulis tallied 12 points and 7
assists, while Georgios Printezis and Vangelos Mantzaris netted 10
points apiece. Mantzaris dished 6 assists too. Read more here.
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 86 - 66 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
Maccabi
Electra Tel Aviv advanced to the 2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final
Four on Wednesday night with a spectacular performance on its home
court. Maccabi returned to the Final Four for the 12th time since the
format was chosen in 1988 - and for the first time since 2011 - by
downing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 86-66 in front of a sellout crowd at
Nokia Arena in Game 4 of their playoffs series. Maccabi won the series
3-1. Ricky Hickman and Alex Tyus paced the winners with 16 points
apiece. Devin Smith added 13 while David Blu and Sofoklis Schortsanitis
each had 11 for Maccabi. Smith and Tyus each pulled down 9 rebounds for
the winners. Keith Langford led Milan with 28 points – all in the
opening three quarters. Daniel Hackett added 10 for the guests. Read
more here.
Panathinaikos Athens 73 - 72 CSKA Moscow
Panathinaikos
Athens forced a decisive Game 5 in its best-of-five playoffs series
with CSKA Moscow with a 73-72 overtime victory on Wednesday night at
Olympic Sports Center in Athens. The hosts led by 9 late in the fourth
quarter, but Sonny Weems almost single-handedly carried CSKA back and
Vitaly Fridzon made a last-second shot with his foot on the three-point
line to force overtime. After a big Antonis Fotsis three tied it for
the hosts, Dimitris Diamantidis put the Greens up 2 from the line with
8.4 seconds left. CSKA had two last chances to tie it – or take the
lead – but Weems split free throws and then stepped out of bounds on an
inbounds play to leave the win for Athens. Jonas Maciulis paced the
winners with 15 points. Read more here.
April 23, 2014 - Playoffs Game 4: it's decision time!
The
road to the Final Four continues with playoffs Game 4. Three teams -
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid - have the
opportunity to seal tickets to the Final Four if they win their games,
joining already-qualified FC Barcelona - the only team that swept its
best-of-five series this season. Panathinaikos Athens, Olympiacos
Piraeus and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan have their back against the wall.
Panathinaikos and Olympiacos showed resilience at home in Game 3 and
also host Game 4 against CSKA and Madrid, respectively. Milan needs to
beat Maccabi on the road in order to take the series to Game 5. Don't
miss the fun! Read more here.
Panathinaikos Athens vs. CSKA Moscow 73-72 - Stats
PLAYOFF D
Maccabi Electra vs. EA7 Emporio Armani 86-66 - Stats
April 22, 2014 - Playoffs Game 3 bwin MVP: Bryant Dunston, Olympiacos Piraeus
A
monster performance in a critical showdown allowed Bryant Dunston of
Olympiacos Piraeus to earn the playoffs Game 3 bwin MVP honors after
leading the Reds to a 78-76 victory over Real Madrid. Bryant was
equally brilliant and efficient with 21 points on 9-of-10 two-point
shooting, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals en route to a performance
index rating of 32, the best of all players in playoffs Game 3. It was
the second such weekly award for Dunston in his first Turkish Airlines
Euroleague season after he won also in regular season Round 3.
Following him was Zoran Erceg of Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul, who
had 19 points on 3-of-4 two-point shooting and made 10 of 10 free throw
attempts in his team's last Euroleague game this season - a home loss
against FC Barcelona. Read more here.
April 21, 2014 - Game 3
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 75 - 63 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
Maccabi
Electra Tel Aviv is one win away from a trip to the 2014 Final Four
after handing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan a 75-63 defeat at Nokia Arena on
Monday. The victory gives Maccabi a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five
playoffs series, with Game 4 and a chance to clinch its Final Four
return coming in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Maccabi took control of the
game in the second quarter, taking the lead for good with a
three-pointer from David Blu. With help from Ricky Hickman, the margin
reached double-figures at halftime, 39-29. After the break, Devin Smith
and Blu nailed three-pointers that extended the lead to 49-33 and Milan
never came closer than 10 points the rest of the way. The hosts closed
it out with a big fourth quarter from Alex Tyus, giving a packed Nokia
Arena a lot to cheer about. Read more here.
Panathinaikos Athens 65 - 59 CSKA Moscow
Panathinaikos
Athens stayed alive in the 2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague by
edging CSKA Moscow 65-59 in Game 3 of their best-of-five series in the
Greek capital on Monday. CSKA still leads the series 2-1 but
Panathinaikos hosts Game 4 on Wednesday. Panathinaikos legend Dimitris
Diamantidis reached another milestone by breaking the Euroleague's
career assists record with 978. The previous record belonged to Theo
Papaloukas, who dished 977 assists throughout his career. Stephane
Lasme led Panathinaikos with 13 points. Zack Wright added 10 while
Diamantidis had 9 and 5 assists for Panathinaikos. Sonny Weems paced
CSKA with 14 points. Vitaly Fridzon added 10 for the guests, who were
outrebounded by 35-26. Read more here.
Olympiacos Piraeus 78 - 76 Real Madrid
The
two-time defending Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions live to fight
another day after Olympiacos Piraeus survived an absolute cliff-hanger
78-76 against Real Madrid thanks to 2 free throws by Kostas Sloukas
with 6 seconds left. Madrid, which leads the series 2-1, rallied from
11 behind to lead 73-74 with 44 seconds left, but Georgios Printezis
answered with a three-pointer that tipped the balance. Bryant Dunston
led the winners with 21 points, 9 rebounds. Vassilis Spanoulis scored
17, Brent Petway and Matt Lojeski 11 each. Sergio Rodriguez had 19
points and Rudy Fernandez 18 for Madrid. Sergio Llull added 16 points
and Felipe Reyes 13 for the guests. Game 3 will be Wednesday in
Piraeus. Read more here.
April 20, 2014
Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 75 - 78 FC Barcelona
Marcelinho
Huertas kept FC Barcelona in it till the closing minutes and Joey
Dorsey and Brad Oleson each came up with key defensive plays and free
throws to wrap up a 75-78 victory over Galatasaray Liv Hospital at Abdi
Ipekci Arena on Sunday, a sweep of their Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Playoffs series and the first ticket to the 2014 Final Four in Milan,
Italy. Barca will take part in its fifth Final Four in six seasons, but
it was not an easy task at all. Galatasaray led by as many as 10 in the
first quarter and despite Huertas’s heroics, a 9-1 run highlighted by a
Carlos Arroyo three gave the hosts a 70-68 lead inside of two minutes.
After Dorsey split free throws to give Barca the lead, he came up with
a brilliant block on Arroyo. Read more here.
April 20, 2014 - Game 3: The hosts are in must-win mode
The
2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs continue with Game 3, as
four best-of-five playoff series change cities, moving to some of the
greatest venues in European basketball – Abdi Ipekci Arena, Peace and
Friendship Stadium, Nokia Arena and the Olympic Sports Center of Athens
(OAKA). In three of those sites, the visiting team comes in up 0-2, one
victory away from making it to the 2014 Final Four in Milan, Italy. The
hosts trailing in the series have to forget the fact that no team has
rebounded to win the last three games of a best-of-five series in
Euroleague Playoffs history. Get ready for great intensity and high
drama, as Game 3 starts with a rare Sunday clash in Istanbul, followed
with three more games Monday. Read more here.
Here is the schedule for Game 3:
PLAYOFF A
Galatasaray Liv Hospital vs. FC Barcelona 75-78 - Stats
Panathinaikos Athens vs. CSKA Moscow 65-59 - Stats
PLAYOFF D
Maccabi Electra vs. EA7 Emporio Armani 75-63 - Stats
April 19, 2014 - Playoffs Game 2 bwin co-MVPs: Ioannis Bourousis and Curtis Jerrells
For
the first time all season, the bwin MVP award will be shared by two
players. Real Madrid center Ioannis Bourousis and EA7 Emporio Armani
Milan guard Curtis Jerrells each played pivotal roles in leading their
teams to victory. The two also tied for the highest performance index
ratings in Game 2 of the playoffs, which allows them to share Playoffs
Game 2 bwin MVP honors. Against his former team, Bourousis collected 19
points plus 10 rebounds to lead Los Blancos to an 82-77 victory over
two-time defending champion Olympiacos Piraeus. He shot 7 of 10 inside
the arc, 1 of 3 behind the three-point stripe and 2 for 3 from the free
throw line in addition to 1 assist and 3 drawn fouls. Read more here.
April 18, 2014 - Game 2
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 91 - 77 Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
EA7
Emporio Armani Milan bounced back from a tough overtime loss just 48
hours earlier, leading from start to finish to beat Maccabi Electra Tel
Aviv 91-77 in Game 2 of their best-of-five playoff series at the
Mediolanum Forum, site of 2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four.
Friday’s victory was the first for Milan in the Euroleague playoffs
this century, and tied the series at 1-1. With Daniel Hackett running
the offense, Milan used a 9-0 run late in the first quarter for a 25-15
lead, and behind 10 second-quarter points from Kristjan Kangur went
into halftime up 47-34. After the break, Curtis Jerrells took over,
pacing the hosts to an 18-point margin in the fourth quarter, as there
was no comeback for Maccabi this time. Milan again had six scorers in
double figures. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow 77 - 51 Panathinaikos Athens
CSKA
Moscow got plenty of offense from Sonny Weems and plenty of defense
from everyone else in routing Panathinaikos Athens 77-51 Friday to take
a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five playoffs series. The result
marked not only the lowest-scoring effort for the Greens in a
Euroleague game, but the 26-point difference was the worst margin of
defeat the club had ever suffered in a playoffs game. Weems paced CSKA
with 23 points, while Vladimir Micov netted 12 points, Nenad Krstic 10
and Victor Khryapa stood out with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. CSKA
outshot Panathinaikos from every range and registered two and a half
times as many assists (20-8). Panathinaikos played CSKA close early;
the game was tied at 19-19 late in the opening quarter. Read more here.
April 17, 2014
FC Barcelona 84 - 63 Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul
FC
Barcelona moved within one victory of returning to the Final Four after
downing Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 84-63 at Palau Blaugrana on
Friday night. Barcelona now holds a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five
playoffs series, which moves to Istanbul for Game 3 and, if necessary,
Game 4. A potential decisive Game 5 would be played again in Barcelona.
Brad Oleson and Alex Abrines combined for 27 points on perfect shooting
off the bench to pace the winners. Olseon scored 14 with a pair of
triple, Abrines netted 13 with 3 threes. Marcelinho Huertas added 12
points and 6 assists, Ante Tomic totaled 11 points and 8 rebounds and
Kostas Papanikolaou scored 10 for Barcelona, whose signature star Juan
Carlos Navarro left the game in the first quarter due to a leg problem.
Read more here.
Real Madrid 82 - 77 Olympiacos Piraeus
Real
Madrid held off Olympiacos Piraeus 82-77 Thursday at the Community of
Madrid Sports Palace to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five playoffs
series. Ioannis Bourousis punished his former team with a double
double, Sergio Llull effectively ran the offense and Rudy Fernandez
starred from his role on the wing to lead Madrid, which can clinch a
spot in the 2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Milan with a
win next week when the series resumes in Greece. Rudy and Nikola
Mirotic each scored 9 first-quarter points as Madrid took control
early. Felipe Reyes sank a pair of threes early in the second quarter
as the difference reached double figures. Brent Petway helped
Olympiacos respond and after trailing 53-44 at halftime, a Vassilis
Spanoulis triple made it 55-52 early in the third quarter. Read more here.
April 16, 2014 - Game 2: crucial rematches opening-game losers!
After
the best-of-five playoffs opened with two blowouts and two overtime
thrillers, Game 2 comes right back at you on Thursday and Friday. It
goes without saying, that the Game 1 winners will look to put
near-locks on their series with second consecutive wins: no team has
rebounded to win the last three games of a best-of-five series in
playoffs history. Just the same, Game 1 losers will be comforted to
know that three seasons ago, 0-1 playoff teams were in the majority in
the majority making it to the Final Four, so nothing is over yet. Get
ready for 48 hours of high drama with two games on Thursday and two
more Friday, ending with the Game of the Week between EA7 Emporio
Armani Milan and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv at 20:45 on Friday. Read more
here.
Here is the schedule for Game 2:
PLAYOFF A
FC Barcelona vs. Galatasaray Liv Hospital 84-63 - Stats
CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens 77-51 - Stats PLAYOFF D
EA7 Emporio Armani vs. Maccabi Electra 91-77 - Stats
April 16, 2014 - Playoffs Game 1 MVP: Ricky Hickman, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
After
four exciting series openers, one man's stellar performance stood above
the rest, and in fact, was the best in the playoffs so far this decade!
Ricky Hickman of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv earned the bwin MVP honor for
Game 1 with a performance index rating of 36 in his team's
unbelievable, come-from-behind, overtime road win against EA7 Emporio
Armani Milan, 99-101. Hickman had a near-perfect shooting night,
hitting 3-of-3 three-point shots and all of his 9 free throw tries on
the way to 26 points. He scored 14 of those points in the game's last 7
minutes; the final 2 minutes of the fourth quarter - when Maccabi
erased an 84-72 deficit - and overtime. He added 4 rebounds, a steal, 3
assists and 10 fouls drawn. Read more here.
April 16, 2014 - Game 1
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 99 - 101 Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Maccabi
Electra Tel Aviv rallied late and into overtime to complete an
improbable comeback from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to stun
host EA7 Emporio Armani 99-101 on Wednesday at the Final Four venue of
Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy. Maccabi made a major step towards
reaching the Final Four by erasing Milan's home-court disadvantage to
grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Milan hit 13
three-pointers, and led in double digits for almost entire second half.
David Moss made it 82-70 with under 4 minutes to go in regulation, but
Ricky Hickman and Tyrese Rice rallied Maccabi to an 86-87 advantage
with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Keith Langford tied it for
Milan with a free throws and less than a second left, but when he
missed the second, potential game-winner, the game went to overtime,
where Rice and Hickman continued doing damage. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow 77 - 74 Panathinaikos Athens
In
the first playoff game of their already-great rivalry, overtime was
needed before CSKA Moscow could prevail in Game 1 of their best-of-five
playoff series by downing Panathinaikos Athens 77-74 at home in the
Russian capital on Wednesday. CSKA has a 1-0 lead in the series and
hosts Game 2 in Moscow on Friday. Sonny Weems led the winners with 21
points, 10 of which came after CSKA trailed 67-62 with less than 3
minutes left in the fourth quarter. Victor Khryapa added 17 and 11
rebounds, Kyle Hines had 15 points and 8 boards while Vitaly Fridzon
scored 10 points for CSKA. Jonas Maciulis and Stephane Lasme led
Panathinaikos with 14 points apiece. Zack Wright added 12 points while
Dimitris Diamantidis had 10 and 7 assists for the guests. Read more here.
April 15, 2014
Real Madrid 88 - 71 Olympiacos Piraeus
In
a rematch of the last year’s Euroleague title game, Real Madrid never
stopped running on its home floor, overcoming a strong charge from
reigning champion Olympiacos Piraeus before pulling away to an 88-71
decision in Game 1 of their best-of-five playoff series. Game 2
scheduled for Thursday night in the Spanish capital, before the series
moves to Piraeus next week. Madrid stormed out of the gates, using
defense to get fastbreaks and a 27-12 lead after the first quarter.
Reminiscent of that title game a year ago, however, Olympiacos rallied
in the second quarter behind the Vassilis Spanoulis to tie the score at
35-35 and 40-40, but the Reds never regained the lead. A strong finish
from Sergio Rodriguez gave the hosts a 48-41 halftime lead, before Rudy
Fernandez took over after the break, boosting the difference to 68-51
as Madrid cruised to victory in the final quarter. Read more here.
FC Barcelona 88 - 61 Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul
FC
Barcelona struck first in its best-of-five playoffs series by downing
Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 88-61 in Game 1 at home on Tuesday.
Barcelona has a 1-0 lead in the series, which will resume with Game 2
also at Palau Blaugrana on Thursday. Barcelona was behind throughout
the first half, but got its first lead shortly after Galatasaray star
Carlos Arroyo left the game injured right before halftime. In the
second half, the hosts surged behind the three-point shooting of Jacob
Pullen, Bostjan Nachbar and Brad Oleson to win easily. Nachbar led
Barcelona with 19 points. He was followed by four more double-digit
scorers: Juan Carlos Navarro with 12 points, Pullen and Olseon with 11
each, and Ante Tomic with 10. Read more here.
April 15, 2014 - Playoffs, Game 1: pumped up for the playoffs!
Here
come the 2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs! All eight teams
that survived the Top 16 just a few days ago now battle in five-game
series for a spot in the Final Four. All four teams of last season's
Final Four teams - CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and defending
champion Olympiacos Piraeus - are back, but at most three of them will
return because the finalists from London, Madrid and Olympiacos, face
each other. Four other teams - former Euroleague champions
Panathinaikos Athens, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv and EA7 Emporio Armani,
as well as Galatasaray Liv Hospital istanbul, which battled injuries to
make its playoffs debut - are gearing up to open their own way to the
big dance. Read more here.
Here is the schedule for Game 1:
PLAYOFF A
FC Barcelona vs. Galatasaray Liv Hospital 88-61 - Stats
CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens 77-74 - Stats
PLAYOFF D
EA7 Emporio Armani vs. Maccabi Electra 99-101 - Stats
April 14, 2014 - Playoffs series analysis
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
EA7
Emporio Armani Milan and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv meet again. The last
time that happened at the higher stages of the Euroleague season, they
faced each other in the 1987 and 1988 finals, both of which Milan won.
Now, they will battle for a Final Four spot. Maccabi has been extremely
dangerous on the road this season, winning seven games outside Nokia
Arena. It also features 10 players with previous playoffs experience,
four of whom have been to the Final Four and one champion, David Blu.
Maccabi has made it to the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons.
Milan arrives to the playoffs for the first time since the format came
back in 2004-05. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens
Despite
combining for 13 playoffs appearances since since 2005, CSKA Moscow and
Panathinaikos Athens face each other in this phase for the first time
ever, which adds even more anticipation to this historic showdown. CSKA
and Panathinaikos are six-time Euroleague champions and faced each
other in the 2007 and 2009 title games, which the Greens won in Athens
and Berlin, respectively. CSKA has won all of its eight playoffs series
since 2005 and can get to the Final Four for the 11th time in 12 years.
Panathinaikos has won five of its seven playoffs since 2005, with its
only two defeats coming in the decisive third or fifth games.Read more here.
FC Barcelona vs. Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul
FC
Barcelona, one of the most consistent teams in Euroleague playoffs
history, takes on a newcomer to this stage, Galatasaray Liv Hospital
Istanbul, in a best-of-five showdown to reach the Final Four. Barcelona
has a 5-3 record of reaching the Final Four since the playoffs format
came to the Euroleague back in 2004-05. Galatasaray is not your
conventional playoffs newcomer, considering that as many as 10 of its
players have previous playoffs experience, almost as many as 11 for
Barcelona. After winning its first 12 games of the Top 16 and extending
its record winning streak in that phase to 26, Barcelona suddenly
suffering back-to-back defeats by 28 points on the road and 13 at home
right before the playoffs. Read more here.
Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
A
rematch of last season's Turkish Airlines Euroleague final will not be
settled by Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus in one game, but rather a
best-of-five series. Olympiacos looks for its fifth Final Four
appearance in six years in pursuit of a truly historical three-peat,
something that only ASK Riga (1958-60) and Split (1989-91) did in the
past. Madrid, the winningest team in the competition with eight
continental titles, is aiming for a third Final Four appearance in four
seasons - and for its first Euroleague title since 1995. As always,
Olympiacos will rely on reigning Euroleague MVP Vassilis Spanoulis and
its great team spirit to make things happen despite a home-court
disadvantage in the series. Read more here.
April 14, 2014 - It's time for the Playoffs!
All
the stations on the road to Milan are now known. Friday’s games
completed the Top 16 and set the stage for the 2014 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Playoffs. Four-mouth-watering series tip off this week
featuring seven former champions – including the last five Euroleague
winners! – and one newcomer. In fact, three of the series are repeats
of previous Euroleague title games! The playoffs begin in Spain, where
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, will host their series
openers on Tuesday. Barcelona, which won Top 16 Group E, will square
off against Galatasaray Liv Hospital, which has reached this stage of
the competition for the first time. Madrid meets two-time defending
champions Olympiacos Piraeus in a rematch of last season’s title game
in London. They also met in the 1995 championship game, which Madrid
won in Zaragoza. Read more here.
When
the crucial month of April began, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv had lost
five of its previous eight games, all coinciding with an injury to one
of the team's signature centers. Today, after winning every game it had
to win this month, Maccabi is returning to the Final Four, thanks in
great part to the emergence of an exciting talent, forward Alex Tyus,
Euroleague Basketball's choice as bwin MVP for April. Despite coming
off the bench and playing out of position, Tyus gave Maccabi the same
stabilizing inside presence that teams usually rely on experienced
veterans to provide. Tyus seized his new role by the horns and didn't
stop battling until Maccabi had become the only team to overcome a
home-court disadvantage in the playoffs. Between the last two Top 16
games to start the month and Maccabi's 3-1 playoff series win over EA7
Emporio Armani Milan, Tyus posted four of the best six performances in
his two-year Euroleague career. Read more 
Sasha
Kaun saved his best performance for when his team needed it most. The
CSKA Moscow center dominated Friday in leading the Russian champs back
the Final Four with a 74-44 victory over Panathinaikos Athens in Game 5
of the Euroleague Playoffs. In addition to celebrating his fifth trip
to the Final Four, Kaun can take pride in earning Playoffs Game 5 bwin
MVP honors. Kaun tallied a season-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting
plus 9 rebounds and 2 blocks for a performance index rating of 29,
which was the most among the 44 players to take the floor in Playoffs
Game 5. Kaun didn’t only dominate, but he set the tone early with 8
points and 4 rebounds in the first seven minutes. He reached 12 and 6
by halftime before his teammates took control in the third quarter and
CSKA cruised to victory. Read more 
There
will be a new champion at the end of this Turkish Airlines Euroleague
season. Real Madrid knocked out back-to-back champion Olympiacos
Piraeus with an 83-69 victory at home on Friday. The result sends
Madrid to its sixth Final Four – and third in four years – by winning
their best-of-five series 3-2. Madrid will face archrival FC Barcelona
in the semifinals next month in Milan. Sergio Llull led the winners
with 20 points. Felipe Reyes and Rudy Fernandez each added 15, while
Nikola Mirotic had 10 for Madrid. Vassilis Spanoulis led Olympiacos
with 19 points. Matt Lojeski added 15 for the Reds. Three-pointers by
Lojeski and Spanoulis allowed Olympiacos to get an early 7-9 lead.
Mirotic and an outstanding Llull stepped up to give Madrid an 18-12
lead after 10 minutes. Read more 
The
gates to the Final Four will open for two teams - and close for two
others - in an exciting Friday in which playoffs action will come to an
end. It all goes down to one game for CSKA Moscow, Panathinaikos
Athens, Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus. CSKA and Madrid have
history on their side, as home teams have always won Game 5 and no team
has rallied from a 2-0 deficit in a five-game series in competition
history. Of course, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos will try to rewrite
history by advancing to the Final Four. CSKA faces Panathinaikos at
18:00 CET, followed by Madrid vs. Olympiacos at 20:45 CET, two
thrillers with a Final Four berth on the line. Don't miss a historical
night of action, drama and great basketball! Read more 
Another
stellar performance in the paint in a must-win game from Bryant Dunston
not only extended Olympiacos Piraeus’s season, but for the second game
in a row has earned the big man bwin MVP honors. Dunston is the
Playoffs Game 4 bwin MVP following a clutch performance as his Reds
defeated Real Madrid 71-62 on Wednesday. Dunston tallied 13 points on
5-of-6 shooting plus 9 rebounds in compiling a performance index rating
of 25, which was the highest among players on winning teams in Game 4
of the playoffs. Dunstan, who was also Playoffs Game 3 bwin MVP, not
only led Olympiacos, but he was at his best when the game was on the
line. He scored 8 fourth-quarter points, including 6 in a row after
Madrid tied the game early in the quarter. Read more 
Maccabi
Electra Tel Aviv advanced to the 2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final
Four on Wednesday night with a spectacular performance on its home
court. Maccabi returned to the Final Four for the 12th time since the
format was chosen in 1988 - and for the first time since 2011 - by
downing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan 86-66 in front of a sellout crowd at
Nokia Arena in Game 4 of their playoffs series. Maccabi won the series
3-1. Ricky Hickman and Alex Tyus paced the winners with 16 points
apiece. Devin Smith added 13 while David Blu and Sofoklis Schortsanitis
each had 11 for Maccabi. Smith and Tyus each pulled down 9 rebounds for
the winners. Keith Langford led Milan with 28 points – all in the
opening three quarters. Daniel Hackett added 10 for the guests. Read
more 
Panathinaikos
Athens forced a decisive Game 5 in its best-of-five playoffs series
with CSKA Moscow with a 73-72 overtime victory on Wednesday night at
Olympic Sports Center in Athens. The hosts led by 9 late in the fourth
quarter, but Sonny Weems almost single-handedly carried CSKA back and
Vitaly Fridzon made a last-second shot with his foot on the three-point
line to force overtime. After a big Antonis Fotsis three tied it for
the hosts, Dimitris Diamantidis put the Greens up 2 from the line with
8.4 seconds left. CSKA had two last chances to tie it – or take the
lead – but Weems split free throws and then stepped out of bounds on an
inbounds play to leave the win for Athens. Jonas Maciulis paced the
winners with 15 points. Read more 
The
road to the Final Four continues with playoffs Game 4. Three teams -
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid - have the
opportunity to seal tickets to the Final Four if they win their games,
joining already-qualified FC Barcelona - the only team that swept its
best-of-five series this season. Panathinaikos Athens, Olympiacos
Piraeus and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan have their back against the wall.
Panathinaikos and Olympiacos showed resilience at home in Game 3 and
also host Game 4 against CSKA and Madrid, respectively. Milan needs to
beat Maccabi on the road in order to take the series to Game 5. Don't
miss the fun! Read more 
Maccabi
Electra Tel Aviv is one win away from a trip to the 2014 Final Four
after handing EA7 Emporio Armani Milan a 75-63 defeat at Nokia Arena on
Monday. The victory gives Maccabi a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five
playoffs series, with Game 4 and a chance to clinch its Final Four
return coming in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Maccabi took control of the
game in the second quarter, taking the lead for good with a
three-pointer from David Blu. With help from Ricky Hickman, the margin
reached double-figures at halftime, 39-29. After the break, Devin Smith
and Blu nailed three-pointers that extended the lead to 49-33 and Milan
never came closer than 10 points the rest of the way. The hosts closed
it out with a big fourth quarter from Alex Tyus, giving a packed Nokia
Arena a lot to cheer about. Read more 
Panathinaikos
Athens stayed alive in the 2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague by
edging CSKA Moscow 65-59 in Game 3 of their best-of-five series in the
Greek capital on Monday. CSKA still leads the series 2-1 but
Panathinaikos hosts Game 4 on Wednesday. Panathinaikos legend Dimitris
Diamantidis reached another milestone by breaking the Euroleague's
career assists record with 978. The previous record belonged to Theo
Papaloukas, who dished 977 assists throughout his career. Stephane
Lasme led Panathinaikos with 13 points. Zack Wright added 10 while
Diamantidis had 9 and 5 assists for Panathinaikos. Sonny Weems paced
CSKA with 14 points. Vitaly Fridzon added 10 for the guests, who were
outrebounded by 35-26. Read more 
Marcelinho
Huertas kept FC Barcelona in it till the closing minutes and Joey
Dorsey and Brad Oleson each came up with key defensive plays and free
throws to wrap up a 75-78 victory over Galatasaray Liv Hospital at Abdi
Ipekci Arena on Sunday, a sweep of their Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Playoffs series and the first ticket to the 2014 Final Four in Milan,
Italy. Barca will take part in its fifth Final Four in six seasons, but
it was not an easy task at all. Galatasaray led by as many as 10 in the
first quarter and despite Huertas’s heroics, a 9-1 run highlighted by a
Carlos Arroyo three gave the hosts a 70-68 lead inside of two minutes.
After Dorsey split free throws to give Barca the lead, he came up with
a brilliant block on Arroyo. Read more 
The
2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs continue with Game 3, as
four best-of-five playoff series change cities, moving to some of the
greatest venues in European basketball – Abdi Ipekci Arena, Peace and
Friendship Stadium, Nokia Arena and the Olympic Sports Center of Athens
(OAKA). In three of those sites, the visiting team comes in up 0-2, one
victory away from making it to the 2014 Final Four in Milan, Italy. The
hosts trailing in the series have to forget the fact that no team has
rebounded to win the last three games of a best-of-five series in
Euroleague Playoffs history. Get ready for great intensity and high
drama, as Game 3 starts with a rare Sunday clash in Istanbul, followed
with three more games Monday. Read more 
For
the first time all season, the bwin MVP award will be shared by two
players. Real Madrid center Ioannis Bourousis and EA7 Emporio Armani
Milan guard Curtis Jerrells each played pivotal roles in leading their
teams to victory. The two also tied for the highest performance index
ratings in Game 2 of the playoffs, which allows them to share Playoffs
Game 2 bwin MVP honors. Against his former team, Bourousis collected 19
points plus 10 rebounds to lead Los Blancos to an 82-77 victory over
two-time defending champion Olympiacos Piraeus. He shot 7 of 10 inside
the arc, 1 of 3 behind the three-point stripe and 2 for 3 from the free
throw line in addition to 1 assist and 3 drawn fouls. Read more 
EA7
Emporio Armani Milan bounced back from a tough overtime loss just 48
hours earlier, leading from start to finish to beat Maccabi Electra Tel
Aviv 91-77 in Game 2 of their best-of-five playoff series at the
Mediolanum Forum, site of 2014 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four.
Friday’s victory was the first for Milan in the Euroleague playoffs
this century, and tied the series at 1-1. With Daniel Hackett running
the offense, Milan used a 9-0 run late in the first quarter for a 25-15
lead, and behind 10 second-quarter points from Kristjan Kangur went
into halftime up 47-34. After the break, Curtis Jerrells took over,
pacing the hosts to an 18-point margin in the fourth quarter, as there
was no comeback for Maccabi this time. Milan again had six scorers in
double figures. Read more 
CSKA
Moscow got plenty of offense from Sonny Weems and plenty of defense
from everyone else in routing Panathinaikos Athens 77-51 Friday to take
a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five playoffs series. The result
marked not only the lowest-scoring effort for the Greens in a
Euroleague game, but the 26-point difference was the worst margin of
defeat the club had ever suffered in a playoffs game. Weems paced CSKA
with 23 points, while Vladimir Micov netted 12 points, Nenad Krstic 10
and Victor Khryapa stood out with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. CSKA
outshot Panathinaikos from every range and registered two and a half
times as many assists (20-8). Panathinaikos played CSKA close early;
the game was tied at 19-19 late in the opening quarter. Read more 
FC
Barcelona moved within one victory of returning to the Final Four after
downing Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 84-63 at Palau Blaugrana on
Friday night. Barcelona now holds a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five
playoffs series, which moves to Istanbul for Game 3 and, if necessary,
Game 4. A potential decisive Game 5 would be played again in Barcelona.
Brad Oleson and Alex Abrines combined for 27 points on perfect shooting
off the bench to pace the winners. Olseon scored 14 with a pair of
triple, Abrines netted 13 with 3 threes. Marcelinho Huertas added 12
points and 6 assists, Ante Tomic totaled 11 points and 8 rebounds and
Kostas Papanikolaou scored 10 for Barcelona, whose signature star Juan
Carlos Navarro left the game in the first quarter due to a leg problem.
Read more 
After
the best-of-five playoffs opened with two blowouts and two overtime
thrillers, Game 2 comes right back at you on Thursday and Friday. It
goes without saying, that the Game 1 winners will look to put
near-locks on their series with second consecutive wins: no team has
rebounded to win the last three games of a best-of-five series in
playoffs history. Just the same, Game 1 losers will be comforted to
know that three seasons ago, 0-1 playoff teams were in the majority in
the majority making it to the Final Four, so nothing is over yet. Get
ready for 48 hours of high drama with two games on Thursday and two
more Friday, ending with the Game of the Week between EA7 Emporio
Armani Milan and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv at 20:45 on Friday. Read more
In
a rematch of the last year’s Euroleague title game, Real Madrid never
stopped running on its home floor, overcoming a strong charge from
reigning champion Olympiacos Piraeus before pulling away to an 88-71
decision in Game 1 of their best-of-five playoff series. Game 2
scheduled for Thursday night in the Spanish capital, before the series
moves to Piraeus next week. Madrid stormed out of the gates, using
defense to get fastbreaks and a 27-12 lead after the first quarter.
Reminiscent of that title game a year ago, however, Olympiacos rallied
in the second quarter behind the Vassilis Spanoulis to tie the score at
35-35 and 40-40, but the Reds never regained the lead. A strong finish
from Sergio Rodriguez gave the hosts a 48-41 halftime lead, before Rudy
Fernandez took over after the break, boosting the difference to 68-51
as Madrid cruised to victory in the final quarter. Read more 
FC
Barcelona struck first in its best-of-five playoffs series by downing
Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul 88-61 in Game 1 at home on Tuesday.
Barcelona has a 1-0 lead in the series, which will resume with Game 2
also at Palau Blaugrana on Thursday. Barcelona was behind throughout
the first half, but got its first lead shortly after Galatasaray star
Carlos Arroyo left the game injured right before halftime. In the
second half, the hosts surged behind the three-point shooting of Jacob
Pullen, Bostjan Nachbar and Brad Oleson to win easily. Nachbar led
Barcelona with 19 points. He was followed by four more double-digit
scorers: Juan Carlos Navarro with 12 points, Pullen and Olseon with 11
each, and Ante Tomic with 10. Read more 
Here
come the 2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs! All eight teams
that survived the Top 16 just a few days ago now battle in five-game
series for a spot in the Final Four. All four teams of last season's
Final Four teams - CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and defending
champion Olympiacos Piraeus - are back, but at most three of them will
return because the finalists from London, Madrid and Olympiacos, face
each other. Four other teams - former Euroleague champions
Panathinaikos Athens, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv and EA7 Emporio Armani,
as well as Galatasaray Liv Hospital istanbul, which battled injuries to
make its playoffs debut - are gearing up to open their own way to the
big dance. Read more 
EA7
Emporio Armani Milan and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv meet again. The last
time that happened at the higher stages of the Euroleague season, they
faced each other in the 1987 and 1988 finals, both of which Milan won.
Now, they will battle for a Final Four spot. Maccabi has been extremely
dangerous on the road this season, winning seven games outside Nokia
Arena. It also features 10 players with previous playoffs experience,
four of whom have been to the Final Four and one champion, David Blu.
Maccabi has made it to the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons.
Milan arrives to the playoffs for the first time since the format came
back in 2004-05. Read more 
Despite
combining for 13 playoffs appearances since since 2005, CSKA Moscow and
Panathinaikos Athens face each other in this phase for the first time
ever, which adds even more anticipation to this historic showdown. CSKA
and Panathinaikos are six-time Euroleague champions and faced each
other in the 2007 and 2009 title games, which the Greens won in Athens
and Berlin, respectively. CSKA has won all of its eight playoffs series
since 2005 and can get to the Final Four for the 11th time in 12 years.
Panathinaikos has won five of its seven playoffs since 2005, with its
only two defeats coming in the decisive third or fifth games.Read more 
FC
Barcelona, one of the most consistent teams in Euroleague playoffs
history, takes on a newcomer to this stage, Galatasaray Liv Hospital
Istanbul, in a best-of-five showdown to reach the Final Four. Barcelona
has a 5-3 record of reaching the Final Four since the playoffs format
came to the Euroleague back in 2004-05. Galatasaray is not your
conventional playoffs newcomer, considering that as many as 10 of its
players have previous playoffs experience, almost as many as 11 for
Barcelona. After winning its first 12 games of the Top 16 and extending
its record winning streak in that phase to 26, Barcelona suddenly
suffering back-to-back defeats by 28 points on the road and 13 at home
right before the playoffs. Read more 
A
rematch of last season's Turkish Airlines Euroleague final will not be
settled by Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus in one game, but rather a
best-of-five series. Olympiacos looks for its fifth Final Four
appearance in six years in pursuit of a truly historical three-peat,
something that only ASK Riga (1958-60) and Split (1989-91) did in the
past. Madrid, the winningest team in the competition with eight
continental titles, is aiming for a third Final Four appearance in four
seasons - and for its first Euroleague title since 1995. As always,
Olympiacos will rely on reigning Euroleague MVP Vassilis Spanoulis and
its great team spirit to make things happen despite a home-court
disadvantage in the series. Read more 
All
the stations on the road to Milan are now known. Friday’s games
completed the Top 16 and set the stage for the 2014 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Playoffs. Four-mouth-watering series tip off this week
featuring seven former champions – including the last five Euroleague
winners! – and one newcomer. In fact, three of the series are repeats
of previous Euroleague title games! The playoffs begin in Spain, where
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, will host their series
openers on Tuesday. Barcelona, which won Top 16 Group E, will square
off against Galatasaray Liv Hospital, which has reached this stage of
the competition for the first time. Madrid meets two-time defending
champions Olympiacos Piraeus in a rematch of last season’s title game
in London. They also met in the 1995 championship game, which Madrid
won in Zaragoza. Read more 
