With four minutes remaining in Bologna, Besiktas trailed by 13 points.
Over the past 19 years, teams had trailed by at least 13 points with four minutes remaining on 2,377 occasions. Only four had come back to win.
Make that five.
A chaotic finish, a game-winning three from Morgan, and somehow Dusan Alimpijevic’s Besiktas had beaten Virtus 103–101.
The previous four? Baskonia against Cibona in 2010, Bamberg against Valencia in 2017, Barcelona against UNICS in 2021 and, most recently, Zalgiris in Milan in October 2024.
As if we needed another reminder that basketball is the greatest sport in the world…
So, what else stood out during the EuroLeague double-game week?
Anyone Can Beat Anyone – Except Real Madrid?
The old saying that anyone can beat anyone in the EuroLeague tends to ring truest during double-game weeks.
Anadolu Efes provided the perfect illustration this time around. First, they were demolished 118–88 by Hapoel. Then, just a couple of days later, they beat Panathinaikos 83–68.
Anyone can beat anyone, that is – except Real Madrid, apparently.
Six wins in a row. Everyone playing, everyone contributing, everyone smiling.
Martinez’s team look unstoppable at the moment, with Theo Maledon leading the way. Baskonia and Fenerbahce were their latest victims.
Olympiacos and Panathinaikos Can’t Stop Shopping
What do Olympiacos and Panathinaikos do when they’re missing a player? They hit the transfer market.
And sometimes, they don’t even need an excuse.
Following Tyler Dorsey’s suspension and Jean Montero’s injury – a major loss for the EuroLeague – John Konchar has been brought in. And the shopping might not be over.
Panathinaikos, meanwhile, already have what many consider a dream team. But that doesn’t mean they’re finished adding pieces.
Obradovic wants Aliou Diarra, one of the pleasant surprises at Virtus. Unless, of course, another center who didn’t make the cut in the NBA arrives first.
Two Centuries for Crvena Zvezda
One hundred points against Maccabi. Another 103 against Bayern.
Crvena Zvezda knocked down 31 three-pointers across the two games and, more importantly, secured two victories they badly needed before what is probably the toughest run of fixtures in the competition – not just for Zvezda, but for anyone.
Seven of their next eight EuroLeague games will be on the road.
First come Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Olimpia Milano and Barcelona. Then a home game against Virtus, followed by three more trips – Fenerbahce, Valencia and Panathinaikos.
Numbers That Caught the Eye
– Nadir Hifi: A perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line against Dubai, followed by 9-of-10 against Maccabi. Nineteen fouls drawn in two games. And the number that matters most to Paris – two wins.
– Antonio Blakeney: Once he gets going, stopping him is no easy task. Blakeney, arguably the owner of the prettiest jump shot in the EuroLeague, reminded everyone of that by hitting eight of his nine three-point attempts in Hapoel’s victory over Efes.
– Sylvain Francisco: A double-game week to forget: 1-of-5 on two-pointers, 2-of-13 from deep. The next game can’t come soon enough.
– Jonas Valanciunas: Almost two double-doubles in one week – 17 points and 11 rebounds against Virtus, followed by 16 points and eight rebounds against Partizan.
– Lonnie Walker: Seven three-pointers on 11 attempts in Besiktas’ remarkable comeback, finishing with 30 points.
– Carlik Jones: It’s not often that a team’s best player finishes with its worst plus-minus, but in Partizan’s 82–75 defeat to ASVEL, the team was outscored by 15 points with Jones on the floor.
– Nikola Mirotic: Nobody seems to be talking much about Nikola Mirotic, but his contribution to Valencia’s excellent start has been substantial. Through nine rounds, he’s averaging 13 points and 3.1 rebounds in just 16 and a half minutes per game.
