By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
If Baskonia can still qualify for the EuroLeague playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season, huge credit has to be given to Darius Thompson, who is stealing the show in his first-ever EuroLeague season in the Basque Country.
Recording his second-best career PIR with 36, the former Lokomotiv Kuban point guard had his 6th double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 assists, while also adding 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 6 fouls drawn. He shot 7/11 from two and 6/8 at the line.
“It’s a great win. I’m glad we got the win for our fans. Let’s keep moving forward and looking forward to the next game. I think, as a team, we just like to play fast. Our rhythm, our pace, if shots are going in, we are capable to score a lot of points. So tonight, we scored a lot of points, but have to get a little better on the defensive end”, he said following the season-high 120-100 win against ASVEL in Round 33.
He was followed by Facundo Campazzo and Nigel Hayes-Davis, who respectively had 33 and 32 of PIR. The Argentinian point guard had 20 points, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 3 rebounds in Crvena Zvezda‘s 87-79 win against Olympiacos, while the American forward was Fenerbahce‘s highest scorer with 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, playing all 40 minutes in the 103-86 Istanbul derby win against Anadolu Efes.
Under Joan Peñarroya, the 27-year-old guard has been averaging 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, shooting 56.1% from two, 39.4% from three, and 76.5% at the line. It’s the second time he earned the MVP Round award following this year’s Round 21.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague