By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The new EuroLeague season began with two games decided in the final seconds.
Dubai came from behind to beat Real Madrid 78-77. Filip Petrusev stopped Real’s final possession with excellent defense and secured the win for the home team.
Dwayne Bacon led Dubai with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists, while McKinley Wright scored 12. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Theo Maledon scored 11 points each for Real, while Mikael Jantunen and Damian Jones added 10 apiece.
The game between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Bayern Munich was just as close. Johannes Voigtmann hit the decisive three-pointer for an 86-84 Bayern win after Hapoel failed to score on its final possessions.
Andreas Obst led Bayern with 19 points, Johannes Thiemann added 15, Justinian Jessup scored 11 and Voigtmann finished with 10. Dan Oturu had 20 points and 12 rebounds for Hapoel. Vasilije Micic scored 14, Jacob Toppin and Antonio Blakeney added 11 each, while Elijah Bryant had 10.
Valanciunas powers Zalgiris in Belgrade
Zalgiris Kaunas also opened the season with a road win, beating Crvena Zvezda 83-77 in Belgrade. Jonas Valanciunas marked his first EuroLeague appearance since the 2010-11 season with 15 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a team-high 24 PIR.
Nigel Williams-Goss added 14 points and six assists, Carsen Edwards scored 13, while Azuolas Tubelis recorded 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Sterling Brown also finished with 10 points.
In Athens, Zeljko Obradovic received a huge ovation on his return to Panathinaikos before his team cruised past Paris 91-72.
Sylvain Francisco led the Greens with 18 points, Mathias Lessort added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Guerschon Yabusele scored 13. Dinos Mitoglou finished with 11 and Lefteris Mantzoukas with 10 points. Tyrick Etienne led Paris with 17 points, while Nadir Hifi and Jared Rhoden added 11 each.
Olympiacos dominate as Barcelona and ASVEL impress
Defending champion Olympiacos made a dominant start in Vitoria, beating Baskonia 106-89. Tyler Dorsey led the way with 25 points, while reigning MVP Sasha Vezenkov added 22 points and five rebounds.
Jean Montero recorded 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, Tyrique Jones finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Tyson Ward added 11. AJ Lawson led Baskonia with 20 points, followed by Tadas Sedekerskis with 15.
Barcelona overcame its summer changes and injury problems to beat Anadolu Efes 89-82 at Palau Blaugrana. Dario Brizuela scored 20 points, Kevin Punter added 19, while Olek Balcerowski, Umoja Gibson and Justin Robinson finished with 10 each.
Mike James led Efes with 22 points, Dario Saric scored 17 on his EuroLeague return and Matthew Strazel added 12.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night came from ASVEL. After being forced to rebuild its roster twice during the summer, the French side defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 84-74.
NBA veteran Jae Crowder led ASVEL with 19 points, Patty Mills scored 15, Dada Fodzo Mark Owen added 14 and David Lighty finished with 10. Jaylen Hoard scored 15 points for Maccabi, while Yam Madar recorded 13 points and eight assists. Roman Sorkin also scored 13.
EuroLeague Round 1
Thursday, September 24
Dubai – Real Madrid 78-77
Hapoel Tel Aviv – Bayern Munich 84-86
Crvena zvezda – Žalgiris 77-83
Panathinaikos – Paris Basketball 91-72
Baskonia – Olympiacos 89-106
Barcelona – Anadolu Efes 89-82
ASVEL – Maccabi Tel Aviv 84-74
Friday, September 25
Beşiktaş – Valencia
Fenerbahçe – Virtus Bologna
Partizan – Olimpia Milano
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