By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Simon powered Efes to a 93-74 home win over Herbalife Gran Canaria, accumulating a performance index rating of 34, the second best of his seven EuroLeague seasons and the highest of any player this round. Simon set a new career-high by scoring 25 points, making 5 three-pointers on only one miss. He had a near-perfect shooting night, also making 3-of-3 two-point shots and 4-of-4 free throws, while also posting 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 5 drawn fouls.
This is Simon’s second MVP of the Round honor, five years after his first. Two players accumulated a PIR of 28, the second highest of this round: Khimki Moscow Region big man Jordan Mickey and AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas. In an important 90-98 road win victory over Buducnost Voli Podgorica, Mickey starred with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Kuzminskas bagged 19 points plus 8 rebounds in a 90-78 win over Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul. Nicolo Melli of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul claimed the next best index rating, 27, in an 85-66 win over Panathinaikos OPAP Athens which clinched Fenerbahce’s playoffs berth. Melli collected 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Rounding out the list of top performers is a pair of Buducnost players, center Goga Bitadze and point guard Norris Cole, who each had PIRs of 25 in a loss against Khimki. Bitadze posted 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Cole had 20 points, a career-high 11 assists and 2 rebounds.
Source: EuroLeague