Embed from Getty Images

Galatasaray are through to the Top 16 from Group D after they beat Olympiacos 79-74 at an empty Abdi Ipecki Arena due to the incident that involved a Red Star being fatally stabbed outside the arena nearly a month ago.

The win, coupled with Neptunas’ 103-65 thrashing at Valencia means that Galatasaray joins Olympiacos, Red Star Belgrade and Laboral Kutxa in the Top 16 from Group D as Neptunas joins Valencia in the Last 32 of the Eurocup.

Carlos Arroyo led Galatasaray with 24 points in the win as his side finished with a 4-6 record but with the crucial head-to-head over Neptunas. Olympiacos finish Group D top on an 8-2 mark.

“I am very happy, of course. It is a historical and miracle result for us with this roster,” Galatasaray coach Ergin Ataman said. “So now, I think that our board and president will help us to build a team again for the Top 16. We will try to be as successful as last year and make it to the playoffs.

“Congratulations to all my players, they had a great effort tonight. This is a big club, one of the best in Europe. I think that our fans will help the club make an effort and we will get two more players for the Top 16. We will fight against everybody.”

One of Neptunas’ main weaknesses turned out to be their downfall and that was playing away from Klaipeda. They finish 0-5 away from the Svyturio Arena and just when they needed something in that final game, they instead fall to their heaviest loss to a team that finished rock bottom.

Valencia stormed ahead 28-17 after one, and never looked back as they recorded their biggest ever Euroleague victory as they move on to the Last 32 of the Eurocup.

Luke Harangody led seven Valencia scorers in double figures with 20 points and 8 rebounds.

In Group A, Real Madrid finished on top of the standings after beating Anadolu Efes 90-70 in the Spanish capital.

After a reasonably tight affair, the hosts looked to pull away in the third and they had built a 69-61 lead headed to the final period and from there, they took over. A 17-1 tear in the final ten minutes was enough to give Real breathing space and top spot.

Ioannis Bourousis led six Madrid scorers in double digits with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Rudy Fernandez added 17 points, Felipe Reyes had 12 while K.C. Rivers, Gustavo Ayon and Jaycee Carroll each got 10.

“We spoke before the game and tried to play inside more often because Efes tries to switch in all pick-and-rolls, so we had to play without big guys inside to attack them,” Bourousis said. “That’s what happened and we won the game in the second half. Our Top 16 group will be a tough one. We will start thinking about it soon.”

Linas Kleiza hit 29 points including a club-record 8 three-pointers as EA7 Milano beat PGE Turow 101-96 in Poland.

The Italian champions finish the regular season with a 5-5 record while Turow end with a 1-9 record and will continue its European adventure in the Last 32 of the Eurocup.

Euroleague champions Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv finished Group B in second spot after downing Unicaja Malaga 81-73 at the Nokia Arena.

Devin Smith’s impressive haul of 22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 big three-pointers late in the fourth quarter was key to Maccabi’s success, while Jeremy Pargo collected 16 points as well.

“It was the last game and it was important for us to win,” said Maccabi coach Guy Goodes. “We did a good [job] in the [regular season]. We won some difficult games away from home, but of course it is going to be a completely different story in the Top 16.”

Jayson Granger led a tame Malaga effort with 11 points as they finish 4-6, still good enough for qualification.

CSKA Moscow advance to the Top 16 from Group B as the only unbeaten side after topping Limoges 88-56.

The Muscovites hit 14 three-pointers and never trailed in their latest victory. Vitaly Fridzon led CSKA with 19 points as they played without Sonny Weems and Milos Teodosic. Limoges finishes 2-8 and will continue in the Last 32 of the Eurocup.