In a captivating clash of EuroLeague titans, Baskonia (18-16) emerged victorious over Virtus (17-17) with a thrilling 91-95 win, securing the all-important eighth place in the standings and earning a spot in the upcoming Play-In Showdown.
Despite facing a 13-point deficit in the second quarter, Baskonia mounted a comeback fueled by standout performances from Markus Howard (34 points), Codi Miller-McIntyre (16 points), and Vanja Marinkovic (17 points).
Chima Moneke also made a significant impact with 12 points, further solidifying Baskonia’s offensive firepower and depth on the court.
Despite a valiant effort from Virtus, led by Iffe Lundberg with 18 points and Marco Belinelli with 15, they were unable to withstand Baskonia’s relentless pressure and offensive onslaught.
Daniel Hackett’s 11 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds, along with Jordan Mickey’s 10 points, were not enough to lift Virtus to victory as they suffered their seventh straight loss to finish the regular season in 10th place.
With this crucial victory, Baskonia clinches the eighth place in the standings, setting the stage for a clash against Maccabi in the upcoming Play-In Showdown. Meanwhile, Virtus will meet Anadolu Efes in a do-or-die matchup.