EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce secured home-court advantage in the playoffs, while Panathinaikos’ Nick Calathes set a new season record in assists in his side’s close shave against Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv.
Fenerbahce’s relatively easy 80-63 win on the road over Crvena Zvezda secured their home-court position in the post-season as Bobby Dixon set the tone with a game-high 25 points including seven triples in the win.
A simple pass from Nick Calathes that led to a Mike James three-pointer broke a season record in assists and it led to Panathinaikos recording a narrow 76-75 win over Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv.
Calathes’ second assist of the night passed the 202 mark for the season, which is a EuroLeague record, and later on, James sealed the win with a basket inside with 5.8 seconds left.
Maccabi’s loss handed Zalgiris their first ever playoff place in the new EuroLeague era. The Lithuanian’s joy was short-lived though as they went down 88-81 away to Real Madrid.
Veteran Felipe Reyes shot 6/7 from the field for a team-high 16 points.
In an entertaining clash of two previously-eliminated teams, Valencia went on the road and held off Olimpia Milano 93-89.
Erick Green netted 18 points for the winners.
