Darius Thompson claims EuroLeague Round 21 MVP award / News - Basketnews.com

Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz guard Darius Thompson claimed EuroLeague Round 21 MVP award after 19 points, 16 assists, and 36 PIR performance in a win against Anadolu Efes.

Credit: Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Darius Thompsonstarred for Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in a thrilling 114-111 overtime win against two-time defending Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champ Anadolu Efes Istanbul, which has seen him pick up his first-ever MVP of the Round honor.

3-pointers this season

37%11,0Points made:11,0Accuracy:37,4%Place in standings:1Record max:19Record min:6Most made 3FGs:Markus HowardTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Thompson, a EuroLeague rookie, had a Baskonia season-high PIR of 36, the best in Round 21. His 16 assists were a club record and the league's highest total in almost two years.

Thompson also scored 19 points, making 3-of-6 two-pointers and 2-of-5 threes, in addition to pulling down 6 rebounds and recording a victory-sealing block.

This is the third MVP award won by a Baskonia player this season.

The round's second-best PIR of 33 was shared by three players, and it was a career-high for each of them:Mathew Costelloof Baskonia,Gabriel Deckof Real Madrid, andRoman Sorkinof Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Costello scored a career-best 33 points, making 6-of-8 two-pointers and 5-of-8 three-pointers, and grabbed 5 rebounds in a win over Efes.

Deck led Real in a 91-86 overtime El Clasico win against FC Barcelona, scoring a game-high 23 points. He made 6-of-7 two-point shots and 8-of-8 free throws on the night. Deck also had 7 rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Sorkin posted 23 points on 9-for-11 two-point shooting and 9 rebounds in just over 20 minutes on the floor during Maccabi's 95-89 loss against Olympiacos Piraeus.

Rounding out the list of top performers in Round 21 is Nando De Colo of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and Maodo Lo of ALBA Berlin, both of whom had a PIR of 30.

De Colo recorded 26 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds in a win over his former team, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, while Lo scored 25 points and had 3 rebounds in a loss against Valencia Basket.

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