Nikola Milutinov claims Round 20 MVP award / News - Basketnews.com

Olympiacos Piraeus big man Nikola Milutinov received Round 20 MVP honors after a tremendous performance against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou/GettyImages Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/GettyImages

Olympiacos Piraeus needed to get back to winning ways in Round 22 and it did just that with an 89-72 win over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, which featured a historic performance from this week’s MVP of the Round,Nikola Milutinov.

Nikola Milutinov

MIN:19.7PTS:8.7 (68.52%)REB:5.75As:0.85ST:0.3BL:0.75TO:1.1GM:20ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

The Serbian center etched his name into the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's history books with his display against Maccabi, as he finished the game with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Notably, Milutinov became just the fourth player this century – and the first since March 2007 – to record a double-double of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

He made 8-of-13 two-point shots and 4-of-5 free throws, in addition to recording 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 6 drawn fouls. Milutinov's PIR of 40 was the highest of any player in Round 22, earning him the eighth MVP of the Round honor of his career and his second this season.

Mike Jamesof AS Monaco had the second-best PIR in this round, 32, as his team beat league leader Real Madrid 98-74. The 33-year-old James had an incredible all-round performance, posting 15 points, 6 rebounds, 12 assists, 5 steals and drawing 3 fouls.

Coming in third spot isDevon Hall, whose 30 PIR couldn't prevent EA7 Emporio Armani Milan from falling 84-72 at Valencia Basket. Hall, like James, did a bit of everything for his team, amassing 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 [assists], 2 steals and 5 drawn fouls.

Three players round out the list of best performers in Round 22, as they all had a 29 PIR:Rodrigue Beauboisof Anadolu Efes Istanbul,Daniel Hackettof Virtus Segafredo Bologna andChris Jonesof Valencia. Beaubois had 21 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in a 98-74 win against FC Barcelona; Hackett recorded 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in a 73-63 triumph over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne; and Jones amassed 15 points, 5 rebounds and 6 rebounds against Milan.

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