EuroLeague: Napier, Smith debut for new teams, Trinchieri gets 1st win / News - Basketnews.com

Five matches took place on the first day of the first double week of 2024, while multiple players debuted for their new EuroLeague teams in Round 18.

Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic Credit Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic

Following the start of a new year, a new EuroLeague round approaches with yet another double week.

Players who transfer from one EuroLeague team to another are eligible to play starting in Round 18. As such, multiple familiar names made their debuts on Tuesday.

To start the evening, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul hosted Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in hopes of continuing their unbeaten run under the new head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. However, the Serbian club battled back from being down 11 in the third quarter and registered just their second away win this season, handing Saras his first loss.

Just 15 minutes later, Zalgiris Kaunas welcomed ALBA Berlin in the first Andrea Trinchieri's game as the Lithuanian team's head coach. The hosts survived a scare in the last minutes and snapped a 6-game losing streak. After the game, Trinchieri hosted a lengthy press conference, which he followed by playing a song to the media.

Later on, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv played against AS Monaco in Belgrade. In what was supposed to be a tight battle, Maccabi controlled the game throughout and captured an easy victory.

At the same time, Olympiacos Piraeus hosted EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, where Shabazz Napier played his first game for the Italian team in the EuroLeague this season. Napier was the highest scorer on his team, but it wasn't enough to get a win.

To finish the evening, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade welcomed LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne amidst rumors about Gianmarco Pozzecco's uncertain situation in the French club. The black-and-whites were up by as much as 31 points at one point of the game, and ultimately cruised to a 13-point win.

All EuroLeague matches are broadcast onEuroLeague TV.

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Completed matches:

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 76:85 Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

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Zalgiris Kaunas 77:71 ALBA Berlin

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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 93:83 AS Monaco

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Olympiacos Piraeus 79:74 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

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Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 90:77 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

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