Not only were swingmen Mario Hezonja and Darrun Hilliard their respective teams' leading scorers in Round 2, but the two will go head-to-head in Round 3. Both are top-level scorers with similar skills.

Marquee matchup: Mario Hezonja vs. Darrun Hilliard

Hezonja contributes more in rebounding than his counterpart with 4.5 per game this season, while Hilliard has chipped in 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals – plus 3.5 turnovers – per game. Each also tends to draw a lot of fouls due to their attacking nature and if either gets the other in early foul trouble, it could have a significant impact on the outcome. While this will be the first time the two square off, Hezonja scored 14 for Panathinaikos OPAP Athens against Bayern last season. Hilliard has yet to face UNICS.

The Take: UNICS Kazan vs. FC Bayern Munich

### High-Gravity Matchups
In a rematch of last spring's semifinal opener at the Final Four, CSKA Moscow earned a hard-fought 100-96 victory over reigning champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul on the road in Sinan Erdem Sports Hall to avenge their 89-86 loss five months ago in Cologne. The difference for CSKA was apparent in what wound up being an equally competitive contest. Scoring around 1.05 points per possession in half-court situations in both games, CSKA tallied 15 points over 8 transition possessions on Friday compared to just 7 points over 4 such possessions back in May. Doing a better job turning defense into offense, CSKA's opportunism switching ends off steals and creating advantages off rebounds ultimately tipped the scales in its favor to stave off a comeback effort sparked by Vasilije Micic's 32 points and 7-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc for Efes.

### Barcelona's fearsome fivesome
While Efes fell to 0-2 with that loss, the champions' resume from last season offers plenty of reasons not to panic. They set the EuroLeague standard on the offensive end and came around defensively in the second half of the season to close out one of the most competitive seasons in league history as the titleholders. While Efes has stumbled early, last season's runner-up FC Barcelona has found itself on the opposite end of the spectrum. Finishing the 2020-21 regular season with the best record and top point differential, Barca has taken a head-start on achieving both feats again this year, thanks in large part to a five-man unit that is establishing itself as the league's one watch through two rounds.

Last year, the four-man unit of Nick Calathes, Cory Higgins, Pierre Oriola and Alex Abrines were on the floor for only 12% of Barcelona's possessions but produced a +79-point differential over the course of the season. That was a higher mark than 12 entire teams and one of the top such point differentials for one unit in recent history. It is still too early to buy into any surefire trends this season, but as the graphic above illustrates, the five-man group of Calathes, Higgins, Nigel Hayes-Davis, Nikola Mirotic and Brandon Davies is already a +21 through two games.

Given the continuity between these groups – indeed, Mirotic and Davies filled a lot of the wildcard minutes as the fifth player in last year's unit – it is not particularly surprising that Barcelona has been able to lean on a familiar recipe for success. However, with this group being on the floor for 27% of all Barca's possessions so far, it is worth wondering if this lineup's early dominance and heavy usage are a sign of things to come for Sarunas Jasikevicius's club and how he will adjust his rotation when Alex Abrines returns from injury.

### Looking ahead to Round 3
Conveniently, Barcelona will host the team currently sitting second in the standings, Olympiacos Piraeus, in Round 3. Allowing opponents to score just 0.72 points per possession, top-ranked among all teams through two rounds, Olympiacos has relied on a strong ability to get stops in taking home wins against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Real Madrid. Going on the road now against Barcelona's lineup of doom, the Olympiacos defense will be put to the test again. It will be particularly interesting to see how Greek powerhouse approaches guarding Nikola Mirotic, who is coming off one of the most efficient individual offensive seasons in EuroLeague history and has scored an absurd 33 points over only 16 possessions to start the 2021-22 campaign.

It only took only two rounds for a marquee matchup to deliver a thriller and for one five-man lineup to emerge as a difference-maker.

Stats Review: Barca's lineup of doom

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens added another weapon to its backcourt on Sunday by signing Yogi Ferrell for the remainder of the season. 

Greens ink playmaker Ferrell

Panathinaikos OPAP Athens added another weapon to its backcourt on Sunday by signing Yogi Ferrell for the remainder of the season. Ferrell (1.83 meters, 28 years old) has spent the past five seasons in the NBA, where he played for Brooklyn, Dallas, Cleveland, Sacramento and Los Angeles Clippers. For his career he averaged 7.7 points and 2.3 assists in 259 games. Ferrell also spent time in the G-League with Long Island and Salt Lake City. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2017. Ferrell will make his European basketball debut with Panathinaikos.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is Sunday a good day to announce a point guard?🤔<br><br>Sure, why not?<br><br>Welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/YogiFerrell11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YogiFerrell11</a> ☘<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobc?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/panathinaikosbcopap?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#panathinaikosbcopap</a> <a href="https://t.co/OepS03BJDP">pic.twitter.com/OepS03BJDP</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/paobcgr/status/1447147543121510400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So what does this 37 represent? The combined number of points that Chris Jones and Elie Okobo have scored in both of the team’s wins.

A week after Okobo poured in 23 points and Jones had 14 in an opening night victory over Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 1, on Friday night it was Jones's turn to lead the scoring with 24 points while Okobo pitched in 13 points in ASVEL’s 67-71 road victory over ALBA Berlin.

"Elie Okobo and Chris Jones are the top two choices to run the backcourt this year in ASVEL. I have full confidence in them," Parker said after the Zalgiris game.

Both guards talked after that game about the bond that is forming between them, and it showed again in Round 2 in the German capital. They both know how to take games over for significant stretches, demonstrated when Okobo scored 6 straight points in a big 0-13 run which turned ALBA’s 24-17 lead into a 24-30 ASVEL advantage.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Jones from way downtown with the dagger three 💦🗡️<a href="https://twitter.com/albaberlin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@albaberlin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7DAYSMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7DAYSMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://t.co/ag2V9rnu7S">pic.twitter.com/ag2V9rnu7S</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1446566017900154887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And it was Jones who shined in the fourth quarter. His two layups pushed the lead out to 43-57 early in the final frame. ALBA tried to come back and twice got the deficit to 7 points, only for Jones to drain three-pointers each time. The host still refused to give up and the gap was down to 6 points with just more than 2 minutes left when Jones knocked down another long three-pointer. And he then finished off the game for good with 2 free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining.

"We believe in each other. We have confidence. We’re trying to build something right now," said Jones after the road win.

To this point, ASVEL’s guards have built a pretty strong connection which is showing to be the key to the team’s undefeated start. While both can light up the scoreboard in bunches, it might be a big ask for Jones and Okobo to combine for 37 points each game. But it has worked out that way so far. Next up? No less than reigning champion and so far winless Anadolu Efes Istanbul, at home on Tuesday.

The number 37 has been a special one for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne so far this season. It signifies a major new trust that head coach TJ Parker has quickly developed, and has helped the French club surge to a 2-0 record to start the season.

Chris Jones and Elie Okobo's special 37 connection

ALBA Berlin v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2021-10-08T18:00:00.000Z)

Look back at all the action in the regular season Round 2 by checking out its best photos. Don't miss it!

Cory Higgins and Nick Weiler-Babb - FC Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona

Tornike Shengelia - Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. CSKA Moscow

Mathias Lessort - Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

Simone Fontecchio with Devon Hall  - Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. AX Armani Exchange Milan

Oscar Da Silva and Charles Kahudi - ALBA Berlin vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

Donta Hall - UNICS Kazan vs. AS Monaco 

Bryant Dunston - Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. CSKA Moscow

Kostas Sloukas - Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Real Madrid

Joffrey Lauvergne - Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Zenit St Petersburg

Nemanja Nedovic - Panathinaikos OPAP Athens vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Top 10 Photos, Regular Season Round 2

Zalgiris Kaunas announced on Saturday that veteran center Joffrey Lauvergne wil be out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Zalgiris loses big man Lauvergne to injury


A day after announcing a change on the bench, Zalgiris Kaunas has learned on Saturday that veteran center Joffrey Lauvergne wil be out for the foreseeable future with a shoulder injury. Lauvergne (2.11 meters, 30 years old) had put up 8.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game over the first two rounds in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, both of which Zalgiris lost. He hurt his right shoulder during the second of those, at home against Zenit St Petersburg, colliding with an opponent shortly after halftime. He returned to the court but could not continue, and subsequent tests have put his recovery time at four to six weeks.  

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tough news, as Zalgiris loses Joffrey Lauvergne for the foreseeable future. Get well, <a href="https://twitter.com/1JOLOLO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1JOLOLO</a>! ❤️‍🩹<br><br>📰: <a href="https://t.co/Bu0YPSHyep">https://t.co/Bu0YPSHyep</a> <a href="https://t.co/5njL6EVjkr">pic.twitter.com/5njL6EVjkr</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1446853207414788100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

Lauvergne has been a fulltime starter since arriving to the club in the summer of 2020, averaging 10.7 points, a team-high 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season, when he ranked as the competition's eighth-best rebounder. 


Zalgiris Kaunas announced on Saturday that veteran center Joffrey Lauvergne wil be out for up to six weeks with a shoulder injury.


Zalgiris Kaunas v Zenit St Petersburg (2021-10-07T17:00:00.000Z)

AX Armani Exchange Milan stayed undefeated by downing Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 64-78 in front of over 7,000 fans at Buesa Arena on Friday. Milan improved to 2-0 while Baskonia dropped to 0-2. Malcolm Delaney led the winners with 13 points, Shavon Shields and Devon Hall added 12 points apiece while Nicolo Melli had 10 for Milan. 

Milan shows Baskonia no mercy, 64-78

Shields also contributed 10 rebounds for a double-double. Simone Fontecchio led Baskonia with 16 points. Wade Baldwin and Rokas Giedraitis each added 14 while Steven Enoch had 10 for the hosts. Melli took over early in the game and Hall struck twice from beyond the arc to help Milan get a 17-19 lead after 10 minutes. Delaney and Hall fueled a 0-10 run which boosted the guests' margin to 30-38 at halftime. Nothing changed after the break, as Milan boosted its margin to 58-68 at the end of the third quarter and then again to 51-66 with under 7 minutes left, enough to seal the outcome long before the final buzzer. 

Shields got Milan going with a three-point play. Baldwin hit a close jumper and Fontecchio added a tip-in but Melli kept the guests ahead, 4-7. Fontecchio capped a 6-0 run with a corner triple that gave Baskonia its first lead, 10-7. Melli kept pacing Milan, and got help from Hall and Dinos Mitoglou to make Milan regain a 13-14 lead. Jerian Grant scored in penetration and Hall buried his second three-pointer, but Giedraitis and Landry Nnoko kept the hosts within 17-19 at the first of the first quarter. Giedraitis ignited the crowd with a wild triple early in the second quarter. Kyle Hines followed a dunk with a reverse layup, but Enoch kept Baskonia within 22-23. Sergio Rodriguez downed a corner three-pointer but Giedraitis and Enoch both dunked to tie it at 26-26. Giampaolo Ricci scored down low and Delaney struck from downtown, giving Milan fresh air at 26-31. Mitoglou added a tip-in and Hall sank one from beyond the arc to make it a double-digit game, 26-36. Delaney hit a jumper but Baldwin kept Baskonia within 30-38 at halftime. 

Gallery

Melli beat the shot clock with a rainbow jumper immediately after the break and soon added a dunk for a 33-42 Milan margin. Hall insisted from downtown and Shields added a reverse layup that broke the game open, 33-47. Fontecchio banked in a jump hook, and got help from Jayson Granger to give the hosts hope at 39-49. Ricci and Rodriguez each struck from downtown, before Fontecchio and Enoch tried to change things for Baskonia, bringing the hosts within 47-57 after 30 minutes.

Shields joined the three-point shootout early in the fourth quarter. Enoch and Giedraitis kept pacing the hosts but Delaney and Mitoglou kept Milan way ahead, 51-66, with under 7 minutes left. Baldwin hit a jumper and Fontecchio dunked but Shields scored around the basket and Milan started to run the game clock down. Mitoglou beat the shot clock with a bomb from downtown that sealed the outcome, 57-71, as Baskonia could not recover in the final 3 minutes. 

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v AX Armani Exchange Milan (2021-10-08T18:30:00.000Z)

Despite the loss, Baskonia center Steven Enoch proved he can definitely compete at this level, showing his club's trademark character.

Enoch, a new fan favorite in Baskonia

Enoch only stepped on court for 12 minutes, but he finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds - three of those on the offensive end. Enoch also ignited the crowd with his energy and with one of the most spectacular plays of the night, a high-flying alley-oop slam, proving that his connection with Jayson Granger can pay dividends in the near future.