Papagiannis returns after injury

Georgios Papagiannis, a 29-year-old Greek pivot, made his return to the game during Anadolu Efes' 88-118 loss to Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the 8th round of Euroleague. He had been sidelined since the start of last year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during a dunk attempt against Panathinaikos.

Lengthy recovery period

Papagiannis' rehabilitation took longer than expected, keeping him out of competition for over 12 months, or 376 days. During that time, he did not participate in any games, marking a significant absence from the sport.

Brief return and stats

In his return game, Papagiannis played for 5 minutes and 56 seconds, scoring 2 points and grabbing 1 rebound. His performance was brief but marked his comeback to competitive play.

Efes missing key player

Anadolu Efes, which has a record of 3 wins and 5 losses, was without Mike James, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury during the 3rd round against Red Star Belgrade. James had been a key player, averaging 17 points and shooting 56% from three-pointers.

Payne's performance under pressure

Mike James' absence was felt as his replacement, Cameron Payne, managed only 8 points on 2/7 shooting, along with 4 assists and 5 turnovers. His performance highlighted the challenge of stepping into a key role.

Hapoel Tel-Aviv's dominant win

Hapoel Tel-Aviv secured its fourth consecutive victory by defeating Anadolu Efes at the Arena Botevgrad in Bulgaria. The Israeli team now has a record of 6 wins and 2 losses, showing strong form in the league.

Hapoel sets new records

The win saw Hapoel Tel-Aviv set new club records in points scored and three-pointers made, with 18 three-pointers. Antonio Blakeney led the team with 35 points, a club record, shooting 4/5 from two-pointers and 8/9 from three-pointers.

Hapoel's balanced performance

Elijah Bryant contributed a double-double with 16 points and a personal best of 12 assists, while Jordan Loyd was the top scorer for Efes with 19 points. Hapoel led 63-41 at halftime and extended its lead to 90-59 after 30 minutes, sealing the victory well before the final whistle.