Second Half Dominance

The Turkish squad extended their lead in the third quarter with a decisive 28-19 run, effectively sealing the victory despite Serbia taking the final period 23-18. The win keeps Türkiye perfect at the top of Group C with four consecutive victories, while Serbia suffered their second loss in qualifying play.

Top Performers

Forward Tarik Biberovic led all scorers with an impressive all-around performance of 21 points, five assists, and five rebounds. Ömer Yurtseven contributed 17 points before fouling out, while Şehmus Hazer added 15 and Cedi Osman chipped in 13 points to power the Turkish offense. For Serbia, Aleksa Avramovic posted 16 points and nine assists, with Ognjen Dobric scoring 14 and Dejan Davidovac adding 12 in the losing effort.

Continued Advocacy for Palestine

The 33-year-old eight-time All-Star has consistently used his considerable platform to draw attention to Palestinian suffering, previously making headlines by wearing a keffiyeh during a press conference to highlight what he termed genocide in Gaza. Monday's visual statement during one of basketball's most-watched events extends his record of advocacy, bringing the plight of Gaza's journalists to an international sports audience.

Sports as Platform for Awareness

Irving's gesture underscores the role athletes increasingly play in raising awareness about global humanitarian crises. By choosing the All-Star Game—a showcase watched by millions worldwide—the veteran guard ensured that the sacrifices of journalists documenting conditions in Gaza received prominent attention. The tribute highlights both the dangers faced by media workers in conflict zones and the power of athletic platforms to amplify messages beyond traditional news outlets.

Selection and Sengun’s Season Performance

The official announcement was made by the NBA on Sunday. Sengun earned the nod following a standout season in which he has averaged 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and a career-best 6.3 assists per game across 44 appearances. His versatile playmaking from the center position has been a key factor in his All-Star recognition.

All-Star Game Format and Details

This year’s 75th NBA All-Star Game will feature a unique round-robin format with three teams: two squads of U.S. players (USA Stars and USA Stripes) and one international Team World. The teams will compete in a series of four 12-minute games. The event is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Representation for Türkiye

Sengun’s inclusion continues a proud tradition of Turkish players in the NBA’s annual All-Star festivities. His selection underscores his status as one of the league’s premier young big men and a focal point of the Houston Rockets' future, while also highlighting the growing global talent pool in professional basketball.

A Pioneer on the International and NBA Stage

Turkoglu's journey as a pioneer for Turkish basketball is unparalleled. After helping Anadolu Efes reach the EuroLeague Final Four in 2000, he was selected 16th overall in the NBA Draft, becoming just the second Turkish player in the league's history. His 15-season NBA career was highlighted by winning the Most Improved Player award in 2008 and reaching the NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic in 2009. He remains the all-time leader among Turkish players in NBA games played (1,106 combined regular season and playoffs) and is the only one to surpass 10,000 career points, finishing with 11,022.

Leadership for the Turkish National Team and Federation

His impact wearing the national team jersey was equally profound. Turkoglu was a central figure in Türkiye's golden generation, capturing a silver medal at EuroBasket 2001 and, most memorably, another silver on home soil at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team. Since retiring and assuming the presidency of the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) in 2016, he has successfully transitioned his leadership. Under his guidance, the national team ended a 15-year medal drought by winning silver at EuroBasket 2022, the nation's first podium finish abroad.

A Lasting Legacy for Turkish Basketball

The FIBA Hall of Fame honor recognizes not only Turkoglu's playing career but also his ongoing work in developing the sport. His tenure as TBF President has seen concrete investments in the future, most notably the opening of the Turkcell Basketball Development Centre, which houses Türkiye's first dedicated basketball high school. He will be officially enshrined alongside other global greats like Dirk Nowitzki and Sue Bird in a ceremony in Berlin, Germany, on April 21, 2026. This induction solidifies his status as the foundational figure who elevated Turkish basketball onto the world stage.

Türkiye advanced to the semifinals of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 after defeating Poland 91-77 in the quarterfinal on Tuesday.

The Turkish national team advanced to the semifinals for the first time in 24 years and will face the winner of the Lithuania vs. Greece matchup in the semifinals, scheduled for Sept. 12.

In the first quarter, Poland scored through three-pointers from the corners, while the Turkish national team was effective in the paint with organized plays. The evenly balanced opening period ended in a 19-19 tie.

Türkiye opened the second quarter with a 5-0 run and, with scoring contributions from Alperen Sengun, Cedi Osman, and Kenan Sipahi, extended the lead to double digits in the 17th minute (36-26). Türkiye continued to widen the gap in the remaining minutes and went into halftime leading 46-32.

Türkiye kept up their pace in the third quarter, extending their lead to 21 points in the 27th minute (61-40). Maintaining control of the game, the team entered the final quarter ahead 65-50.

Despite Poland reducing the gap to single digits (78-70) in the final quarter, Türkiye remained composed and won the game 91-77, advancing to the semifinals.

Sengun recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, becoming the fifth player in tournament history to achieve this feat. Sehmus Hazer and Shane Larkin each contributed 13 points.

Aivazoglou commented to Anadolu on the purpose and details of the NBA Europa League project and the new dynamic it will bring to European basketball, as well as the countries and teams that can take part in the league.

Emphasizing that there are big clubs in Türkiye with incredible history and passionate fans, Aivazoglou congratulated Fenerbahce on making it to the Final Four, the final stage of the Europa League.

“Fenerbahce is a great club. I congratulate them on making it to the Final Four. Galatasaray is also a great club. There are also great clubs like Anadolu Efes and Besiktas,” said Aivazoglou. “We are very interested in Türkiye as a market for the new league project in Europe. We are very interested in Istanbul as a city.”

Stating that he wants to reward success in the league system, Aivazoglou pointed out that “even if Galatasaray wins the Turkish championship, it cannot participate in Europe's top-tier cup. This does not happen in football. In football, the team that wins the Turkish league gains the right to participate in the UEFA Champions League. We want to fix this.”

-Meeting with Turkish clubs

Aivazoglou noted he had the chance to meet clubs at a board meeting of the Europa League in Istanbul where they exchanged views with the president of the Fenerbahce Club.

“It was a great opportunity to meet with all the clubs and some of the owners. We met with Fenerbahce President Ali Koc,” he said. “I would say the general feeling was very positive. I reiterated that we are very open to collaborating with anyone in the ecosystem who wants to be a partner in this project and contribute to how we bring this vision to life.”

- New pathways for prospective clubs to join league

Aivazoglou cited the lack of media and sponsorship representation in Western European cities with big markets as a reason for the lower popularity of European basketball

Stating that he is interested in big cities and markets of Western Europe, Aivazoglou said, “I can say many cities such as Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, London and Manchester in England, Paris and Lyon in France, Milan and Rome in Italy, Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin in Germany -- we are interested in these cities,” he said.

“There are three ways for interested cities and teams to join our league. First, clubs that want to join our league voluntarily. Second, existing football clubs that do not have a basketball team but want to establish one. Third, completely new clubs,” said Aivazoglou, adding that his group will evaluate all options as research is ongoing.

On the question of clubs from the Middle East joining the new league, Aivazoglou said that they would not have any from the region.

“We are very clear on this issue. We want our league to be a European League in a geographical sense. That's why a club from the Middle East will not be in the league,” he stressed.

- A clearer structure to reward success, based on merit

Elaborating on the new NBA league, Aivazoglou said the aim is to start with 16 teams to be permanent members.

“We also want some of these teams to come from the ecosystem. These can be different teams every year, and they can earn the right to compete in our league. I think this offers a fundamental change to the current structure of European basketball. We can consider it as a step towards a single and clearer pyramid that is very transparent and easy to understand, but also fair, rewards success, and is based on merit,” he said.

“We believe this league can follow European standards,” added Aivazoglu, “It will be created to respect traditions, fan passion and the way the game is played in Europe. We are aware that this is clearly different from the way it is played outside of Europe and in the United States.”​​​​​​​

Sengun, who played nearly 37 minutes, also recorded 10 rebounds, five assists, and one block, making him the standout performer for the Rockets.

Jalen Green added 24 points, while Tari Eason contributed 14 points for Houston, which remain fifth in the Western Conference but suffered their 23rd loss of the season.

For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan's 21 points and Zach LaVine's 20 points played a crucial role in securing the team's 31st win of the season.

The Kings faced an early setback when Domantas Sabonis, who was averaging 19.9 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, sustained a hamstring injury in the first quarter and was forced to leave the game.

- Quentin Grimes leads 76ers to victory over Warriors

The Philadelphia 76ers ended a nine-game losing streak with a 126-119 home victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Quentin Grimes led the 76ers with an impressive 44-point, six-rebound performance, while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 20 points, helping Philadelphia secure its 21st win of the season.

National player Adem Bona and star center Joel Embiid, who is sidelined for the rest of the season due to injury, were absent from the game.

Despite Stephen Curry's 29 points and 13 assists and Quinten Post's 16 points and nine rebounds, the Warriors suffered their 28th loss of the season.

- Other NBA Results

Charlotte Hornets - Washington Wizards: 100-113

Detroit Pistons - Brooklyn Nets: 115-94

Memphis Grizzlies - San Antonio Spurs: 128-130

Houston Rockets - Sacramento Kings: 103-113

Dallas Mavericks - Milwaukee Bucks: 117-132

Philadelphia 76ers - Golden State Warriors: 126-119

Despite trailing 21-17 at the end of the first quarter, Fenerbahce closed the first half with a 43-40 lead.

Former MVP Sasha Vezenkov scored 13 points for Olympiakos in the first half, while Fenerbahce forward Tarık Biberovic contributed nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Istanbul side extended the lead to double digits in the second half, closing the third quarter with a score of 69-59.

Fenerbahce maintained the deficit in the last quarter.

Guard Marco Guduric delivered another impressive performance in Piraeus, scoring 21 points with four assists, continuing his excellent play in recent weeks

On the Greek side, NBA veteran Evan Fournier scored 21 points.

Fenerbahce ended Olympiakos' seven-game winning strike with its fifth win in a row. The Turkish side is in second place, while Olympiacos leads the standings with a 16-8 record, just one win ahead.

Other results Friday:

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne – FC Barcelona: 100 – 94

Alba Berlin – Bayern Munich: 84 - 99

"... when you're in the NBA, there are a lot of things you want to say, that you could say, but you know if you say them, there will be repercussions and you get into a lot of trouble," Howard said Tuesday in a video interview with Ray Daniels on the GAUDS show on YouTube.

"For example, a couple of years ago when I played for the Houston Rockets, I tweeted 'Free Palestine,' and I almost got kicked out of the league for it. I was just trying to figure out why."

Before the post, he said, he interacted with some Palestinian fans, who asked him to spread awareness about their homeland, parts of which are under decades-long Israeli occupation.

"Me having a big heart, I'm like, 'you know what, I want people to know the struggles you all are having' ... So I tweet 'Free Palestine'. Less than 10 minutes later, I got a call from the NBA commissioner, agents, people in my foundation, and even folks from Texas: 'you gotta erase this tweet!, you gotta take this down!' I was like, 'What did I do that was so bad? Can somebody explain'?"

An 8-time NBA All-Star, Howard played for several franchises and won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.

Meanwhile, since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas border incursion, Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which is under blockade since 2007, has resulted in nearly 46,000 deaths, most of them women and children.

The enclave has been reduced to a rubble, while the people face food shortages and almost all of them are displaced.

A crucial Turkish derby in Round 19 will take place at 1745 GMT at Ulker Sports and Event Hall.

Fenerbahce Beko, currently in sixth place with 10 wins and seven losses in 17 matches, have a game in hand in the standings.

Despite a challenging run of form with only one win in their last six games — an away victory against Real Madrid — Sarunas Jasikevicius' side aims to bounce back after consecutive losses to AS Monaco, Barcelona, and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.

Anadolu Efes, sitting just behind Fenerbahce in seventh place, have secured 10 wins in 18 matches in the league.

The navy-white team has shown significant improvement recently, stringing together consecutive home victories, including Panathinaikos, Red Star, and Partizan.

Tomislav Mijatovic's team suffered a 94-75 away loss to AS Monaco in their last match.

Eight of the last 10 clashes between these local rivals have been won by the away team. Anadolu Efes will look to continue this trend by neutralizing Fenerbahce's homecourt advantage once again.

Sehmus Hazer was the high scorer with 25 points at the Basketball Development Centre in Türkiye.

Cedi Osman scored 21 while Ercan Osmani added 17.

For the losing side, Zoltan Perl netted 16 points and Gyorgy Goloman had 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Turkish team secured their second win in the European Championship qualifiers, marking a strong recovery after their opening defeat to Italy.

The crescent-star team bounced back with consecutive victories against Iceland and Hungary in Group B.

Türkiye is now one win from securing a place in FIBA EuroBasket 2025. The team will try to clinch qualification as they travel to face Hungary again in their fourth group match Monday.

Hungary, meanwhile, suffered their third defeat in Group B, further complicating their qualification hopes.

- Friday's results:

Group B:

Iceland vs. Italy: 71-95

Group C:

Slovakia vs. Spain: 72-76

Latvia vs. Belgium: 75-72

Group D:

Sweden vs. Germany: 73-72

Montenegro vs. Bulgaria: 85-62

Led by Saras Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce improved to 8-2 after winning five games in a row in the European top-flight club basketball competition.

On Nov. 15, Istanbul's Fenerbahce beat Zalgiris Kaunas 72-65 in a Round 10 game in Lithuania.

This season, however, Fenerbahce have been troubled by injuries. The Turkish team's guards Devon Hall (hand fracture), Scottie Wilbekin (Anterior cruciate ligament tear) and Wade Baldwin (hamstring) faced injuries in October and November.

Wilbekin is out for this season, and Hall was said to undergo a hand surgery.

Hosts Virtus Segafredo Bologna are in the 17th spot with two wins and eight losses.

In the previous round, Virtus Segafredo Bologna lost to defending champions Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 82-77 in a home game at the Unipol Arena.

The Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Fenerbahce Beko game at Casalecchio di Reno's (Bologna) Unipol Arena will start at 1930GMT on Wednesday.

Five clubs in EuroLeague standings are after Fenerbahce as Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Paris Basketball, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich are going 7-3 each before the Round 11 games.

- Round 11 to see fiery Belgrade derby

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade will meet fierce rivals Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Thursday in an Eternal Derby showdown in the Serbian capital.

Hosts Crvena Zvezda have 5-5 win/loss record to be 10th in standings.

Partizan won two games in 10 appearances to be in lower ranks in the competition.

They are the most popular clubs in Serbia and the matches between these two teams are described one of the most bitter rivalries in Europe.

The derby at the Belgrade Arena will begin at 1900GMT.

- Round 11 games are as follows:

Wednesday, Nov. 20

Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Fenerbahce Beko

Thursday, Nov. 21

Anadolu Efes vs. Paris Basketball

Monaco vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Olympiacos vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Real Madrid vs. ALBA Berlin

Friday, Nov. 22

Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona

Sengun shined as the top scorer in the Rockets' victory. Playing 31 minutes, he delivered an impressive performance with 27 points and 17 rebounds.

The 22-year-old center managed to get his eighth double-double in his 11th game this season at Toyota Center.

Jalen Green scored 18 points and Amen Thompson added 13 for the Rockets, helping them to their seventh win of the season.

Despite Kyle Kuzma's 18 points and Corey Kispert's 12 points, the Wizards couldn't avoid their seventh loss.

- Cavaliers beat Bulls 119-113 for 12th straight win

The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their unbeaten streak, making it 12 consecutive victories with a 119-113 win over the Chicago Bulls.

For the winning side, Donovan Mitchell scored a season-high 36 points and eight rebounds, while Darius Garland scored 17 points and five assists.

Despite strong performances from Zach LaVine, who scored 26 points, and Nikola Vucevic and Coby White, each contributing 20 points, the Bulls suffered their seventh-season loss.

- Results:

San Antonio Spurs-Sacramento Kings: 116-96

Oklahoma City Thunder-Los Angeles Clippers: 134-128

New Orleans Pelicans-Brooklyn Nets: 105-107

Houston Rockets-Washington Wizards: 107-92

Chicago Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers: 113-119

The 22-year-old signed a five-year, $185-million rookie extension, according to a statement from the Rockets.

Sengun delivered a standout performance during the 2023-24 season, averaging a career-high 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. This marked his best season so far in his three-year career with the team.

Sengun was drafted 16th overall by the Rockets in the 2021 NBA Draft after leaving Turkish club Besiktas.

Fenerbahce Beko had four double-digit scorers, with Nigel Hayes-Davis the high scorer with 14 points and five rebounds.

Wade Baldwin IV added 13 points while Tarik Biberovic and Nicolo Melli each finished with 12 points at Uber Arena.

"Everybody needs to feel part of the game. We're still finding our way,” Baldwin said after the game. "We're a relatively new team. I think we just need to play a little bit faster -- find our rhythm, get guys going and have some fun.”

Matteo Spagnolo and Martin Hermannsson each had 13 points for ALBA Berlin.

Trevion Williams had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the German club.

Fenerbahce improved to 3-1, while ALBA Berlin fell to 1-3.

"We're happy to announce that Furkan Korkmaz joins the Roca Family on 1+1 deal,” the team said in a statement.

Korkmaz said he was "thrilled" to join AS Monaco Basket. "Looking forward to the journey ahead and the memories we'll create together. Let's make this season one to remember!" he wrote on X.

In a separate statement, he said: "Winning the EuroLeague is quite possible, but every team member has to give their best every day. It's a matter of hard work, dedication and continuous effort on and off the floor."

Korkmaz was selected No. 26 in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Turkish guard, who spent seven seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaged 6.8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists with the 76ers.

The 27-year-old has appeared in 328 NBA games and 33 playoff games.

Efes forward Will Clyburn's 22-point performance was not enough to carry his team to victory at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall.

The US player surpassed the 3,000-point threshold in the EuroLeague in this game.

Bologna will play one more game in the play-in stage against Baskonia of Spain for the last play-off ticket.

Fourth-place Fenerbahce dominated the whole game in Istanbul. The victors' American-Turkish playmaker guard Scottie Wilbekin scored 18 points.

The hosts' four players Nigel Hayes-Davis, Tarik Biberovic, Marko Guduric and Nick Calathes scored at least 12 points against Barcelona.

The Turkish club's venue Ulker Sports And Event Hall has become a fortress this season as Fenerbahce earned their 14th home win in 15 games.

Dario Brizuela led Barcelona with 18 points, and Nicolas Laprovittola added 11 points for the guests. Brizuela and Laprovittola were the only Barca players to score double digits in a Round 30 match in Istanbul.

Fenerbahce Beko improved to 19-11, but second-place Barcelona dropped to 20-10 after the loss.

In their next fixture, Fenerbahce Beko will visit 12th-place EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Italy on Friday.

Barcelona will meet Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens in a critical game in Greece on Friday. Panathinaikos are third as they have a 19-11 win/loss record.

The EuroLeague regular season will end on April 12 with Round 34 games.

The best six clubs in the standings will qualify for the playoffs.

The clubs ranked seventh through 10th will advance to the play-in, a knockout phase before the playoffs, after the regular season.

Leaders Real Madrid, who have 24 wins in 30 rounds, have a guaranteed spot in the EuroLeague playoffs.

- Wednesday's results:

Fenerbahce Beko - Barcelona: 88-74

Monaco - EA7 Emporio Armani Milan: 80-98

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade - Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens: 76-89

Valencia Basket - Bayern Munich: 70-68

With the score at 75-74 in Iceland's favor, Biberovic bagged a three-pointer at the buzzer to help the Turkish team get their first win in the group at the Sinan Erdem Arena.

Sertac Sanli was the highest scorer of the game, posting a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds in front of 15,208 fans.

Ercan Osmani produced 14 points and Biberovic netted 11 for Türkiye.

For the losing side, Martin Hermannsson scored 15 points and Elvar Fridriksson helped his team with 14.

Tryggvi Hlinason bagged a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

With this result, Türkiye secured their first win in their second game and Iceland suffered their first defeat in the group stage.

Meanwhile, Hermannsson was disqualified after picking up five fouls.

Ahead of the FIBA Women's Euro Basket 2025 Qualifier game on Thursday, the Israeli Basketball Association published an interview with player Dor Saar containing the allegation.

"It's known that they are quite antisemitic, and it's no secret; maybe that's why a strong game is expected," Dor Saar said of the Irish team.

Tensions further escalated ahead of the game against Israel in Latvia on Thursday.

In a ceremony before the match in Riga, the Latvian capital, Irish players opted to sing the national anthem on the sidelines of the court, while Israel's players stood on the court.

The game was originally due to take place in Israel last November, but was postponed due to conflict in the region and later rescheduled for a neutral venue in Latvia this Thursday.

In the runup to the game, Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan said that the team boycotting the games with Israel would "lead to huge fines from (basketball governing body) FIBA of up to €180,000 ($193,809), along with an effective five-year ban for the team."

Ireland lost the match 87-57.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, killing at least 27,947 Palestinians and injuring 67,459 others, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza's population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

In 1980, Ireland made history by becoming the first European Union member to officially call for the establishment of a Palestinian state. While the Irish are not known for antisemitism, the government and its people generally have a deep empathy for the Palestinian cause, rooted in their own historical tribulations.

Shane Larkin led the Istanbul club to their second straight win with 22 points and six assists while his teammate Rodrigue Beaubois produced 20 points at Arena Riga.

"The most important thing is winning the game. The more we got closer to the end we communicated with the bench about getting also the point differential," Larkin said after the game.

"Important win to go in the right direction, for our confidence and for sticking together," he added.

Ercan Osmani scored 13 points and seven rebounds and Tibor Pleiss added 12 points for the Turkish club.

“The guys did another amazing job. They showed we have this Efes character in us and fought for 40 minutes against a team that never gives up and just keeps coming," said Efes coach Tomislav Mijatovic.

Maccabi Playtika's Wade Baldwin IV was the highest scorer of the game with 26 points. Antonius Cleveland and Bonzie Colson each scored 12 points for the Israeli club.

Efes are currently 13th with 11 wins and 15 losses while Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv are 10th with 13 victories and 13 defeats.

In another Thursday match, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan beat Real Madrid 81-76.

Armani Milan's Shavon Shields scored 27 points and Nikola Mirotic produced 23 points. Real Madrid's Dzanan Musa netted 12 points, but it was not enough to win for the Spanish side.

With this result, Real Madrid suffered their fourth loss and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan secured their 11th win.

Furkan Korkmaz dropped 18 points for the Crescent Stars, while his teammates Alperen Sengun and Omer Yurtseven contributed with 16 points each at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul.

Sweden's top scorer was Elijah Clarance with 19 points.

Türkiye will take on Croatia, which beat Ukraine 85-70 in a semifinal match, in the final game on Sunday.

In a statement, Emporio Armani Milan announced that 32-year-old power forward Mirotic, who is of Montenegrin descent, has inked a multi-year deal with the Italian club until 2026.

The 2021-22 EuroLeague season's MVP (Most Valuable Player) arrived from Spain's Barcelona, where he played between 2019 and 2023.

Last season, Mirotic averaged 15.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 29 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games.

Before his four-year stint at Barcelona, Mirotic played for Spanish club Real Madrid, and NBA franchises Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks.

Mirotic won one Spanish title with Real Madrid in 2013, before adding two others to his trophy cabinet with Barcelona in 2021 and 2023.

He helped Spain win a gold medal at the EuroBasket 2015 held in France.

In 2016, Mirotic also won Olympic bronze with the Spanish national team in Rio de Janeiro.

In a statement, the Bulls said they signed Bitim on "a two-way contract," which means the 24-year-old will split his time between the Chicago Bulls in NBA, and the Windy City Bulls in the G League next season.

The G League is a minor basketball division in the US and Canada.

"Let's gooo #BullsNation," Bitim said on Twitter. The Türkiye forward averaged 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 30 games for Turkish Super Lig club Bursaspor in the 2022-23 season.

He was a 2019 Turkish champion with Anadolu Efes, and won the Turkish league's Slam Dunk Contest in 2020.

Last season Bitim was named in the All-EuroCup Second Team.

He is the Bulls' first Turkish player since former center Omer Asik, who played for Chicago in 2010-2012, and 2018.

The Red Devils clinched the EuroBasket trophy in their maiden competition final.

Belgium grabbed a historic victory with their effective 21-10 fourth-quarter display at Arena Stozice in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Emma Meesseman led her team to victory with 24 points and eight rebounds, while her teammate Kyara Linskens contributed with 18 points.

Spain's most scoring player was Queralt Casas with 14 points.

A former national team, the Soviet Union Women's National Basketball Team, is the most successful team of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket competition, which has been held since 1938, with 21 titles.

His spiritual transformation is said to have deeply been influenced by his experiences during the holy month of Ramadan.

In video footage circulating on social media, Young could be seen uttering the Shahadah, or proclamation of Islamic faith, surrounded by fellow team members who then embrace the player as they later celebrate this joyous occasion.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtqhWeeoP1Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_ca

Young's transition from the Californian collegiate courts to Club Qalandia in Palestine represents a significant stride in his career, while his admiration for the hospitable culture of Palestine marks his personal journey.

Before making his move to Palestine, Ahmad Young was a notable figure in Californian collegiate basketball. On November 2, he signed a professional agreement to join Club Qalandia, a team under the auspices of the Palestinian Basketball Federation (PBF). The team operates out of Ramallah, Palestine, which is situated approximately forty minutes to the north of the revered city of Quds.By Khan Muhammad An Nazmus Saqib

The Turkish women have a 1-2 win/loss record to end Group D in last place.

Slovakian forward Terezia Palenikova added 20 points to be the top scorer in the game held in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana.

Ivana Jakubcova racked up 15 points, and Slovakian pair Barbora Wrzesinski and Nikola Dudasova had 13 points each.

Sevgi Uzun and Teaira McCowan scored 16 points each to lead Türkiye.

Turkish guard Derin Erdogan added 11 points.

The win over Türkiye put Slovakia into third place in the group, which means they will play a qualification game for the quarterfinals with Germany on Tuesday.

Either Slovakia or Germany will face Spain in the last eight of the tournament.

Four group winners -- Spain, Belgium, France and Hungary -- directly qualified for the quarterfinals and are each waiting for their opponents.

The qualification games will be held on Monday and Tuesday in Ljubljana and Tel Aviv, Israel.

The 2023 Women's EuroBasket will run through Sunday, June 25.

- Road to quarterfinals

Germany or Slovakia vs Spain

Czech Republic or Greece vs Hungary

Serbia or Great Britain vs Belgium

Montenegro or Italy vs France

In a statement, NBA said that Jordan has reached an agreement to sell the majority share of the Charlotte Hornets to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall.

"Plotkin, who acquired a minority stake in the Hornets in 2019, has been an alternate governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 2019 and is the founder and chief investment officer of Tallwoods Capital LLC," the statement said.

"Schnall is co-president of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, where he has worked for 27 years, and has been a significant minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks and an alternate governor on the NBA Board of Governors since 2015. Schnall is in the process of selling his investment in the Hawks, which is expected to be completed in the next several weeks," it added.

Jordan is largely considered to be the greatest player in the history of the game, winning six NBA titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998 during his career with the Bulls.

He was also a six-time NBA Finals MVP (most valuable player) and 14-time NBA All-Star.

The 60-year-old legendary retired from basketball in 2003.

Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic, who is also a multi-time NBA All-Star, guided the Nuggets to the franchise's first NBA title after scoring 28 points and taking 16 rebounds in a thrilling match at Denver's Ball Arena.

Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. delivered 16 points and 13 rebounds to contribute to the win.

Denver point guard Jamal Murray added 14 points and eight assists.

Visitors Heat's small forward Jimmy Butler led his team with 21 points. His teammate Bam Adebayo racked up 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Miami.

Heat's Max Strus and Kyle Lowry added 12 points each.

Miami were on a 71-70 lead by the end of the third quarter. The game was tight in the final quarter. But after stealing a ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was fouled to score both of his free throws to give a 92-89 lead to the Nuggets with 24.7 seconds remaining. He forced Miami to take a three pointer that Butler missed then.

Heat fouled Nuggets' Bruce Brown to stop the clock. However, Brown hit both of his free throws to make it 94-89 for Denver. Following a timeout, Heat guard Lowry was in a hurry to take a three point jumper, but he missed it.

After the Nuggets took the best-of-seven series 4-1 to be this season's champions, Denver center Jokic, 28, was named the 2023 NBA Finals MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Upon a question right after the win, Jokic said "the job is done, we can go home now."

In the Game 2, the Miami Heat tied the series 1-1 after a 111-108 win in Denver's home court.

But the Nuggets are now on a 3-1 lead to control the tie after they beat the Heat 109-94, and 108-95 in Miami.

Nikola Jokic is leading the Nuggets, averaging 30.8 points per game in the series. The Serbian star also averaged 13.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists.

Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo is his team's high with 22.3 point-per game.

In addition, Adebayo tallied 12.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game average in the Nuggets vs. Heat series.

Nuggets can clinch the NBA title after the Game 5 that will be held Monday evening at Denver's Ball Arena.

Miami won the NBA title in 2006, 2012 and 2013, must win the remaining games to survive.

The Heat's odds look slim to none as only Cleveland Cavaliers (2016) came back from 3-1 deficit in a finals series in NBA history to win the title.

Türkiye led before the break 43-42 at OAKA Arena and were also 69-63 ahead by the end of the third quarter.

Greece, however, came back in the fourth quarter to win the match 89-80, and this year's title.

Turkish shooting guard Furkan Korkmaz scored 22 points to be the game's top scorer, and his teammate Cedi Osman racked up 17 for the visitors.

Hosts Greece were without their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the 2021 NBA champion's younger brother Kostas Antetokounmpo scored 19 points against Türkiye.

Tyler Dorsey bagged 16 points for Greece, and Greek forward Kostas Papanikolau added 13 points to contribute to the victory.

Greece won all their three games to claim the Acropolis International Basketball title for the 18th time in history.

Founded in 1986, the tournament is held before major FIBA tournaments such as the EuroBasket, FIBA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics.

The EuroBasket 2022 will start on Sept. 1, with Türkiye, Greece, Georgia, and Poland among the 24 competitors.

It will be co-hosted by four countries – the Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, and Italy.

The Greece vs. Türkiye game at Athens' OAKA Arena will start at 1800 GMT.

In the first match Türkiye beat Georgia 101-88 on Wednesday but lost to Poland by 87-86 on Thursday.

Founded in 1986, the Acropolis tournament is held before major FIBA tournaments such as the EuroBasket, FIBA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics.

Serbia were the 2021 champions, while Greece are record holders, winning it 17 times.

The EuroBasket 2022 will start on Sept. 1, with Türkiye, Greece, Georgia and Poland among the 24 competitors.

It will be co-hosted by four countries – the Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany and Italy.

The Khimki City Court in Moscow region also imposed a fine of 1 million rubles ($16,600) on the WNBA star.

Greiner's defense will be appealing the verdict, her lawyer said.

Prosecutors earlier said the charges against her were fully proven, and sought a 9.5-year sentence in a penal colony.

Griner, 31, was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after authorities said they found cannabis oil in her possession.

She pleaded guilty in July to drug charges, but has maintained she used medicinal cannabis to treat pain and denied intending to violate Russian law.

The US offered a swap deal that includes Griner and Paul Whelan, who has been held in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges.

Prosecutors at the Khimki City Court also sought a fine of 1 million rubles (around $16,600) for the American basketball player.

Griner, 31, is a basketball player who was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport after Russian authorities said they found cannabis oil in her possession.

She pleaded guilty earlier in July to drug charges but has maintained she used medicinal cannabis to treat pain and denied she intended to violate Russian law.

The US earlier proposed to free two Americans in Russian custody -- Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

Whelan has been held in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges.

Czech player Jan Vesely led the Yellow Canaries to victory with 18 points while French forward Nando De Colo contributed with 17 points at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall.

Tibor Pleiss and Chris Singleton scored 17 points each for Anadolu Efes but could not save their team from defeat.

The Yellow Canaries, who won straight championships between 2016 and 2018, bagged their 10th league championship on Monday.

Anadolu Efes, on the other hand, are the most successful club in the history of Türkiye’s Basketball Super League, having clinched the title 15 times.

In a statement, the Moroccan federation said the deal aims to develop the basketball sport in both countries.

According to the statement, a friendly basketball match will be held between Moroccan and Israeli women's national teams on June 15 in Rabat.

Sunday’s agreement was the first of its kind between the IBBA and that of an Arab country.

In December 2020, Israel and Morocco announced the resumption of their diplomatic relations after they were suspended in 2000 following the outbreak of the second Palestinian Intifada.

Morocco was the fourth Arab country to agree to normalize ties with Israel in 2020 after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan.

The home side Anadolu Efes led the first quarter 31-25 before Fenerbahce Beko bounced back to cut the gap to two points, 50-52.

Anadolu Efes dominated the second half to taste their first-ever victory in the finals at Sinan Erdem Dome.

Shane Larkin was on fire to lead his team to victory with 37 points while Vasilije Micic racked up 29 points.

Tibor Pleiss also added 15 points.

For the losing side, Pierria Henry was the highest scorer with 21 points, followed by Marko Guduric and Nando de Colo, who netted 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Game 4 will be played at the same venue on Monday.

"Going forward, our coach will continue with the appropriate medical treatment from home," Real Madrid said in a statement.

Laso had been taken to intensive care at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital in Madrid on Sunday after he suffered a heart attack. He was shifted to a cardiac ward on Monday.

Under his helm, the Whites clinched the 2015 and 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles and the Spanish league five times.

The 54-year-old manager was also honored with the EuroLeague Coach of the Year award in 2015 and 2018.

He is a former basketball player and has been coaching Real Madrid since 2011.

In a statement, the Spanish club said that Laso, 54, was admitted to Madrid's Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital after "suffering a myocardial infarction” earlier in the day.

Real Madrid later said that Laso underwent "a catheterisation procedure" following the heart attack and he is now stable.

It added that Laso "will spend the night under observation in the intensive care unit" at the hospital.

Spanish national Laso, who is a former basketball player, has been coaching Real Madrid since 2011.

Under him, the Whites won Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles in 2015 and 2018 and the Spanish league five times.

Laso was also honored with the EuroLeague Coach of the Year award in 2015 and 2018.

The game started slow as both sides could not score for almost first two minutes at the Stark Arena in Belgrade.

Real Madrid finished a slow paced first quarter, 15-14, in front with their effective offensive rebounds.

Despite Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic trying to rally Efes by dropping 23 points in the first half, Los Merengues widened their lead to five points at the end of the second quarter, and the first half ended 34-29.

Only Larkin and Micic scored 23 points of Efes, while Real Madrid scored from nine different players in the first half.

Efes' James Anderson and Real Madrid's Vincent Poirier had a row after a challenge and both players were penalized with unsportsmanlike foul in the third quarter, which ended with 42-40 Los Merengues lead.

Anadolu Efes brought the lead in the beginning of the last quarter and managed to stay on top in the end, with German center Tibor Pleiss' vital points, and won the final 58-57.

Efes kept Real Madrid with only 23 points in the second half with a good defensive play.

Micic, who was also selected as the Final Four MVP, dropped 23 points, while Pleiss and Larkin added 19 and 10 points, respectively. Walter Tavares was the best player of the game for Real Madrid with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The game marked the third EuroLeague win for Turkiye, as Fenerbahce Beko won the 2016-17 title.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Anadolu Efes' European victory. "My heartfelt congratulations to Anadolu Efes basketball team, our country's pride," he said on Twitter.

Mavericks point guard Brunson scored career-high 41 points to be the key player for the home win at Dallas' American Airlines Center as the Mavericks leveled the series 1-1.

Brunson took eight rebounds and produced five assists for the Mavericks.

He had no turnovers as well.

Dallas' German power forward Maxi Kleber also played an important role in the victory by scoring 25 points. Spencer Dinwiddie added 17 points for the Mavericks.

Utah shooting guard Donovan Mitchell led his team as he tallied 34 points.

Croatian small forward Bojan Bogdanovic clocked up 25 points for the Jazz and Jordan Clarkson bagged 21 points for the visitors.

The Jazz's French center Rudy Gobert was dominant below the rim as he grabbed 17 rebounds. Gobert scored eight points as well.

With two minutes and 40 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Dallas were leading the game 104-102. Then Dorian Finney-Smith scored a critical three-pointer for his team, the Mavericks made it 107-102.

Dallas extended the gap after Brunson scored twice from the free-throw line, 109-102 as only 33.41 seconds left to the final buzzer.

The Mavericks secured a 110-104 win in game two to tie the series.

The third game will be played on April 21 at the Jazz's home court, Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.

The NBA playoffs are played in a best-of-seven series format.

- Boston's Smart named Defensive Player of the Year

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart won the 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year award as NBA announced on the website.

Smart is the second Boston player to take this award. A retired Celtics power forward, Kevin Garnett has won it in the 2007-08 NBA season.

He was also the first guard to have this honor since Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics) in the 1995-96 season.

"To be able to be named the Defensive Player of the Year and be the first guard since Gary Payton in 1996 to win this, it just shows not only me and everybody else that it can be done," Smart, 28, said.

Drafted by the Celtics in 2014, Smart took 257 points in the polls to beat second-place Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges, who had 202 total points, and Jazz center Gobert, who came third after having 136 points.

Gobert was a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

- Monday's results:

Philadelphia 76ers - Toronto Raptors: 112-97 (76ers leading series 2-0)

Dallas Mavericks - Utah Jazz: 110-104 (Series tied 1-1)

Golden State Warriors - Denver Nuggets: 126-106 (Warriors leading series 2-0)

"Having provided the stage for the season-ending tournament last year, the Turkish city is set to welcome the top European clubs on the Bosphorus once again, with Fenerbahce Safiport playing host," the world governing body for basketball said in a statement.

"The Final Four field, confirmed last week, also features last edition's runners-up Perfumerias Avenida from Spain, perennial Hungarian champions Sopron Basket and ZVVZ USK Praha, representing the Czech Republic," it added.

The tournament will be held at Fenerbahce's Ulker Sports and Event Hall, which hosted the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2014 and FIBA EuroBasket 2017 games.

In the semifinals Friday, Final Four host Fenerbahce will take on USK Praha, returning to the final phase of the competition for the first time since 2019, while Avenida will play Sopron.

Volkswagen Arena in Istanbul hosted the 2021 EuroLeague Women Final Four last year.

The league's executive board said the decision was taken "as the situation in Ukraine has not evolved in a favorable way."

According to the ruling, CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan and Zenit St. Petersburg are expelled from the EuroLeague, and Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar from the EuroCup for the 2021-22 season.

As announced earlier, "all regular season game results versus Russian teams will be removed from any calculation of EuroLeague and EuroCup team standings," it said.

The regular season in the 2021-22 EuroLeague will conclude on April 8, to be followed by playoffs on April 19-May 4.

On Feb. 28, the board had suspended participation of the Russian teams, saying they could be expelled if the war situation "does not evolve in a favorable way."

"The court granted the request of the investigation and extended the period of detention of the US citizen Griner until May 19," the Khimkinsky court said in a statement.

Griner was arrested on March 5 on suspicion of trying to illegally import hashish oil into Russia through Sheremetyevo Airport.

With the US national basketball team, Griner won the 2014 World Championships in Turkiye, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the 2018 World Championships in Spain, and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Currently, she plays for a Russian basketball team from Yekaterinburg.

It will continue to pay its employees, Stefan Pursche, the head of the company's media relations, told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday via email.

"As a company, we strongly condemn any form of violence and stand in solidarity with those calling for peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people, and everyone affected at this difficult time," the firm said in a statement sent through email.

The company said it is donating a total of €1 million ($1.1 million) to refugee and children’s charities, in addition to donating clothing to Global Aid Network  to those in need within Ukraine and neighboring countries.

"As a company we are offering tailor made support to our employees and their family members in the region, to help with transportation, accommodation, clothing, and food, as well as psychological support," it added.

"We will continue to follow the situation closely and take future business decisions and action as needed, prioritizing our employee’s safety and support," it added.

The German apparel company announced on March 1 that it decided to suspend its partnership with the Russian Football Union because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The firm has been the Russian national football team's kit supplier for more than a decade since their partnership began in September 2008, months after the UEFA EURO 2008 football championship where Russia reached the semifinals.

After Moscow launched a war on its neighbor late last month, Russian teams and clubs have been barred from international tournaments.

The first steps were taken by the European football governing body, UEFA, to immediately show support for Ukraine on and off the pitch.

One day after Russia attacked Ukraine, UEFA moved this year’s signature UEFA Champions League final from St. Petersburg, Russia to Paris.

The sanctions were expanded when all Russian clubs and national teams were banned from participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice.

Spartak Moscow were disqualified from the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League after they made it to the Round of 16.

The Russian national football team is be ineligible to face Poland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs on March 24.

UEFA canceled its longtime partnership with Russian gas company Gazprom, and Adidas ended its collaboration with the Russian Football Union (RFU).

The RFU appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision, which suspended Russian teams from international competitions.

Separately, US-based video game producer EA Sports decided to remove all Russian clubs and its national team from its platforms, including FIFA and NHL, to show support for Ukraine.

- Abramovich to sell Chelsea

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich will sell English club Chelsea after Russia's war on Ukraine, the club confirmed.

Abramovich, 55, said he will sell Chelsea for the English club's "best interest at heart" amid media speculation about his ownership.

The Abramovich era at the Blues started in 2003 when he purchased Chelsea for a reported £140 million ($187 million).

Under his ownership, Chelsea became one of the top European clubs, winning several major titles including two UEFA Champions League, two UEFA Europa League, and five Premier League trophies.

- Clubs cut ties with Russian sponsors

Football clubs from England and Germany canceled commercial ties with their Russian sponsors to protest the war.

England's Manchester United terminated their sponsorship deal with Russian airline Aeroflot.

Then Everton severed ties with USM, Megafon, and Yota.

Schalke 04 did the same as the German club ended their partnership with Gazprom after removing the Russian firm's logo from their shirts.

- EuroLeague, FIBA suspend Russian basketball teams

Russian basketball clubs were barred from EuroLeague contests.

The EuroLeague Commercial Assets (ECA) suspended the "participation of Russian Federation teams" in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, which includes CSKA Moscow, UNICS Kazan, and Zenit St Petersburg, as well as the 7DAYS EuroCup, with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar.

FIBA, which governs basketball around the globe, announced that Russian teams and officials will no longer be allowed in international competitions.

- F1 cuts ties with Russian GP

This week Formula One canceled its contract with the Russian Grand Prix.

"Formula 1 can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter. It means that Russia will no longer have a race in the future," organizers said in a statement.

On Feb. 25, the F1 removed the Russian Grand Prix from its 2022 calendar, citing the war in Ukraine.

The race was scheduled for Sept. 25 in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The 2022 Formula 1 season – without the Sochi race – will start on March 20 in Bahrain.

- Russian, Belarusian athletes barred from Winter Paralympics

Russian and Belarusian Paralympic athletes also cannot compete in the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

To "preserve the integrity of these Games and the safety of all participants, we have decided to refuse the athlete entries from RPC (Russian Paralympic Committee) and NPC (National Paralympic Committee) Belarus," said International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

The 2022 Winter Paralympics began on Friday, March 4 and lasts through through March 13.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US, and Britain, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

"The decision and the related security assessment do not affect any other games of Group G, where Ukraine and Spain participate, or of other Groups of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, which remain as originally scheduled," FIBA said in a statement.

The Gameday 3 encounter between Spain and Ukraine will be played in the Spanish city of Cordoba on Thursday, FIBA noted.

It added that the postponed week 4 game in Kyiv will be played either during or following Window 3 of the Qualifiers in the months of June-July.

The Bulls took control of the game early as Zach LaVine finished with 32 points after returning from the NBA's health and safety protocols.

Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points for the Bulls, who played without Lonzo Ball and coach Billy Donovan due to COVID-19 protocols.

For the Pacers, Caris LeVert scored 27 points and Domantas Sabonis finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Bulls won 20 games and lost 10 to sit second in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers dropped to a 14-20 win/loss record.

- Heats' Yurtseven scores career high against Magic

Separately, the Miami Heat beat the Orlando Magic 93-83, with Turkish player Omer Yurtseven playing with a career-high in points and rebounds.

He finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds in his first start, while Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin each added 17 points for the winning side.

Gabe Vincent and Max Strus each scored 13 points for the Heat.

For the losing side, Gary Harris scored 20, RJ Hampton 14, and Franz Wagner 13.

The Heat are in the fourth position in the Eastern Conference standings with 21 wins and 14 losses.

Sunday's results:

Miami Heat - Orlando Magic: 93-83

Washington Wizards - Philadelphia 76ers: 96-117

Sacramento Kings - Memphis Grizzlies: 102-127

Cleveland Cavaliers - Toronto Raptors: 144-99

San Antonio Spurs - Detroit Pistons: 144-109

Oklahoma City Thunder - New Orleans Pelicans: 117-112

Chicago Bulls - Indiana Pacers: 113-105

Los Angeles Clippers - Denver Nuggets: 100-103

"Minnesota Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell has entered into Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN. He’s the eighth player to enter for Minnesota, including Karl Anthony-Towns, Anthony Edwards and Patrick Beverley," NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on Twitter.

The Timberwolves previously said Karl-Anthony Towns was the seventh player, who entered the NBA's health protocols on Thursday.

Russell joined Towns, Anthony Edwards, Patrick Beverley, Josh Okogie, Taurean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt, and McKinley Wright IV in protocols.

Russell, 25, has averaged 18.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 4 rebounds per game this season.

He previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors.

Russell was selected as a 2019 NBA All-Star.

The only Turkish basketballer to win an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, Okur previously played for clubs including Oyak Renault, TOFAS and Anadolu Efes.

After playing for the Pistons between 2002 and 2004, he played for the Utah Jazz (2004-2011) and the New Jersey Nets (2011-2012) in his 10-year NBA career.

In 2007, he made history when he became the first Turkish All-Star player.

After his retirement from active basketball in 2012 at the age of 33, Okur was named as an ambassador for the Utah Jazz from 2014 to 2016.

In September 2016, he agreed to become a player development coach for the Phoenix Suns.

Okur, who currently resides in the US and has been working in the technical team of the Turkish National Team for a while, gave an exclusive interview to Anadolu Agency.

Stating that he is happy to share his experience with national team players, he said: "I think I will learn a lot from Orhun Ene and his squad in the Turkish national basketball team. We have a very good environment and a good organization here."

Noting that he wanted to add the experience he gained from this job to his basketball coaching CV, Okur said "my goal and dream is to be a head coach in the NBA or a club in Europe."

- 'We must play like a tournament team'

Emphasizing that the Turkish national basketball team has a good generation, Okur said they should play like a tournament team.

"We have to fight. On the way to becoming a tournament team, a friendly match should be no different from a European or a World Championship match. We need to have that mentality."

- 'All our players in NBA develop well'

Okur said Turkish national players playing in the NBA, including Cedi Osman, Furkan Korkmaz, Alperen Sengun and Omer Faruk Yurtseven, have improved themselves well.

"Despite being only 19, Alperen is making the best use of the time he has taken. Cedi has got a good start at the moment. Despite coming from the bench, he is showing a positive performance. Furkan and Omer take minutes and try to make the most of it. They are all on the right track." Okur said.

*Writing by Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

"Bitci will now be Saski Baskonia’s main sponsor, lending its name to the team in the two leagues it promotes: Liga Endesa (the Spanish league) and Turkish Airlines Euroleague," Saski Baskonia said in a statement on Thursday.

The club's first team will be called Bitci Baskonia after a contract signed, and Bitci will become the Vitoria club's title and official global blockchain sponsor as well, it added.

Haritz Kerejeta, the Baskonia-Alaves Group CEO, said that this agreement means "a strategic alliance for Baskonia".

"Blockchain technology is offering an array of new opportunities to apply to the sports world. It’s a new way of facing the future and we’re delighted to be joining forces with a company like Bitci," Kerejeta said.

Bitci CEO Onur Altan Tan said this cooperation is "the biggest indicator of our growth strategy in basketball."

He also expressed hope that "Bitci Baskonia will be one of the worldwide symbols of basketball’s digitalization and transformation into a fan and experience-oriented sport."

Bitci sponsors the Spanish Football Federation, the Brazilian Football Federation, MotoGP, and McLaren Formula 1 Team to develop fan tokens.

Based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bitci Baskonia have been playing in the Europe's top-tier club competition, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, for long years.

In 2019, the club celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Baskonia won the Spanish league title in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic shook the whole world including the sporting competitions.

"I know that I was very skepticism (sic) about it all. But after doing my research and things of that nature, I felt like it was best suited for not only me but my family and my friends. That's why I decided to do it," James said during the Los Angeles Lakers media day.

Four-time NBA champion noted that he decided to receive it for the well-being of himself, his family, and his team.

"We are talking about people's bodies and well beings. I don't feel like for me personally that I should get involved in what other people should do for their bodies and livelihoods ... You have to do what's best for you and your family, he added.

LA Lakers said that it was not his job to persuade other NBA players to follow suit.

"I know what I did for me and my family. I know what some of my friends did for their families. But as far as speaking for everybody and their individualities, and things they want to do, that's not my job," he added.

The superstar went on to say that everyone has their own choice to do what they feel is right for themselves and their family and things of that nature.

James is a four-time NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020), winning the title with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers.

The 36-year-old has been playing for the Lakers since 2018.

Nearly 90% of players have got at least one dose of the shot, but some players are reportedly not vaccinated.

Golden State Warriors' Andrew Wiggins previously applied for a religious exemption from receiving COVID-19 vaccination, but NBA denied his request.

"I'm confident in my beliefs and what I think is right, what I think is wrong. I'm just going to keep doing what I believe. Whether it's one thing or another, just going to keep doing it," Wiggins said.

Also, Washington Wizards star guard Bradley Beal refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The season's first game will be between Monaco and Panathinaikos to be held at Salle Gaston Medecin in Monaco at 1700GMT on Sept. 30.

Reigning champions Anadolu Efes will take on Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid at WiZink Center in Madrid at 1845GMT on Thursday.

The 2021-22 season will be played with 18 teams and will end with the Final Four at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on May 27-29, 2022.

This season will also be held with some COVID-19 regulations regarding both teams and staff.

All clubs will be appointed a COVID-19 manager, given educational sessions. The organization also recommends daily health monitoring.

All players, coaching staff, and referees will perform a PCR test three days ahead of every game (two days for home games) and a post-game test -- except individuals who have been vaccinated or previously tested positive for COVID-19 and subsequently received medical clearance.

Game arenas and practice facilities will have a maximum number of individuals in the playing court and locker room areas.

Games may be suspended, relocated, and rescheduled if deemed necessary by the EuroLeague organization.

Reigning champions, Anadolu Efes, won the 2020-21 championship after defeating Barcelona in the final.

Fixtures:

Thursday:

AS Monaco - Panathinaikos OPAP Athens

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv - FC Bayern Munich

AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan - CSKA Moscow

Real Madrid - Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Friday:

UNICS Kazan - Zenit St Petersburg

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul - Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Zalgiris Kaunas

Olympiacos Piraeus - Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

FC Barcelona - ALBA Berlin

"Rest in Peace, Duda!" FIBA EuroBasket, the main international basketball competition, tweeted.

Ivkovic played club basketball at the senior level in Serbia's Radnicki Belgrade from 1958 to 1968.

As a coach, he guided 12 European basketball clubs such as Aris, PAOK, Olympiacos, CSKA Moscow, and Anadolu Efes.

The Serbian legend led Olympiacos to win two EuroLeague titles, and Dinamo Moscow to claim ULEB Cup.

In 2008, Ivkovic was honored as one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors. He entered the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017.

He served as the head coach of the Yugoslavian national team from 1987 to 1995, and led the squad to gold medals at 1989, 1991, and 1995 EuroBasket as well as the 1990 FIBA World Cup.

Ivkovic was the Serbian national team manager (2008 to 2013) when it won a silver medal after losing to Spain in the FIBA EuroBasket 2009 final.

In 2016, he ended his career with Turkish club Anadolu Efes after two seasons.

- Condolences

Tributes and condolences poured in from clubs and players, celebrating his life and career.

Turkish basketball player Cedi Osman called him "One of the best coaches in history of basketball."

"Truly an inspiration and teacher to me. Thank you for everything, legend. I will keep you in my memories forever," he said on Twitter.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of the European basketball legend Dusan Ivkovic. We give our condolences to his family and loved ones," said Fenerbahce Beko.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague sent "deepest condolences" to the family and loved ones of the "Euroleague Basketball Legend."

Anadolu Efes also expressed "sincere condolences and our deepest sympathies to his family and friends."

"Rest in Peace one of the Greatest basketball masterminds ever," said Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg in a tweet.

After moving from Pinar Karsiyaka in 2015, the 38-year-old player helped Fenerbahce Beko win four Turkish league trophies and a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title.

Turkish club thanked Ali Muhammed in a statement for his contributions to the team and wished him success for the rest of his career, calling him an “unforgettable” player.

The No. 16 pick in the 2021 NBA draft had a nice performance with nine points and 10 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors in the third game in the Summer League.

Sengun made his Summer League debut with a spectacular double-double as he posted 15 points and 15 rebounds in the 84-76 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Thomas amp; Mack Center.

The 18-year-old also dominated the Detroit Pistons game with 21 points and eight rebounds as the Rockets claimed a 111-91 victory against the Pistons.

- Yurtseven shines in debut with double-double

Miami Heat's Yurtseven posted a double-double in his first game with a team against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the 80-78 victory against the Lakers, he produced 27 points and 19 rebounds.

The 23-year-old center made a huge contribution to his team in his second game against the Golden State Warriors.

The Miami Heat got a 94-87 win as Yurtseven posted 25 points and eight rebounds.

In his third game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Yurtseven was also one of key players in the win, performing a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

His performance in the clutch time forced the game to overtime twice, eventually ending with a Heat win, 97-94.

Superstar Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the final at Saitama Super Arena.

Jasyon Tatum added 19, Damian Lillard had 11 and Jrue Holiday scored 11.

Rudy Gobert led France with 16 points.

Facundo Campazzo's triple-double performance with 17 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds made him the key man for Argentina's victory.

Luis Scola's 23 points and 10 rebounds also helped his team win.

Japan's top scorer of the game was Yudai Baba with 18 points.

In the other Group C match, Slovenia won a hard-fought battle against Spain with 95-87 on Sunday.

Dallas Maverick's Slovenian star Luka Doncic's almost triple-double performance with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists led his team to victory.

Vlatko Cancar with 22 points, one assist, and two rebounds, along with Mike Tobey with 16 points, three assists, and 14 rebounds were the other shining players of the game for Slovenia.

Spain's Ricky Rubio's 18 points, nine assists, and three rebounds were not good enough for the win.

With these results, Slovenia finished first with six points, Spain second with five points, Argentina third with four points, and Japan ranked fourth with three points in Preliminary Round Group C.