Eurocup Top 16 Round 2 MVP: Deon Thompson, Unicaja Malaga

Unicaja Malaga grabbed its first win in Group H as big man Deon Thompson earned the Top 16 Round 2 MVP honor. Thompson led Unicaja to a 90-84 home win against Joventut Badalona with a performance index rating of 27 in just 18 minutes of action. He finished the game with 23 points by making 4 of 6 two-point shots, 4 of 4 triples and 3 of 3 rebounds. He is the second center this season to make 4 three-pointers and only one other EuroCup player has made as many without a miss in a single game. He added 4 rebounds, a steal and 2 fouls drawn for the highest PIR in the round. Rasid Mahalbasic of EWE Baskets Oldenburg and Julian Gamble of Segafredo Virtus Bologna each registered a PIR of 24. Gamble led Virtus to a 83-72 home victory against Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul with 15 points on 7-for-8 two-point shooting, 6 rebounds, an assist, a steal, 2 blocks and 5 fouls drawn. Mahalbasic had 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 7 fouls drawn in his team’s 81-70 road loss to Promitheas Patras. Berkan Durmaz of Tofas Bursa, Alex Tyus of UNICS Kazan and his teammate Errick McCollum, each with a PIR of 23, completed the best individual performances in Top 16 Round 2.