Euroleague Playoffs Game 1 MVP: Kevin Punter

The Partizan guard scored 26 points and the game-winning three-pointer in the Game 1 win over Real Madrid

Kevin Punter lifted Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to a thrilling 87-89 series opening road win over Real Madrid and in the process earned the honor as the MVP of Game 1 of the playoffs. Punter drained a game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds on the clock and finished the game with 26 points. He knocked down 5-of-8 three-pointers, made 9 of 9 free throws and tied his career-high with 6 assists. Punter’s career-high PIR of 33 was the best among players on winning teams in Game 1, securing him his second MVP of the Round honor.

Also with a PIR of 33 in that game, but in a losing effort, was Real’s Gabriel Deck, who scored 24 points on 8-for-8 two-point shooting, tied for the third-best in a playoff game since 2005. Deck also made 8 of 11 free throws, grabbed 8 rebounds, dished 1 assist and collected 1 steal. The next best PIR, 26, belonged to Wade Baldwin of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. In his team’s 67-79 road win at AS Monaco, Baldwin collected 20 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds. Five different players had PIRs of 20: Sertac Sanli of FC Barcelona, Monaco’s Alpha Diallo, Real’s Walter TavaresMarko Guduric of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and Moustapha Fall of Olympiacos Piraeus.

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