Basketball Champions League Week 5 Recap - Galatasaray find first win, JDA wins Group B showdown with Promitheas

• → Every home team won their game in Week 5 of the BCL.
• → Galatasaray defeat SL Benfica at the Sinan Erdem Dome to secure first BCL win.
• → JDA Dijon secure win in matchup at the top of Group B with David Holston's vintage performance.
• → UCAM sink Tofas Bursa with stellar offensive display.
• → Rytas celebrate first win against BK Opava with 62 points off the bench.
• → Strasbourg beat Pinar Karsiyaka to maintain group leadership and clinch 60th win.
• → Tortona remain undefeated as they beat Igokea m:tel
• → Holon clinch win over Rio Breogan.

Four games, four home wins in the first night of Week 5 of Basketball Champions League action, with important wins secured by Galatasaray and Rytas to keep their hopes of BCL postseason alive. UCAM and JDA Dijon make homecourt advantage count as the group stage reaches the midway point.

Galatasaray Ekmas - SL Benfica 98-78

Galatasaray Ekmas secure a crucial win over Portuguese champions Benfica as they overcome early deficit to impose a resounding 20-point away deficit.

Led by Akpinar's 22-point season high, Zvezdan Mitrovic's squad responded to early difficulties in the BCL with a solid performance, leading for 24 minutes and securing that all-important first win, making it 1-2 in Group G.

Read the Galatasaray-Benfica game recap for in-depth analysis and watch Galatasaray Ekmas - SL Benfica highlights on Courtside 1891.

Rytas Vilnius - BK Opava 99-63 Game Recap

The game in Vilnius lasted a couple of quarters, with the home side determined to pull away and secure their first win in their 2024 BCL campaign. Rytas has been one of the unluckiest teams in the BCL so far, losing two games by a combined margin of six points.

Giedrius Žibėnas' crew ensured there weren't doubts as the teams took to court, with the Lithuanians' second unit being the hero in their first victory of the season. Lukas Uleckas, Arnas Velička and Gytis Masiulis came off the bench to combine for 41 points of a total 61 for Rytas' productive second unit.

BK Opava was never able to stop Rytas from getting in the paint, conceding 60 - the most by any team in a BCL game since January 2020 - and going down 15 points (56-41) in the third quarter. The +36 at the end of the 40 minutes represents Rytas Vilnius' biggest BCL win.

Relive the Lithuanian side's emphatic win with the Rytas Vilnius - BK Opava game highlights on Courtside 1891.

JDA Dijon Basketball - Promitheas Patras 88-80

Dijon held off a late comeback from Promitheas Patras to remain undefeated in Group B thanks to a vintage offensive masterclass from David Holston. The Chicago State product scored 25 points, including a third-quarter 14-point flurry, to retain the top spot in Group B.

Leading for 36 minutes, Dijon enjoyed another convincing win and will look at their trip to the Dimitris Tofalos Arena on December 12 with confidence.

Read in-depth analysis with our JDA Dijon - Promitheas Patras game recap and relive the action with the JDA Dijon - Promitheas Patras game highlights.

UCAM Murcia - Tofas Bursa 115-89

UCAM Murcia never seemed to miss at the Palacio de los Deportes, where Sito Alonso's outfit put 115 points behind traveling Tofas Bursa. Scoring 64% from the field (highest in a BCL regular season game since December 2019), with an incredible 14/25 from three-point range.

Troy Caupain captained a team effort with 18 points (12 from three) and secured yet another home win for the Universitarios, making the Palacio de los Deportes a really dreaded away trip for any team in the BCL and Liga Endesa.

Read all about UCAM's record-breaking offensive night in the UCAM Murcia - Tofas Bursa recap by Courtside 1891 or relive the action with the UCAM Murcia - Tofas Bursa game highlights.

PAOK Mateco - Hapoel Jerusalem 79-77

In a gripping Group G encounter, PAOK bounced back from their loss in Lisbon to beat the undefeated Hapoel Jerusalem at PAOK Sports Arena, signaling their strength in the group. The match began with PAOK's quick lead, thanks to Stavros Schizas's three-pointer, but Hapoel Jerusalem quickly countered, showcasing resilience with an 8-0 run.

Things got tense in the fourth quarter, with PAOK, led by Kendall Smith's standout performance, and Hapoel Jerusalem trading leads in a nail-biting finish. PAOK's narrow victory, highlighted by Smith's crucial free throws and a missed last shot from Hapoel, has reshaped the dynamics of Group G, promising an intense competition ahead.

Read the full PAOK Mateco - Hapoel Jerusalem game recap.

SIG Strasbourg - Pinar Karsiyaka 80-65

In a key Group E clash between undefeated teams, SIG Strasbourg showcased dominance in their 80-65 victory over Pinar Karsiyaka at Rhénus Sport. Leading for most of the game, Strasbourg's assertive gameplay left the Turkish team trailing, highlighting their control and tactical prowess.

Strasbourg, led by Phil Booth and Hooker, who both scored 16 points, quickly established a commanding lead. Their defense was particularly effective, holding Pinar Karsiyaka to one point in the first seven minutes. For Pinar, despite a challenging game, Vernon Carey Jr and Kelan Martin each contributed 15 points, but their efforts weren't enough to overturn Strasbourg's lead.

This win solidifies Strasbourg's strong position in Group E, while Pinar Karsiyaka looks ahead to the reverse fixture in late November to set things straight.

Read the full SIG Strasbourg - Pinar Karsiyaka game recap.

Hapoel Holon - Rio Breogan 84-79

Hapoel Holon secured their second win in the Basketball Champions League (and 45th overall) with a resilient victory over Rio Breogan in Riga. Leading for most of the game, Holon demonstrated focus and determination, especially in the face of a late comeback effort by the Spanish team.

Key performances for Holon came from C.J. Harris, who scored 15 points, and Amine Noua, whose clutch plays in the closing moments sealed the win. For Breogan, Stefan Momirov stood out with a 21-point effort, but the team's overall struggle, particularly Matas Jogela's challenging night from beyond the arc, led to their 1-2 record in Group F.

This victory positions Holon as a group leader, with a game in hand and a previous win against current BCL holders Bonn, also at two wins. Read the full Hapoel Holon - Rio Breogan recap by Courtside 1891.

Filou Oostende - EWE Baskets Oldenburg 88-83 Game Recap

Filou Oostende achieved their first win in this season's Basketball Champions League, overcoming EWE Baskets Oldenburg 88-83. This victory was significant for head coach Dario Gjergja, marking his 41st BCL win and elevating him to second place on the all-time list for most wins by a head coach in the competition.

Key performances from Damien Jefferson, who scored 23 points, and Khalil Ahmad, contributing 16 points, were crucial in turning around an early 15-point deficit. Jefferson's effort in the second half and Ahmad's scoring burst in the second quarter played pivotal roles in Oostende's comeback and eventual win. Despite Oldenburg's late attempt to rally back, Oostende held strong, improving their Group E record to 1-2.

Derthona Tortona - Igokea m:tel 91-84 Game Recap

Bertram Derthona Tortona secured a close 91-84 victory over Igokea m:tel, marking an impressive 3-0 start in Group H of the Basketball Champions League.

Despite almost relinquishing a 21-point lead, Tortona managed to hold on for the win. Key to their victory was Leon Radosevic, who delivered a season-high 19 points along with nine rebounds. The game was also notable for the absence of several players due to injuries, including TaShawn Thomas, a notable figure in the Champions League nearing a block record, who was out with plantar fasciitis.

Stefan Moody, Nikola Maric, and Nikola Tanasković tried to fuel a late comeback with a 19-21 fourth quarter for Igokea, but it was too little, too late for the Bosnia-Herzegovina champions.