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Ducati confirms: Test rider Michele Pirro to replace Marc Marquez in Australia

Jason Maverick
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Ducati confirms: Test rider Michele Pirro to replace Marc Marquez in Australia

Marc Marquez to miss two MotoGP races due to shoulder injury – Ducati confirms Michele Pirro for Australia – Malaysia race still undecided

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez will have to sit out the next two race weekends at Phillip Island (Australia) and Sepang (Malaysia). The Ducati factory rider injured his right shoulder in an accident caused by Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

After several medical examinations at the Hospital Ruber Internacional in Madrid, it was determined that the Spanish rider had suffered a fracture at the base of the coracoid process and a ligament injury to his right shoulder.

The coracoid process is a small, hook-shaped bony protrusion of the shoulder blade (scapula) that extends forward and sideways and resembles a raven’s beak. It serves as an attachment point for important muscles and ligaments.

Clinical examination and radiological evaluation ruled out any connection with previous injuries and also confirmed that there was no significant bone displacement.

The medical team therefore decided on conservative treatment with rest and immobilization of the affected shoulder until the fracture has completely healed and is clinically stable. Marquez remains in Madrid to recover. Ducati has now confirmed that test rider Michele Pirro will replace the new world champion in Australia. For the 39-year-old Italian, who has been a test rider since 2013, this will be his 70th MotoGP race with Ducati.

Because Ducati is not allowed to register wildcards due to concessions, Pirro has only competed in one race in the past two years. At the 2024 season finale, he replaced Fabio Di Giannantonio in the VR46 team in Barcelona because “Diggia” underwent shoulder surgery.

Pirro is gaining racing experience in the Italian Superbike Championship (CIV). In 2024, he won the championship title in the top class for the seventh time. This year, he lost to Alessandro Delbianco and finished as runner-up. Ducati has so far only confirmed Pirro as a replacement rider for Marquez in Australia, but not yet for Malaysia.

Ducati GP26 for Gresini: Why VR46 rejected the second factory bike

Lesley Summerville
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Ducati GP26 for Gresini: Why VR46 rejected the second factory bike

Ducati to increase the number of factory bikes to four in 2026 – VR46 rejects the second Ducati factory bike – Gresini and Alex Marquez benefit from the decision

In the ourceURL:about:four instead of three current factory bikes. After the summer break, the plans took shape. Since this year, VR46 has been the official factory-supported satellite team, while Gresini remains a private team. Nevertheless, Gresini has access to all data, but additional Ducati engineers work in the VR46 pit.

Finally, after many discussions, the decision was made that Alex Marquez will get the fourth GP26 in the Gresini team next year and not VR46 for Franco Morbidelli. Both teams will receive one GP26 and one GP25 each.

“We will have a factory bike for Di Giannantonio, which is the GP26, and a 2025 factory bike for Franco,” VR46 team manager Pablo Nieto confirmed to MotoGP.com. “We are continuing with our previous plan.”

The former 125cc class racer also revealed: “We had the option of taking the new bike for Franco as well, but we decided against it. That’s why Ducati gave this bike to Gresini.”

The Gresini team was delighted with the technical upgrade, as it means that next year Alex Marquez will be riding the same bike as his older brother Marc Marquez in the factory team. This is also recognition for his strong season so far.

“Yes, absolutely deserved,” says Gresini team manager Michele Masini at MotoGP.com. “I’m really proud of his performance, Alex’s commitment and his results this season, but also of the work of the entire team.”

“I think that since 2022, we have improved continuously year after year, with each season better than the last. I’m really proud of that.“ Alex Marquez has an excellent chance of finishing the season as runner-up in the world championship. What does Masini say about Nieto’s statement that Gresini will only get the GP26 because VR46 turned down a second GP26? ”It’s not up to me to speak for VR46. It’s better to talk to Ducati about that. I think Gresini has had a great season.“

Why VR46 is foregoing a second GP26

There is a reason why VR46 has turned down a second GP26. ”The goal is always to have two identical bikes, of course, because it makes our work much easier,” says Nieto. “Of course, we wanted two identical bikes, but you also have to understand that this project depends on the budget and many other factors.”

“Obviously, the cost of two factory bikes is a little higher for the team – that’s clear. That’s the crucial point. We would like to have two identical factory bikes, but at the moment we have to work with what we have available.”

“Of course, we can also work with different bikes. I think we’re doing really well in that regard. The difference between the two bikes is obviously there, but it’s not as big as it normally is between two specifications.”

The step from the GP23 to the GP24 was big, but the one between the GP24 and GP25 was much smaller. And since engine development has been frozen, the GP26 is expected to be very similar to the GP25.

In addition to the financial aspect, this also played a role in VR46’s decision. “For example, the jump from the 23 to the 24 was enormous—the bike was completely different, it was a much bigger step,” Nieto told MotoGP.com.

“There are differences between the 24 and the 25, but they are not that significant. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to change it. And that’s exactly why we decided to stick with this approach – because the difference between 26 and 25 is unlikely to be that big either.”

Nevertheless, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio in particular had difficulties fully realizing the potential of the GP25 this year. So is it an advantage for Ducati to have four factory bikes instead of three next year?

“Good question,” Nieto ponders. “To be honest, I don’t know—it could be. Because, in the end, an extra bike on the track naturally means more information for Ducati to work with.”

“At the same time, however, it’s clear that the 27 will be a different bike. Nevertheless, there are many elements that can be adopted and used on both bikes. That means you can also make progress with it and see how development continues.”

Gresini has practically already won this year’s duel between the two Ducati satellite teams. In the team standings, the racing team is on course for second place in the World Championship, while VR46 is in third place.

Niki Awards: Toto Wolff, Gerhard Berger, and Helmut Marko honored

Sports Of The Day
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Niki Awards: Toto Wolff, Gerhard Berger, and Helmut Marko honored

Toto Wolff, Gerhard Berger, and Helmut Marko also received awards at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Austria on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the best athletes of 2025 were honored in Austria. At the Niki Awards, named after three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda, motorsport greats Toto Wolff, Gerhard Berger, and Helmut Marko were also delighted to receive one of a total of twelve awards.

The three Austrians jointly received the “Special Award,” which was presented by Lauda’s sons Mathias and Lukas at the award ceremony in Vienna’s Stadthalle. According to the official description, the “Special Award” is “presented to sports legends who have made an impression through their careers or extraordinary comebacks.”

Lauda himself received this award in 2006, and now, 19 years later, his three companions have received it too. Toto Wolff explains: “Niki Lauda was not only one of the most important athletes of his time, but also a straightforward and unyielding personality.”

“Above all, he was my friend, with whom I shared a close and special friendship in which we experienced many ups and downs,” said the Mercedes team boss, who worked side by side with his compatriot at Silver Arrows for many years.

“His will to live, his clarity, and his resilience will forever remain a benchmark for strength and resilience for me,” the Kleine Zeitung quotes Wolff as saying. Berger adds: “Receiving an award is always something special—especially in your home country and even more so when the trophy is named after our Formula 1 legend Niki Lauda.”

And Helmut Marko explains: “Niki created his own image with his clear and sometimes brash statements. He always backed everything up with technical expertise and profound knowledge and simply didn’t talk nonsense.”

“The award means a lot to me because of Niki Lauda as a person. I first met him in the late 1960s. We were competitors, but we always got along well. In Formula 1, he was always my favorite breakfast partner,” says Marko. Meanwhile, ski jumper Daniel Tschofenig was named Sportsman of the Year, and ski racer Stephanie Venier was named Sportswoman of the Year. The men’s national ice hockey team was voted Team of the Year.

Siegemund misses out on semifinals

Jeffrey Gooding
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Siegemund misses out on semifinals

Experienced tour veteran Laura Siegemund gets off to another strong start, but her top opponent Coco Gauff finds the right answers.

Great effort not enough for another surprise: Laura Siegemund missed out on a place in the semifinals at the WTA tournament in Wuhan. The 37-year-old from Metzingen lost 3-6, 0-6 to two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff from the USA on Friday. Nevertheless, Siegemund’s strong run remains a success.

The experienced fighter, who caused a sensation at Wimbledon with her quarterfinal run, moves into the top 40 in the world rankings by reaching the last eight. Siegemund has not been ranked this high for eight years, and at the same time she is once again the German number one ahead of Tatjana Maria and Eva Lys.

The Swabian had already made her mark with her round of 16 victory over Poland’s Magdalena Frech. At 37 years and 216 days, she was the fourth-oldest player to reach the quarterfinals of this format since the introduction of the WTA 1000 tournaments in 1990. Only US icons Martina Navratilova and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, had been older.

Siegemund got off to a perfect start against Gauff with an early break, but the favorite quickly countered. Siegemund fought back courageously in the baseline duels and challenged Gauff with drop shots, but the athletic French Open winner took control in the middle of the first set and pulled away.

Siegemund took a short break after losing the set in the heat and then wanted to attack again. But Gauff was too focused in the match and punished her challenger’s increasing errors.

WWE mastermind attacks former star

T0m@dmin1
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WWE mastermind attacks former star

Paul Heyman hypes up the Australian street fight between Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed on Raw and bets on a clash with Braun Strowman on X.

What’s going on between the influential creative guru of WWE and the “Monster of all Monsters”?

Five months after Braun Strowman’s departure from WWE, Paul Heyman, living manager legend and also a powerful mastermind behind the scenes of the league, has once again attracted attention with a sharp public attack on the former Universal Champion. It seems that the highly respected promoter of stars such as Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and currently Seth Rollins does not think much of Strowman.

Paul Heyman already criticized Braun Strowman heavily in the spring

Heyman had already caused a stir in April when he made extremely disrespectful comments about Strowman on the Pat McAfee Show, accusing him of having a bad attitude – while he was still under contract with WWE.

“Braun Strowman practically cried that he wasn’t on the WrestleMania card,” he revealed at the time: “I told him straight to his face that he wasn’t at WrestleMania because he sucks. And is he mad at me? No, he accepts it.”

A few weeks later, WWE and Strowman parted ways: as it later became known, the league let Strowman’s contract expire and no longer used him. It wasn’t until 2022 that Strowman signed a second time after his first dismissal by then-reigning boss Vince McMahon. According to media reports, WWE ultimately concluded that Strowman’s salary and his role in the program were not in proportion to each other in both separations.

Strowman mocks Heyman as a penguin

Strowman has not been in the ring since his departure from WWE, but he has now spoken out after the latest episode of the TV show Monday Night RAW – with an insulting dig at critic Heyman.

During a staged segment on RAW, Heyman claimed that no one before his current protégé Bronson Reed had ever beaten Roman Reigns so brutally that he had to leave the ring on a stretcher. Strowman reminded everyone that he too had once beaten Reigns so badly that he had to be carried out on a stretcher, writing: “Yeah, okay, Oswald Cobblepot!!”

For those who aren’t comic book fans: Oswald Cobblepot is the real name of the misshapen Batman villain Penguin.

Heyman’s response was not long in coming – and it was a hefty one.

“Most of us didn’t know you were still alive.”

“Dear Mr. Strowman, I was made aware of your post,” Heyman began a sarcastic letter addressed to Strowman: “I have nothing negative to say about you or to you. I am actually relieved, downright festive, to learn that you are still alive. Most of us didn’t know that, and even fewer people cared. With love and respect, Paul Heyman.“

The scathing attack went viral among WWE fans, and Strowman responded some time later in the same tone: ”Good morning, Paul. Thank you for this thoughtful, kind, caring message, but I’m too busy right now and just getting started.”

This was followed by promotion for Strowman’s new reality TV show, which premieres in the US in two weeks. So is it all just a marketing stunt? You never know for sure in wrestling—but in this case, the verbal jabs don’t seem like playful beef.

Union’s stadium plans: Senate approves traffic concept – Higher capacity remains “common goal”

Jeffrey Gooding
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Union’s stadium plans: Senate approves traffic concept – Higher capacity remains “common goal”

Union Berlin has cleared another hurdle in its planned stadium expansion. The Berlin Senate has approved the traffic concept for the expansion to 34,500 spectators. In the long term, however, even more people should be able to watch the games.

At the end of September, it was announced that Union Berlin would have to scale back its plans to expand the An der Alten Försterei stadium. Due to an unworkable traffic concept, the Bundesliga club had to reduce the stadium’s capacity from 40,500 to 34,500 spectators after the planned expansion. This proposal has now been given the green light by the Berlin Senate. As 1. FC Union announced on Friday, the Senate Departments for Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, as well as for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection, and the Environment, have “welcomed the club’s new proposal with the reduced stadium capacity and confirmed the necessary traffic concept.”

This clears the way for the next step in the process for the development plan for the stadium expansion. However, all sides reiterated on Friday that the long-term and “common goal” remains future stadium operations with 40,500 spectators.

Lower capacity “painful” for Union for the time being

“I am delighted with the Senate’s quick and positive response to our proposal. The temporary decision not to increase capacity is painful, but we must move forward quickly with the expansion in order to remain competitive,“ Union President Dirk Zingler is quoted as saying in a club statement. ”Our goal remains an Alte Försterei with 40,500 visitors, even if we only achieve this at a later stage.”

Therefore, the same structure as in the original plans will be built. This can be retrofitted later when the transport infrastructure in Köpenick is in place. Currently, the stadium An der Alten Försterei can accommodate a maximum of 22,012 spectators.

“We have had productive discussions with Union and have found a viable compromise for the transport concept. […] The expansion of the stadium capacity to the originally targeted number is therefore not off the table. We will continue to engage in discussions,” says Ute Bonde (CDU), Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection, and the Environment. Christian Gaebler (SPD), Senator for Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, adds: “Union needs a stadium suitable for the Bundesliga, there’s no question about that. Berlin wants to continue to support its Bundesliga soccer club in its self-financed stadium expansion, also with the aim of enabling more Union fans to participate.”

“When you’ve been in the business for so long …”: Streich continues to attract interest from clubs

Jeffrey Gooding
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“When you’ve been in the business for so long …”: Streich continues to attract interest from clubs

Things have gone a little quiet around Freiburg’s long-standing coach Christian Streich. Now the 60-year-old has come out of retirement to speak out and, among other things, comment on a possible comeback.

The Bundesliga has lost one of its attractions since Christian Streich stepped down as coach. After the 2023/24 season, he ended his 12-year tenure with Freiburg’s professional team, having joined the club’s youth team as a coach back in 1995.

But is that really it? Streich left the door open during a conversation with Johannes B. Kerner on the talk show “Bestbesetzung” on MagentaTV. “I don’t think I’ll coach another Bundesliga team,” said Streich, “but I’m not ruling anything out.”

In any case, interest in Streich as a coach has not waned. “When you’ve been in a profession for so long, it’s inevitable that someone will come up with the idea: Maybe he could work for us,” he explained. However, he did not want to name any clubs, especially since it was “irrelevant.” “I didn’t leave either. Part of the truth is that my fellow coaches in Freiburg were so good that I wouldn’t have dared to go anywhere on my own without them.”

Streich, who played in ten Bundesliga games and 64 second division games, still feels connected to soccer. “I’ll never be far away from it. It doesn’t matter whether I’m a coach in the Bundesliga or no longer a coach, or in the Kreisliga B or in youth football. The ball remains the same. The game remains the same. Until the end of my life.”

Streich sought help with the transition

It was precisely this passion for soccer that made Streich’s departure so difficult. ” It’s about value, about self-esteem,“ said Streich. As a coach, he never had to plan his daily routine because it took care of itself. ”And now all that was gone, no organizational framework, no structure in that sense, it’s not easy.“ He sought outside help to make the transition. ”I just talked to the right man, who was experienced.”

Streich spent his newly gained free time traveling, among other things. Among other things, he went on a bike tour to Bilbao and a trip to South America. He also gives lectures for companies and completed an internship at a bike shop. “I could imagine working somewhere, preferably with my hands. Learning how to repair a bike properly or something like that.”

Responsibility “felt like a burden”

Streich also talked about his intense relationship with the club from Breisgau. “The only good thing for coaches who are fired every now and then and only stay in one place for two or three years is that they have a natural distance,” he explained. “But I was totally immersed in this club.” As a result, he experienced particular, even physically palpable pressure when Freiburg slipped down the table. “I did feel it as a burden. I knew everyone and I knew that if we were relegated to the second division, we wouldn’t be able to pay 15 or 20 of them. That wasn’t easy.”

The opinionated Streich also addressed the increasing commercialization of soccer in the interview. A few years ago, he would have predicted that soccer would “go under, that it would be squeezed like a lemon until there was nothing left. But they can still shoot 500,000 commercials and stick cameras right into the guts of the game. In the end, there will still be kids outside kicking a ball around. And then they won’t have been able to destroy it after all.”

Media: Hütter dismissed in Monaco

Sports Of The Day
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Media: Hütter dismissed in Monaco

AS Monaco has dismissed Adi Hütter, according to unanimous reports in the French media. A successor has not yet been named. According to reports, Sebastien Pocognoli is the favorite for the position.

What has been looming for several days is now official: Adi Hütter must leave AS Monaco. The Austrian had been working in the principality since summer 2023. It is not yet clear who will take over Hütter’s job. According to media reports, it is not former BVB coach Edin Terzic who is the favorite for the coaching position, but Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli.

The turning point for Hütter was probably the 1-4 defeat at Club Brugge on the first matchday of the Champions League. Most recently, they held Manchester City to a 2-2 draw. Monaco are fifth in the league after seven matchdays, just three points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. In the past two seasons, Hütter’s team finished second (2023/24) and third (2024/25).

“No energy”: Tuchel criticizes atmosphere at Wembley

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“No energy”: Tuchel criticizes atmosphere at Wembley

In the friendly against Wales, the English national team put in a convincing performance early on, but their own fans were not impressed. Thomas Tuchel subsequently criticized the atmosphere at Wembley.

Morgan Rogers put the English national team ahead after just three minutes in their 3-0 friendly win over Wales, with further goals from Ollie Watkins (11th minute) and Bukayo Saka (20th minute) soon following. “We were 3-0 up very quickly and could even have been 4-0 or 5-0 up at half-time,” Thomas Tuchel said, looking back on the “excellent first half” on ITV. It was all the more disappointing that the fans at Wembley still failed to get behind the team. “The stadium was quiet. We didn’t get any energy back from the stands,“ said the Three Lions coach, who would have liked to see more support from his own fans: ”What more can you give than three goals in 20 minutes and the way we attacked Wales and didn’t let them escape? Even in their half, we won the ball back time and time again.”

Tuchel was pleased that the team secured its sixth win in the seventh game of his tenure – and also played convincingly for long periods. However, he couldn’t resist another dig at the home fans: “When you only hear Wales fans for half an hour, it’s sad, because I think the team deserved great support today.”

In contrast to previous games – such as the 5-0 home win over Serbia – the atmosphere on Thursday evening was not “absolutely fantastic” from the German’s point of view. Tuchel emphasized this at the subsequent press conference: “I love English soccer and English soccer fans and the support they give, but I think the atmosphere today didn’t match our performance on the pitch.”

Despite all the disappointment, however, the coach was certain that he and his team would “get everyone excited” in the future: “We will do everything we can to be infectious again,” Tuchel said resolutely. The Three Lions’ next opportunity to put this plan into action at Wembley will not be until November 13 against Serbia (8:45 p.m.). Meanwhile, Tuchel’s team will be in action in Latvia on Tuesday, looking to secure their sixth win in six World Cup qualifiers (8:45 p.m.) and seal their place at the World Cup.

Theis shines with double-double, Nunn with 30 points and buzzer beater

Jason Maverick
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Theis shines with double-double, Nunn with 30 points and buzzer beater

The second EuroLeague evening on matchday 3, with five games and many strong performances, is now history: Panathinaikos celebrates its first victory in Vitoria since 2017 thanks to Kendrick Nunn’s buzzer beater, while Daniel Theis led Monaco to victory in Milan with a double-double. Partizan, Real Madrid, and Paris also consolidated their positions in the upper half of the table.

Nunn scores the winner: Panathinaikos wins thriller

Panathinaikos Athens celebrated a return to winning ways after two consecutive defeats, winning in Vitoria for the first time since 2017. Kendrick Nunn was the match winner in the 86-84 victory over Baskonia: the star guard scored 30 points and hit the decisive shot shortly before the final buzzer. Baskonia had taken the lead for the first time with a 7-0 run in the third quarter, before Nunn responded with nine points in a row to put Athens ahead 71-56. With four seconds left, Baskonia tied the game at 84-84, but Nunn coolly decided the game with a buzzer beater.

In addition to Nunn, Cedi Osman (20 points) and Juancho Hernangomez, who recorded a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), also impressed. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (16) and Hamidou Diallo (15) were the top scorers for Baskonia.

Monaco wins narrowly – Theis shines with double-double

AS Monaco has secured its second EuroLeague win of the season. In their 82-79 victory in Milan, the Monegasques led for long stretches but had to hold their nerve until the final stages. Milan only had two brief leads in the second quarter, but fought back to within two points (77-79) thanks to an 8-0 run by Marko Guduric. Returning players Nikola Mirotic and Matthew Strazel finally sealed the deal at the free throw line, before Alpha Diallo secured the victory with a block.

Daniel Theis impressed for Monaco with a strong double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) and was named player of the game. Mike James scored 18 points, while Elie Okobo and Diallo contributed 13 points each. Former Munich player Devin Booker (15), Shavon Shields (13), and Lorenzo Brown (12) were the top scorers for the hosts.

Partizan remains undefeated at home

Partizan Belgrade has also won its second home game of the EuroLeague season. In their 93-87 win over Anadolu Efes, the Serbs put in a strong performance, especially in the first half, and led by twelve points at one stage. Efes came back in the final quarter thanks to Isaiah Cordinier and Ercan Osmani (24 and 21 points respectively) and briefly took the lead (75-76), but Partizan found their rhythm again at the right moment.

Sterling Brown was the match winner with 24 points, Tyrique Jones impressed with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Isaac Bonga contributed 18 points and Dylan Osetkowski 10 points. Nick Weiler-Babb scored 9 points (6 rebounds, 5 assists) for Efes. After narrowly beating Milan last week, Partizan celebrated its second win in a row and now has a 2-1 record.

Perfect home opener: Paris dominates Bologna

Paris Basketball celebrated its first EuroLeague home win of the season. In a 90-79 victory over Virtus Bologna, the French champions pulled away after a strong second quarter and did not let the Italians get back into the game. An 11-0 run at the start of the quarter sealed the deal, after which Paris controlled the game and kept Virtus at bay.

The more intense defense and rebounding were decisive: Paris forced 26 turnovers and collected 20 offensive rebounds. Nadir Hifi led his team with 20 points and 6 assists, while Amath M’Baye contributed 12 points. Matthew Morgan was the top scorer for the visitors from Bologna with 21 points, but the defeat saw Virtus slip to a 1-2 record.

Real cruises to victory against ASVEL

Real Madrid celebrated an easy home win on the third EuroLeague matchday. In their 85-72 win over ASVEL Villeurbanne, the Royals controlled the game from the start and improved their record to 2-1. Chuma Okeke was particularly impressive, scoring 17 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and posting an efficiency rating of 25 in just 18 minutes of playing time. The new signing was the most prominent player on the court.

Okeke was supported by Trey Lyles (12 points) and Mario Hezonja (11). Edwin Jackson was the top scorer for the visitors from France with 16 points, while Mehdy Ngouama (12) and Bodian Massa (11) also scored in double figures.

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