Valanciunas dominates in Milan with 20 rebounds and claims the MVP

The Zalgiris Kaunas has written a new page in its history thanks to the extraordinary performance of Jonas Valanciunas on day 11 of the Euroleague 2026-27. The veteran 34-year-old center, with a rating of 36 points —the highest of his career—, has been named MVP of the round after leading the Lithuanians to an away victory against Armani Olimpia Milan by 83-86. Euroleague Basketball officially confirmed the award this Saturday.

The figure that defines this performance is striking: 20 rebounds captured by Valanciunas. This mark constitutes an all-time record for Zalgiris and the highest recorded by any player in a Euroleague game this season. Furthermore, it represents the highest figure since Nikola Milutinov also achieved 20 rebounds on January 18, 2024. With this performance, the Lithuanian player ranks first in the rebound standings of the season with an average of 9.5 per game.

A historic performance in Milan

Beyond rebounds, Valanciunas had a stellar night at the Mediolanum Forum. He matched his personal record with 17 points, shooting 5 of 9 from two and 7 of 10 from the free-throw line. He added 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, and drew 6 fouls to his tally. His +23 in the plus-minus category was the best in the game, perfectly summarizing the player's impact on the game. Additionally, the Lithuanian center achieved the fourth fastest double-double in modern Euroleague history, consolidating a performance that made a mark in the records of the continental tournament.

Zalgiris' victory against Armani Olimpia Milan represents a significant milestone for the Kaunas team, demonstrating competitive capability even in challenging away games. The dominance in the paint was decisive, with Valanciunas exerting absolute control on both boards that turned out to be crucial for the final result.

Horton-Tucker shines despite the loss

Although the MVP of the round went to Valanciunas, day 11 of the Euroleague also witnessed other notable performances. Talen Horton-Tucker, from Fenerbahçe Tarfin Istanbul, recorded a rating of 33 points and reached a personal best of 32 points in his team's 111-109 overtime loss to Paris Basketball. The American had his best scoring night with 12 of 14 from two, 1 of 5 from three, and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line.

Horton-Tucker grabbed 10 rebounds —his personal best— and dished out 2 assists, achieving his first double-double in the Euroleague. He also drew 6 fouls in a performance that, despite its quality, wasn’t enough to prevent the overtime defeat. His 32 points made him the highest scorer of the day in this round.

Tremont Waters, from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, took third place in ratings with 30 points in his team’s 91-95 loss to Beşiktaş Istanbul. Waters scored 26 points with 5 of 6 from two and 3 of 7 from three, being flawless from the free-throw line at 7 of 7. He also added 5 steals —the highest recorded by any player this round—, 3 assists, 1 rebound, and drew 7 fouls.

Loyd and Fournier complete the standout podium

Jordan Loyd, from Anadolu Efes Istanbul, recorded a rating of 28 points in his team’s 103-91 victory over Virtus Bologna. A great performance in the second half by the American shooting guard propelled Efes to a home victory. Loyd scored 22 points, with 17 of them coming after the break, completing 2 of 2 from two and 6 of 7 from three —his personal best—. He added 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and drew 3 fouls, without committing any turnovers all night.

Evan Fournier, from Olympiacos Piraeus, also reached a rating of 28 points in his team's commanding victory over Dubai Basketball by 101-72. The French player matched his best season record with 28 points, shooting 4 of 6 from two, 5 of 7 from three, and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. He contributed with 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, and 2 fouls drawn. His +28 plus-minus was, along with another record, the best of the round.

Records and notable statistics

Day 11 left several notable records beyond the MVP. Marcus Bingham, from Fenerbahçe, achieved 5 blocks, the best defensive mark of the round. Trent Frazier, from Virtus, and TJ Shorts, from Valencia Basket, each dished out 10 assists, the highest total of day 11. Shorts also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists.

In total, there were four double-doubles recorded in the round: Valanciunas (17 points, 20 rebounds), Horton-Tucker (32 points, 10 rebounds), Shorts (14 points, 10 assists), and Bruno Fernando, center for Anadolu Efes, with 15 points and 10 rebounds, who only needed one half to reach those figures.

In terms of overall offense, Nadir Hifi, from Paris Basketball, remains the league's leading scorer with an average of 20.8 points per game. In defensive play, Luca Vildoza, from Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, leads in steals with an average of 1.9 per game. Aliou Diarra, center for Virtus, leads in blocks with an average of 1.9 per game. In assists, Carlik Jones, from Partizan, shares the season lead with Shorts with an average of 6.0 assists per game.

A highly competitive round

Day 11 of the Euroleague 2026-27 has highlighted the extremely high level of competitiveness of the tournament, where elite individual performances coexist with close results and surprises. Zalgiris' away victory, Fenerbahçe's overtime loss, Olympiacos' dominance, and Anadolu Efes' home triumph demonstrate a competition where no result is guaranteed and where details make the difference. However, Valanciunas' performance stands out as one of those nights where a player takes complete control of the game and leaves a mark of his dominance on the board, rightfully recognized with the MVP award of the round.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Valanciunas domina en Milán con 20 rebotes y se alza con el MVP