Euroleague: Real Madrid, Barcelona book play-off berths

Real Madrid and Barcelona booked their places in the Euroleague play-offs with respective victories over Khimki and Zalgiris Kaunas in their final Top 16 outings.

In a crunch match for the final play-off spot in Group F, it was Madrid who came out on top 83-70 in the Spanish capital, setting up a meeting with Fenerbahce in the next round by virtue of a superior head-to-head record against the Lithuanian outfit.

Jaycee Carroll led the scoring for the winners with 23 points, while a double-double (10 points, 10 assists) from Sergio Rodriguez proved influential.

Madrid will be joined in the play-offs by Barcelona, after the Catalan side clinched their spot by defeating Zalgiris 66-59 in Group E.

Pau Ribas made a match-winning return from a foot injury, sinking 14 points in the second half to overturn a six-point deficit and secure the victory that books a tie with Lokomotiv Kuban in the play-offs.

That result meant Brose Baskets Bamberg would be unable to progress, but the German side bowed out in style, comfortably defeating Laboral Kutxa 89-69.

Laboral's play-off opponents will be Panathinaikos after the Greek team were unable to secure home-court advantage in the next stage due to a 91-86 defeat to Anadolu Efes.

The already-eliminated hosts fought back from 13 points behind for the win at the Abdi Ipekci Arena, with Panathinaikos missing the final six three-point attempts of the match.