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How often do NBA teams lose to European teams?

Preseason games between the NBA and European teams always attract particular attention, even though they have no competitive significance.

Svetozar Pavlović
Svetozar Pavlovićceletozasveta
Dallas Mavericks' guard and former Real Madrid player Luka Doncic talks with Real Madrid's Spanish forward Rudy Fernandez
JAVIER SORIANOAFP

The NBA is widely considered the premier basketball league in the world, meaning that any NBA team would be favored against any other basketball team globally. However, upsets can still occur.

NBA teams occasionally face off against European teams, typically during preseason or international exhibitions. These matchups are relatively rare and not part of the regular NBA season. The results can vary when they occur, and there have been instances where NBA teams have lost to European teams. However, European basketball has grown in quality and competitiveness over the years, so these games are no longer as one-sided as they may have been. The outcomes depend on factors like team composition, preparation, and the specific European team’s quality.

However, the clash between Real Madrid and Dallas Mavericks was a spectacle. Real Madrid won 127:123, and Luka Dončić was unfortunately only allowed to play five minutes against his former club due to an injury.

With the last night’s game so far, NBA and Euroleague teams have met 67 times, and the score is 52-15 for American teams. However, when the game is played on European soil, the statistics change - then NBA teams lead by only 16-11. Apart from Real Madrid three times, victories over NBA teams from European teams were achieved by Maccabi four times, Barcelona and CSKA three times each, Fenerbahce twice, as well as Alba and Unicaja.

NBA teams that have lost to European basketball teams:

  • Washington Bullets lost to Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv in 1978, 98-97.
  • New Jersey Nets/Brooklyn Nets lost to Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv in 1984, 104-97, and to Fenerbahce Ulker in 2015, 101-96.
  • Phoenix Suns lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1984, 113-98.
  • Atlanta Hawks lost to Aleksandr Volkov-led Russians in 1988, 132-123.
  • Toronto Raptors lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2005, 105-103, and to Real Madrid in 2007, 104-103.
  • Philadelphia 76ers lost to Winterthur FC Barcelona in 2006, 109-104.
  • Los Angeles Clippers lost to CSKA Moscow in 2006, 94-75.
  • Memphis Grizzlies lost to Unicaja Malaga in 2007, with a final score of 102-99.
  • Los Angeles Lakers lost to Regal FC Barcelona in 2010, 92-88.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers lost to CSKA Moscow in 2010, 90-87.
  • Boston Celtics lost to Fenerbahce Ulker in 2012, 97-91.