After seeing a promising upturn in form ended by last week's loss against Prometey, Umana Reyer Venice (3-5) will look to get back on the playoff trail with a visit from a Veolia Towers Hamburg team (1-7) whose hopes of challenging for the knockout stages are fading fast.

 Hamburg eyes another road win in Venice 

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/umana-reyer-venice-veolia-towers-hamburg/U2023/85/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-vnc-ham) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-vnc-ham/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Reyer is one of the best two-point shooting teams in the competition, making 56.9% of shots inside the arc, and will look for Kyle Wiltjer (11.2 points per game) to register his fifth straight double-digit scoring night. Hamburg will look to control him through the dependable William Christmas (7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game), who has made at least one steal every game this season.

[Reyer Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/statistics/vnc/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Hamburg Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/statistics/ham/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Aamar Simms vs. William Christmas: A key rebounding battle awaits through these two forwards.

Hamburg eyes another road win in Venice

Umana Reyer Venice v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2023-11-28T19:00:00.000Z)

In Wednesday's opening tip-off, Cluj (6-2) will look to get back onto the winning path against Lietkabelis (4-4) which has won three in a row. 

Cluj aims to protect home court vs. Lietkabelis

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/u-bt-cluj-napoca-7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/U2023/89/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-clu-lkb) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-clu-lkb/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Cluj's heavy loss to Gran Canaria last week was partly down to committing 24 turnovers, and guard duo DJ Seeley and Bryce Jones will look to take better care of the basketball after respectively losing 4 and 5 possessions in that defeat. Lietkabelis continued its excellent run with a hard-fought victory at Slask, surviving a fourth-quarter collapse as Vytenis Lipkevicius flirted with a triple-double by posting 8 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and the Lithuanian team will be conscious of starting in Cluj much better than it finished in Slask.

[Cluj-Napoca Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/statistics/clu/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Lietkabelis Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/7bet-lietkabelis-panevezys/statistics/lkb/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Karel Guzman vs. Gediminas Orelik: Two very different swingmen look to fill it up against each other.

In Wednesday's opening tip-off, U-BT Cluj-Napoca (6-2) will look to get back onto the winning path against 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (4-4) which has won three in a row. 

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2023-11-29T17:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana's (0-8) long quest for a first victory of the season faces its latest chapter with a visit from high-flying Paris Basketball (7-1), which is eager to recover from the blip of its first defeat of the campaign against Besiktas. 

First and last do battle as Paris visits Cedevita

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-paris-basketball/U2023/83/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-lju-ced) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-ced-prs/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The game is highlighted by a backcourt battle between the league's leading assisters, with Cedevita's Klemen Prepelic (9.3 assists per game) going up against Paris orchestrator TJ Shorts (7.6 apg.). The host's cause is helped by the presence of Justin Cobbs, who scored 19 points on his return from injury last week. Paris will again look to the long-range shooting prowess of Nadir Hifi, who has made 15 of his last 26 three-pointers.

[Cedevita Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/statistics/lju/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Paris Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/statistics/prs/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Klemen Prepelic vs. TJ Shorts: The EuroCup's top two assist-makers take each other's measure.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Paris Basketball (2023-11-29T17:30:00.000Z)

After claiming the prestigious prize of Group A leader Paris last week, Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (6-2) faces another major road test with a trip to face Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (5-2) in Belgrade.

Hapoel, Besiktas in elite Group A showdown

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/82/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-hta-bes) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-hta-bes/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Besiktas has won three of its last four thanks to a suffocating defense, which restricted explosive Paris to just 63 points last week and has allowed only 72.5 points per game, best in the league. Hapoel, in contrast, boasts the league's most potent offense with an average of 97.9 points per game including a 103-99 thriller against Joventut last week. Xavier Munford was the hero, ending a relative slump in form by blasting 31 points. So Besiktas will look to the likes of Berk Ugurlu, who has at least one steal in six games this season, to slow down Munford in what promises to be an enthralling clash of styles.

[Hapoel Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv/statistics/hta/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Besiktas Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/statistics/bes/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Jaylen Hoard vs. Matthew Mitchell: Versatile small forwards will need their A games against each other.

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2023-11-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Two teams tied on the fringes of the playoff places go head to head as Dolomiti Energia Trento (3-5) hosts Aris Midea Thessaloniki (3-5) with both on two-game losing streaks. 

 Trento, Aris to break Group B sixth-place tie 

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dolomiti-energia-trento-aris-midea-thessaloniki/U2023/87/) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-trn-ari) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-trn-ari/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

A key head-to-head will come in the paint, where Trento's Andrejs Grazulis (14 points and 5.8 rebounds per game) goes up against visiting big man Silvio de Sousa (7.4 points and 6.6 boards). Aris is the lowest-scoring team in the competition with just 70.6 points per game despite a season-high 88 against Ulm last week. This should be a good opportunity to build on that improvement against a Trento team that has struggled defensively, allowing 88.1 points per game and it suffered a big psychological setback last time out with an overtime defeat to Buducnost.

[Trento Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dolomiti-energia-trento/statistics/trn/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Aris Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/aris-midea-thessaloniki/statistics/ari/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Andrejs Grazulis vs. Silvio De Sousa: The battle around the rims will go through these two big men.

Trento, Aris to break Group B sixth-place tie

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Aris Midea Thessaloniki (2023-11-29T19:00:00.000Z)

Two direct rivals currently tied for second place in Group B go head to head as ratiopharm Ulm (6-2) hosts Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (6-2). 

Bourg, Ulm dispute a third-place share in Group B

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/ratiopharm-ulm-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2023/86/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-ulm-bou) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-ulm-bou/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Both are in great form, with Ulm winning five of its last six while Bourg has won three out of four. The German team's smooth offense has delivered an average of 22.5 assists per game, led by 6.2 per night from impressive youngster Juan Nuñez. But nobody puts more pressure on the ball than Bourg, which leads the league in steals with 10.4 per game - 2.4 of those coming from Isaiha Mike. There will also be a big battle in the paint between the competition's leading rebounder Trevion Williams (10.9 per game) and Kevin Kokila, who had 10 points and 9 boards in last week's win over Turk Telekom.

[Ulm Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/statistics/ulm/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Bourg Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/statistics/bou/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Trevion Williams vs. Kevin Kokila: The EuroCup's top performer so far will take on a young, smaller leaper.

ratiopharm Ulm v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2023-11-29T18:30:00.000Z)

Struggling Joventut Badalona (3-5) will aim to end a three-game slide against a Prometey Slobozhanske team (4-4) that has been heading in the opposite direction by winning two in a row. 

Joventut aims to stop slide with visit from Prometey

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/joventut-badalona-prometey-slobozhanske/U2023/81/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-jov-pmt) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-jov-pmt/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Powered by Ondrey Balvin's 8.9 rebounds per game, second best in the league, Prometey is the competition's top rebounding team (39.5 per game) and will expect to dominate the physical battle. Joventut will hope to control the tempo through the backcourt in a game that could become a matter of speed versus power. A key figure could be guard Andres Feliz, who made an excellent return from injury in last week's defeat against Hapoel, scoring 24 points on 10 of 14 field goal shooting and adding 7 assists.

[Joventut Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/joventut-badalona/statistics/jov/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Prometey Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/statistics/pmt/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Yannick Kraag vs. Ronald March: Youth vs. experience in a matchup of perimeter scorers.

Joventut Badalona v Prometey Slobozhanske (2023-11-29T19:30:00.000Z)

The competition's only perfect team, Dreamland Gran Canaria (8-0), will aim to underline its intent to retain the EuroCup title with a visit from Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (3-5), which boosted its own playoffs hopes by ending a four-game losing streak last time out.

Gran Canaria shoots for perfect first half vs. Buducnost

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/dreamland-gran-canaria-buducnost-voli-podgorica/U2023/88/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-game-notes-facts-can-bud) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ec2324-rs9-prequotes-can-bud/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

The main man in that triumph was Yoan Makoundou, who now averages 20 points and 6.3 rebounds in the last three games. Gran Canaria has won all eight previous meetings between the teams and is looking to maintain its defensive excellence after restricting its opponents to less than 80 points for six consecutive games. Ethan Happ has dominated the boards, averaging 7 rebounds in the last four games, and will look to limit the influence of Makoundou.

[Gran Canaria Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/statistics/can/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Buducnost Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/statistics/bud/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Ethan Happ vs. Yoan Makoundou: A pair of distinct big men will test their styles in this game.

Dreamland Gran Canaria v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2023-11-29T20:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica ended a four-game losing streak by downing Dolomiti Energia Trento 98-96 in overtime at home in Round 8 and young forward Yoan Makoundou had to do a lot with it. The 23-year-old Frenchman led Buducnost with a career-high PIR of 33. He also set personal bests in points (23), rebounds (8), assists (3) and blocks (3). 

Yoan Makoundou, Buducnost: 'This is a good challenge for me'

[Yoan Makoundou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yoan-makoundou/011935/) joined Buducnost at the start of the season from AS Monaco, where he played limited minutes on a very successful team. He is making the most out of his new role as one of Buducnost's leaders, averaging 13.4 points on 54.5% three-point shooting, 5.0 rebounds and a PIR of 15.4. Over his last three games, Makoundou boosted his numbers to 20.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and a PIR of 23.7. Against Trento,  the 23-year-old Frenchman led Buducnost with a career-high PIR of 33. He also set personal bests in points (23), rebounds (8), assists (3) and blocks (3).

Makoundou said he thinks this season could allow him to get to the next level. "I think this is a good challenge for me, like I said, it is an opportunity. It is what I really needed, playing for a team and a coach and an organization that trusts me," Makoundou said. "So this is a great challenge, and I'll do everything to make it a good turning point in my career."

**Congratulations on beating Trento. The team trailed most of the way but got the win in overtime. What allowed you to have that strong mentality?**

"Thank you. It was more about the fight we showed, I would say. We kept our fighting spirit during the whole 40 minutes... I mean, 45 minutes! So I think Trento is a great team, but they they pretty much fell at the end."

**This win snapped a four-game losing streak. What does the team need to make it a turning point?**

"I think wins like this definitely help us come back to play the right way. It will be more about making all the efforts, the little efforts that we were not doing earlier. It is all about the team, I am unselfish and not really worried about how the next game will go. We will just fight and see at the end of the game."

"I'm not taking this for granted and I'm just making sure that I give everything on the court."

**You have been playing better and better lately. How great is it to play a leading role on a strong team like Buducnost?**

"Man, it is a great opportunity for me, coming from a team where I didn't really have the chance to contribute as I wanted to. I'm not taking this for granted, and I'm just making sure that I give everything on the court. It is what it is."

**Now that you have played against almost all the opponents in Group B, how strong is the EuroCup this season and how much of a challenge is it for you?**

"I think this is a good challenge for me, like I said, it is an opportunity. It is what I really needed, playing for a team and a coach and an organization that trusts me. So this is a great challenge and I'll do everything to make it a good turning point in my career."

**Your next game is arguably the toughest one on paper, on the road against undefeated Gran Canaria. How much are you looking forward to it?**

"We will just try to get a win, whatever it takes. That is the main thing and what matters to me. I watched a couple of their games. I know they play well and everything they do is organized. They play the right way and I think it is going to be a defensive game."

Yoan Makoundou highlights - October-November '23

Yoan Makoundou highlights, October-November '23

**You have a new coach in Andrej Zakelj. I know he just arrived, but in what ways can he help the team?**

"I think he will help the team with our spacing and focus on the things we didn't do well earlier in this season. These are the main things he is focusing on and probably the things that will help us the most for this second part of the EuroCup season."

**There are many young French players doing well in the EuroCup this season: you, Nadir Hifi, Noa Essengur, Zaccharie Risacher, Hugo Benitez... Why is that?**

"I would say that everything is in the way we learn how to play, the way we learn how to fight in young teams in the Espoirs \[U21\] categories. I think that's pretty much about it. France is a place that really cares about young people and makes sure they get involved somehow. If you can't really play pro early, you can work your way up, being responsible and accountable through the younger teams, the younger categories. So this is the main thing that France has been doing, at least for me. I can speak for me and not for the others."

"I'll do everything to make it a good turning point in my career."

**Did any team or any player surprise you until now in the EuroCup?**

"I cannot say I was surprised, because I had the chance to see a lot of great teams and great players, so I wouldn't say it shocked me. But I really think the EuroCup is a good championship, a good European competition. I can play it being 23 years old and get responsibilities and opportunities for me."

**How was the experience of being inside the EuroLeague Final Four last season, even getting a chance to play one game?**

"It was obviously great, playing the Final Four so early in my career. That was really a blessing and a big chance. It's been really interesting seeing how players talk to each other and stick together whether it's a loss or a win. And being a part of it on the inside was really interesting."

**What would you consider a good season for Buducnost, and for you in particular?**

"To be able to be in the \[semifinals\] or the \[quarterfinals\] and give everything in each game that we played in, do all the things that help us to get the most wins possible. That's the main thing for me. All other things will come if we play well. I'm confident in myself and the team. I just expect us to get some wins and show a good face of a good team that plays well, that's it."

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica ended a four-game losing streak by downing Dolomiti Energia Trento 98-96 in overtime at home in Round 8 and young forward Yoan Makoundou had to do a lot with it.