Kyle Wiltjer, Mfiondu Kabengele and Tyler Ennis combined for 60 points in Umana Reyer Venice's crucial 91-77 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 18 of the BKT EuroCup 

Canadian connection carried Reyer to key win

Umana Reyer Venice head coach Neven Spahija once again had to send a bit of his thanks to Canada for his team staying alive for the BKT EuroCup playoffs.

The trio of Canadians, Kyle Wiltjer, Mfiondu Kabengele and Tyler Ennis, combined for 60 points in Reyer’s crucial 91-77 victory over 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys to finish the regular season.

“It feels good any time you can get a win. We knew they were a tough team and regardless of the circumstances were going to play hard, and they did. But we’ve been focusing on ourselves. We know what we have to do to win and we have to do that every night now,” said Ennis, who scored 19 points to go along with 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 7 fouls drawn for a career-high performance index rating of 33.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🇨🇦 vibes<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uniti?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uniti</a> <a href="https://t.co/qN997QuDQA">pic.twitter.com/qN997QuDQA</a></p>&mdash; Reyer Venezia (@REYER1872) <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872/status/1886876526819639367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ennis was particularly strong in the second half with 10 points and 6 steals. His previous best PIR was 29 against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana in early October.

Wiltjer made sure Reyer started the important game in style with 16 of his 21 points coming in the first half. The veteran forward played well in both games against Lietkabelis, picking up 22 points and 6 rebounds in Round 9 in Lithuania. Those were the second- and third-highest scoring nights of the season for Wiltjer, who poured in a career-high 34 points against Valencia Basket in Round 4.

Game Videos

Kabengele was just strong the whole game - as he has been the whole season. The center collected 20 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 27. Kabengele came into the game ranked second in average PIR at 23.3, 10th in scoring at 15.6 points per game and first in rebounds (9.8 per game), offensive rebounds (3.6 per game) and defensive rebounds (6.3 per game).

“We deserved the win. We were the better team and controlled the game from the first moment until the end. We had our ups and downs but this game was never in question,” Coach Spahija said.

Game News

Kyle Wiltjer, Mfiondu Kabengele and Tyler Ennis combined for 60 points in Tuesday's crucial victory

Umana Reyer Venice v 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (2025-02-04T19:00:00.000Z)

CB Gran Canaria boasted a 45-62 lead in the third quarter against Trefl Sopot, yet a 25-3 run saw the Polish team take a shock lead before the 2023 EuroCup champion responded to win 73-76.

Gran Canaria avoided getting egg on its face in Sopot

“I think both teams could have won this game in the end. We were a little bit luckier,” admitted [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) head coach [Jaka Lakovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/lakovic-jaka/) in the postgame press conference after his team [prevailed over Trefl Sopot, 73-76,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-survived-trefl-rally-to-win-73-76-in-sopot/) on Tuesday evening.

It’s true that the game went down to the wire and was decided in the last minute, when [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) deflected a ball and enabled [Andrew Albicy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-albicy/003425/) to score twice from the line, but only a few could have expected such a thrilling end midway through the third period, when Gran Canaria boasted a 45-62 lead.

Gran Canaria dominated the game to that point thanks to its smooth offense, which led to 16 assists at halftime, and solid defense. But everything changed 27 minutes into the contest.

“We had some mental mistakes towards the last quarter,” regretted [George Conditt](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/george-conditt-iv/012016/) at the end of the game. “We mentally relaxed a little bit on defense and we were giving up a lot of easy buckets, turning the ball over too many times. In the first half we had 16 assists and in the second half we didn't do the same. But I'm glad we came out with the win.”

The offensive performance of Gran Canaria dropped dramatically in the second half, going from 50 points in the first 20 minutes to just 26 in the second half. The Spaniard side registered just 4 assists after the intermission, while turning the ball over 10 times. In the first half, Gran Canaria had only committed 3 turnovers.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔥 Gran partido de George, una vez más. El pívot se lleva el MVP <a href="https://twitter.com/toyotacanarias?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ToyotaCanarias</a> de la victoria de hoy en Sopot:<br><br>✅ 12 puntos<br>✅ 6 rebotes<br>✅ 1 asistencia<br>✅ 3 tapones<br>✅ 25 de valoración <a href="https://t.co/cSb36fhuVw">pic.twitter.com/cSb36fhuVw</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1886870486723776699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Coach Lakovic also recognized the value of Trefl’s effort, which led to a 25-3 run bridging the third and the fourth periods that gave the hosts a 70-65 lead with more than six minutes still to play. “They competed very well,” he said. “And in the end, it went down to a couple of possessions and we were, I think, the lucky team.

“I thought we started the game very well, focused defensively, finding the good options on offense. And then I think, starting the third quarter, we just slowed down. We had too many turnovers, we let Trefl get confidence, get some easy points in transition and they came back in the game. It was decided on two possessions; I think we had two good defenses and the game in the end was ours.”

The Spaniards lost a 17-point third-quarter advantage and trailed 70-65 in the last period

Trefl Sopot v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2025-02-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Umana Reyer Venice remained alive in the fight for the BKT EuroCup Playoffs by battling past 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 91-77 in its last game of the regular season

Reyer beats Lietkabelis 91-77, to keep playoff hopes alive 

Umana Reyer Venice remained alive in the fight for the playoffs by battling past 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys 91-77 in its last game of the regular season. Reyer wasted a 13-point first-quarter lead and only finished off the visitors in the closing quarter. The Italian club improved to 10-8 in Group B but now needs help on Wednesday to reach the post-season - needing either U-BT Cluj-Napoca or Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse to lose.

Kyle Wiltjer scored a game-high 21 points in the win while Mfiondu Kabengele had 20 points and Reyer’s third Canadian Tyler Ennis totaled 19 points and 7 assists for a career-high performance index rating of 33. Lietkabelis had already been eliminated coming into the game but made Reyer put the game away for a 5-13 record. Martynas Varnas led the Lithuanians with 19 points and Djordje Gagic tallied 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Wiltjer scored 5 quick points to help Reyer jump ahead 7-0 while Lietkabelis failed to get on the board for more than 2 minutes. Wiltjer was really active trying to get the crowd going and added another score as the lead grew to 13-3. And the cushion swelled to 18-5 before Lietkabelis hit two triples in a 0-9 finish to the quarter to trail 18-14 after 10 minutes.

The momentum continued into the second frame and the visitors finished a 0-13 run to tie the game 18-18. Rodney McGruder snapped the rut with a triple and Ennis added three free throws as Reyer looked back on track at 24-20. The guests knotted it again at 27-27 only to see Reyer get eight more points from Wiltjer in a 19-6 surge for a 46-33 cushion at halftime.

Two three-pointers from the visitors made it 51-43 early in the second half as Lietkabelis tried to hang close. But more turnovers resulted in an 8-0 Reyer run and the margin was 61-45. Lietkabelis rallied again with a 2-12 burst to make the hosts nervous up just 63-57 after 30 minutes.

A Dominykas Stenionis triple trimmed the margin to 65-60. Reyer punched back though with the next eight points to reestablish a comfortable lead at 73-60.  Lietkabelis would not go away with a triple to pull within 75-66. Ennis continued his strong showing with a three-pointer and the guests could not get closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

The Italian side now must wait to see if Bourg and Cluj can win

Dreamland Gran Canaria closed out the BKT EuroCup Regular Season with a tough win over Trefl Sopot, 73-76, on Tuesday in Round 18 of the 2024-25 season of the BKT EuroCup

 Gran Canaria survived Trefl rally to win, 73-76, in Sopot

Dreamland Gran Canaria closed out the BKT EuroCup Regular Season with a tough win over Trefl Sopot, 73-76, on Tuesday evening. The victory improved the team's record to 12-6 and secured at least third place in Group A, with the chance to climb to second if Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv loses on Wednesday. A 0-13 run early in the first quarter gave Gran Canaria a double-digit lead that grew to 45-62 in the third, but a comeback built on a 25-3 run bridging the last 2 periods brought the game to the line. A deflection by Nico Brussino and a couple of free throws by Andrew Albicy closed the game in the last minute. With this defeat, Trefl closed its season with only one win in 18 rounds.

Gran Canaria was led by Nico Brussino, who neared a triple-double with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. George Conditt and Andrew Albicy also scored 12 points and Jovan Klavic and Pierre Pelos netted 10 apiece. Geoffrey Groselle paced Trefl with 14 points, Aaron Best followed with 13, Nick Johnson produced a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, and Jakub Schenk finished with 10 points in the losing effort.

Best and Johnson got the home team going and set an initial 4-2 edge, but Klajic celebrated his second start of the season with a three-pointer that highlighted a 0-13 run in which he had 8 points to push Gran Canaria up 4-15. Groselle took over for Trefl and secured a couple of inside baskets that aborted the visitors’ escape, 10-17. He committed his second foul soon after, though, as the visitors used Conditt inside to punish Trefl with another strong spark, 5-11, in which Conditt netted 6 points to finish the first quarter clearly in charge, 15-28.

The difference rose to 14 points after Tobey scored inside early in the second. The hosts gave the reins to Schenk and Jaroslaw Zyskowski and it worked fine in the beginning. Six points from them got Trefl within 24-32, right before a timeout. Then Marcus Weathers joined the party with 4 points in a row against Massamba Diop to make it 28-34 midway through the second quarter. Diop took revenge very soon with three buckets in as many minutes, as Gran Canaria recovered a double-digit edge, 33-45. A triple by Brussino dug it deeper and an inside basket by Mike Tobey closed the first half with the visitors dominating 37-50.

Best started strong and provided a layup and a corner three to make it 42-52. Gran Canaria was not so fluent in offense as it was before intermission, but the hosts couldn’t take advantage of it to reduce the gap to single digits. Back-to-back three-pointers by Brussino and Albicy solidified the visitors’ lead, which reached a game-high 17 points (45-62) after Conditt scored again inside the paint. With the game on the threshold of a break, Trefl found some air through Groselle, who brought his team within 56-63, with 4 points and an assist for Moten’s three. Then, another three-pointer by Best capped a 14-1 run for the hosts, who entered the last stanza with renewed hopes, 59-65.

Gran Canaria’s scoring drought continued when the game resumed, as the visitors were held scoreless for the first 5 minutes of the fourth quarter. On the flip side, Trefl remained hot and managed to turn the tables, 67-65, with still 7 minutes to go, thanks to a short jumper by Johnson.  The run didn’t stop there, as Nahiem Alleyne drilled a three to make it 70-65. Brussino and Pelos managed to stop the bleeding when they converted a couple of offensive rebounds, forcing a timeout by the hosts with the score 70-69. The momentum changed, as Salvo and Conditt completed the comeback, 70-72, right before Trefl stopped the game again. Pelos and Zyskowski swapped points and Groselle missed a free throw that could have tied the game, leaving it 73-74 with 37 seconds to go. The hosts had a chance to get back in charge, but a deflection by Brussino allowed Albicy to convert a pair of free throws, as a late three-point attempt by Johnson didn’t find the rim and confirmed the road win for Gran Canaria.

The visitors gave up a 17-point second-half lead, but managed to secure the win in a thrilling finish

Round 18: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, February 4

### Trefl Sopot vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (19:00 CET)

**Jaka Lakovic, Dreamland Gran Canaria head coach**

"Sopot has changed several players, and in recent days in BKT EuroCup, and in the Polish league, they compete very well. They beat Wolves in Lithuania, they were 18 points ahead here at home against Bahcesehir...They were in the game against Besiktas until the last quarter. A tough rival awaits us, who competes well right now. We have to be very focused, prepared, and without any type of relaxation because our objective is to compete very well, try to put ourselves in a position to win the game and improve our chances of finishing second, although we know that this does not depend only on us."

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (20:00 CET)

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"We come into this game on a negative streak, but we must not let that affect us. We are playing the most important game of our European season at home, and everyone is ready. We have the full roster available, and we will do our best to win. Lietkabelis is a better team than their results suggest, and we will be prepared."

**Kyle Wiltjer, Umana Reyer Venice forward**

"This is a game that will require a lot of energy and focus from the start. We know what we need to do, and we need everyone's support. We must stay positive and give everything we have. It won’t be easy, just like every EuroCup game."

## Wednesday, February 5

### Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach**

"We started the BKT EuroCup months ago and we arrived at the final game that is incredibly important for both teams. We are facing one of the teams that, now, is in the best shape in order of confidence, performance, and results in the ABA League and BKT EuroCup. They play physical basketball and share the ball. It's nice to watch them playing. For us, it's a very important test but we feel blessed to be able to arrive at the last game and have a basketball game with that level of importance."

**Regimantas Miniotas, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius player**

"The stakes for this game are massive, knowing how much is on the line. But everything is in our hands, so we are happy to have the opportunity to play such an important game. We will face a team that has found a great rhythm, winning 13 of their last 14 games. We understand the level our opponents are at right now. We are preparing, and staying focused. To win, we must maintain concentration throughout the entire game, stick to the game plan, and bring great energy."

### Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)

**Selom Mawugbe, Dolomiti Energia Trento center**

A difficult match awaits us against a strong and physical team, which is fighting for a place in the playoffs. We want to end our EuroCup adventure in the best possible way and to do so we will have to put in a great performance for all forty minutes of play.

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (19:00 CET)

**Ty Harrelson, ratiopharm Ulm head coach**

"We absolutely have to reduce our turnovers - this is the only way we can be more efficient offensively. Another focus will also be on the rebound duel, which has to be won. If we take these things into account, I think we have a good chance of winning."

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"We're facing a team that has demonstrated its quality throughout the season. Ulm plays a fast-paced game and has depth in every position, with at least two high-caliber players at each spot. They bring size, shooting, pick-and-roll efficiency, athleticism, post-game presence, and full-court pressure. They’re a highly competitive team and lead the league in scoring off screens—especially their two left-handed players, Jessup and Plummer, who excel in these situations. They’re very effective coming off screens, and we need to be prepared for that.

We understand how important this game is for them, just as it is for us. That’s why we are preparing with full focus. It’s going to be a tough challenge—Ulm is a dangerous team- but this game will be a strong test of where we stand right now."

**Antonio Blakeney, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard**

"Obviously, we’re coming in to compete and hustle. This is a big game for us and it's also a big game for Ulm. They need it just as much as we do, so we have to stay focused and be fully prepared."

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (19:00 CET)

\--

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)

**Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach**

"I expect that Cedevita Olimpija will arrive very motivated because there is still a lot at stake for them in the table. You won't want to fall into the trap of slipping out as our favorite at the end of the season. In the last few games they have played with a lot of energy as a team, they are very athletic and fast. We have to pay particular attention to their fast breaks. They try to provoke turnovers and go straight into the transition game even after missed throws. We have to be very focused so as not to let them get going. They can be dangerous from the three-point line, but not too much."

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach**

"It’s the last game of the regular season, and everyone is talking about how important it is, as a win secures home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. You can sense that the team is somewhat fatigued, especially mentally, as we’ve played a significant number of games in January. We’re heading to Hamburg after Saturday’s crucial \[ABA League\] victory over Split. We’re in good rhythm, and most likely, Andrija Stipanovic will return to the court, as he is feeling much better. His presence on the court is vital for us. We’ll try to deliver a strong performance."

**Joan Beringer, Cedevita Olimpija center**

"This is an important game for us as it’s the last test of the regular season. We need to beat a solid Hamburg team because we know what a victory means. We have to give our best to return to Ljubljana with a win."

### Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:30 CET)

\--

### Valencia Basket vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (20:30 CET)

**Nate Reuvers, Valencia Basket forward**

"Every match is important, regardless of whether or not it has relevance in the classification. But especially after losing our last game away from home \[in the Spanish League\], we need to come together, play well with our rhythm and get our game back. I hope a lot of people come to the game and cheer us on like they normally do, giving us the energy to play well at home. Rebounding is something we've been a little weaker at lately and we're trying to improve, especially attacking offensive rebounds. I couldn't play against Bourg in the first part of the season, so I'm looking forward to playing against them now here at home."

**Injury report**: Ethan Happ is injured long-term.

### Joventut Badalona vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (20:30 CET)

**Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach**

"I ask the team to give the best possible image and work to improve and learn. We have to do a lot of things better, we are building, and we are positive on the way to compete better and better. Tomorrow we have to work and bring productivity to the game. Obviously, we will have specific goals. It's an opportunity we have to improve things. We must approach the game with the utmost responsibility and give the best possible image in front of our people. We are now looking for Michael Ruzic to enter into a dynamic and rhythm. We believe that in order to be more competitive we have to extend the rotation of players."

**Injury report**: Miguel Allen is out, club announced on its website.

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 18 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Valencia Basket v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Joventut Badalona v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-02-05T19:30:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

ratiopharm Ulm v Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2025-02-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-02-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-02-05T17:00:00.000Z)

2024-25 EuroCup regular season retrospective

Only one round remains in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup regular season before the second midseason break that will pave the way for the playoffs.

This was a fascinating stretch with some powerhouses confirming their status by playing beautiful basketball of the highest order and perhaps some unexpected challengers emerging along the way. The MVP race remains less monopolized than last season while there are many youngsters who can lay their hands on the Rising Star award.

Valencia and Bahcesehir have shown they are made of different stuff.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1780506/2024-25-eurocup-regular-season-retrospective/).

Ahead of Round 18, let's look back on the season so far

Before the game that will decide his team's playoff future, Buducnost guard McKinley Wright spoke about the season, the matchup with Wolves, his time as Luka Doncic’s teammate and much more

McKinley Wright: 'We don't fear anybody'

[Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/roster/bud/?season=2024-25) controls its own destiny as it enters the 18th and final round of the BKT EuroCup Regular season and one of the players it will lean on as it looks to secure its playoff return is point guard [McKinley Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mckinley-wright-iv/012606/). 

Now in his second season in Europe – both with Buducnost – Wright has stepped up and played a critical role in the home stretch of the season. He has averaged 12.8 points, 5.8 assists and 2.5 steals for a PIR of 17.4 over his team’s last five games, during which Buducnost has gone 4-1. 

Ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the Lithuanian capital to take on [Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/wolves-vilnius/roster/wol/?season=2024-25) knowing that only a win can guarantee safe passage into the playoffs, Wright spoke to Javier Gancedo of [Euroleague.net](http://EuroCupBasketball.com) about the season, the matchup with Wolves, his time as Luka Doncic’s teammate and much more.

**Congratulations on [beating Joventut](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/buducnost-blows-away-joventut-107-75-edges-closer-to-playoffs/). It was a very important game in the playoff race. What were the keys to that win?**

"Joventut is a really good team and a tough opponent and we've just been really gelling together and been focused lately as a team, you know, trying to collect wins. It started off rough for us in the EuroCup and we stayed together, you know, throughout a rollercoaster of a ride early on. And then finding ways to win games, you know, everybody's bought in defensively and we make mistakes, but we've been able to play through them, stick together. There's been no pointing the finger. Just everybody sticking together and focusing and trusting each other to win games, and obviously, it's been paying off for us lately."

**Was there a turning point in the season for the team?**

"In a sense, but we don't try to point at any individual game as a turning point. I don't know what the winning streak is now. I know our only lost lately was [the Bahcesehir loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/bahcesehir-edges-buducnost-in-ot-95-93/). That was a tough one on the road and one that we needed as well, but like I said before, we just found a way to stay together. Obviously, [the Hapoel game](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/buducnost-rallies-past-hapoel-84-83/) was very important for our EuroCup playoff hopes and was one we needed. There was a little more emotion behind that one and we came out with the win. So that was big time for us. I guess you can say that was kind of a turning point 'cause, they're a really good team. To know you could be the team like that, you feel like you can beat anybody."

Best of McKinley Wright: 2024-25 regular season

**You have been playing very well lately. Did it take you some time to adjust this season or are you in better shape now?**

"Last year was my first year overseas and the game, it's totally different from the American game and the play style and stuff like that. So it took me a little bit of time to adjust last year. I felt like I had my ups and downs, but you know this year, I feel like I've adjusted well and kind of adapted to the European style. You know, just found my niche. Some nights it's 30 minutes, some nights it's 15. It depends on the opponent and if we're winning by a lot or just different scenarios. So I just try to make the most of my minutes and be very aggressive as soon as I come on the court, whether I'm starting or if I'm coming off the bench, you know, it doesn't really matter because I end up playing the same amount of minutes at every game, whether I start or come off the bench. So I just try to be aggressive in those times and use my speed to an advantage and just try to get out in the open floor and transition. And you know that makes a game a lot easier when you can get out and run. I've gotten in better shape, I've lost weight from last year. So doing better with my body and stuff like. So that's a little bit of everything coming into play and it's paying off for me."

**You played with Luka Doncic in the NBA for a little while. There's also a video of you playing one-on-one against him on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcMJL_Y5ye8). How was the experience of playing with Luka on the Mavericks?**

"It was a great experience. Luka is a big kid, you know, he's 25 years old, so he still likes to play around and joke a lot and, you know, do teenage stuff as far as being a big, playful kid. It was a great experience just being able to be around somebody that talented, that good at basketball and can turn it on at any given second and be an amazing player. So I mean, it was a great experience for me being able to guard him throughout training camp and practices and one-on-one after practice and stuff like that. It was a great, you know, a teaching point for me. I'm just trying to continue to be more physical, especially when guarding someone bigger like that. It was a great experience, man, enjoyed it. And you know, I loved my time there."

**From now on, every game is going to be do-or-die. Like if you win, you're in for sure. And then after that, it's do-or-die, at least for the next two rounds. This is the time of the season that everybody is waiting for, right?**

"I mean, it's what we came together and said we wanted to do before the season started. Now we want to go to the playoffs and we control our own destiny. It's do-or-die. We play the Wolves on Wednesday, obviously. You know, they feel the same way, so. It'll be a battle. It'll be physical. It'll be a tough game, but I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll be fun and obviously. I'm motivated for my team and I think we can win. So it'll be fun."

"A lot of teams don't wanna see us because they know when we going, when we got it together, that we can be really good."

**I gotta ask you about their guards. Stopping Anthony Cowan and Andrew Andrews, two talented guys just like you guys have. How important is stopping them going to be to get the win and get to the next round?**

"It's gonna be huge for us. And Ant Cowan is having a really good season. You know, having, one of the better seasons in the EuroCup and I don't know what he's averaging 16, 17, whatever it is, but he's playing really well. So he's the head of the snake and we know to have a chance to win on their court, we have to slow him down. So I'm looking forward to it, man. It's going to be fun. And you know, I'm always up for the challenge. We'll be ready."

**With Yogi Ferrell, with Rasheed Sulaimon, with you, you have a really super talented team. How dangerous can this team be if you make it to the playoffs?**

"I think we've come together at a perfect time. Like I said before, we had a rough start to the season. You know, once we get to the playoffs, I feel a lot of teams don't wanna see us at that point because, they know when we're going, when we got it together, that we can be really good. And we're much better than we were from the beginning of the season when we had our struggles and stuff. So I feel like we can be a dangerous matchup for anybody that we see in the playoffs and I mean it's basketball. We don't fear anybody. We have respect for everybody, but you know it's the game of basketball. I think it'll be fun, man. Obviously got to handle business on Wednesday and get into the playoffs, but you know, once we get there, I feel like we'll be a dangerous matchup for anybody."

**And finally, as somebody who comes from the United States, from the NBA, and now has played two seasons in Europe, how do you find the EuroCup in general?**

"It's physical. It's a different playing style. There's no defensive 3 seconds. You can hit the ball off the rim. A lot of different rules. So you know, it's like I said, it's basketball, man. I've adjusted and adapted to the play style so you know I love it. NBA is obviously a little more spacing, which calls for more one-on-one and stuff like that, but I like both play styles. I've really enjoyed my two years here and I've enjoyed the ups and downs, the learning and the growing. So it's been fun and it can only get better. I'm excited for what's to come. And what's in front of me now."

More Buducnost News

Fantasy Challenge guru Javier Gancedo shares some tips ahead of Round 18

Fantasy tips, Round 18: The one before the break! 

The 2024-25 BKT EuroCup Regular Season comes to an end, so it is a very special week in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. Three trades will be allowed for the last time; when the competition returns for the eighthfinals, unlimited trades will be available each week until a champion is crowned. There are many good options in the game right now. Here are my top recommendations before the decisive Round 18 and the big break.

### Kur Kuath, Veolia Towers Hamburg (12.0 credits)

It is the end of the road for Hamburg, which wants to finish the 2024-25 EuroCup with a bang. [Kur Kuath](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kur-kuath/013313/) has been just sensational in the last seven games, getting five double-doubles in that span while averaging 13.3 points on 39 of 59 two-point shooting and 9.2 rebounds for a PIR of 21.4. Last chance to get him!

### Mfiondu Kabengele, Umana Reyer Venice (17.8 credits)

Reyer needs a win and some help from other teams in order to qualify. [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/) has been its main pillar all season long and should have another impressive game against Lietkabelis. He's had nine double-doubles this season, but his last one was huge: 20 points and 18 rebounds against Turk Telekom in Round 17!

Kyle Alexander, Kur Kuath, Mfiondu Kabengele, Aleksej Nikolic and Maksim Salash are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 18

### Maksim Salash, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (9.9 credits)

Bourg is also trying to qualify and relies on [Maksim Salash](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/maksim-salash/004525/) to keep playing the way he did in recent games. In his last two showdowns, Salash averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 fouls drawn and a PIR of 21.0, way above his season averages. Bourg wants to be in the next round and Salash should bring his A-game.

### Kyle Alexander, Turk Telekom Ankara (14.8 credits)

Turk Telekom is in a similar situation: A win will send coach Erden Can's team to the next round. [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) leads the EuroCup in blocks (2.2 bpg.) and is helping in many ways lately. Over the last two seasons, Alexander has averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks for a PIR of 21.5. Wow!

### Aleksej Nikolic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (9.4 credits)

Cedevita clinches a playoff spot with a win and may even finish second with the right results going its way. [Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) has been playing his best basketball lately, getting a double-digit PIR in each of the last six games. In the last three, he's boosted his numbers to 12.0 points and 4.0 assists for a PIR of 16.3.

More Fantasy Challenge News

The final round of the BKT EuroCup regular season arrives with playoff places and home-court advantage still up for grabs and several showdowns between direct rivals. Here’s your overview of Round 18’s action.

Round 18 at a glance: It's all come down to this!

The final round of the BKT EuroCup regular season arrives with playoff places and home-court advantage still up for grabs and several showdowns between direct rivals. Here’s your overview of Round 18’s action.

## Tuesday, February 4

### Trefl Sopot vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (19:00 CET)

Group A’s rock-bottom Trefl (1-16) will attempt to finish on a high against a Gran Canaria (11-6) which needs victory and a Hapoel defeat to claim second place. The Spanish team bounced back to form last week with a big win over Besiktas, and will look for [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/) to stay hot after scoring 20 and 18 points in the last two games. The inside presence of [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/) (9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game) will be important against Trefl big man [Geoffrey Groselle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/geoffrey-groselle/013296/), who has recorded double-digit scoring in eight consecutive games. But the Polish team’s leaky defense, which has allowed 86.8 points per game, should give Gran Canaria plenty of opportunity to secure the win it needs.

### Umana Reyer Venice vs. 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys (20:00 CET)

Reyer (9-8) will look for the win it needs to keep its postseason hopes alive by overcoming eliminated visitor Lietkabelis (5-12). The Lithuanian team showed it is still fighting hard with last week’s dramatic victory over Cluj, when 17 points and 6 rebounds from [Djordje Gagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/djordje-gagic/004229/) helped secure a spectacular late comeback. Reyer has faltered recently with two losses out of three, last week losing at Turk Telekom despite another monster performance – 20 points and 18 rebounds – from [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-kabengele/012796/). The Italian team leaned on 22 points from [Kyle Wiltjer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-wiltjer/008052/) in a high-scoring thriller, 93-100, when the teams met in Round 9, and will hope for a push from the home fans as it attempts to advance to the playoffs.

Round 18 Head-to-Head: Ennis vs. Kovliar

## Wednesday, February 5

### Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)

A huge matchup between two of the four teams tied for fourth place in Group A will see the winner progress to the playoffs and the loser in danger of elimination as Wolves (9-8) welcomes Buducnost (9-8). Both teams are confident, with Wolves winning two in a row while free-scoring Buducnost has roared back into playoff contention with three straight wins. The Montenegrin team won easily, 104-77, in Round 9’s meeting between the teams as [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/011150/) netted 23 points on 6-of-7 three-point shooting. Wolves also offers a deep threat, with [Matas Jogela](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/matas-jogela/006853/) knocking down 4 triples in last week’s big win at Trento, while the backcourt battle between [Andrew Andrews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andrew-andrews/011248/) and [Yogi Ferrell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/yogi-ferrell/011281/) could be another decisive factor.

Round 18 Head-to-Head: Andrews vs. Sulaimon

### Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)

Besiktas (9-8) will look to recover winning ways and secure a place in the eighthfinals by beating the visiting Trento (6-11). The Italian team has been eliminated and delivered a poor performance to suffer a 26-point home loss against Wolves last week with nobody scoring more than [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/saliou-niang/012687/)’s 11 points, so will look to recover its spirits to finish the season on a high. Besiktas is coming off a defeat at Gran Canaria, where 18 points from [Jonah Mathews](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jonah-mathews/011936/) – who averages 21.0 points over the last four games – wasn’t enough to compensate for an unusually porous defense. The Turkish team beat Trento comfortably, 68-83, in Round 9, and will be confident of taking a fourth straight home win on Wednesday.

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (19:00 CET)

It’s a must-win battle for both teams as Ulm (9-8) attempts to secure a playoff berth against a Hapoel team (11-6) which knows victory will secure second place. The teams are in contrasting form, with Ulm losing four straight to jeopardize its postseason hopes, while Hapoel has won five of the last six behind a potent offense which last week used [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/johnathan-motley/011157/)’s double-double – 22 points and 10 boards – to thrash Trefl. Ulm must rebound well to limit Motley’s ability to grab extra possessions for his team, but can take confidence from its memories of an 80-82 Round 9 road victory over Hapoel powered by 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists from all-action forward [Justinian Jessup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justinian-jessup/013290/).

Round 18 Head-to-Head: Jessup vs. Foster

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (19:00 CET)

Group B’s last-placed team Aris (3-14) will attempt to reverse recent form and deny the playoff ambitions of visiting Cluj (9-8). The Romanian team has already missed out on a chance to secure postseason action with last week’s late collapse at Lietkabelis, and will be determined to add more misery for an Aris team which has lost five straight and allowed at least 90 points in each of those games. Cluj will look to establish physical control through big man [De’Shawn Stephens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/de-shawn-stephens/006618/) (9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game), while backcourt star [Adam Mokoka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/adam-mokoka/012698/) will look to repeat the form which saw him register a season-high 24 points when his team overcame Aris, 87-79, in November.

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (19:30 CET)

Dangerous Hamburg (5-12) will look to continue its strong finish to the season by upsetting the second-place ambitions of visiting Cedevita (10-7), which must win to have any chance of finishing second in Group B. The German team has won two in a row after last week’s overtime triumph at Aris, when [Brae Ivey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brae-ivey/013308/) showed his all-round game by combining 25 points with 5 assists and 5 steals. Cedevita’s offense was throttled in last week’s home loss to Valencia – a second straight loss for the Slovenian team. [Devin Robinson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/) did deliver a strong performance with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, but his teammates need to rediscover their long-range radar after only making 6 three-pointers in both of the last two games.

Round 18 Head-to-Head: Kuath vs. Beringer

### Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (19:30 CET)

An exciting tussle between two already-qualified teams could deliver a second-place finish in Group B for the winner as Hapoel Jerusalem (10-7) hosts Turk Telekom (10-7). Both teams are coming off vital wins, with [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) again underlining his scoring prowess by netting 31 points to power Jerusalem past Bourg. Turk Telekom overcame Reyer on the back of 17 points from [Braian Angola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/braian-angola/010465/), who will look to maintain his outstanding record of double-digit scoring in every game this season. Jerusalem ranks second in the competition in rebounding, partly thanks to [Chris Johnson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/chris-johnson/013277/) with 6.1 boards per night, and Turk Telekom needs to physically compete as well as stopping Harper, who scored 35 to secure an easy win, 77-94, when the teams met in Round 9.

Round 18 Head-to-Head: Carrington vs. Hanlan

### Valencia Basket vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (20:30 CET)

Group B winner Valencia (15-2) will look to gear up for the playoffs by overcoming a Bourg team (9-8) which needs to win to avoid jeopardizing its postseason place. The French team needs a fast start to recover confidence after suffering a 27-point home loss against Jerusalem last week, and must improve its long-range accuracy after only shooting 5 triples in that game. Valencia’s ability to complement dynamic offense with tough defense was showcased in last week’s battling win at Cedevita, and the Spanish team has the motivation of needing to win to secure the best all-round record across both groups, with [Xabi Lopez-Arostegui](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/xabi-lopez-arostegui/005356/) among its form players after netting double-digit scoring in five straight games.

### Joventut Badalona vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (20:30 CET)

Eliminated Joventut (6-11) will look to go out on a high against a Bahcesehir team (14-3) which already knows it has won Group A. The game features a showdown between two of the competition’s best big men, with veteran [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/) (12.5 and 6.6 points per game) taking on visiting powerhouse [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/), who averages 17 points over the last seven games. The home team can also count on an in-form [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), who netted 25 points despite suffering a heavy loss at Buducnost last week. [Jaleen Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jaleen-smith/011192/) led Bahcesehir to victory over Joventut in Round 9, netting 17 points in an 89-78 home win, and he also arrives in great form with an average of 17.4 points over the last four games.

Five playoff spots remain – three in Group A, two in Group B – entering the final round of the regular season  