Valencia Basket is last in the EuroCup in steals with 4.2 per game, but if there was ever a time to pressure a team, it would be now against Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, which has committed the second-most turnovers in the competition (16.4 per game). The more points Valencia can generate off turnovers, the better its chances to extend its winning streak.

Keys to victory: Valencia vs. Cedevita

Cedevita will have to work hard on the glass in this game. The team has been outrebounded by 2.1 rebounds per game and has allowed 12.4 offensive boards per game, which is third-most in the competition. Valencia has outrebounded its opponents by 8.3 boards per game and is second in the EuroCup with 12.3 offensive rebounds per game. Cedevita will need Zach Auguste, Alen Omic and Melvin Ejim to take care of business on the glass to keep it in the game on the road.

Marquee matchup: Valencia’s Prepelic vs. Cedevita’s Blazic

Prepelic is Valencia Basket’s leading scorer with 15.4 points per game and Blazic is second on Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana with 14.6 points per game. Blazic, however, has better periphery numbers with 41.7% shooting on three-pointers, 5.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for a PIR of 16.7, while Prepelic has been worth an 11.6 PIR thanks to 38.9% three-point shooting, 1.4 boards and 3.6 assists. The meeting of these old friends and great competitors is a true marquee matchup.

Jaka Blazic - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) - EC21

Valencia Basket returns to action after a one-week hiatus to face Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana on Tuesday.

Valencia returns to action against Cedevita

Valencia (4-2), which had its Round 7 game postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, will try to keep pace with the leaders in Group B with a fourth straight win. Valencia is 2-1 at home this season and lost on Sunday at home in the Spanish League with a nearly-full squad minus Coach Penarroya. Cedevita (2-5) has hit a rough patch. After winning its first two games of the season, it has suffered five straight losses, three of which have been on the road. These teams meet for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign when Valencia won twice in the regular season.

Martin Hermannsson - Valencia Basket - EC21

Metropolitans 92 and Andorra are among the best offensive teams in the league, so a fun showdown can be expected in France. Andorra has the sixth-best offense in the EuroCup and the hosts have the ninth, but there is almost a 5-point difference in favor of the guests on the defensive end, so that should be something that Metropolitans focus on if to maximize its chances to win.


Keys to victory: Metropolitans 92 vs. Andorra

Andorra also ranks third in moving the ball (20.0 apg.) and has a top-five percentage in two-point shooting, so the hosts will have to pay extra attention to their defense if they want to stop the guests. Metropolitans seem to be faring a bit better under the boards and will need Vince Hunter (14.9 ppg., 8.7 rpg.) to also step up if they want to keep this win at home. Andorra will also rely on Drew Crawford (10.7 ppg.) to team up with Miller-McIntyre to try to maintain the upward trend it has shown in the last weeks.

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 v MoraBanc Andorra (2021-12-21T19:15:00.000Z)

David Michineau - Boulogne Metropolitans 92 - (photo David Grau - Joventut) EC21

Two of the best offensive players in the league this season are set to go against each other when Metropolitans 92 and Andorra meet Tuesday.

Marquee matchup: Metropolitans' Cummings vs. Andorra's Miller-McIntyre

Will Cummings leads the French team with 18.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists in seven appearances this season, all of them as a starter. Codi Miller-McIntyre leads Andorra with 14.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists - fourth-best in the league - and 1.3 steals in seven games with all but one as the starter. The mood of the game will largely depend on how this duel develops from the first minute to the last.

Codi Miller-McIntyre - MoraBanc Andorra (photo Martin Imatge - Andorra) - EC21

Two teams in the middle part of the standings in Group A will look to end 2021 on a high note when Boulogne Metropolitans 92 hosts MoraBanc Andorra on Tuesday.

Metropolitans 92, Andorra look to end year with a win

Metropolitans 92 (3-4) has lost its last two games, including a defeat on the road at Joventut Badalona, 86-63, in Round 7. Andorra (5-2) has won five of its last six games, including at home against Lietkabelis Panevezys, 81-76, last week. The guests are in great momentum and will look to extend their streak in France, but the hosts will need a win badly if they want to stay in the thick of the race.

Miralem Halilovic - Boulogne Metropolitans 92 - (photo David Grau - Joventut) EC21

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has struggled on the defensive end this season with opponents making 59.2% of their two-pointers and 38.8% of their threes. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has the offensive weapons to attack and the hosts had best be ready because it will be hard to win if Buducnost is allowed to score at those rates.


Keys to victory: Bourg vs. Buducnost

Buducnost has struggled with injuries all season but may have turned a corner in terms of depth with Willie Reed and Suad Sehovic returning last week while Donatas Tarolis made his debut. Still, an eight-man rotation is less than ideal and Coach Dzikic will have to ration off the minutes to keep his players’ legs fresh in what could be a close game.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2021-12-21T19:00:00.000Z)

Calvin Harris 2- Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Two of the most productive guards in the EuroCup will meet in Tuesday’s clash between Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Marquee matchup: Bourg’s Harris vs. Buducnost’s Cobbs

Bourg combo-guard C.J. Harris is fourth in the EuroCup with an average PIR of 22 per game this season and eighth in scoring with 17.5 points per game. He’s made 8 of 13 three-pointers (61.5%), dished 3.8 assists and collected 1.5 steals in his four appearances. Justin Cobbs is second in PIR (24.6) and fifth in scoring (18.7 ppg.) in addition to 4.9 assists and 2.0 steals in seven games. The two are also among the leaders in fouls drawn, with Harris’s 6.8 per game topping the charts and Cobbs’s 6.4 third. If either gets into early foul trouble, it could have a big impact.

Justin Cobbs - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica - EC21

Bourg (2-5) lost on opening night at home, but has won both games since. Last week Coach Laurent Legname’s charges fell in Germany, 96-86, at ratiopharm despite 24 points apiece from Rasheed Sulaimon and CJ Harris. Buducnost (5-2) had won back-to-back games before losing 76-83 at home to Gran Canaria last week. Justin Cobbs, who leads Buducnost and is fifth in the competition in scoring this season with 18.7 points per game, netted 18 in defeat. Buducnost swept the series when the teams met in the Top 16 last season. Willie Reed averaged 15 points for Buducnost in those wins.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse will try to make it three home wins in a row when it faces visiting Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, which has a 2-1 record on the road this season.

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Calvin Harris - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21