Time is running out in the BKT EuroCup as the remaining playoff places are contested and qualified teams battle for the highest possible finish. This is what to expect this week.
This week: Race for final playoff spots heats up
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Tuesday, January 23
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento
Playoff-bound Cluj (11-4) will look to boost its chances of clinching a top-two finish as it hosts a Trento team (7-8) also looking to qualify for the postseason from a very tight Group B. Cluj has won three straight and can also take confidence from a colossal 60-98 victory over the Italian team earlier this season, when Karel Guzman’s double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds helped make the difference. Andrejs Grazulis had 15 points and 8 boards in that game, and his showdown with Guzman will be a highlight again this week.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. ratiopharm Ulm
Ulm (8-7) will look to seal a playoff place by ending an alarming four-game losing streak as it travels to Buducnost (6-9), which certainly hasn’t given up on its own chances of advancing despite losing two of the last three. The German team cruised home, 84-67, when the teams met in November, led by 12 points and 10 assists from gifted young guard Juan Nunez, who has committed 5 turnovers in two of the last three games. Buducnost will look for backcourt control from McKinley Wright, who has scored in double digits in five straight games.
Paris Basketball vs. Joventut Badalona
One of the games of the regular season between two genuine title contenders will see first-placed Paris (14-1) tested by red-hot Joventut (10-5). Both teams are on seven-game winning streaks, with the Spanish team keeping alive its hopes of a two-top finish by overcoming London last week thanks to buzzer-beating heroics from Andres Feliz. His showdown with another of the competition’s best guards, TJ Shorts, is sure to provide thrills, as will the clash in the paint between in-form Leon Kratzer and veteran Ante Tomic.
Wednesday, January 24
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys
Wednesday’s first game will see Turk Telekom (6-9) look to maintain its postseason hopes against an equally desperate Lietkabelis (5-10), which must win all its remaining games to have any hope of advancing. Lietkabelis won 93-86 when the teams met in Round 7 and thus could complete a potentially important clean sweep with a road win. The Turkish team has won three in a row, helped by James Palmer hitting fine form. He will match up against Gediminas Orelik, who will look to help end Lietkabelis’s three-game losing run by delivering his season average of 15.9 points.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Prometey Slobozhanske
Both teams will have huge motivation as Hapoel (11-4) looks to protect second place with a visit from Prometey (8-7), which could seal a playoff berth with a road victory and an Umana Reyer Venice loss later in the evening. Hapoel is looking to snap a two-game losing streak, while Prometey was boosted by a big win over Wolves last week. Tai Odiase was the key figure with 19 points as Prometey won 98-89 when the teams met in Round 9 and he remains a key performer with double digits scoring in five of the last six games. Hapoel will look for backcourt dominance from Xavier Munford, who has multiple triples in four straight games.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse
Aris (7-8) is hoping to stay strong in the playoff chase against Group B leader Bourg (12-3), with both teams on a hot streak after winning four of the last five. Aris’s league-best defense wasn’t enough when the teams last met, as Bourg squeezed out a 72-65 home victory. The versatile Zaccharie Risacher top scored with 16 points and his confidence is high after netting 22 in last week’s win over Lietkabelis. Aris will look for more heroics from Roberto Gallinat, who scored last week’s buzzer-beating game-winner against Buducnost.
Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Two eliminated teams will play to avoid the wooden spoon, as Hamburg (2-13) welcomes Cedevita (0-15). The German team edged the Round 7 encounter 83-86, partly thanks to 21 points from Aljami Durham. He should get ready for a good battle with Justin Cobbs, who had 19 points and 9 assists in last week’s loss to Reyer. That game saw the same old problems for Cedevita, which allowed 104 points and has the worst defense in the competition with an average of 98.5 points allowed. Hamburg is next worst with 91.9 points per game.
Slask Wroclaw vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria
After losing four of the last five, reigning champ Gran Canaria (11-4) is urgently looking for a return to form with a trip to eliminated Slask (2-13). Gran Canaria has averaged 23.2 assists per game, second best in the league, and will look to regain its offensive fluidity against a Slask team that has been hindered all season by carelessness with the basketball, averaging a league second-worst 16.4 turnovers per night. Gran Canaria triumphed 81-77 when the teams met in Round 7, extending a winning run that extends back to 2007.
Umana Reyer Venice vs. Wolves Vilnius
Only a victory will be enough as two teams outside the playoff zone meet, with Reyer (6-9) hosting Wolves (5-10). Reyer has kept its hopes alive by grabbing two consecutive victories and also claimed a conclusive 77-93 victory over Wolves in Round 7 on the back of 24 points from Barry Brown. Wolves will hope Jeffery Taylor can continue his strong form after registering PIRs of 17 and 20 in the last two games, while Kyle Wiltjer’s long-range shooting threat – with multiple triples in six straight games – could again be a valuable weapon for the Italian team.
London Lions vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul
London (10-5) will look to bounce back from last week’s last-gasp loss to Joventut and continue its challenge for a top-two finish with a visit from Besiktas (9-6), which is also aiming to enter the playoffs on a high after winning three of the last four. London outlasted the Turkish team, 80-83, when they met in November, with a major role for Matt Morgan as he bagged 17 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Besiktas will counter him with Jonah Mathews, who led the way with 22 points in last week’s win over Hamburg and will have a big role again on Wednesday.