### Roger Grimau, Barcelona head coach

"Obviously, we always want to win, and coming from losses is harder. I try to see the good things in the last two games we lost. We played bad for a few minutes, and that is enough to lose at this level. The team is happy however, and they want to play this game at home. We had been regular in our first games, but we are still trying to find the way to face the bad situations we suffer in games. We want to try to stop the game somehow when we start having turnovers and such. Against good opponents these details kill you, so we must still learn how to do that. Having Real and Valencia below 70 points is a good thing, but we still have to find the way to work on that."

### Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach

"Every game in the EuroLeague is difficult. Of course, playing in Barcelona maybe is a bit more difficult than the other games, but people know that I like Palau Blaugrana. Even if we will miss some very important players, we are going there to win the game. Barcelona is a very good team, but we will fight and play our game. We know that they have strong perimeter players, and inside it will also be interesting with the Hernangomez brothers. We will see which of the two brothers is better. I hope that the will play a good game, and of course, the most important thing will be to try to win the game. We will need balance in offense and prevent them from running too much."

### Tomas Satoransky, Barcelona player

"We lost a couple of straight games in the same way. Both were against top teams in Europe, but you do not want to make that negative streak longer. We must stay calm and manage the pressure. Every game is important, especially in the EuroLeague. A great team is coming to town, and they just defeated Olympiacos in the Greek League. I am sure they will give us a hard time."

### Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Panathinaikos player

"We are on a pretty good track. We got a big win on Monday in the Greek derby. The EuroLeague is different, we play with one of the best and most formed teams in the EuroLeague like FC Barcelona. Let's go there and get an away win that will help us going forward. We all know what a team Barcelona is. There is no need for scouting and anything more. They have a lot of offensive weapons. They have many assets in offense. Let's play our game and reach the victory."

Game News

Barcelona (4-1) will look to bounce back from last week's close El Clásico defeat against a Panathinaikos (2-3) team that boosted its confidence with a convincing home win over Baskonia. Mathias Lessort excelled in that triumph, winning the weekly MVP award with 23 points and 14 rebounds, and he faces a big fight with another player who grabbed a double-double last week, Jan Vesely (12 points and 10 rebounds). In the backcourt, a battle between two of the league's best guards will see Nico Laprovittola (13.8 ppg., 6.8 apg.) showdown with Kostas Sloukas (11.2 ppg., 5 apg.). And judging by previous visits, Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman returning to Palau Blaugrana will be well worth watching.

Pre-game quotes: Barcelona vs. Panathinaikos

FC Barcelona v Panathinaikos Athens (2023-11-03T19:30:00.000Z)

### Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach

"We are going to Vitoria to play against a team that has certain problems with injuries, but we expect their reaction due to the change of coach, who knows us very well. However, what is important is that we go to Spain with great motivation after two great games against our great rival. There is no doubt that they will also show a high level of motivation, because every game in the EuroLeague is important. We talked to the players that they need to find energy and motivation, everything is quickly forgotten, both wins and losses, because a new opponent is already waiting. Baskonia has a new coach who will try to bring something new, but much more important than how they will look is how we will look." 

### PJ Dozier, Partizan player

"We love to play, that's why we signed. We are ready for the next game which is always the most important. Every point is important, we try to play all 40 minutes and come back as winners. There are many games, every team is doing their best and everything can turn around at any moment."

After badly losing its way to suffer three straight defeats, Baskonia (1-4) will look to get back on the right path as it welcomes a Partizan (2-3) team still high after downing local rivals Zvezda in a Round 5 derby thriller. Aleksa Avramovic played a big part in his team's comeback last week, and his 11.6 points per game is just one of the weapons that have made Zeljko Obradovic's team the most potent offense in the league, with 86.8 points per game. Baskonia needs to generate better looks after ranking worst in two-point shooting (49.8%) and second-worst from long range (30.6%) so far, but the rebounding power of Tadas Sederkerskis (8.8 rpg.) has at least made the Spanish team the fourth-best team on the boards (37.8 per night).

Pre-game quotes: Baskonia vs. Partizan

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-11-03T19:30:00.000Z)

### Kazys Maksvytis, Zalgiris head coach

"ASVEL, which has had a change in its coaching staff, arrives to Kaunas. Usually teams play with a better emotional factor for a while after such a change, and that’s probably the case for this game as well. The team has changed, it’s still finding its way, but it has a lot of talent, a lot of height. They have a lot of veterans, a lot of physicality.  First of all, we will look at ourselves, how to squeeze out the maximum, improve our game and get the win."

### Gianmarco Pozzecco, ASVEL head coach

"Honestly, I haven't had enough time to think about the preparations for this game, as I'm focused on getting to know my players. In practice, my players are sending me excellent signals, which is positive for our next games. The most important thing is that we're playing good basketball, and the wins will come on their own."

### Dovydas Giedraitis, Zalgiris player

"We have a physical opponent ahead of us. They play in a very tough French league, so ASVEL players are really physical. Let’s hope that we learn from our mistakes and show what we can do. We have to play our own basketball, we have to defend well and then we will be able to run on the fastbreak. I think ASVEL will try to play slower, not so fast, because they are older, they will try to save some energy, we’ll see what they have prepared."

### Joffrey Lauvergne, ASVEL player

"With Partizan Belgrade, Kaunas was an incredible experience in my career, and I have a lot of very good memories. It was exceptional! They're passionate about basketball, with big knowledge. And it's always a great pleasure to return to this arena." 

Zalgiris (3-2) will look to bounce back from last week's heavy home loss to Valencia against an ASVEL team (0-5) looking for its first win of the season in new coach Giancarlo Pozzecco's road debut. With Paris Lee leading the offense by dishing 10 assists, ASVEL put up a good fight in last week's narrow loss to Virtus and will hope for a similar improvement to finally get into the W column. Big man Joffrey Lauvergne (11.8 ppg., 4.2 rpg.) returns to Kaunas to face his former team and will do battle with Zalgiris power forward Rolands Smits (14.4 ppg., 5.0 rpg.), who has also started the season well.

Pre-game quotes: Zalgiris vs. ASVEL

Zalgiris Kaunas v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2023-11-02T18:00:00.000Z)

### Luca Banchi, Virtus head coach

"We are coming in a good way, from four wins in a row, but we are aware that we will be facing one of the candidates for the Final Four. Efes is a team that has won two titles in the last five years and, despite the change of coach and some new players, has a team structure that makes it a protagonist. It will be a special night, in front of our audience for the first time at the Segafredo Arena."

### Erdem Can, Efes head coach

"Virtus Segafredo Bologna is a team that plays very consistent basketball in both the EuroLeague and the Italian League and has a winning habit. We will play on the road in a very tough atmosphere. We must be very well concentrated for 40 minutes."

### Bryant Dunston, Virtus player

"We’re playing against my old team, Efes, a team with a lot of history that recently had a lot of success. A lot of talent on that team, it’s going to be difficult for them coming here. They’re going to be hungry, they lost their last game so we have to come with a lot of energy, play together with a strong defensive presence. We have to play together, it’s also our first game in the new arena so it’s gonna be great having all the fans here supporting us, we’re gonna give everything we have."

### Derek Willis, Efes player

"This week we have had two really good practices getting ready for Virtus Segafredo Bologna game. Virtus is a physical team that is playing very well together. Shengelia is a much-improved shooter and playing a lot of minutes. To win we have to secure rebounds and match the energy Virtus will bring."

Friday's first tipoff will see one of the league's hottest teams seeking to extend its winning run as red-hot Virtus (4-1) welcomes inconsistent Efes (2-3). Virtus's efficiency is reflected in the fact that the Italian team ranks second in the league in both two (57.9%) and three-point (42.2%) shooting efficiency, with Toko Shenglia excelling in all aspects on his way to 18.4 points per game. Efes needs to reignite an offense that was held to just 57 points at Olympiacos last week, with only Elijah Bryant netting in double digits as he scored 10 points. Efes will need its leaders like Will Clyburn and Shane Larkin to step up against a confident and highly effective Virtus which is looking to best the Turkish team for the first time since 2002.

Pre-game quotes: Virtus vs. Efes

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-11-03T19:30:00.000Z)

The EuroLeague's October MVP, Tornike Shengelia of Virtus Segafredo Bologna, sat down with EuroLeague.net to talk about his and his team's accomplishment last month.

Tornike Shengelia, Virtus, October MVP: 'Keep the engine going'

[Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/) led Virtus Segafredo Bologna to a 4-1 start in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, averaging 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and a PIR of 23.6. That allowed him [to be chosen as the EuroLeague MVP for October](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/mvp-of-october-tornike-shengelia-virtus-segafredo-bologna/). We traveled to Bologna, Italy to interview Shengelia at Palestra Porelli, Virtus's practice facility, and talked not just about his achievements on the court, but also off the court.

Shengelia gave a lot of credit to his teammates for putting him in the situation to play well. "It looks like it is a personal award, but if my team didn't succeed as well as we did, we wouldn't be sitting here. And all the credit should go to my team and my coaches, putting all this trust in me and the confidence in me," Shengelia said. "But without them, I couldn't have done it."

Virtus did not have an easy start of the season. It had a coaching change on September 15, bringing Luca Banchi in. It lost its first EuroLeague game at home against Zalgiris Kaunas, which rallied from a double-digit deficit. Things got even worse when Achille Polonara had to undergo surgery due to a testicular tumor. Shengelia told us how the team regrouped in that tough moment.

"It was common sense to go out there and win the games for him. You know, he's going through some stuff, but like I said, we are a team and we are going through it together. And some guys, we had to step up even more physically and mentally for the games," he said, before talking about Coach Banchi. "He brought a great positivity. He makes us believe again in ourselves. And overall, I want to say that even for me, that personally I wouldn't be sitting here having this interview without him."

In 2022, Shengelia obtained ISDE's Global Master in Sports Management course. He was the first EuroLeague players to graduate from the program. Shengelia told us how hard it was to work on it while playing professional basketball. "It was a great experience. It was something different from outside of the sports," Shengelia said. "I had many, many times that I wanted to drop out because it was very difficult. But at the end of the day, I'm very happy that I kept going."

Shengelia has expressed interest in owning and managing a EuroLeague or EuroCup team in his native Georgia. 

"Yes, that's my dream," he said, before explaining what he has in mind. "Unfortunately, in the past, if you had the talent and then if you don't get out from our country and go somewhere else at the age of 15, 16, 17, then your talent would die, basically. And there was no bright future for you. That's what I want to change, and I want to give the guys opportunity to pursue their careers and have a team there in Georgia which will compete at a higher levels of basketball in Europe."

About his great moment on the court, Shengelia believes that being focused and mentally ready made the difference and led him to play so well.

"I'm happy because I'm getting a lot of confidence from \[the\] coaching side, from my teammates," Shengelia said. "When I'm at my best mentally, that's when I play the best, with freedom and with confidence."

Here you can find all the latest injury news surrounding all registered players in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season to get your Fantasy Challenge teams up to date.

Latest EuroLeague injury news

Follow here all the latest injury information for registered players in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season as reported by the clubs and get your [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home?_ga=2.101462721.1199459303.1696273873-903329349.1669636775) teams up to date!

**ALBA Berlin**

[Yanni Wetzell will be out until mid-November with an ankle injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/albas-yanni-wetzell-out-six-weeks/)

Elias Rapieque suffered a broken hand and will be out until a least November.

Marcus Eriksson is out indefinitely with plantar tendonitis.

**Anadolu Efes Istanbul**

Erkan Yilmaz is questionable for Round 6 at Virtus.

Salih Altuntas, Efe Demirel, Melih Tunca and Burakcan Yildizli are not active in Round 6.

**AS Monaco**

[Jordan Loyd](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/monaco-loyd-2-3-months-out/), who has been out following a mid-August back surgery, is set to make his season debut against Milan in Round 6.

Kemba Walker is listed as questionable for Round 6.

**Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz**

Nikos Rogkavopoulos, expected to miss several weeks with a right calf injury, won't plan in Round 6 vs. Partizan.

Khalifa Diop missed the last two games with back problems.

Chima Moneke, after missing Round 5 with a hip injury, played limited minutes in a domestic game.

Nico Mannion did not appear in that domestic game over the weekend.

Dani Diez has been out with a soleus injury in his right leg.

**Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade**

Nemanja Nedovic, who missed Round 5 with a leg injury, will be a game-time decision for Round 6 vs. Bayern.

Adam Hanga, who has a knee injury, will also be a game-time decision in Round 6.

Branko Lazic won't play in Round 6 due to a broken rib.

Nemanja Bjelica (leg) has not played yet this season.

**EA7 Emporio Armani Milan**

[Billy Baron will be out until mid-December](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/billy-baron-olimpia-milano-elbow-surgery/) following elbow surgery.

**FC Barcelona**

Nico Laprovittola is doubtful to feature in Round 6 vs. Panathinaikos due to a muscle injury.

Michael Caicedo is sidelined indefinitely with a broken right foot.

**FC Bayern Munich**

Vladimir Lucic has yet to play this season but is practicing individually. His availability for Round 6 is uncertain.

**Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul**

Yam Madar is set to return to action in Round 6 vs. Olympiacos.

Metecan Birsen remains inactive for Round 6 due to injury.

**LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne**

Noam Yaacov will miss the Round 6 game at Zalgiris with a foot injury.

**Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv**

[Wade Baldwin is out indefinitely](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/maccabis-baldwin-out-for-opening-night/) with a back injury.

**Olympiacos Piraeus**

[Luke Sikma](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-loses-sikma-mckissic-two-more-questionable/) will be out for Round 6 vs. Efes with a leg injury.

[Shaquielle McKissic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-loses-sikma-mckissic-two-more-questionable/) is also unavailable for Round 6 due to a leg injury.

Panagiotis Tsamis is out until mid-November with an injury.

Veniami Abosi is inactive for Round 6.

**Panathinaikos Athens**

Kostas Sloukas, ill with gastroenteritis, did not travel to play at Barcelona in Round 6.

Luca Vildoza, nursing an ankle injury, is doubtful for Round 6.

[Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-papapetrou-out-two-more-months/), out since Round 2, is expected to miss two more months with a knee injury.

Panathinaikos singed Kendrick Nunn but he has yet to join the team.

**Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade**

Mateusz Ponitka, who hasn't played since Round 2 due to a shoulder injury, will miss Round 7 at Baskonia.

[Kevin Punter](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/partizans-kevin-punter-out-at-least-two-weeks/) will miss Round 7, as well, due to leg injuries.

**Real Madrid**

Carlos Alocen is sidelined indefinitely with an injury.

**Valencia Basket**

Xabi Lopez-Arostegui returned to action in the domestic league and is expected to play in Round 6 vs. ALBA.

[Martin Hermannsson underwent knee surgery](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/valencias-martin-hermannsson-is-recovering-after-knee-surgery/) and is due out until December.

**Virtus Segafredo Bologna**

[Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtuss-polonara-to-undergo-surgery/) is out indefinitely after undergoing testicular surgery.

**Zalgiris Kaunas**

Danielius Lavrinovicius won't play in Round 6 vs. ASVEL due to an ankle injury.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague injury report for the 2023-24 season.

Check out all the injuries and absences expected in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague before the Fantasy Challenge deadline.

FC Bayern Munich v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-10-27T18:30:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos Athens v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2023-10-27T18:15:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-10-27T18:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Valencia Basket (2023-10-27T17:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v FC Barcelona (2023-10-26T18:45:00.000Z)

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-10-26T16:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-10-26T19:00:00.000Z)

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-10-26T19:00:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-10-26T18:00:00.000Z)

The arrival of Bayern Munich to the Serbian capital to face Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade will mean another matchup between big men Joel Bolomboy and Devin Booker. Thursday's clash will be the seventh time these two players go head-to-head since the 2019-20 season.



Bolomboy, Booker clash for a fifth straight season

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and FC Bayern Munich entered this season with big ambitions, but the two teams have combined for only one win in the last four rounds. While both  have struggled to register victories, each has been able to get a steady contribution from their veteran big men.

Joel Bolomboy is one of four Zvezda players scoring in double figures, with 10.2 points per game. He's converting 77.8% of his two-point attempts, often with powerful dunks. He also pulls down 3.8 rebounds and has 1.2 assists for Zvezda's second-best average PIR so far, 14.2.

Meanwhile, Devin Booker has been Bayern's leader in minutes played (25:15 per game), starting in all five games. He averages 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists, posting an average PIR of 10.6.

Head-to-head: Joel Bolomboy vs Devin Booker

### Booker and Bolomboy's previous meetings

Thursday will mark the seventh time that these two players go against one another in the EuroLeague. In their six previous head-to-head games, all in the regular season, Bolomboy and his teams have 5-1 records when Booker is on the other side. They played at least one game in each of the past four seasons

Both players made their competition debuts in the 2018-19, but crossed paths for the first time in the EuroLeague only a season later, when Booker was with Khimki Moscow Region and Bolomboy with CSKA Moscow. In that first game, Booker shined with 18 points. In the second, he collected 6 points and 10 rebounds, but Bolomboy took both victories despite totaling just 6 points and 7 rebounds in those two clashes..

Bolomboy got the better of Booker in their lone meeting in 2020-21, scoring 10 points in another CSKA win over Khimki. A year later, Booker helped Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to a win in Moscow, and his only victory against Bolomboy, collecting 13 points, 5 rebounds and a career-high 5 assists. Bolomboy has 6 points and 7 rebounds.

These two centers also met last year, with Bolomboy and Olympiacos Piraeus sweeping two games against Fenerbahce. He averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in those wins, while Booker had 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.

In all six games between them, Booker averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists, making 63.0% of two-point shots. Meanwhile, Bolomboy managed 5.2 points and 4.0 rebounds, making 14 of 17 two-point shots in games when Booker was on the opposite side.

Bolomboy will hope to improve on those numbers, but more importantly, continue the high-level performances he has displayed so far this season to end Zvezda's four-game losing streak with another win against Booker. On the other hand, in his team-leading role, Booker would certainly love to change his fortunes against Bolomboy on Thursday night.

Bayern's arrival to the Serbian capital to face Crvena Zvezda will mean another matchup between big men Joel Bolomboy and Devin Booker.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v FC Bayern Munich (2023-11-02T17:30:00.000Z)

John Brown of AS Monaco Basket sits down with Euroleague.net for an interview, in which he discusses the EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy, focusing on defense, and his past as a scorer.

John Brown, AS Monaco Basket: 'I'm the best defender in the EuroLeague'

Great teams always seem to have some glue guys. Blue-collar types who will do whatever is needed to help the team win. For AS Monaco, [John Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/john-brown/010588/) fits the bill.

The 31-year-old is acclaimed as one of the best defensive players in the competition. At 2.03 meters, he is a natural power forward who can also play as a small '5'. Even so, his impact on the game is rarely seen through the stats normally ascribed to big men, such as rebounds and blocks. Brown makes his impact by stopping other scorers and creating steals.

### Finding a way to get onto the court

Growing up, of course, the goal was not to become an elite defender, though Brown was always one of the best defensive players on his teams, going all the way back to high school. In those days, he was a dangerous scorer, too. That pattern continued through college and into his first few stops in Europe. 

"When I went to UNICS \[Kazan in 2020\], we had a lot of scorers. And I came back the second year, we had more scorers. So, you know, you got to do something to get on the floor. So that's what I had to do," Brown said of his time with the Russian club, when he decided to put more of a focus on the defensive end of the floor.

"I was upset I wasn't getting as many shots up,” he recalled. “And I'm just like, ‘Okay, JB, you're on a good team. If I just can focus on one thing, like what? Like would I win a championship?’"

The answer was yes. By focusing on defense, Brown set a EuroLeague record for steals in a season when he averaged 2.8 per night for UNICS in 2021-22. Then he joined Monaco, where last season he won the French League and reached the EuroLeague Final Four.

"A lot of young guys really need to understand that, yes, I was a scorer. In my past, I was a scorer in my first four years professionally. But, you know, things change," he said.

It wasn't easy to give up his dream of scoring more. But discussions with friends and former teammates, including Jamon Gordon, Jamar Smith, Adrian Banks and Kevin Martin, helped Brown come to peace with the notion.

"I know I can contribute more offensively. But sometimes less is more. And I just really had to understand that," Brown explained. "When you're on a good team, you're not going to have to do everything. So now I just focus on defense."

### Earning respect on defense

That mental switch has also led Brown to aspire to be recognized for his defensive excellence. Last season he placed third in the voting for the EuroLeague Best Defender Trophy, but Brown wants more.

"I haven't won a Defensive Player of the Year \[trophy\] and I feel like I'm one, if not the, best defender \[in the EuroLeague\]," he commented. "I'll get that respect once I win the Defensive Player of the Year award. So that's when I will feel like, ‘Okay, now I'm here.’"

Brown said he believes that we all have what it takes to be good defensive players because the main ingredient is effort: "Either you want to be \[a great defender\] or you don't want to be…

"You can teach positioning on defense. You can say, ‘Okay, if the ball's here, you need to be here.’ But all the extra stuff, talking, you know, communicating with your teammates, trying to see what patterns they're running in the plays just in case you can get an easy steal here… Effort is probably 90% of it."

John Brown, AS Monaco: 'I feel like I'm the best defender in the EuroLeague'

### Earning adulation, despite his unseen stats

Brown is sometimes frustrated that his contributions might get overlooked by others because they don't always show up in the box score.

"You know, I wish \[they recorded\] charges, some of the stats deflections, just setting your teammate up for a charge, you know,” Brown laments. “It's a lot of things that's not on paper that people – some, I'm not saying all – some people look at. Some people understand and some people are just like, ‘Okay, if his stats doesn't show he's doing something on the floor, like, okay, he's not doing anything.’"

What is most important for Brown is that he feels the love of his teammates and coaches for all he does on the floor. And he does.

"I do that, I get turnovers, you know? Even a deflection off the leg. We get the ball, we get another possession, you know? We’ve got amazing scorers on our team. That just makes it even better. Now you’ve got to come and guard these guys. Good luck!"

And it is that attitude that has not only made John Brown one of the most dangerous defenders in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, but has also made AS Monaco a EuroLeague contender.

The American forward, now in his second year with Monaco, has been a key reason behind the team’s recent success in the competition.

After losing at home against Maccabi on Tuesday despite 22 points and 8 assists from Shavon Shields, Milan (1-4) will be quickly back in action with another home game as Monaco (3-2) visits on Thursday. 

Pre-game quotes: Milan vs. Monaco

Elie Okobo was one of six double-digits scorers in Monaco's spectacular victory over Maccabi last week, posting his best game of the season with 17 points and 6 assists without a turnover. If he can maintain that form alongside the always electric Mike James, who will be returning to face his former club, the men from the principality will be confident of extending their impressive three-game winning streak. Milan will be desperate to avoid repeating last season's poor start (3-10) which ultimately scuppered realistic playoffs ambitions, and needs to improve on the 18 turnovers committed against Maccabi to get back on track.

### Ettore Messina, Milan head coach

"We are coming off three mediocre games in a row, including the Italian League one, so we need to earn our fans' trust back by playing with courage, determination, team spirit, traits that have been historically part of this club's DNA and this particular team has to promptly recapture."

### Sasa Obradovic, Monaco head coach

"Milan is a team with great potential, who suffered quite a few injuries at the start of the season and are looking for the best chemistry. They've played some big games but are looking for confidence, so I'm expecting a big response from them. As for us, we're growing with every match and every training session, and we have to do everything we can to go to the next level. Jordan Loyd is supposed to be a key player in our system, but he's also an example to us all. Nikola Mirotic and recent world champion Johannes Voigtmann, in particular, are performing very well at the moment. Milan has a lot of experience, players who know how to turn a match around. With a top-class coach, of course. We can't afford to think we're up against a weakened team. We'll have to be very focused."

### Jordan Loyd, Monaco guard

"I'm very happy to be back on the court, and I'd like to thank the staff and the club for supporting me... It's a unique feeling to play again. Basketball is my life with my family. I've still got a lot of work to do, but I'm ready. I couldn't wait any longer anyway! We've got big ambitions this season, but we're working hard to grow step by step. The chemistry is taking shape and the team is moving forward, which is very positive. The fact that there's only one ball for all of us? We showed that last season, it went really well, and it will be the same this season. We love the game, we want to win, and there's a great atmosphere in the group."

### Mam Jaiteh, Monaco center

"We're taking Milan very seriously, and the context makes this team even more dangerous. We'll have to set the bar high. We have to stop them getting comfortable, and try to play our fast game. What about me personally? I'm still fighting to find my best rhythm and help my team as much as possible. We're a group with a lot of talent, and you have to give credit to the coach for managing to create a great alchemy, even though everyone wants more playing time."

Game Videos

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v AS Monaco (2023-11-02T19:30:00.000Z)