Round 15 tips off the latest Turkish Airlines EuroLeague double-round week with several confrontations between direct rivals in an already-fierce playoff race.
Round 15: First games of double-round week loom large
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Tuesday, December 19
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Real Madrid
Runaway league leader Real (13-1) will look to spoil the strong home record of Zvezda (5-9), which has won four of its last five in Belgrade. Fans there will savor a dazzling backcourt exhibition between two of the continent's most exciting creators, former Zvezda star and EuroLeague assists leader Facundo Campazzo (7.8 apg.) and their own Milos Teodosic (5.4 apg.). In the paint, Zvezda's Luka Mitrovic has grabbed more offensive rebounds than any other player (3.1 per game), so Real giants Walter Tavares and Vincent Poirier will be tasked with ensuring the home team is denied second-chance possessions. Another Zvezda weapon is Nemanja Nedovic, who averages 13.9 points and drained 4 triples in last week's win over ALBA.
ALBA (2-12) will aim to climb from the bottom of the standings with a visit from second-placed Barcelona (10-4), which is eager to immediately bounce back from Friday's home loss to Milan. The Spanish team will look to restore its usual defensive high standards after allowing at least 80 points in each of the last five games, with the hustle of former ALBA forward Oscar Da Silva likely to play a key role on his return to Berlin. The hosts will hope that Johannes Thiemann (15 ppg., 5.5 rpg.) can continue his great season and dominate the inside battle against Da Silva, Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez, who has scored in double digits in the last five games.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz
Two of the five teams tied for fourth place go head to head as Maccabi (8-6) welcomes Baskonia (8-6). Maccabi has scored at least 90 points in four consecutive games, with the creativity of Lorenzo Brown (15.3 ppg., 6.7 apg.) and the all-round skills of Bonzie Colson (13.4 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) proving a tough combination to handle. But Baskonia also boasts plenty of depth with Markus Howard's long-range shooting – he has made 3.4 triples per game, more than any other player – nicely complementing the paint prowess of Tadas Sedekerskis and Chima Moneke, who respectively rank first and fourth in the league in rebounding (8.2 and 6.5 rpg.). Get ready for a fast-paced and high-scoring shootout.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
High-flying Virtus (10-4) will attempt to at least maintain its share of second place with a visit from faltering Olympiacos (7-7), which has slipped down the standings with three losses in four games. Offensive production is becoming a major issue for the Reds, who average just 76.4 points per game (third worst in the league) and were held to just 56 points in last week's home loss to Valencia. Isaiah Canaan does remain a constant deep threat with at least one triple every game this season, but he could be outgunned by the likes of Isaia Cordinier, who has made 6 of his last 8 attempts from long-range for a Virtus team which ranks second in the league in assists (20.2).
Valencia Basket vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade
Revisitalized Valencia (8-6) is gunning for a fourth straight victory but it won't be easy against visiting Partizan (8-6), which has surged into a share of fourth place – alongside Valencia, among others – by winning four in a row. Valencia exhibited outstanding defense to claim a 56-63 victory at Olympiacos last week and now needs to do the same against prolific Partizan, which boasts the league's second-best offense with 87.6 points per game. The Serbian team has been boosted by the return of Kevin Punter, who is averaging 22 points and 3.3 triples in the last three games. Valencia has also welcomed back a key backcourt figure, with Martin Hermannsson making his first appearance of the season in the win at Olympiacos.
Wednesday, December 20
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Zalgiris Kaunas
After starting the Sarunas Jasikevicius era with a big victory over Monaco, Fenerbahce (7-7) will look to keep on rolling with a visit from their new coach's former club, struggling Zalgiris (5-9). Keenan Evans blasting 33 points wasn't enough to prevent Zalgiris from falling to a third straight loss in Round 14 against Partizan, but the Lithuanian team does boast the league's best three-point conversion rate (43%). Fenerbahce is a perfect 6-0 at home and powered last week's win over Monaco by grabbing a whopping 47 rebounds, including 10 from Nick Calathes, who will look to control the tempo and create good looks for backcourt mate Scottie Wilbekin (12.6 ppg.).
AS Monaco vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
A big battle between two ambitious teams sitting a victory apart will take place in the principality as Monaco (8-6) welcomes Panathinaikos (7-7). The host will look for league-leading scorer and former Panathinaikos hero Mike James (19.4 ppg.) to extend his 14-game streak of double-digit scoring, but Greens' leader Kostas Sloukas will hope to repeat the form (18 points, 12 assists vs. ASVEL) that saw him earn last week's MVP award. Kendrick Nunn is also in good form for Panathinaikos, with an average of 17.3 points in his last three games, while Monaco has Elie Okobo on his best form this season thanks to 12 and 14 points in the last two outings.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Boosted by last week's impressive victory at Barcelona, Milan (5-9) will look to climb closer to the playoffs positions against an ASVEL team (2-12) determined to end a six-game losing slide. A key figure for the French team is Joffrey Lauvergne, who has six consecutive double-digit scoring games. He will look to dominate the paint against Nicolo Melli, who powered the win at Barcelona with 16 points and 6 rebounds. That game also saw the best performance in a Milan uniform by Devon Hall with 21 points on 8-for-10 field goal shooting. He'll look to outshoot dangerous ASVEL gunner Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who has nine straight double-digit scoring games.
FC Bayern Munich vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Two teams just outside the playoffs places will battle to improve their positions as Bayern (6-8) welcomes Efes (7-7). The German team has won three straight at home and will look to dominate through the physical prowess of Serge Ibaka, who leads the league in blocked shots (1.6 bpg.) and ranks second in rebounding (6.8 rpg.). Injury-hit Efes, which has a 2-6 record on the road, has been lifted by newcomer Mike Daum, averaging 13.8 points on 52.6% three-point shooting in his four appearances. Bayern leads the league in rebounding with 39.1 per game, while Efes ranks last with 30.2, so that physical edge could be crucial on Wednesday night.