The final double-round week of 2023 concludes with a set of showdowns full of significance in the jostle for playoffs places, including three sets of Round 15 winners going head-to-head for sweeps. This is what you can look forward to on Thursday and Friday.
Round 16: Festive fixtures close 2023's last double-round week
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Thursday, December 21
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
Round 16 gets underway with Maccabi (9-6) aiming to complete a perfect "home" week with a visit from a Zvezda (5-10) team which should feel equally as comfortable in Aleksandar Nikolic Hall. Maccabi has flown up the standings by winning four of its last five, averaging 94 points per game in the process, with Josh Nebo's double-double of 17 points and 11 assists a key factor in Tuesday's win over Baskonia. Zvezda is still searching for consistency, dropping three of its last four games including Tuesday's 58-72 home loss to Real Madrid. Milos Teodosic did manage to pair 14 points with 5 assists, but he and his teammates will face a stern defensive test as Zvezda head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos faces his former team.
Valencia Basket vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Valencia (8-7) will look to bounce back into winning ways with a visit from confident Virtus (11-4), which has won four in a row to take sole control of second place. Virtus's home victory over Olympiacos in Round 15 demonstrated its versatility, leaning mostly on a stern defense rather than the offensive prowess that had marked its previous successes. On this occasion, veteran Daniel Hackett will look to provide another strong all-round performance (8 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists) against the threat of Valencia playmaker Chris Jones, who has scored in double digits in five consecutive games. The Spanish team is also defensively strong, allowing a league-low 74 points per game, so this could be a low-scoring, closely fought battle.
Real Madrid vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade
Red-hot Partizan's (9-6) five-game winning streak faces the toughest possible test with a trip to face runaway leader Real Madrid (14-1) in a rematch of last season's thrilling playoffs series. Round 15 co-MVP Kevin Punter continues to be Partizan's main inspiration, averaging 18.4 points in his five games since returning from injury. Real's many weapons includes another December MVP contender Mario Hezonja, who is coming off his second double-double in four games, providing 17 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday's road win over the other Belgrade team, Zvezda. That game saw Real display its strongest defensive game, allowing just 58 points, and similar toughness will be required to subdue Partizan's offensive fireworks.
Friday, December 22
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz
A pair of direct rivals aiming to snap two-game losing streaks go head-to-head as Efes (7-8) hosts Baskonia (8-7) to start a slate of six Friday games. Efes was downed in Munich on Wednesday despite a big performance of 19 points and 8 rebounds from recent signing in the paint Dan Oturu. The hosts will look for point guard Darius Thompson to control the tempo as he faces his former team for the first time. Going up against him, Codi Miller-McIntyre will aim to continue his good form for Baskonia, after averaging 11 assists over the last three games. Let's hope for a rematch of the last meeting between the teams – a 114-111 overtime thriller won by Baskonia in January, featuring 16 assists from Thompson.
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. FC Barcelona
After suffering consecutive shock losses against low-ranked teams, Barcelona (10-5) will look to avoid another similar upset as it travels to Zalgiris (5-10). The Lithuanian team has lost four in a row, most recently Wednesday's nail-biter at Fenerbahce which saw a double-digit Zalgiris halftime lead squandered despite 16 points and 9 rebounds from ex-Barcelona forward Rolands Smits. Barca has now lost four of its last five roads games, averaging just 68.5 points in those defeats, and needs to improve its usually prolific long-range shooting after making just 6-of-24 three-pointers in Tuesday's loss to ALBA. Nico Laprovittola (15 points) was the only player to score in double digits in that defeat, so head coach Roger Grimau's squad needs a big improvement across the board.
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
Struggling Olympiacos (7-8), which has lost four out of five, will make a new attempt to reignite its misfiring offense with a trip to ASVEL (2-13). The last-placed host is also low on confidence after Wednesday's defeat at Milan stretched its losing streak to seven straight. A key battle will take place inside the paint between a pair of giant Falls: ASVEL's Youssoupha Fall averages 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks, while Olympiacos's Moustapha Fall has mustered 7.5 points, 4.7 boards and also 0.9 blocked shots. In the backcourt, experienced playmakers Nando De Colo and Thomas Walkup will look to return to form after scoring just 5 and 3 points, respectively, in their teams' losses earlier this week.
ALBA Berlin vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
After starting the week with an outstanding victory over Barcelona, ALBA (3-12) will look to claim another big-name victim with a visit from Fenerbahce (8-7), which is aiming for a third straight win under new coach Sarunas Jasikevicius. ALBA's Tuesday victory was based on outstanding defense, and a similar effort will be required against a Fenerbahce team that scored 24 fourth-quarter points to earn a comeback win over Zalgiris in Round 15. Tyler Dorsey's 19 points on 6-for-8 field goal shooting were fundamental to that Fener triumph. On Friday, he faces a good challenge from another dynamic backcourt star, Sterling Brown, who is back after injury and played a key role on both sides of the ball against Barca, pairing 10 points with 3 steals.
FC Bayern Munich vs. AS Monaco
Two teams with contrasting midweek emotions meet in Munich as Bayern (7-8) welcomes Monaco (8-7) in another showdown with strong implications for the standings. The German team underlined its recent improvement with a comfortable home victory over Efes, while Monaco has now lost three out of four after its last-second heartbreak against Panathinaikos. The Roca Team will have to be ready for a physical challenge against Pablo Laso's men, who have claimed more rebounds than any other team (38.6) and rank second in blocked shots (3.3). Bayern's duo Serge Ibaka and Isaac Bonga combined for 28 points and 13 boards against Efes, and will provide a great matchup for visiting Donatas Motiejunas and dunk specialist Donta Hall, who had 11 points in the loss to Panathinaikos.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
Two teams on a high conclude Round 15 as Milan (6-9) looks for a third straight win with a visit from Panathinaikos (8-7). The Greens are still on cloud nine after Wednesday's incredible win at Monaco, which showcased the versatility in Ergin Ataman's roster as six different players scored in double digits, led by 17 points from Kostas Sloukas. Milan has playmaker Diego Flaccadori in the best form of his life, following his personal-best 15 points in the Round 14 win over Barcelona with another career-high, 7 assists, to defeat ASVEL earlier this week. That game also saw Nicolo Melli score 17 points on 7-for-8 field goal shooting for a Milan team which could be finally starting to roll.