ALBA Berlin vs. Zalgiris Kaunas
Faltering Zalgiris (13-13) will look to improve its poor away form with a trip to bottom-placed ALBA (7-19). The Lithuanian team has slipped out of the top eight by losing four straight on the road, and desperately needs to boost its offensive production after failing to reach 80 points in any of the last eight games. ALBA should be the ideal opponent in that quest: the German team has allowed more points than anyone else, 85.3 per game, and was beaten 88-81 when the teams met in Kaunas in November.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade
Virtus (12-14) will look to get back on track against a Partizan (14-12) team with its sights set not only on the playoffs but also trying to force its way into the top four. Partizan's potent offense – averaging 84.8 points per game, third best in the league – will be licking its lips at the prospect of facing Virtus, which allowed 104 points against Fenerbahce last week. Specifically, Virtus allowed the Turkish team to strike 20 three-pointers in that game and now has to face Aleksa Avramovic, who hit 5 triples in last week's win over ALBA, so improved perimeter defense is key for Virtus.
Valencia Basket vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
Milan's (10-15) late surge up the standings will be tested with a trip to playoffs-chasing Valencia (13-13), which is desperate to bounce back after a total collapse at Baskonia last week. Milan's streak of four straight victories – all of which were gained at home – featured a strong run of form from Billy Baron, who averages 13.3 points and 3.5 assists in that span. After allowing at least 91 points in each of the last four games, three of which resulted in defeat, it's no secret that improved defense will be the priority for Valencia.
Real Madrid vs. Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz
League-leading Real (18-7) will look for a sixth straight win by overcoming visiting Baskonia (14-12), which could surely not be more confident of causing an upset after blasting 114 points against Valencia last week. Real is expected to be without Edy Tavares, who limped off the floor in the team's last EuroLeague game on Friday, so Baskonia could try to gain physical dominance after grabbing an enormous 43 rebounds against Valencia. But Guerschon Yabusele is expected to return for Real at a timely moment considering the likely absence of Tavares.
FC Bayern Munich vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Bayern (10-16) will aim to keep its slim playoffs chances alive against an ASVEL (8-18) team that has little time left to force its way up the standings. A huge boost for Bayern has been the return to fitness of team leader Vladimir Lucic, who appeared for the first time since Round 10 in last week's win over Zvezda and immediately delivered a big performance with 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the field. ASVEL lost by just 1 point to Efes and 4 to Real in its last two games, so its confidence should still be intact for the trip to Bavaria.
