After a two-week break, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague returns with Round 27 delivering a thrilling selection of games in the race for the playoffs. Here's your guide to the action.
This week: The action returns!
![This week: The action returns!](https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/86529421-6d27-4ae3-8f3f-c437bd71c1b1.jpg?crop=3000%3A1687%3Anowe%3A0%3A118)
Thursday, February 29
ALBA Berlin vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv
Playoff-chasing but inconsistent Maccabi (13-13) will look to strengthen its position in the top 10 with a trip to lowly ALBA (5-21). Maccabi has lost six in a row on the road mainly due to a leaky defense that allowed 105 points last time out against Efes. But the Israeli champion does have Wade Baldwin in great form, netting at least 22 points in four straight games. Baldwin also top scored for his team with 18 points when Maccabi comfortably downed ALBA, 102-81, in November, a game that also saw the German team's talented young swingman Gabriele Procida set a new personal best with 22 points.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Valencia Basket
Virtus (16-10) needs to arrest a slump as it hosts determined defensive expert Valencia (13-13). The Spanish team has allowed just 76.0 points per game, second best in the league, and will look to pounce upon any lack in confidence among a Virtus team that has lost three of the last four. Valencia did exactly that when the teams met in December, grinding out a 79-71 victory paced by 17 points from backcourt orchestrator Chris Jones, with the Italian team held to just 25 field goal conversions. Five of those came from key man Toko Shengelia, who will look to return from the break refreshed after averaging just 8 points and 3.8 rebounds - low tallies by his standards - in the last four games.
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Two direct rivals just outside the playoff places go head to head as Partizan (12-14) welcomes Efes (11-15). Partizan needs to give its season fresh impetus after losing three in a row, while the Turkish team gave a reminder of its awesome offensive potential by blasting 105 points against Maccabi in the last game before the break, powered by 22 points and 6 assists from Shane Larkin. He was also the key performer when Efes edged a high-scoring thriller in November, 100-94, netting 27 points to overcome a career-best 24 points from Partizan big man Frank Kaminsky. PJ Dozier also shined in that game with 21 points, and his defensive skills will be fundamental on this occasion to slow down Larkin and playmaker Darius Thompson.
Real Madrid vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
Title holder and league leader Real (22-4) will attempt to continue its remarkable dominance over third-placed Panathinaikos (16-10), which has lost 16 of its last 17 games against the Spanish giant, and 12 straight in Madrid. Jerian Grant has a key role to play on defense for the Greek team in breaking the rhythm of Real playmaker Facu Campazzo, while we can also look forward to an all-action duel between explosive big men as Guerschon Yabusele goes up against Mathias Lessort. Former Green Mario Hezonja led Real to a 78-90 victory in Athens earlier in the season, scoring 19 points, to help overcome 24 points for Panathinaikos guard Kendrick Nunn.
Friday, March 1
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz
Friday's action tips off with a key matchup as Fenerbahce (15-11) attempts to end a two-game losing run with a visit from Baskonia (14-12), which has conversely won two in a row. December's meeting between the teams was a thriller, won 80-79 by Baskonia on the back of 28 points from three-point specialist Markus Howard and a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds, by Maik Kotsar. Fenerbahce was led that night by 19 points from Nigel Hayes-Davis, who will look to bounce back from a quiet couple of games, scoring just 4 points in his team's pre-break defeats to Monaco and Panathinaikos. After losing those two games to direct rivals, the Turkish team will be extra motivated to avoid a third similar setback in a row.
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
Zalgiris (11-15) will look to maintain its outstanding pre-break form with the tough assignment of overcoming Olympiacos (15-11). Andrea Trinchieri's team has won three in a row partly thanks to the excellent form of big man Laurynas Birutis, who has averaged 13.8 points in the last five games, while Keenan Evans scored 25 to overcome Zvezda last time out. Olympiacos has aspirations of climbing higher than its current sixth position, and is building momentum nicely with a three-game winning streak. The Greek team prevailed comfortably, 89-72, when the teams met in November, led by 25 and 22 points respectively from deep shooting threats Isaiah Canaan and Alec Peters.
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
ASVEL (5-21) will attempt to climb away from the bottom of the standings as it welcomes a Milan team (11-15) that still hopes to mount a playoff challenge. Milan showed its potential by beating league leader Real Madrid in the last game before the break, led by 27 points from Shavon Shields and 23 from Nikola Mirotic. Shields was also the top performer, with 13 points and 6 assists, in a comfortable 84-61 home win over ASVEL in December, and the French team will look to end a three-game losing streak by using the ball-hawking skills of Paris Lee - top of the league's steals chart with 1.8 per game - to disrupt the visitor's rhythm.
FC Bayern Munich vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
Two teams hoping to push towards the top 10 meet in Munich as Bayern (11-15) welcomes Zvezda (10-16). Bayern has won two of the last three to rekindle playoff hopes, most recently grabbing a thrilling road triumph at Partizan behind 20 points from Sylvain Francisco, who presents a big threat to Zvezda after reaching double digits in seven straight games. The Serbian team has lost four of its last five games but did overcome Bayern at home in Round 6, when 16 points and 11 assists from ageless backcourt leader Milos Teodosic proved pivotal in a 64-68 victory.
A matchup between two genuine title contenders concludes the week in style as second-placed Barcelona (18-8) hosts fourth-placed (16-10) Monaco. All eyes will be on Mike James as Monaco's star guard hunts down the 29 points that would make him the competition's all-time leading scorer, but another combo guard will also look to have a say as Nico Laprovittola looks to extend Barça's six-game home winning run. Monaco earned a convincing home victory, 91-71, when the teams met in December, led by 19 points on 4 of 6 three-point shooting from the all-action Alpha Diallo. Barca had more turnovers (14) than assists (13) in that game, and will look for Tomas Satoransky to provide more backcourt control this time around.