Aris Thessaloniki Betsson kept its BKT EuroCup playoff dreams alive with a dramatic 107-113 double-overtime victory over Slask Wroclaw at Centennial Hall, surviving nearly 50 minutes of back-and-forth basketball in Poland. The Greek side improved to 7-8 and climbed to seventh place in Group A, just outside the playoff zone, while Slask dropped to 4-11, suffering its seventh straight loss and being formally eliminated from postseason contention.

Aris survives double-OT epic in Wroclaw to stay in playoff hunt

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson kept its BKT EuroCup playoff dreams alive with a dramatic 107-113 double-overtime victory over Slask Wroclaw at Centennial Hall, surviving nearly 50 minutes of back-and-forth basketball in Poland. The Greek side improved to 7-8 and climbed to seventh place in Group A, just outside the playoff zone, while Slask dropped to 4-11, suffering its seventh straight loss and being formally eliminated from postseason contention.

Elijah Mitrou-Long and Danilo Andjusic were the driving forces behind Aris’s win, scoring 26 points apiece and delivering in the biggest moments. Mitrou-Long opened the night with a pair of early triples to set the tone and later iced the game from the free-throw line with 13.4 seconds left in the second overtime. Andjusic was a constant threat, steadying Aris whenever Slask threatened to pull away. Bryce Jones added 17 points, including a tough layup with 3.9 seconds left in regulation that forced the first overtime, while Amine Noua contributed 13 points and 9 rebounds, highlighted by a crucial put-back slam for a 104-109 lead with a minute to go in the second extra session.

Afterward, Andjusic underlined the stakes for his team: “We needed to leave everything on the court because we knew this was a very important game for us. We needed to win if we want to go to the playoffs. For now, every game is a final for us in EuroCup until the end. We have to catch that spot for the playoffs.”

One of the key factors in such a high-scoring, tight game was Aris’s control of the rebounding battle. The Greek club collected 49 rebounds to Slask’s 37, including a remarkable 20 offensive boards compared to the hosts’ 10. Those extra possessions were crucial in a game that went to double overtime and in which every basket mattered.

Head coach Igor Milicic acknowledged both his team’s resilience and its flaws: “This is a really tough thing to do, to win in two overtimes... But we’re happy we took the win. It was not easy. We made a lot of mistakes, but also, we pulled it out and we kept our dreams alive.”

At the same time, Milicic was candid about his team’s flaws, including a loss of focus late in the first half: “In the first half, we had the momentum and then we made some turnovers that gave Slask the chance to feel good. And on defense, off the ball, we were out of position and they were shooting the ball wide-open. This cannot happen when we are practicing this on a daily basis. We need to step up our concentration… We were more watching them do what they want than provoking them to do what we want.”

In the end, however, Aris did just enough at both ends of the floor to escape with a vital victory, turning a marathon in Wroclaw into a significant step forward in the race for the EuroCup playoffs.

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Despite the loss, Slask delivered an impressive offensive performance. Noah Kirkwood led the hosts with 24 points and 7 assists, while Blazej Czerniewicz added 17 points, including a late second-quarter three-pointer that capped a strong run and gave Slask a 50-48 halftime lead. Kadre Gray, who finished with 15 points, provided an important spark with 8 points in the second quarter, and Angel Nuñez hit a huge triple in the first overtime to tie the game at 98-98 and force double-overtime.

Slask’s head coach Ainars Bagatskis lamented some missed opportunities: “We didn’t use our opportunities because the way they played on defense, it was easy for us to find good shots. We started the game with five open threes. It sounds maybe funny – we scored 107 points and we didn’t use 40 percent of our opportunities.”

Bagatskis also criticized his team’s defensive focus: “We have to be a little bit smarter. We have to earn with hard work. We have to know that one-on-one defense starts from the three-point line, at least. We have to know who we play against… We know how to play, we don’t know how to win.”

Slask heads to Germany next week where it will try to snap its losing streak against Veolia Towers Hamburg, while Aris visits Bahcesehir College Istanbul.

Game News

Mitrou-Long and Andjusic score 26 apiece as Aris dominates the boards and outlasts Slask in Poland

Slask Wroclaw v Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (2026-01-20T18:00:00.000Z)

NINERS Chemnitz showed poise and handled business on its home floor against Group B leader Cosea JL Bourg‑en-Bresse, securing a crucial 88-82 win to stay in the playoff race and move to 8-7.

Chemnitz rides second-half charge to secure home triumph over Bourg

[NINERS Chemnitz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/niners-chemnitz/nin/) showed poise and handled business on its home floor against Group B leader [Cosea JL Bourg‑en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/), securing a crucial 88-82 win to stay in the playoff race and move to 8-7.

Coming off last week’s defeat at German rival ratiopharm ulm, Chemnitz bounced back in style, riding a hot three-point surge in the third quarter to take control of a tight contest.

[Corey Davis Jr.](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/corey-davis-jr-/013890/) was the driving force behind Chemnitz’s second-half momentum. He finished with 19 points and 7 assists, stepping up when his team needed a lift to secure the win.

"In the EuroCup, every game is big right now," said the American guard after the game. "Especially going into January, early February, all these games are important. The fact that we came out and handled business against a great team, is astonishing. We did a great job executing and playing hard, so I’m proud of us."

NINERS Chemnitz-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 15 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

After a balanced first half, Chemnitz returned from the locker room with determination. [Jordan Schakel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordan-schakel/014211/) and Davis combined for 12 points early in the period, pushing the hosts to a double-digit advantage.

"Important win like all of them, but this one especially because of the context of the situation," said coach Rodrigo Pastore after the game. "Last five games, we were not performing like we would like to, despite circumstances, injuries, departures. We are a no-excuses team, and we expected much higher standards from ourselves. Today, the team responded the way good teams respond. I’m proud of them."

[Amadou Sow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/amadou-sow/012598/) was another key contributor for Chemnitz, scoring 16 points, including 9 in the fourth quarter to help seal the win. [Kevin Yebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kevin-yebo/013368/) gave the team an early lift with 10 first-half points, finishing with 15, while Schakel added 11 in his third appearance of the season.

Coming off the bench, [Yordan Minchev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/yordan-minchev/007423/) made a strong impact on both ends of the floor, contributing 12 points and 7 rebounds when the hosts needed a lift.

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Chemnitz handed Bourg their fourth loss of the season, putting up 88 points against a team that came into the game allowing just 74.9 points per contest.

Bourg pushed hard in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit and testing Chemnitz’s defense, but the French side could not complete a comeback.

Bourg leaned on [Both Gach](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/both-gach/013900/) to drive the offense, with 17 points, while [Assemian Moulare](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/assemian-moulare/010546/) added 16. [Tajuan Agee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/tajuan-agee/014182/) made his presence felt inside, finishing with 13 points and 8 rebounds as the French side stayed in control.

"It was a tough game, and we prepared our team for that because to play here is, obviously, is very tough. And we did too much, too many mistakes to win on the road like this. We missed too many free throws in the first period, at important moments, and we forgot maybe our aggressiveness in the second half," said coach Frederic Fauthoux after the game.

Next up, Chemnitz travels to Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, while Bourg hosts Ulm in a Group B clash.

Corey Davis Jr. led the charge for Chemnitz with 19 points

NINERS Chemnitz v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2026-01-20T18:00:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana applied more pressure in the fight for a top-two spot in Group A with a thrilling rollercoaster home victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

Cedevita sweeps season series with Cluj thanks to offensive rebounds, forced turnovers

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana/lju/) applied more pressure in the fight for a top-two spot in Group A with a thrilling rollercoaster home victory over [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/).

Cedevita wasted a 16-point lead and then needed to battle back from 10 points down to beat Cluj 86-80. Zvezdan Mitrovic's men swept the season series against Cluj and have put together three wins in the last four games for a 10-5 record.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half but we came out and fixed those mistakes on defense and we fought until the end and came out with the victory,” said [DJ Stewart](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dj-stewart/012700/), who led Cedevita with 25 points and had 6 rebounds.

[Aleksej Nikolic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/aleksej-nikolic/003703/) added 24 points off the bench in the win.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana-U-BT Cluj-Napoca | Round 15 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

While Cluj outshot Cedevita on two and three-pointers, the hosts forced 23 Cluj turnovers and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds. Cedevita turned those miscues into a 32-16 advantage in points off turnovers and a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points.

“We had a lot of energy. We ran, we played with energy. It’s not easy to play defense against a team that scores 96 points per game. We had good support and I am very happy. It was a very important game for our playoff hopes,” said Coach Mitrovic.

Stewart and [Jaka Blazic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jaka-blazic/003452/) sparked the offense to start the game with 15 combined points of the team’s first 17 points. An 11-0 run over 4 minutes gave Cedevita a 22-9 lead and the score was 24-12 after 10 minutes.

The advantage grew to 16 points at 28-12, but Cluj pulled the deficit to three points at 33-30 before trailing 37-34 at the break.

Cluj scored the first five points of the second half to take the lead for the first time, and a 0-10 run made it 41-51. The hosts charged back with a 14-3 surge to move back ahead 55-54 and were up 60-59 after 30 minutes.

Cedevita pushed the cushion back to seven points and [Umoja Gibson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/umoja-gibson/013855/)’s triple with 2 minutes to go made it 78-81. Nikolic converted 5 of 6 free throws in the final 105 seconds to secure the win.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="cs" dir="ltr">HVALA, TIVOLI! 💚🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/mL0pKNFneS">pic.twitter.com/mL0pKNFneS</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL/status/2013720961577591009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cluj has lost its last three road games to fall to 8-7 in the group despite [Dusan Miletic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/) collecting 16 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, [Karel Guzman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/karel-guzman/011797/) scoring 16 points and [Fatts Russell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/daron-russell/013943/) chipping in 14 points and 10 assists.

“They were the more physical team and that was the difference. With their physicality they forced us to make 23 turnovers - which is huge - and they forced us to give up 18 offensive rebounds. It’s very hard to win this type of game with those numbers.  Defensively we did a pretty good job. But we allowed too many second chance opportunities,” said Cluj head coach Mihai Silvasan.

“But that is basketball. This is who we are as a team. We just need to stay together and move forward and try to find solutions.”

Cedevita grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and forced 23 turnovers

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2026-01-20T17:30:00.000Z)

After helping Ulm earn a vital win over Chemnitz, Chris Ledlum is embracing the challenges – and rewards – of his debut EuroCup season. In a wide ranging conversation with Javier Gancedo, the versatile forward talks about choosing basketball over football, the lessons learned from Harvard and Rick Pitino, and why Ulm’s winning culture was the perfect fit for his next career step.

Chris Ledlum: ‘Our goal is to win a championship’

After helping [ratiopharm ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) earn a vital win over NINERS Chemnitz, [Chris Ledlum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/christopher-ledlum/013968/) is embracing the challenges – and rewards – of his debut EuroCup season. In a wide‑ranging conversation with Javier Gancedo, the versatile forward talks about choosing basketball over football, the lessons learned from Harvard and Rick Pitino, and why Ulm’s winning culture was the perfect fit for his next career step.

**Congratulations on beating Chemnitz. It was a really close game for like 32-33 minutes but you got the win to stay in the playoff race. How important was that?**

"We just knew how important of a game it was to stay in the playoff race, so we were just very focused. We played our brand of basketball and played really hard."

**This is your second season in Europe after a year in France, and your first season in the EuroCup. It is hard to step into this competition and do so well. What allowed you to adjust so quickly to this level of basketball?**

"I feel like I'm a very versatile player. I have always been pretty good at adapting to different environments and different play styles, but honestly, it's just putting the work in and just trying to learn as much as I can."

Christopher Ledlum of atiopharm ulm is one of the best newcomers in the BKT EuroCup this season. 

2025-26 Rounds 1-14 highlights: Christopher Ledlum 

**You were a wide receiver in high school and got scholarships for both American football and basketball. What made you choose basketball over football?**

"To be completely honest, football was my first love. I ended up choosing basketball just because it was new to me. I had just started playing in my freshman year of high school, so it was something that was new, something that I hadn't done as much. So I just loved how new everything was and that I got to learn new things every day. I'm still learning and I was still learning in football, but I just feel like my football career was a lot further. I had a lot more time in football than basketball. And there's also the injury aspect of football, so longevity-wise, it's definitely a smarter decision to play basketball."

 

**Are there any football skills, like speed or acceleration, that you took to basketball?**

"Yeah, I think probably one of the biggest things is that physicality doesn't really bother me, just because of how much physicality there is in football. But I think that there are a lot of universal skills on both ends that help with each sport. I think there are many skills in football that would translate to basketball and vice versa."

 

**You studied at Harvard with some of the brightest minds in the world. How was the experience at Harvard?**

"It was amazing. It's a great place, Boston, and there's just a lot of great people there. I had a really good coach \[Tommy Amaker, 1986 World Cup champion with USA as a player\]. He was amazing, and he did a lot for me and our team, both on the court and off the court. He helped us grow and take that next step in being young men."

<center>
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**You also spent a year with St. John's, coached by Rick Pitino. He coached Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague and has been in love with European basketball ever since. How was it to play for Pitino, and did you talk to him about the possibility of coming overseas while being there?**

"Yeah, absolutely. It was definitely a very great and interesting experience playing for Coach Pitino. His offenses are very European-like, and I guess he likes to play at a faster pace, kind of like the European game. So we definitely had some conversations after the season about playing in Europe and whatnot. Overall, it was a very good experience."

 

**Ulm has a reputation for developing young players, not just prospects, but also young American players like Jaron Blossomgame and Trevion Williams before you, just to name two. It gives you a chance to play in the EuroCup. How much of an impact did all that have on your decision?**

"Just speaking with everyone around the program, I could tell that there's a great culture here and a winning culture. And everyone wants to win and put their best foot forward. And that's something that's very important for me, being around people who want to win and get better every day. And that was the driving factor in my decision."

 

**As a sociology major at Harvard, how great is it to travel to different places and experience different cultures with the team?**

"I think it's amazing. Every day I learn something new and it's great. Like you said, that's what I studied, sociology in college, and it's the study of human behavior and subconsciously, I'm just able to compare and it helps me understand why each place is different. Like, France is different than Germany and they are both different from the States. So this is very interesting and I'm learning every day."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Vier gewinnt - Chris auch. 🏆<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/donau3fm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@donau3fm</a> <a href="https://t.co/saQeLW4hN0">pic.twitter.com/saQeLW4hN0</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/2011537204787478903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

**And everything is different from London! That's your next trip, to play on the road against the London Lions. How much are you looking forward to going to London and playing such an important game for both teams?**

"I'm very excited. Every opportunity to play is super exciting and we are up for the challenge. I have been to London before, so I have seen it a bit. I think it's a great place. I actually have family that lives in London so hopefully they will be able to get out to the game and see us play. But it's definitely extremely exciting and like you said, it's a do-or-die game and we're going to fight and bring our all."

 

**What would be a good season for you, personally, and for Ulm?**

"I think for me and the team, it's very aligned. Every day we come to practice with the goal of winning as many games as possible, and from the start of the season, our goal is to win a championship. So we just want to continue. We want to take it one game at a time and win one game at a time and hopefully at the end of the season we are lifting up a trophy."

More Ulm News

As Ulm battles for a postseason spot, Ledlum opens up about his development, his coaches, and a pivotal trip to London

London Lions v ratiopharm ulm (2026-01-21T19:30:00.000Z)

Discover five smart, budget-friendly player recommendations for Round 14 of the BKT EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. 

Fantasy tips: Under-the-radar picks for Round 14

We are just four rounds away from the end of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season and, of course, it is also a critical time in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. A lot of teams are fighting for big goals, especially a top-two finish in their groups to advance directly to the quarterfinals, as well as a top-six finish to keep challenging for EuroCup glory.

I rank 470th overall in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, which is more than 98.5% of all teams. Maybe not as good as my colleague Frankie Sachs, who is sixth overall, but my advice should be pretty good. Here we go!

Tobias Jensen, Tyler Cavanaugh, Adam Mokoka, Paulius Danusevicius and Yogi Ferrell are featured in this week's article. 

EuroCup Fantasy tips, Round 15

### Yogi Ferrell, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (13.8 credits)

Yogi Ferrell is seen as a fun-to-watch scoring guard who can be unstoppable at times. Well, think again. Ferrell narrowly missed a triple-double last week with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists against Lietkabelis. He's had PIRs of at least 18 in each of his last four games. That's the consistency you look for.

 

### Tyler Cavanaugh, Bahcesehir College Istanbul (12.4 credits)

Bahcesehir has lost some games here and there lately, but Tyler Cavanaugh has been rock-solid. In his last three games, Cavanaugh has averaged 13.0 points on 9-of-10 two-point shooting and 4-of-7 on three-pointers plus 6.3 rebounds for a PIR of 17.3. That is a jump from his season averages (10.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 12.8 PIR). Buy him now!

Kevin Kokila has averaged 11.7 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last three games

### Adam Mokoka, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (11.9 credits)

What I like about Adam Mokoka is that you don't need him to score a lot to get a good PIR. In Round 13, Mokoka scored only 8 points, but added 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals for a PIR of 19. Last week, he had 15 points and added 7 rebounds and 6 fouls drawn for a PIR of 24. Very good value at 11.9 credits.

 

### Paulius Danusevicius, Lietkabelis Panevezys (9.7 credits)

He has impressed with his highlight plays and Paulius Danusevicius is also putting up good numbers, especially in recent games. Over his last three games, Danusevicius has averaged 15.3 points on 16-of-23 two-point shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 block for a PIR of 17.7. He reached a PIR of 26 against Buducnost last week.

 

### Tobias Jensen, ratiopharm ulm (9.1 credits)

Tobias Jensen may not be as cheap as he was at the start of the season (5.5 credits), but he still has a lot of value and hasn't stopped improving. He has scored in double digits in each of his last seven games. In the last four, he's averaged 14.0 points and 5.5 assists for a PIR of 17.5. The 21-year-old keeps delivering!

Javier Gancedo is back with this week's fantasy recommendations

Fantasy tips, Round 15: Hidden gems and big upside

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2026-01-21T17:00:00.000Z)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2026-01-21T17:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2026-01-20T18:00:00.000Z)

We’re into the final straight of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, with Round 15 giving several teams a chance to take a major step towards the playoffs. Here’s your overview of the upcoming action.

At a glance: The postseason race goes up a notch in Round 15

We’re into the final straight of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season, with Round 15 giving several teams a chance to take a major step towards the playoffs. Here’s your overview of the upcoming action.

## Tuesday, January 20

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:30 CET)

A crucial clash in Group A gives Cedevita Olimpija (9-5) the chance to move two games clear of visiting Cluj (8-6). With head-to-head advantage very much in play, Cedevita Olimpija knows a home win would deliver a potentially decisive margin thanks to November’s 87-93 victory in Romania, powered by 15 points and 7 assists from Umoja Gibson – who remains in red-hot form with 25 points in the last two games. But Cluj will be confident after winning three of its last four, putting triple digits on the scoreboard to overcome Hamburg last time out behind 23 points from the always-electric Fatts Russell. The backcourt battle between Gibson and Russell is a must-watch showdown, and could be decisive.

### Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)

Hapoel (12-2) could seal first place in Group A, but it won’t be easy against a Bahcesehir team (9-5) still hoping to take that status. Hapoel – which will host this game in Sofia, Bulgaria – has often looked unstoppable during its 11-game winning streak and has already beaten Bahcesehir once this season, triumphing 82-90 on the road partly thanks to a double-double from Austin Wiley. Bahcesehir suffered a setback last week with a home loss to Manresa, and will be focusing on improving its defense while calling on Trevion Williams to get the better of his big battle in the paint with Wiley. The backcourt showdown between Jared Harper and Malachi Flynn is another highlight to savor.

### NINERS Chemnitz vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:00 CET)

Chemnitz (7-7) is determined to protect its position in Group B’s top six by overcoming Bourg (11-3). Both teams are looking to bounce back from defeat, with Chemnitz suffering a bad shooting night in a German derby defeat to Ulm, while Bourg will target defensive improvement after allowing 103 points in a loss to Besiktas. The hosts will power its offense through perennial double-double threat Kevin Yebo, who will be getting ready for a big battle in the paint with Kevin Kokila. Bourg will hope for another big night from Darius McGhee, who bounced back to form last week with 25 points, and Chemnitz needs Corey Davis to slow him down.

### Slask Wroclaw vs. Aris Thessaloniki Betsson (19:00 CET)

Two teams fighting to avoid elimination go head-to-head with struggling Slask (4-10) welcoming Aris (6-8). The Polish team has suffered six straight losses and is facing major defensive problems after allowing 103 and 115 points in the last two games. Aris hasn’t fared much better, losing its last three despite the ongoing excellent of Bryce Jones, who has recorded 10 straight double-digit scoring nights. Slask boasts one of the league’s best rebounders in Stefan Dordevic (7.0 boards per night), but needs better long-range shooting after only making 31.2% of its three-point attempts. Aris’s main threat in that department is Arnoldas Kulboka, but he is seeking a return to form after going 4-of-15 from deep in the last three games.

## Wednesday, January 21

### Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)

Trento (8-6) will attempt to maintain its challenge for a top-two finish by triumphing on the road at eliminated Lietkabelis (3-11). The Italian team has won five of its last six games thanks to Khalif Battle’s last-second game-winner against Panionios last time out, and will look to dominate by crashing the glass – Trento ranks third in the competition in offensive rebounding (12.6 per game), led by Andrej Jakimovski with 2.1 per night. To counter that, Lietkabelis can call upon one of the EuroCup’s best rebounders, Paulius Danusevicius (6.6 rebounds per game), but the Lithuanian team has not won at home since the opening round and needs to find an offensive spark after averaging just 78.4 points per game (third-worst in the competition).

### Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)

A key showdown for Group B’s top two takes place between second-placed Besiktas (10-4) and third-placed Buducnost (9-5). Both teams are in good form, with Besiktas flying high after last week’s road win at group leader Bourg behind ever-dependable big man Ante Zizic. He will be challenged inside the paint by visiting center Nikola Tanaskovic, who continued his excellent season by draining 20 points against Lietkabelis in Round 14 – also showing his range by netting four three-pointers. Besiktas needs a win of four points or more to claim head-to-head advantage after Buducnost won the Round 6 matchup 82-79, when Rasheed Sulaimon proved decisive with 20 points including the game-winning basket.

### Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:30 CET)

Eliminated Panionios (2-12) is hoping to restore some pride by damaging the playoff push of visiting Turk Telekom (9-5). The Greek team is playing better than its record suggests and came agonizingly close to a second straight win at Trento last week, with new signing Joe Thomasson showing great leadership with 17 points and 8 assists. The visitors have won two straight and have shooter Uros Trifunovic in his best form of the season, draining four triples in last week’s win over London. Turk Telekom won easily, 95-67, when the teams met earlier in the season behind 18 points and 7 assists from Michael Devoe, but Panionios has improved greatly since then and this should be a much closer affair.

### Veolia Towers Hamburg vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:30 CET)

Reyer (8-6), one of three teams currently tied for fourth place in Group A, is aiming to maintain that status by downing winless Hamburg (0-14). Red-hot Reyer has won four consecutive games thanks to an outstanding offense which has averaged 101.3 points during that winning run, and Hamburg’s struggling defense (96.7 points per game allowed, second-worst in the competition) will have to contain the three-point shooting of Denzel Valentine after he hit four triples against Slask last week. Hamburg will look to compete through the inside presence of Zacharie Perrin (12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game), but he won’t have an easy night against consistent Reyer big man Chris Horton, who bagged a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds last week.

### London Lions vs. ratiopharm ulm (20:30 CET)

Two teams fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive meet for a must-win matchup as London (5-9) welcomes Ulm (6-8). The German team needs to maintain the form that delivered a strong win over Chemnitz last week, and will rely on the leadership of young guard Tobias Jensen (12.2 points and 4.9 assists per night). The English team knows it must win every remaining game to have a realistic chance of making the playoffs, and must reignite an offense which has averaged only 68.7 points during its ongoing three-game losing run. An unexpected source of the needed improvement could be forward Ciaran Sandy, who hadn’t scored all season before netting 12 points in last week’s loss at Turk Telekom.

### BAXI Manresa vs. Neptunas Kleipeda (20:45 CET)

Manresa (8-6) will attempt to continue pushing for Group A’s seeded spots by beating a Neptunas team (6-8) close to elimination. The hosts have evolved into one of the competition’s most dangerous offenses, winning five of their last six games and scoring at least 96 points in each of those victories. Last week’s impressive win at Bahcesehir was spearheaded by 14 points and 5 rebounds from in-form guard Agustin Ubal, who will attempt to overcome the threat of visiting playmaker Arnas Velicka, who leads the EuroCup with 7.1 assists per night. But the key to the outcome is whether Neptunas can improve a defense which has allowed more than 100 points in three of the last four games.

Andy West looks ahead to Round 15 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season

BAXI Manresa v Neptunas Klaipeda (2026-01-21T19:45:00.000Z)

Veolia Towers Hamburg v Umana Reyer Venice (2026-01-21T18:30:00.000Z)

Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens v Turk Telekom Ankara (2026-01-21T17:30:00.000Z)

An in-depth statistical breakdown of Besiktas GAIN Istanbul’s Round 14 win at Bourg, driven by 45 points at the rim against one of the EuroCup’s top defenses. The column examines Besiktas’s historic interior efficiency, Turk Telekom’s dunk-heavy attack, and Bahcesehir’s elite shot quality as all three Turkish clubs chase key playoff positioning.EuroCup stats review, Bahcesehir defense, Synergy Shot Quality, EuroCup Round 13, EuroCup playoff race, defensive trends, BKT EuroCup analysis

Stats review: Turkish teams rise on the strength of exceptional interior scoring

Round 14 of the BKT EuroCup featured several important road wins, but [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/roster/bes/)’s [victory](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/besiktas-edges-bourg-to-close-the-gap-in-group-b-race/) over [Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/roster/bou/) on the road to finish the season sweep and pull one game behind them at the top of Group A was particularly notable. In a matchup of this season’s second-best offense and second-best defense, Besiktas’s scoring efficiency won the day, thanks in large part to what it accomplished at the rim.

The visitors scored 45 points at the rim in victory, well above the tremendous 26.1 points per game Bourg had allowed at the rim coming into the contest, with a large portion of that total coming on dribble drives out of pick-and-rolls. Besiktas found an avenue to put consistent pressure on the rim and exploited it consistently to notch a hard-fought 4-point win. 

Even against an exceptional defense, that may not be entirely surprising as Besiktas currently leads the EuroCup shooting 71% at the rim — the highest mark this decade if the team can sustain it over the next several weeks. While some of that can be traced to the consistency of [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/), who has shot 80% inside while ranking among the most prolific individual finishers in the EuroCup this season, there’s a lot of depth to how effective Besiktas has been inside this season.

That is most apparent in how many different areas it has excelled in. While Besiktas has scored more points at the rim through driving ball screens than out of any other action, it has shot a massive 77% on rolls to the rim, 73% in transition, and 69% on cuts. Its well-above-average 61% on put-backs has actually hurt its consistency as the numbers have been bolstered by high percentages on a small volume of isos, hand-offs, and off screens ending at the rim. 

Besiktas is not the only EuroCup team scoring at a high level inside, and not even the only one hailing from Turkiye as [Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/turk-telekom-ankara/ttk/) has been very effective in its own right. With [Kris Bankston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kris-bankston/012760/) and [Kyle Alexander](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kyle-alexander/011973/) shooting a combined 76% inside, the big men contribute heavily to the team's effectiveness and are the driving force behind their league-best 4.6 dunks per game that would rank among the top marks in recent history behind only Paris Basketball and Virtus Bologna’s championship teams. No team has scored more points on cuts than Turk Telekom and their its threats have a lot to do with that.

[Bahcesehir College Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/bahcesehir-college-istanbul/bah/) completes the Turkish sweep of the top three spots thanks to a balanced effort rooted on the league’s top interior shot quality. It generates a solid volume of catch-and-score opportunities and its guards do a good job driving to draw help and finding ways to dump the ball to teammates inside.

With only four games remaining, every basket matters for that trio as Bahcesehir looks to hang onto second place in Group A and both Besiktas and Turk Telekom remain in the mix for a bye to the quarterfinals from Group B.

With Besiktas, Turk Telekom, and Bahcesehir all thriving inside, Turkish clubs are shaping the playoff picture through top tier rim efficiency

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Besiktas GAIN Istanbul (2026-01-14T18:30:00.000Z)

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Kristian Kullamae playing for Lietkabelis Panevezys. The Estonian guard and the Lithuanian club already had a history prior to this season and he felt comfortable coming back. 

Back where he belongs: Kristian Kullamae’s return to Lietkabelis

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see [Kristian Kullamae](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kristian-kullamae/007729/) playing for [Lietkabelis Panevezys](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/lietkabelis-panevezys/lkb/). The Estonian guard and the Lithuanian club already had a history prior to this season and he felt comfortable coming back. 

Kullamae has been one of the major bright spots in a rather disappointing 2025-26 campaign for Lietkabelis. He has been averaging 11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals through 14 BKT EuroCup games, but the team has slumped to a 3-11 record in Group B and faces an uphill battle to stay in the fight for the playoffs. 

“We have had problems with injuries and players moving in and out, and that has hurt us to stay consistent,” Kullamae told David Hein. 

Lietkabelis has in the past played well at home, with a 22-13 record in Panevezys over the previous four seasons and a 9-27 road mark. But Lietkabelis has managed just one win in seven home games this season.

When asked why the team is struggling at Kalnapilipo Arena, Kullamae shrugged and said: “If I knew that, we wouldn’t have that record. But I think it goes back to just not being a full team for parts of the season.”

Kullamae had a successful run with Lietkabelis in his previous season, 2022-23, with the team finishing the regular season 10-8 and reaching the playoffs. The team actually had home-court advantage in the last 16 and was leading by 12 points. But Paris Basketball ended up winning 97-98 to eliminate the Lithuanian side.

“That really hurt because we had the lead and couldn’t hold it. But also because we were playing at home and couldn’t take advantage of being with our fans,” said Kullamae, who scored 20 points in the loss. 

The best plays of Lietkabelis Panevezys guard Kristian Kullamae through the first 14 rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Kristian Kullamae's top plays in 2025-26

The 1.94-meter guard was thrilled about coming to Lithuania in 2022 as it was a chance to really shine as a leading player. He had played the previous three seasons in Spain – 2019-20 and 2020-21 in the second division. Kullamae reached the Spanish League in 2021-22 with San Pablo Burgos, but he only contributed 3.3 points and 1.1 assists.

“Lietkabelis was a great opportunity for me to play a leading role for the first time with a professional team,” said Kullamae, who averaged 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 19 EuroCup games that season.

As much as he enjoyed his success in Lithuania, Kullamae jumped at the chance to return to the Spanish League in 2023 to play with Bilbao Basket.

“I always wanted to play a big role in a Spanish team, and Bilbao gave me that opportunity. And I am really thankful for the two years I spent there,” he said.

Kullamae was playing in the FIBA Europe Cup and helped Bilbao reach the semifinals in 2023-24, losing to eventual champions NINERS Chemnitz. Bilbao lost the first game at home 73-98, allowing 57 points in the second half. The Spanish team was able to win the return leg in Germany 73-82, but it was not enough for the two-game aggregate.

“We had one bad half and that kind of hurts because we had a good team. But like everything, that was a learning experience. You have to keep fighting all the time,” Kullamae said.

<center>
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The Estonian, as well as most of the team and head coach, returned for the 2024-25 season and bounced back to win the 2025 FIBA Europe Cup, defeating PAOK Thessaloniki in the finals 154-149 over the two games.

“We made up for our mistakes and won it. It was a great group of guys and it really meant a lot to win the title,” Kullamae said.

That title was the only professional championship Kullamae has won in his career.

“Not everyone can say they are European champions. So it will be something I will remember for the rest of my career, if not the rest of my life,” he said.

Kullamae said it was a lot of fun celebrating the crown with the Bilbao supporters.

“They really celebrated, and it was great being at the parties and celebrations and giving something back to the city,” he said.

When Kullamae was looking for a club for this season, playing in the EuroCup was a major factor. And he was very happy about Lietkabelis’s interest in bringing him back.

“I knew what the organization was like – I had a great relationship with Coach \[Nenad\] Cenak from the first time,” he said.

Besides Coach Cenak and Kullamae, also back from the 2022-23 season is [Jamel Morris](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jamel-morris/011931/), who spent last season in France with Elan Chalon.

When asked what he likes most about his coach, Kullamae said: “He really cares about his players and wants the best for them and help them get the best out of them.”

Despite the struggles, Kullamae knows there is still a lot of basketball to play.

“We just want to try and win as many games as possible and see what happens.”

More Lietkabelis News

Kristian Kullamae returned to Lithuania last summer for his second stint at the club 

Look back at all the action in Round 14 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 

Top 10 photos from Round 14

Look back at all the action from Round 14 of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season by checking out the best photos of the week! 