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

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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! 

Ante Zizic is standing tall in the BKT EuroCup. The Besiktas GAIN Istanbul big man delivered another monster performance to claim Regular Season Round 14 MVP honors with a PIR of 34 — the best of the round.

Regular Season Round 14 MVP: Ante Zizic, Besiktas

[Ante Zizic ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/)is standing tall in the BKT EuroCup. The Besiktas GAIN Istanbul big man delivered another monster performance to claim Regular Season Round 14 MVP honors with a PIR of 34 — the best of the round.

Zizic was unstoppable in Besiktas’s thrilling 103-99 road win over Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse, scoring 26 points on near-perfect shooting: 9-of-10 inside the arc and 8-of-10 from the line. He added 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and drew 8 fouls to power his team past the Group B leaders. 

He joins reigning MVP Jared Harper of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem and Bryce Jones of Aris Thessaloniki Betsson as the only players with multiple MVP of the Round nods this season. Zizic also joined Mire Chatman as just the second Besiktas player to capture multiple MVP honors.

Behind Zizic,[ Fatts Russell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/daron-russell/013943/) of U-BT Cluj-Napoca and [Christopher Ledlum](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/christopher-ledlum/013968/) of ratiopharm ulm shared second place with PIRs of 30. Russell fueled Cluj’s 103-92 win over Veolia Towers Hamburg with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Ledlum led Ulm past NINERS Chemnitz with 23 points and 4 assists. [Carl Wheatle](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/carl-wheatle/013305/) (Umana Reyer Venice) and [Zacharie Perrin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zacharie-perrin/011579/) (Hamburg) rounded out the top performances with PIRs of 29.

### Individual highs: Chris Horton of Reyer, 14 rebounds

Ante Zizic led all scorers with 26 points in his team's road win at Bourg. Fatts Russell of U-BT Cluj-Napoca is the competition's top scorer with 21.2 points per game.

Chris Horton of Umana Reyer Venice grabbed 14 rebounds in a 103-76 home winning effort over Slask Wroclaw. Austin Wiley of Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem leads the 2025-26 EuroCup in rebounds with 8.9 per night.

Corey Davis Jr. of NINERS Chemnitz and Yogi Ferrell of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica each dished 10 assists in Round 14. Arnas Velicka of Neptunas Klaipeda ranks first overall with 7.1 assists per game.

Justin Simon of ratiopharm ulm collected 4 steals in his team's 88-76 home win over Chemnitz. Dogus Ozdemiroglu of Turk Telekom Ankara leads the overall standings at 2.3 steals per night.

Niklas Wimberg of Hamburg had 3 blocks in Round 14. Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu of BAXI Manresa ranks first in blocks (1.64 bpg.), slightly ahead of Wiley (1.58 bpg.).

Eight players collected double-doubles in Round 14: Ferrell, Horton, Davis, his Chemnitz teammate Kevin Yebo, Denzel Valentine of Reyer, Malik Osborne of Ulm, Karel Guzman of Cluj and Perrin.

Umana Reyer Venice dominated Slask Wroclaw 103–76 for its fifth consecutive EuroCup victory, powered by career-best performances and a team-first approach. 
•  Keywords: Reyer Venice, Slask Wroclaw, EuroCup, Chris Wheatle, Chris Horton, Denzel Valentine, Alessandro Lever, Group A, basketball, BKT EuroCup


Reyer Venice rolls past Slask for fifth straight EuroCup win 

Umana Reyer Venice’s red-hot form shows no signs of cooling off. The Italian side cruised past Slask Wroclaw 103–76 at the Palasport Taliercio on Wednesday night, dominating from tip to buzzer and claiming its fifth consecutive victory in the BKT EuroCup. The result not only solidifies its push for second place in Group A but also sends a clear signal to the rest of the field: Reyer is playing high-level basketball.

“I’d like to congratulate our team and give credit to the players for an amazing game,” said head coach Neven Spahija afterward. “This team is playing great basketball, no matter who’s in the rotation, whether they come from the bench or start the game.”

The numbers leave little room for debate. Reyer pulled down 51 rebounds — its second-best total ever in EuroCup action — and dished out 31 assists distributed among nine players, highlighting their unselfish approach. Altogether, Reyer posted a team PIR of 141, with four players registering career highs in efficiency.

Chris Horton and Denzel Valentine led the early onslaught, taking control on both ends of the floor. Horton put up a first-half double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Valentine added 12 points and 9 boards. They finished the game with PIRs of 27 and 24, respectively, both personal bests.

“I feel good. I think we’re turning the page in the EuroCup,” Horton reflected. “We were really collective tonight, especially defensively. Allowing just 76 points is huge for any team. We dropped the ball a couple of days ago, so we wanted to come out here and fix that — and I think we did.”

Their impact was matched by Chris Wheatle, who turned in a season-defining performance. The British forward led all players with a PIR of 29, fueled by 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, showcasing his versatility and control. Off the bench, local favorite Alessandro Lever gave the home fans plenty to cheer about with 19 points in just 16 minutes, including 3 triples and several key plays that drew one of the loudest ovations of the evening.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wheatle ➡️ Nikolic<br><br> Power slam to close it out 🫵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/REYER1872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@REYER1872</a> <a href="https://t.co/LPjJM9aAXD">pic.twitter.com/LPjJM9aAXD</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/2011545753869828503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Spahija used all 11 players on his roster, and all except Giovanni De Nicolao and Giga Janelidze found the scoreboard. Even more impressively, every player finished with a positive PIR — contributing to an extraordinary collective total of 141, a +78 differential over Slask, which highlighted Reyer's dominance.

“I think we played as a team, all together,” Spahija said. “I give credit to the team job. These players are working hard, and they want to play together. Chemistry is the most important thing for a basketball team.”

That chemistry is precisely what’s turning Reyer into one of the EuroCup’s hottest teams. Tuesday’s emphatic win extended its winning streak to five and confirmed what many around the league are beginning to sense: Reyer isn’t just winning; it's making a statement.

Game News

Four players set career highs as Reyer crushes Slask to keep its hot streak alive

Career nights fuel Reyer’s dominant victory over Slask

Umana Reyer Venice v Slask Wroclaw (2026-01-14T19:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica stayed on course in the Group B playoff race with a 95-81 home win over Lietkabelis Panevezys on Wednesday night, moving to 9-5 in the standings.

Buducnost rides second-half momentum to victory over Lietkabelis

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica stayed on course in the Group B playoff race with a 95-81 home win over Lietkabelis Panevezys on Wednesday night, moving to 9-5 in the standings.

Back on its home floor, Buducnost continued its strong home form at Moraca Sports Center, where it has lost just once this season, and pulled away in the second half behind improved perimeter shooting and defensive intensity.

Axel Bouteille and Nikola Tanaskovic were the driving forces for Buducnost, both reaching double figures early and energizing the offense. The duo made 8 of Buducnost’s 12 three-pointers, giving the home side a lift from beyond the arc, with Bouteille finishing with 22 points and Tanaskovic adding 20.

‘‘The second half was better,’’ said Bouteille after the game. ‘‘I think we played better on defense. I think offensively sometimes we were a little bit too static, and as soon as we moved the ball, we were better. We have some good shots, we make them, and defense was better. So, I think I was satisfied with this one.’’

Buducnost came out of the locker room with renewed energy. The turning point came in the third quarter, with the hosts trailing by 8 before Tanaskovic and Rasheed Sulaimon knocked down back-to-back threes to close the gap.

From that moment, Buducnost seized the momentum, improving its one-on-one defense and asserting control over the game. Buducnost closed the fourth quarter with a 13-2 run to secure the win.

‘‘I think that first half we were far from the freshness, the desire, the energy that we want, especially defensively, and we got too many points,’’ said coach Andrej Zakelj, reflecting on the game. ‘‘I think in the second half, they scored 30 points, so when we got the rebounds... and that's it, there is no big philosophy. If you fight, if you play defense, if you rebound, if you're tough, then you can play against everybody.’’

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Buducnost’s second-half perimeter shooting proved decisive. After hitting just 2 of 9 from three in the first half, the hosts connected on 10 triples after the break, finishing at 42.9%.

Yogi Ferrell was another key figure for Buducnost, posting a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists while keeping the offense flowing. Rasheed Sulaimon also carried a significant scoring load, contributing 17 points.

Lietkabelis, aware of the narrow margin for error, pushed hard but couldn’t turn its effort into a road win. Fardaws Aimaq made his presence felt in the paint, finishing with 19 points.

‘‘I don't think that we deserve to lose by 14,’ ’said Nenad Canak in the press conference. ‘‘It was a tight game like 36-37 minutes. Second half was decisive, it's obvious, because Buducnost made 10 threes in the second half and we shot 1 from 12 … I think that we played good basketball like 36-37 minutes and we will try to continue on that way.’’

Next up, Buducnost will face a demanding road test against Besiktas GAIN, who remain unbeaten at home this season. Lietkabelis, meanwhile, returns home to host Dolomita Energia Trento.

Axel Bouteille and Nikola Tanaskovic stood out for Buducnost, combining for 42 points

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2026-01-14T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem comfortably overcame Aris Thessaloniki Betsson, 96-77, to extend its winning streak to 11,

Jerusalem extends winning streak to 11 with road win at Aris

“We had a goal from the beginning of the season – obviously, we wanted to finish top two,” said Khadeen Carrington said. Speaking minutes after his playoff-qualified Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem team comfortably overcame Aris Thessaloniki Betsson, 96-77, to extend its winning streak to 11, Carrington was still careful not to get carried away. “We still have a way to go, with four more games, so we have to stay focused until it’s all done.”

It was a highly professional display from Jerusalem on Wednesday night at Palais De Sports. The visitors took control from the opening tip, running out to an 8-0 start to the contest. The visitors continued to dictate the pace, finishing the first period ahead by 9. However, some short-lived resistance from Aris meant that the hosts went into halftime trailing by just 9.

Coach Yonatan Alon’s men snatched the momentum back in the third quarter, closing Aris’s window of opportunity quickly and tightening their grip on the game throughout the second half. Despite some late foul trouble, Jerusalem earned the 19-point victory with no significant trouble.

“We came in here, where there’s a tough crowd, we didn’t want to give them anything, so we jumped out on them early,” said Carrington. “Credit to the team and coaching staff, everybody was focused from the beginning.”

Reigning EuroCup MVP Jared Harper stood out again for Jerusalem with 17 points and 5 dimes. Carrington scored 17 points of his own and Cassius Winston, Anthony Lamb and Yovel Zoosman also finished on double figures in scoring. The visitors may have won the game on the glass, finishing with 13 more rebounds than their opponents.

As well as winning its 11th game on the bounce, Jerusalem strengthened its hope of finishing first in Group A, having already clinched postseason action. At 12-2 for the EuroCup campaign, its 4 remaining regular season games will serve as something of a seeding exercise.

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Coach Igor Milicic’s men find themselves in a more challenging position. At 7-7 and having lost their third game in a row, Aris faces a battle to hold on to its playoff hopes. They will need a turnaround in form and some good fortune to take them to the next stage. To pull it off, Milicic feels they need to focus on effort in one particular area of their play.

“We didn’t accomplish what we asked before this game – to put up a fight on rebounds. This is the comment on the game, and on the last five games,” Milicic exclaimed.

“This is embarrassing, especially for the bigs. Whatever we do, whatever we practice to improve this, it’s pretty much bullsh\*t. You have to want to do it, you are getting paid for it, so you better do it. If you don’t do it, there’s no place for you here, with this mentality.”

One hopeful sign for the coach’s hunt for rebounds was the introduction of center Kostas Antetokounmpo. The Greek native and recent Aris loanee from Olympiacos Piraeus experienced mixed fortunes in a tough debut, making promising defensive plays, along with careless and unnecessary fouls. The 28-year-old center feels he can improve and capitalize on the fresh opportunity.

"Sometimes you have to dive straight into the deep end,” said Antetokounmpo. “It’s something that will help me, and I’m truly ready for the opportunity that lies ahead."

The immediate challenge that lies ahead for Aris is a trip to Poland to face Slask Wroclaw next Tuesday. On that same night, Jerusalem will face off against Bahcesehir College Istanbul.

Khadeen Carrington and Jared Harper lead the way as Jerusalem strengthens its bid for first place in Group A

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (2026-01-14T18:00:00.000Z)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul outlasted Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 103-99 in a thrilling EuroCup showdown, led by Ante Zizic’s dominant performance and clutch free throws from Brynton Lemar and Anthony Brown. 
Keywords: Besiktas, Bourg, EuroCup, Ante Zizic, Brynton Lemar, Anthony Brown, Darius McGhee, Group B, basketball, BKT EuroCup

Besiktas beats Bourg 103-99 in EuroCup classic 

It was a highly-anticipated game between the top two teams in Group B and when the dust settled, Besiktas GAIN Istanbul beat Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse 99-103 in an extraordinary game. It was Besiktas's second victory over Bourg twice this season after thrashing Coach [Frederic Fauthoux](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/fauthoux-frederic)'s team 90-60 in Round 5. Bourg is 11-1 against every other team in Group B.

It was a back-and-forth detail in which small details made the difference. Besiktas handled the ball better, finishing the game with 20 assists and just 8 turnovers. It had a turnover-free fourth quarter, too. Bourg committed 4 of its 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter and only dished 12 assists. Bourg set new BKT EuroCup club records for free throws made (32) and attempted (45).

In the fourth quarter, however, Bourg took 12 free throw attempts, 2 more than Bourg. None of them were more important than the ones [Brynton Lemar](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/brynton-lemar/013261/) and [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/) attempted in the final 12.3 seconds of the game. Lemar and Brown hit 2 free throws apiece to put Besiktas's victory on ice.

Before that, it was [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-zizic/004554/) who allowed Besiktas to stay in the game through thick and thin, putting together another great performance.

Zizic played a near-perfect first half, helping Besiktas to a 50-52 lead. At halftime, he had 20 points on 8-of-8 two-point shooting and 4-of-5 on free throws. Zizic finished the game with 26 points. Bourg center [Kevin Kokila](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/) had averaged 7.3 rebounds and a PIR of 21.0 in the previous three games. Against Zizic, Kokila was limited to 4 rebounds and a PIR of 10.

Zizic has been forcing his name into the EuroCup MVP conversation since the beginning of the season. He has averaged 13.8 points on 72.4% two-point shooting and 7.5 rebounds for a PIR of 23.1. Over his last six games, however, Zizic has been worth 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds for a PIR of 29.3. he has made 39 of 50 two-point shots (78.0% 2FG) in that time.

"It was a very physical game and a huge win for us. We showed our character tonight. We gave it all. Offensively, we did a great job. We shared the ball and scored \[over\] 100 points, so what else can we say? But defensively, this is a talented team that plays very tough. Great job from my guys and coaching staff tonight," Zizic said. "We have to keep going. We have to keep winning. We have a good schedule and I'm looking forward to it."

Besiktas managed to win the game despite a stellar performance from playmaker [Darius McGhee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/darius-mcghee/013859/), who got out of a shooting slump in the competition. In his last three games, McGhee had made just 1 of 7 two-pointers (14.7% 2FG) and 5 of 23 three-pointers (21.7% 3FG). Against Besiktas, McGhee had 25 points on 6 of 9 two-pointers and 4 of 6 three-pointers, including an 11-meter prayer right at the end of the third quarter to tie things up at 76-76. However, McGhee also committed a pair of costly turnovers in the closing minutes. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From way out, McGhee says: “I got this!” 🎯<a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLBourgBasket</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToGreatness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToGreatness</a> <a href="https://t.co/Cjs5nqcUf8">pic.twitter.com/Cjs5nqcUf8</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/2011534239267803454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Besiktas coach [Dusan Alimpijevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/alimpijevic-dusan) praised Bourg after a fun-to-watch game, and stressed the importance of his team's win.

"There was more intensity offensively because both teams were in good offensive shape. Both teams scored some, let's say, tough shots under pressure. This was a game with almost 200 points, but I cannot say that these two teams didn't fight. Really, congratulations to Bourg for everything they are doing so far, to their coach. It means a lot or us, for our confidence in the future," Coach Alimpijevic said. 

"This is very important for us. They were up by, if I'm right, around 10-12 points. I'm very happy that I have this group of people who never give up. We came back and found a way to win. I'm very, very happy for this."

Ante Zizic shines with 26 points as Besiktas completes season sweep over Bourg 