Round 11 of the BKT EuroCup will see the reigning champs face a major road test amid several key matchups between direct rivals. Here's your guide to this week's games.
Round 11: Clashes of consequence
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Tuesday, December 12
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Slask Wroclaw
After last week's shock loss to Turk Telekom, Cluj (7-3) will look to get its playoffs challenge back on track with a visit from another lowly Group B rival, Slask (1-9). Cluj boasts one of the best defenses in the competition, with just 79.6 points per game allowed, while Slask is next to last in scoring, with an average of just 76.2 points. The Romanian team sneaked a narrow road win, 67-70, when the teams met in Round 2, as DJ Seeley led the way with 24 points and 5 assists, but Cluj will be sure to respect the rim-protecting abilities of Dusan Miletic after he blocked 5 shots in that contest.
Wolves Vilnius vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv
Red-hot Hapoel (7-2) will look to maintain its excellent season by grabbing a fourth straight win at the expense of Wolves (4-5), which has slipped out of the all-important top six by losing three of the last four. Led by 17.3 points per game from Jaylen Hoard, Hapoel is the second-highest scorer in the competition, with an impressive 95.7 points per game. That's worrying news for Wolves, which has allowed an average of 91.6 points – second-worst in the league – and is coming off a 79-110 thrashing by Paris. The Lithuanian team will hope Tre'Shawn Thurman will regain his usual shooting form after making just 3-of-10 field goal attempts in that defeat.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. 7bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys Two teams aiming to emerge from a slump go head-to-head as Aris (3-7) welcomes Lietkabelis (4-6). The Greek team has lost four straight and netted more than 67 points in only one of its last six games, so it's clear an offensive upturn is required. In particular, leading scorer Roberto Gallinat (13.2 ppg.) has failed to reach double digits in his last three games, so his return to form would be very welcome. Lietkabelis has lost its last two despite Gediminas Orelik continuing his outstanding season with 21 and 22 points against Cluj and Buducnost. The Lithuanian team must focus on defense after allowing 88.6 points per game, fourth-most in the competition.
ratiopharm Ulm vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria
Unbeaten title holder Gran Canaria (10-0) faces one of its biggest tests yet with a trip to German champ Ulm (7-3). Everything points towards a high-scoring shootout between the fifth (88.7) and fourth (89.7) highest scorers in the competition. Gran Canaria certainly saw its offense working perfectly when the teams met in Round, defeating Ulm by 111-82 at home. Ferran Bassas top-scored with 21 points in that game – his only double-digits scoring night of the season, underlining the Spanish team's impressive depth. Ulm will look to establish physical dominance through the EuroCup's top rebounder, Trevion Williams, who recorded his seventh double-double of the season in last week's win over Trento and missed that Round 2 meeting between these teams.
Paris Basketball vs. Umana Reyer Venice
Rampant Paris's (9-1) title challenge continues with a visit from inconsistent but dangerous Reyer (4-6). Last week's win over Wolves saw the French team reach triple figures for the sixth time this season, as TJ Shorts – who ranks second in the league in PIR (21.9 per game) - again led the way with a double-double of 24 points and 11 assists. Reyer's fast style has yielded more average assists than Paris (19.8 vs. 19.2), and Rayjon Tucker continued his great form with 20 points in last week's narrow loss to London. He has now recorded double-digit scoring in five straight games and perhaps poses the biggest threat to Paris's progress.
Wednesday, December 13
Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul
Two direct rivals heading in opposite directions meet for a crunch clash as Prometey (5-5) hosts Besiktas (6-4). The home team has propelled its playoffs hopes by winning three of its last four, including last week's solid 83-97 triumph at Hamburg behind 15 points from undisputed leader Ondrej Balvin, who has averaged 14 points and 9.3 rebounds in the last three games. After losing two in a row, Besiktas will look to end its slump by negating Balvin's power through Angel Delgado, who has claimed at least 8 rebounds in the last six games straight. A repeat of Jonah Mathews' 28 points in last week's loss to Joventut would be handy too.
Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento
Impressive Bourg (8-2) will aim to stretch its winning run to five straight games as it receives a visit from Trento (4-6), which has lost three of the last four. Isiaha Mike was the author of Bourg's latest triumph, scoring 16 points on 6-for-8 field goal shooting at Slask last time out, while Bryce Brown netted 4 three-pointers when the French team prevailed in the Round 2 meeting between these teams. Veteran big man Paul Biligha led Trento's resistance with 17 points on that occasion, and the Italian team will need his size and experience to pull out a shock road win this week.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Turk Telekom Ankara
After ending a seven-game losing streak, Turk Telekom (2-8) faces the task of maintaining momentum with a trip to Buducnost (4-6), which has won two of its last three. New point guard Yogi Ferrell helped Buducnost gain a hard-earned victory over Lietkabelis last week, and now he'll look to maintain that positive influence in his home EuroCup debut. James Palmer inspired Turk Telekom's victory over Cluj with a season-high 24 points, and Buducnost will also be well aware of Steven Enoch's power after his double-double propelled Turk Telekom to a 79-77 win when the teams met in Round 2.
Joventut Badalona vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Joventut (5-5) will aim to continue its recent resurgence with a visit from Cedevita (0-10), which is still waiting for its first win of the season. The Spanish side has reignited its playoffs hopes with two straight wins, and has been delighted to see its injury list shorten with the return of Ante Tomic. The veteran center started to regain his touch in the Round 10 win against Besiktas, providing 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Tomic will match up against fellow Croatian big man Karlo Matkovic, who also returned to action last week and delivered a strong performance in the defeat to Hapoel, netting a season-high 19 points on 8-for-12 two-point shooting.
London Lions vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg
Red-hot London (8-2) is gunning for a sixth straight win as it hosts Hamburg (1-9), which is seeing its lingering playoff hopes fade fast. London has blasted 101, 101 and 95 points in its last three games, with Gabe Olaseni draining 23 in last week's victory over Reyer. The Londoners will hope to deliver similar fireworks against a Hamburg team that has the competition's worst defense, allowing 96.9 points per game. Indeed, London reached triple figures with a 94-100 road triumph when the teams met in Round 2, powered by 21 points from Mathew Morgan to start his ongoing streak of nine straight double-digit scoring games.