Seven games take place on Tuesday, followed by three on Wednesday
At a glance: This season's fourth double-round week starts here
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Round 10 of the EuroLeague gets underway on Tuesday, signalling the start of another thrilling double-round week of action. Here’s an overview of the upcoming games.
Tuesday, November 11
Dubai Basketball vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (17:00 CET)
Zvezda (7-2) will attempt to extend its seven-game winning sequence with a trip to Dubai (3-6). Zvezda’s unstoppable duo of Codi Miller-McIntyre and Chima Moneke has been enhanced by a promising start from recent signing Jared Butler, who combined 8 points with 4 assists in last week's thrashing of Panathinaikos. The visiting team will also need a strong performance in the paint from Donatas Motiejunas against former Zvezda star Filip Petrusev, who has recorded double-digit scoring and PIR in every game this season. Dubai, which has lost four straight, will also look for another big scoring night from Dwayne Bacon after his 34-point outburst in last week's loss to Hapoel, while recently signed shooter Boogie Ellis will attempt to maintain his form after netting 18 and 16 points in his first two games.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (20:00 CET)
Maccabi (2-9) will attempt to climb away from the foot of the standings by conquering inconsistent Fenerbahce (4-5) in a game relocated to Munich. Maccabi has lost three straight despite a potent offense which ranks third in the league in scoring with an average of 90.7 points per game and second in assists (21.2 per game), powered by the constant scoring threat of Lonnie Walker (14.9 points per game). Fenerbahce will hope veteran Nicolo Melli can continue to help control the tempo after his 12 points and 9 rebounds led the way to last week's win over ASVEL, while the orchestration of Wade Baldwin (5.9 assists per night, fourth in the league) will be important in piling more misery on Maccabi’s league-worst defense (96 points per game allowed).
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:05 CET)
Co-leader Hapoel (7-2) will attempt to retain that status with a visit from resurgent Baskonia (3-6). The Spanish team will be confident as it comes off three consecutive home wins powered by the energy of Hamidou Diallo (13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game) and the consistency of shooter Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who has scored at least 16 points in every game this season. Hapoel leads the league in scoring with 90.9 points per game thanks to impressive shooting accuracy: 59.2% from two-point range and 39.5% from deep, second and third best in the competition respectively. Veteran playmaker Vasilije Micic is central to that process after netting double digits in seven straight games, including 19 in last week’s win at Dubai – Hapoel’s fifth triumph in six games.
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)
High-flying Monaco (6-3) will attempt to keep climbing in the fervent atmosphere of a trip to Partizan (3-6). The visiting team has won three straight behind the leadership of new all-time PIR leader Mike James, whose 34 points allowed Monaco to survive last week's overtime thriller at Maccabi. Partizan, however, has slipped to four straight losses despite the strong form of Duane Washington, who averages 17.8 points over the last five games. This game presents a contrast of styles with the home team ranking last in the league in assists (16.3 per game), while Monaco tops that metric with 21.3 per night. Nick Calathes will try to improve Partizan’s output as he faces his former club, but will beware of the ball-hawking skills of Alpha Diallo (1.4 steals per game, fourth in the league).
Virtus Bologna vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CET)
Struggling Virtus (4-5) will seek home comforts with a visit from equally suffering Efes (3-6). The Italian team has suffered three consecutive heavy defeats on the road, scoring just 65, 70 and 76 points in those games. Last week’s double overtime heartbreak against Milan means that Efes has lost four of its last five games, hampered by an offense which has struggled for fluency with just 16.6 assists per game. PJ Dozier will hope to stay hot after exploding for 34 points last time out, while Virtus forward Saliou Niang delivered a similarly spectacular performance with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the Round 9 loss at Baskonia. In the paint, Efes forward Ercan Osmani has a big role after averaging 6.4 rebounds in the last three games.
Valencia Basket vs Real Madrid (20:30 CET)
An all-Spanish affair will see Real (5-4) attempt to keep climbing the standings with a tough trip to direct rival Valencia (5-4). Real forward Trey Lyles will pose a big threat to the home team after averaging 19.8 points over the last four games, including 29 in last week’s morale-boosting Clásico triumph at Barcelona. Valencia has won three of four at home behind a power-packed offense which ranks second in the league with 90.7 points per game, led by the consistency of sharpshooter Brancou Badio (13.5 points per game). The battle for inside supremacy between the likes of Matt Costello and Walter Tavares could be crucial: Real has the league’s fourth-best two-point conversion rate (57.8%), with Valencia not far behind (56.5%).
Paris Basketball vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (21:00 CET)
Two teams aiming to bounce back meet in the French capital as Paris (4-5) targets snapping a three-game losing streak with a visit from Panathinaikos (5-4). The Greens, who have lost three straight on the road, will be determined to make a fast start after a dismal first half in last week's loss at Zvezda, and all eyes will be on playmaker TJ Shorts as he returns to face his former club – his backcourt battle with ex-teammate and league leading scorer Nadir Hifi (22.1 points per game) promises to be a great spectacle. Another key battle will take place in the paint where Dinos Mitoglou is among those needing to help Panathinaikos’s injury-hit frontcourt control Paris's ferocious offensive rebounding (16.4 per game, easily the most in the league), led by Momo Faye (2.1 OR per game).
Wednesday, November 12
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:15 CET)
A big battle in Piraeus will see fourth-placed Olympiacos (6-3) attempt to overcome co-leader Zalgiris (7-2). The Lithuanian team made it four straight victories with last week’s triumph over Valencia, chiefly thanks to a stellar defense which has allowed just 68.5 points during that winning run. That defense will be chiefly tested by Sasha Vezenkov, who has scored at least 12 points in every game this season. Thomas Walkup also excelled in last week’s win over Partizan, scoring 15 points, and he will have a key role defensively against Zalgiris playmaker and league assists leader Sylvain Francisco (14.9 points and 6.8 assists per night). The paint promises a big battle between two of the league’s best big men, Nikola Milutinov (11.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game) and Moses Wright (12.9 ppg and 6.1 rpg).
FC Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona (20:30 CET)
In-form Bayern (5-4) will seek a fourth straight win with a visit from Barcelona (5-4). The hosts will look for Andreas Obst (14 points per game) to repeat the sharpshooting that saw him set a league record by draining 11 triples in last season's meeting between the teams, while big man Wenyen Gabriel hopes for another strong performance after scoring 12 points in last week’s win at Paris. Barcelona needs to bounce back from last week’s Clasico loss to Real Madrid, and can again run its offense through Nico Laprovittola following his return from injury. Barca has the league’s second-best three-point conversion rate (41.1%), so the likes of Will Clyburn and Kevin Punter will hope to outshoot Obst and Isiaha Mike, who has multiple triples in four games straight.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CET)
Milan (4-5) will look to build more momentum against an ASVEL team (2-7) which is desperately hoping to turn the corner. The injury-hit French team, which is still targeting a first road win of the season, can hope for more inspiration from center Armel Traore after his 18 points without a miss in last week’s loss at Fenerbahce. But ASVEL also needs others to step up and improve the league’s lowest scoring offense (77.2 points per game). Milan showed its spirit in a double overtime victory over Efes in Round 9, when Shavon Shields extended his record of double-digit scoring in every game with 24 points. Another plus was Zach LeDay’s return from injury, and he will look to dominate the frontcourt against an ASVEL team ranking next-to-last in rebounding (31.9 per night).