This is the final round before the week-long FIBA break
At a glance: Entering the break on a high
Game Preview
8 Минутное чтение
This week’s sole round of games takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, including the league leader aiming to stay hot against a traditional giant. This is what to expect from Round 13 of the EuroLeague Regular Season.
Tuesday, November 25
Dubai Basketball vs. Paris Basketball (17:00 CET)
Two teams currently tied just outside the playoff places meet as Dubai (5-7) welcomes Paris (5-7). With Dwayne Bacon suffering a thumb injury, the hosts need recently signed guard Boogie Eillis to deliver the scoring skills that saw him net 15 points in last week’s loss at Panathinaikos, while the team collectively must improve its long-range accuracy after making just 4-of-23 three-point attempts in that game. Paris – which will hope that league leading scorer Nadir Hifi can return from his absence – also has a newcomer looking to make an impression as Jared Rhoden prepares for his second game with the team. Dubai’s chief defensive task is to slow down the scoring of Justin Robinson, who has netted at least 22 points in three of the last four games.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Virtus Bologna (18:45 CET)
Fast-improving Fenerbahce (7-5) will look for its fifth consecutive win by piling more road misery on Virtus (6-6). The Italian team has lost four straight on its travels, and needs to replicate the excellent offense displayed in last week’s home win over Maccabi. As ever, the long-range shooting of former Fener star Carsen Edwards will take a central role – he ranks second in the league with 3.0 triples made per night. The home team also poses plenty of threat from deep, shown by downing 15 three-pointers in Friday’s victory at Partizan, which saw Nicolo Melli continue his fine form with 11 points on 3-of-5 three-pointers. Virtus has not won at Fenerbahce since 2002, and can only change that by playing with great efficiency against a home team which boasts the best defensive record in the league (79.8 points allowed per game).
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (19:00 CET)
Baskonia (4-8) will seek its first away win of the season against a Zalgiris team (7-5) which will enjoy home comforts following three straight road losses. The Lithuanian team must lift its spirits following last week’s heartbreaking loss in Madrid, which saw Sylvain Francisco continue his magnificent season by pairing 33 points with 11 assists. His duel with another undersized guard, Markquis Nowell, will be vital after the Baskonia man combined 12 points and 8 helpers to overcome Bayern on Friday. Inside the paint, home team forward Azoulas Tubelis will look to maintain his outstanding form after shooting 14-of-15 two-pointers in the last two games. He will be countered by the strong inside presence of Tadas Sedekerskis, who is coming off his best game of the season (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists).
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Real Madrid (19:00 CET)
League-leading Hapoel (9-3) will seek a fifth home win of the season against Real’s (6-6) road strugglers. The Spanish team has only won once on its travels, but can increasingly rely on the leadership of last week’s MVP, Theo Maledon. He faces a good battle with one of the season’s best EuroLeague rookies, Antonio Blakeney (14.6 points per game), who is one component of Hapoel’s league-best three-point conversion rate (40.8%). Real ranks third from last in that category (33%), so it needs the likes of Mario Hezonja (25% from deep) to find his range. The visitors also need veteran big man Walter Tavares – who has recorded two straight double-doubles – to contain home center Dan Oturu, who combined 20 points and 7 assists in last week’s impressive win at Milan.
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:15 CET)
In-form Panathinaikos (8-4) is seeking a fourth straight win against a floundering Partizan (4-8) desperately needing a change in fortunes. The Greens' offense has hit top gear, averaging 97 points in the last three games, and was led by 22 points from reigning MVP Kendrick Nunn to blitz Dubai last week. Partizan, in contrast, has won just one of the last seven, and hopes that Panathinaikos legend Nick Calathes can face his old club by returning to form and controlling the backcourt. Sterling Brown will need to replicate his recent form (20 and 27 points in the last two games), but Partizan has the worst perimeter defense in the league (41.8% of opponent’s three-point shots converted), so must improve to contain the likes of Nunn and Cedi Osman (13.4 points per game on 44.2% from deep).
Valencia Basket vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:30 CET)
A fifth straight home win is the target for Valencia (7-5) as it welcomes struggling Bayern (5-7). The German team has lost the last two of its mammoth seven-game stretch on the road, with Spencer Dinwiddie’s third straight double-digit scoring night nowhere near enough to overcome Baskonia in Round 12. Usually-prolific Valencia showed it can also win ugly by edging out Zvezda on Friday, and it will continue to rely on the consistency of Kameron Taylor, who has scored at least 12 points in five of the last six games. Bayern has never won at Valencia, and it will only enjoy a happy first trip to Roig Arena if it can contain the offensive rebounding of a Valencia team which averages 13.0 per game, so Vladimir Lucic needs a big game against his former club.
Wednesday, November 26
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (18:00 CET)
Returning to winning ways is the mission as struggling Maccabi (3-9) hosts a Milan team (6-6) seeking a return to the playoff places. Both need defensive improvement after being on the receiving end of high-scoring defeats last week, and that has been the story of the season for a Maccabi team which has allowed more points than anyone else (94.0 per game). Hoping to profit from that weakness is a Milan offense powered by fit-again Zach LeDay, who will be desperate for a sustained run of fitness after only playing five games so far this season. At the other end, Jeffrey Dowtin stepped up with 18 points in last week’s loss at Virtus, and Maccabi will need him to deliver another strong performance against Milan’s rising star Quinn Ellis.
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (19:30 CET)
It might be a traditional ‘friendly’ red and white derby, but there will be maximum intensity as second-placed Zvezda (8-4) hosts third-placed Olympiacos (8-4). A game of stellar matchups all over the floor includes a big battle at power forward, with Chima Moneke (14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game) attempting to overcome Sasha Vezenkov (16.1 points, 7.3 boards). Fit-again Zvezda forward Jordan Nwora (18.9 points, 5.3 rebounds) will attempt to continue his spectacular season by outscoring a rejuvenated Evan Fournier, who hit a season-high 18 points to down Paris last week. A pair of do-it-all guards will attempt to control the tempo as Codi Miller-McIntyre faces Thomas Walkup, and the hosts will hope the shooting range of Donatas Motiejunas can unsettle the league’s leading rebounder, Nikola Milutinov (8.2 rebounds per night).
AS Monaco vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (19:30 CET)
Monaco (7-5) will attempt to break into the top four by overcoming an injury-hit but dangerous Efes (5-7). With Shane Larkin joining PJ Dozier and Rodrigue Beaubois on the injury list, the Turkish team will have to show the same kind of defensive resilience – powered by the consistent inside presence of Ercan Osmani (12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game) – that earned last week’s win over Barcelona. Efes also needs last season’s Best Defender award winner Nick Weiler-Babb to be at his best against all-time leading scorer Mike James, who masterminded last week’s easy win over ASVEL by combining 12 points with 7 assists. Monaco is the best team in the league at protecting the basketball (10.0 turnovers per night), so Efes will need great efficiency to grab a road win.
FC Barcelona vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CET)
Xavi Pascual hopes to enjoy the first home game of his second stint in charge of Barcelona (7-5) with a visit from ASVEL (3-9). The French team, currently winless on the road, will want to play with pride after a historically bad performance last time out, losing 52-84 to Monaco with no player scoring more than 7 points. Barca is also looking to respond from a tough road loss at Efes, where veteran big man Jan Vesely continued his upsurge in form with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Fit-again ASVEL playmaker Thomas Heurtel is sure to receive a lively welcome as he faces his former club, and Barca dynamo Nico Laprovittola will look to win the battle of the backcourt by gathering more momentum in his return to full fitness.