Round 23 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is headlined by a repeat of last season’s championship game along with several more matchups between direct rivals. Here’s your guide to the action.
Round 23: A title-game rematch highlights pivotal clashes
Makale
6 Dk okuma
Thursday, January 25
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna
In a key battle between the teams in fifth and third place, Fenerbahce (13-9) will look to bounce back from last week’s heavy loss at Zalgiris by overcoming a Virtus team (15-7) that ended a two-game losing run by outlasting ASVEL. The Italian team can also seal the head-to-head advantage between them after beating Fener 87-79 earlier this season, with Toko Shengelia – who missed last week’s game – contributing 15 points and 8 rebounds. Saras Jasikevicius’s men had only Scottie Wilbekin and Johnathan Motley in double digits in the pummeling at Zalgiris and will also aim for a major defensive improvement after allowing 25 assists in that defeat. Virtus will look to punish any defensive frailty through the scoring power of Marco Belinelli, who averages 2.7 triples per game.
ALBA Berlin vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
ALBA (4-18) will look to move away from the foot of the standings with a visit from unpredictable Zvezda (9-13). Nemanja Nedovic led the Serbian team to victory when the teams met in December by scoring 20 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting. Perimeter defense has consistently been a problem for an ALBA team that has allowed opponents to convert 39.9% of three-point shots, which is next-to-worst in the competition. The German team also concedes a competition-high 20 assists per night. However, Zvezda could be without Nedovic and playmaker Milos Teodosic (5.7 assists per game) and thus will need Yago Dos Santos and newcomer Javonte Smart to rise to the occasion. ALBA has lost four straight at home, most recently a heavy German derby defeat to Bayern last week.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
In another meeting of direct rivals, hot and cold Maccabi (12-10) will look to cut the distance on visiting Panathinaikos (14-8). The Greens are on a great run of form with eight wins out of the last nine, but Maccabi enjoyed an 81-86 triumph in Round 4 in Athens thanks to 21 points from Bonzie Colson and 12 assists from Lorenzo Brown, who was absent from last week’s heavy defeat at Olympiacos. That was a third loss in four games for Maccabi, allowing at least 88 points in each of those defeats. Panathinaikos will hope that Kendrick Nunn continues his hot streak after scoring 21 points in both of his last two games.
FC Bayern Munich vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Bayern (9-13) is aiming to climb closer to the all-important top 10 with a visit from rock-bottom ASVEL (4-18). The hosts boosted their confidence with a comfortable German derby victory over ALBA last week, with Danko Brankovic enjoying a breakout game of 14 points and 9 rebounds to further add to Pablo Laso’s big man options. The first meeting between the teams was a 100-101 double-overtime thriller, taken by Bayern as Devin Booker grabbed a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mike Scott paced ASVEL with 21 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting and he will look to recover his usual scoring threat after reaching double-digits in only one of the last four games.
Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
A rematch of last season’s championship game will see Real (19-3) look to bounce back from last week’s heavy defeat at Monaco as it hosts dangerous Olympiacos (12-10), which got back into the groove by easily downing Maccabi. Nikola Milutinov was the hero with an astonishing 20-point, 20-rebound double-double and will now take on Real's Vincent Poirier, among others. In the backcourt, Thomas Walkup will try to slow down the impact of the competition’s assists leader Facundo Campazzo (6.8 assists per game), while Isaiah Canaan, who also netted 20 points in last week’s win, will enjoy a long-range shooting tussle with Dzanan Musa.
Friday, January 26
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. AS Monaco
Resurgent Efes (9-13) is aiming to make it three straight wins as it welcomes a Monaco team (12-10) that also has confidence high after destroying Real last week. Two iconic guards will surely have a big say in the outcome, as Efes star Shane Larkin (18 points per game, third in the league) looks to out-shoot visiting motor Mike James, who leads the league with 19.3 points per night. Larkin was the key factor by scoring 25 points when Efes won at Monaco in November, 82-89, while Rodrigue Beaubois showed off his scoring potential with 21 points – and he heads into this game in great form after also netting 21 in last week’s destruction of Barcelona.
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Valencia Basket
An all-Spanish League affair will see Baskonia (12-10) attempt to protect its position in the top eight against direct rival Valencia (11-11). Baskonia is on a two-game winning streak, most recently taking a thrilling road win at Zvezda behind 32 points from Markus Howard. Baskonia’s stars shined to grab a big 84-98 victory at Valencia in December with Codi Miller-McIntyre recording a double-double of 10 points and 11 assists, Chima Moneke powering 19 points and Howard blasting 24 with 6 three-pointers. Chris Jones had 15 points and 6 assists as Valencia overcame Milan last week, also helped by Semi Ojeleye with 14 points and 7 boards, and they will need another big night to take a key road win on Friday.
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Zalgiris Kaunas
Faltering Partizan (11-11) will aim to protect its home court against a Zalgiris team (8-14) that showed its potential by thrashing Fenerbahce last week. Hea coach Zeljko Obradovic’s team has lost three of the last four, but all those losses were on the road and Partizan boasts an 8-2 record at home. The Serbian team also took a road triumph, 85-93, in Kaunas last month, with backcourt dynamo PJ Dozier delivering a typical all-around performance with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Zalgiris lost that game despite a stellar 33 points from Keenan Evans, who had 21 points and 7 assists in last week’s win over Fenerbahce and will play a key role again this week.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. FC Barcelona
Two teams aiming to bounce back from bad losses go head to head as Milan (9-13) tests Barcelona’s (15-7) fragile record on the road. Milan became the only visiting team to win at Palau Blaugrana in December, with 21 points from Devon Hall inspiring an 86-90 triumph. Barca has lost six of its last eight road games, most recently getting pumped 98-74 at Efes last week despite 18 points from Willy Hernangomez. Inconsistent Milan is also coming off a damaging loss, suffering a late collapse to lose 84-72 at Valencia. That game featured the debut of new signing Rodney McGruder and the veteran guard will look to impose himself on Tomas Satoransky on Friday.