An exciting top-two clash highlights the action in Round 12 of the BKT EuroCup. Here’s your overview of this week’s games.
At a glance: A step closer to the finish line
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The race for the playoffs in the BKT EuroCup will feature several clashes between direct rivals in Round 13, which started last week with Ulm overcoming Besiktas 104-97. Here’s your guide to all this week’s action.
Thursday, January 2
Trefl Sopot vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (18:00 CET)
Winless Trefl (0-12) will continue its quest for a victory with a visit from Buducnost (5-7), which is currently placed one win short of the all-important top six. Buducnost’s main offensive strength is an excellent three-point shooting game, making 38.2% of long-range strikes (third best in the competition). One of the keys to that success is Fletcher Magee, who has made 53.6% of his attempts from deep, including 3-of-5 in October’s 92-83 victory over Trefl. The Polish team has the second-worst offense in the EuroCup, averaging just 76.3 points, despite forward Jaroslaw Zykowski showing his shooting power with 25 points in the narrow loss to Joventut just before the break.
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (18:00 CET)
Boosted by a stunning overtime win at Valencia before the festive break, Lietkabelis (4-8) will look to build more momentum with a visit from playoff-chasing Cedevita (7-5). The host will look for young guard Oleksandr Kovliar to repeat the performance which saw him net 25 points in the dramatic victory in Spain, while Cedevita will counter him through DJ Stewart, who had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss against Turk Telekom last time out. Cedevita won 76-72 behind 17 points from Devin Robinson when the teams met in Round 4, so a road win in Lithuania could put a decisive distance between the teams.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs Aris Midea Thessaloniki (19.00 CET)
Jerusalem (7-5) will look to end a three-game losing run and at least maintain its share of second place in Group B against an Aris team (3-9) battling to build on a good win over Lietkabelis last time out. 25 points from fit-again guard Trey Woodbury were vital to that victory, and he will look to punish a Jerusalem defense which has allowed an average of 90.3 points during the three-game losing slide. Jerusalem won 68-78 when the teams met in Greece in Round 4 paced by 18 points from now-injured Justin Smith, so the host will again rely on league leading scorer Jared Harper to maintain his average of 22.8 points per game.
Umana Reyer Venice vs Valencia Basket (20:00 CET)
Valencia (11-1) could become the first team to clinch playoff qualification by overcoming Reyer (6-6), which also needs the win to strengthen its top six challenge. After suffering its first loss with an overtime defeat to Lietkabelis in a game rescheduled from Round 6, Valencia will look to recover the kind of dominance that saw it roll to a 105-83 victory over Reyer in October behind 16 points from Semi Ojeleye. But the Italian team is in great form with four wins in the last five, mostly recently winning a thriller at Bourg thanks to Mfiondu Kabengele’s seventh double-double of the season, and the center’s dominance will give Reyer a fighting chance of maintaining its hot streak.
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (21:00 CET)
A crucial clash in Group A will see second-placed Gran Canaria (9-3) attempt to take a three-game lead over fourth-placed Hapoel (7-5). The Spanish team needs a 14-point swing to claim the head-to-head advantage after being 79-66 on the road by Hapoel earlier in the season, when the versatile talents of veteran Patrick Beverley made all the difference with 15 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. Beverley is one of the reasons that Hapoel boasts the third-best offense in the competition (89 points per game), so Gran Canaria will need every inch of its strong defense (73.1 points conceded, second-best in the EuroCup). The rebounding battle between Mike Tobey (6.1 boards per game) and Johnathan Motley (5.5 rpg) could be crucial.
Friday, January 3
Turk Telekom Ankara vs Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (17:30 CET)
The race for the playoffs will be intense as Turk Telekom (7-5) looks to protect its homecourt against direct rival Bourg (6-6) in Friday’s opening tipoff. The teams have been heading in different directions recently, with Turk Telekom winning three in a row while Bourg has lost four of the last five. With head to head advantage very much at stake, Bourg will look to reproduce the strong defense which propelled a 67-63 home victory over the Turkish team in Round 4, and will look for leadership from veteran forward Maksim Salash (9.8 points per game). The host has recently rolled behind big man Yoan Makoundou (11.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game), and will give everything for a vital victory this week.
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs Veolia Towers Hamburg (18:00 CET)
After keeping its faint playoff hopes alive with a surprise win over Jerusalem just before the festive break, Hamburg (3-9) will look to upset another top six aspirant with a trip to Cluj (6-6). The Romanian team is currently locked in a three-way tie for fifth place, and should have plenty of confidence after winning four straight at home – but needs to improve a defense which has allowed triple figures in two of the last three games. Jaizec Lottie’s 18 points were central to Hamburg’s triumph last time out, and the in-form guard faces a good matchup with one of the league’s top performers, Zavier Simpson, who will be looking to maintain his streak of double-digit scoring in every game so far.
Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius vs Joventut Badalona (18:00 CET)
A significant Group A showdown will be staged in the Lithuanian capital, with Wolves (6-6) aiming to establish a three-game margin over Joventut (4-8). The Spanish team has little hope of claiming head-to-head advantage after suffering a 63-86 thrashing when the teams met in October, with Anthony Cowan pouring in 26 points for the Wolves. But the Lithuanian team has suffered recently with three losses out of four, while Joventut’s last game saw 20 points from youngster Yannick Kraag seal a vital home win over Trefl. If the veteran leadership of Ante Tomic and Pau Ribas can help seal a road win on Friday, the Group A playoff picture would be blown wide open.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs Bahcesehir College Istanbul (20:00 CET)
Group A leader Bahcesehir (10-2) will look to take another step towards the playoffs by overcoming a Trento team (4-8) fighting hard to stay in contention. The host has lost four of its last five games, and needs to find more offensive rhythm after only averaging 15.4 assists so far – second-worst in the competition. Bahcesehir, which is looking to extend a perfect home record, enjoyed a 110-70 rout when the teams met in Round 4, with big man Tai Odiase powering his way to a season-high 24 points, and Trento needs its center Jordan Bayehe to repeat the same kind of spirit he showed in that contest, also recording a season-high with 13 points.