Besiktas (8-5) will look to take a step closer to playoff qualification with a trip to Reyer (4-9), which is running out of time after losing four in a row. 

Preview: Umana Reyer Venice vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/umana-reyer-venice-besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/U2023/134/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-game-notes-facts-vnc-bes/) | Quotes |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Besiktas advances with a win if Wolves lose on Tuesday. The visitors based their recent wins on consecutive double-doubles from big man [Angel Delgado](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/angel-delgado/012647/), who also played a key role with 12 points and 8 boards when Besiktas beat Reyer 74-68 in Round 5. [Amedeo Tessitori](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/-amedeo-tessitori/003759/) provides the power in the paint for Reyer, averaging 11.5 points and 5 rebounds, and his ability to control the tempo could be a key to keeping his team's post-season hopes alive.

[Venice Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/umana-reyer-venice/statistics/vnc/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Besiktas Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/besiktas-emlakjet-istanbul/statistics/bes/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Amedeo Tessitori vs. Angel Delgado: A duel between towers of power

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul-Umana Reyer Venice | Round 5 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Besiktas eyes playoff spot when it visits slumping Reyer

Umana Reyer Venice v Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul (2024-01-10T19:00:00.000Z)

After powering to five consecutive wins, Paris Basketball (12-1) will aim to protect the competition's best record with a visit from BC Prometey, which is closing in on the playoffs after winning three of the last four. 

Preview: Paris Basketball vs. BC Prometey

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/paris-basketball-prometey-slobozhanske/U2023/131/#roster) | [Notes and Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-game-notes-facts-prs-pmt/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/news/ec2324-rs14-prequotes-prs-pmt/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/tv-listings-ec/)

Paris has scored at least 93 points in each of its last five games, most recently with explosive guard [Nadir Hifi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/nadir-hifi/012640/) contributing 26 points in a big home win over London to maintain his record of double-digit scoring in every game. Prometey will hope that [Gian Clavell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/gian-clavell/011942/) can maintain his good form in the backcourt after pairing 17 points with 6 assists to help defeat Cedevita last time out.

[Paris Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/paris-basketball/statistics/prs/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Prometey Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/prometey-slobozhanske/statistics/pmt/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Nadir Hifi vs. Ronald March: Two skillful scorers go to battle in the French capital.

Last game: Prometey Slobozhanske-Paris Basketball | Round 5 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

After powering to five consecutive wins, Paris (12-1) will aim to protect the competition's best record with a visit from Prometey, which is closing in on the playoffs after winning three of the last four. 

Paris eager to extend winning run when Prometey comes to town

Paris Basketball v Prometey Slobozhanske (2024-01-10T19:30:00.000Z)

A flip of first-place teams at the top of Group B had everything to do with late-possession poise.

Stats Review: Timing is everything

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse made its move in Group B, ascending to the top of the standings, [by handing the previous leader, Dreamland Gran Canaria, a third consecutive loss in Round 13](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse-dreamland-gran-canaria/U2023/126/). Despite getting outrebounded on the offensive glass, turning the ball over 19 times, and allowing Gran Canaria to erase a 15-point halftime lead, Bourg escaped with an eight-point overtime victory that has shaken up the impending late-season push for home-court advantage across the league.

The winner of this game are to become the first from Group B to qualify for the playoffs, while the losing side could potentially be back in depending on results elsewhere. Will reigning-champs Gran Canaria reaffirm their championship credentials or can Bourg prolong the run of W's to seven showdowns?

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse-Dreamland Gran Canaria | Round 13 Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

Bourg scored 16 points over 14 possessions used in the last 4 seconds of the shot clock in the second half and overtime to stave off a convincing comeback attempt from the visitors. After a scorching-hot second quarter, Bourg's offense began to cool off, but timely shot-making ultimately proved to be the difference.

To understand the significance of Bourg's performance it's important to note that while only 18% of half-court possessions are used in the final 4 seconds of the shot or game clock, those opportunities are converted for just 0.82 points per possession – a massive drop-off from the 0.98 points per possession scored on average over all other non-transition possessions where teams are working against a set defense.

It is also noteworthy that the gap between short-clock possessions and all other possessions would be even greater if not for the outlier performance of Paris Basketball when under duress this season. Only one team is scoring more consistently in the half court overall than Paris is with the clock winding down.

Bourg is one of several teams hovering around the league average in terms of late-clock execution, making its shooting against Gran Canaria to leapfrog the visitors into first place even timelier. 

When teams come through with a performance like that, it is often the result of a group effort; even players with extreme usage virtually never use more than 30% of their team's late-clock possessions. Most volume scoring primary ball handlers hover around 20% of their team total. Bourg's victory was a good reflection of this as five players accounted for their 18 short-clock points, with several others involved in making the assists. 

Those assist-makers are often just as important to late-clock scoring as the actual shooter. While a player who can make something out of nothing one-on-one is an asset in key moments, the poise of a team to move the defense and find the open man with the clock winding down can be even more valuable. Indeed, 13 of Bourg's points with the clock winding down were assisted because its execution was not rattled by clock pressure.

While short-clock performance played a role in the biggest win of Round 13, it is a point of interest moving forward as well. Paris has taken the reigns as the league's most dominant team in recent weeks, with execution and shooting accuracy deep into the clock having a lot to do with it. How sustainable that outlier-level advantage that Paris has in late-clock performance proves to be moving forward will be fascinating to watch. 

The London Lions have confirmed the signing of six-year NBA veteran David Nwaba. 

London Lions wrap up David Nwaba signing

The London Lions have added more star power to their roster by signing David Nwaba on a deal until the end of the season. Nwaba (1.96 meters, 30 years old) has spent the last two years playing for the Motor City Cruise in the G League, averaging 9.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks in 12 games this season, but he previously spent six years in the NBA. He joins a London side hoping to go all the way in the BKT EuroCup, a competition he has never played in before.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to London, David! 🦁<br><br>The London Lions are excited to confirm the signing of 30-year-old American wing, David Nwaba. ✍️<br><br>Read more on our website: <a href="https://t.co/qoZQ1eittE">https://t.co/qoZQ1eittE</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreLondon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreLondon</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q9hpOq1n2D">pic.twitter.com/Q9hpOq1n2D</a></p>&mdash; London Lions (@LondonLions) <a href="https://twitter.com/LondonLions/status/1743965521874178323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Another ex-NBA player for the London Lions

Nwaba is the latest player with NBA experience to sign for London, following in the footsteps of Sam Dekker, Donte Grantham, and Kosta Koufos, who suited up for the Lions last season. Across 237 games in the NBA, Nwaba's averages stand at 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per contest.

He made his debut in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016-17 campaign, before going on to play for the Chicago Bulls (2017-18), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2018-19), the Brooklyn Nets (2019-20) and the Houston Rockets (2020-22). For a few months, Nwaba was a teammate of Dekker on Cleveland's roster.

More London Lions News

New London Lions signing David Nwaba in action for the Houston Rockets in an NBA game.

The former NBA shooting guard adds a roster hoping to achieve EuroCup glory.

Marek Klassen has signed for Slask Wroclaw on a deal until the end of the season.

Slask Wroclaw completes move for Marek Klassen

Slask Wroclaw has confirmed the signing of [Marek Klassen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/marek-klassen/012094/), with the guard agreeing a deal until the end of the 2023-24 season. Klassen (1.85 meters, 31 years old) began the campaign with Greek side Karditsas and posted 7.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 12 Greek League fixtures. He now returns to the BKT EuroCup after playing four games for Prometey Slobozhanske last season, averaging 1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in limited minutes. Slask is just the second team Klassen has played for in the competition.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">🆕 Marek Klassen nowym zawodnikiem Śląska ✅<br><br>Rozgrywający związał się z WKS-em umową obowiązującą do końca obecnego sezonu i zadebiutuje już w niedzielnym meczu z <a href="https://twitter.com/MKSDG_Kosz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MKSDG_Kosz</a> 🏀<br><br>Witamy we Wrocławiu, Marek! 🤝<br><br>Więcej ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/sQjp54gp7R">https://t.co/sQjp54gp7R</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a> <a href="https://t.co/8kFlSTtOz5">pic.twitter.com/8kFlSTtOz5</a></p>&mdash; WKS Śląsk Wrocław - koszykówka (@WKS_SlaskBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKS_SlaskBasket/status/1742855808998650287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Slask News

He has penned a deal until the end of the season.

Slask completes move for Marek Klassen

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach Danny Franco aptly summed up his team’s 89-90 victory over Wolves Vilnius on Wednesday night.

Hapoel, led by Kyle Alexander, got stronger as the game progressed

“We were able to play much better defense in the second half, rebound the ball a lot better, shore the ball a lot better. As the game proceeds, we get better. Even though we were short and we missed guys, everybody showed that there is no vacuum.” With those words, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach Danny Franco aptly summed up his team’s 89-90 victory over Wolves Vilnius on Wednesday night.

The numbers bear out what Franco was saying. After getting outrebounded by 9 in the first half, Hapoel controlled the boards 18-16 in the second 20 minutes. Hapoel dished 11 assists on 47 first-half points and 12 assists on 42 second-half points. And on defense, after allowing Wolves to score 44 points by halftime, Hapoel only gave up 36 in the second half.

What was remarkable about Hapoel’s energy in the second half is that the team was playing with a short roster and thus relying on a very short rotation. With stars Braian Angola, J’Covan Brown and Jaylen Hoard all out with injuries and recent signings Will Cumming and Dez Wells not eligible for this Round 2 makeup game, Franco relied heavily on his starters. Four of them played 30-plus minutes. The fifth produced his finest game yet in the competition in 29:24 on the floor.

Highlights from Kyle Alexander's monster game against Wolves

### Kyle Alexander's record night

Kyle Alexander romped with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 37. He set a club record with 9 offensive rebounds, which were also the most of any player in the competition this season. Alexander made 8 of 9 two-pointers and finished with a PIR of 37, which is the highest for a Hapoel player all season. 

Had this game been played in October when originally scheduled, Alexander’s effort would have landed him the MVP honor for the round, which went to Matt Morgan of the London Lions with a PIR of 29.

Game Videos

### Other players stepped up, too

Best known for his scoring prowess, Xavier Munford dished a career-high 8 assists. And Tomer Ginat played big minutes and scored 17 points in his first game back from injury. 

“I’m just proud of my guys. Today was a good day for us,” Franco said. “We got Tomer \[Ginat\] back, he’s our franchise player. He is a big supplement for us. I am happy he came back from a long injury.”

And when the rest of the injured players are back in uniform and the newcomers have fully adjusted, the rest of the EuroCup will have a tough opponent on their hands. And that could be in April, since with this win Hapoel guaranteed that it will be in this season’s EuroCup Playoffs.

More Hapoel news

Despite a depleted roster, the team from Tel Aviv played better in the second half to defeat Wolves. 

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Wolves Vilnius (2024-01-03T17:30:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv clinched a spot in the BKT EuroCup playoffs with an 89-80 victory over Wolves Vilnius on Wednesday in a makeup game from Round 2. Kyle Alexander dominated for the winners with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. 

Hapoel overpowers Wolves 89-80 to clinch playoff berth

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv clinched a spot in the BKT EuroCup playoffs with an 89-80 victory over Wolves Vilnius on Wednesday in a makeup game from Round 2. The victory was the seventh in a row for Hapoel, which improved to 11-2 and sits in second place in Group A. Wolves fell to 4-9 with its sixth loss in a row. 

Kyle Alexander dominated for the winners with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. He set a club record with 9 offensive rebounds, which was the most by any player in the EuroCup all season. Tomer Ginat and John Holland added 17 points apiece. Bar Timor added 12 points and Xavier Munford tallied 9 points, 8 assists and 3 steals. Hapoel was missing stars J’Covan Brown, Jaylen Hoard and Braian Angola due to injuries, while new signings Will Cummings and Dez Wells were not eligible, as they were not registered with the team during Round 2.

Rasheed Sulaimon paced Wolves with 20 points. Christian Mekowulu contributed 16 points and 6 rebounds and Tre’Shawn Thurman, Jeffery Taylor and Vaidas Karniauskas netted 10 points each.

Game News

### Hapoel races ahead early

Hapoel got off to a 6-0 start with baskets from three different players before Sulaimon got Wolves on the board with a three-pointer. Triples kept Wolves close as a shot by Kristupas Zemaitis made it 13-10 midway through the opening quarter. Timor started to attack the basket and put his team up 21-14. Holland’s pull-up triple made it 26-18 after 10 minutes.

### Wolves power the glass to tie the score

Free throws by Karniauskas and a bucket inside by Djordje Gagic to start the second quarter drew Wolves within 2. Hapoel responded to keep a slim lead and then jumped ahead 35-28 through baskets by its big men. Jeffery Taylor heated up to get Wolves within 3 and then Mekowulu took over with a second-chance dunk and a three to even the game at 38-38. Timor got his team back on track and the half ended with Hapoel up 47-44.  

### Alexander ignites 9-0 run

Zemaitis tied the game with a three from the wing, but soon Alexander and Ginat combined on a 6-0 run, which prompted a Wolves timeout at 55-49. Ginat and Holland stretched the run to 9 before Gagic scored inside. A triple by Timor gave Hapoel the game’s first double-digit lead, 65-55. Ginat remained hot and Holland took a steal in for a slam as the lead reached 13. A three-point play by Mekowulu made it 70-60 at the end of the quarter.

Sulaimon and Mekowulu combined on 5 points early in the fourth quarter to give Wolves confidence. Hapoel found its groove through Holland and Alexander to keep the visitors at bay. A Karniauskas jumper made it 79-73 with 3 and a half minutes to go. Hapoel called timeout and Ginat scored on the next two possessions – both times via Munford assists – to restore a double-digit lead. And Wolves did not threaten again.

Kyle Alexander led the way with a monster double-double. 

Marko Simonovic has signed for Beşiktaş Basketbol on loan from KK Crvena zvezda for the second half of the 2023-24 EuroCup season.

Marko Simonovic heads to Beşiktaş Basketbol on loan

Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul has announced the signing of [Marko Simonovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marko-simonovic/012711/), who joins the club on loan from Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade until the end of the 2023-24 season. Simonovic (2.13 meters, 24 years old) averaged 2.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11 games for Zvezda in the EuroLeague this season, his first in the competition. He will make his BKT EuroCup debut with Besiktas.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Marko Simonovic Beşiktaş Emlakjet&#39;te<br><br>Beşiktaş Emlakjet Takımımız, Karadağlı uzun Marko Simonovic&#39;i kadrosuna katarak uzun rotasyonunu güçlendirdi.<br><br>Marko Simonovic, 2020 yılında Chicago Bulls tarafından 2. tur 44. sıradan draft edildi.<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/bIVicWHXyO">https://t.co/bIVicWHXyO</a> <a href="https://t.co/XQaToiR0RZ">pic.twitter.com/XQaToiR0RZ</a></p>&mdash; Beşiktaş Emlakjet (@BJK_Basketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJK_Basketbol/status/1742507541609746596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Simonovic now heads to a Besiktas side looking to consolidate its place in the EuroCup playoff places, with the team currently sitting fifth in Group A with an 8-5 record. Besiktas was on a three-game slide before winning its last two fixtures, so head coach Dusan Alimpijevic will hope the arrival of the Montenegrin big man can put the team in a good position playoff-wise.

More Besiktas News

Marko Simonovic in action for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

He joins from Crvena Zvezda after spending the first half of the season in the EuroLeague.

Marko Simonovic heads to Besiktas on loan

[Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv 89-80 Wolves Vilnius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2023-24/hapoel-shlomo-tel-aviv-wolves-vilnius/U2023/13/#comparison)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv clinched a spot in the BKT EuroCup playoffs with an 89-80 victory over Wolves Vilnius on Wednesday in a makeup game from Round 2. The victory was the seventh in a row for Hapoel, which improved to 11-2 and sits in second place in Group A. Wolves fell to 4-9 with its sixth loss in a row. Kyle Alexander dominated for the winners with 22 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Tomer Ginat and John Holland added 17 points apiece. Rasheed Sulaimon paced Wolves with 20 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">הפועל מנצחת את וולבס, עולה למאזן 2:11 ביורוקאפ ומבטיחה לעצמה את המקום בשלב הבא כבר במחזור ה-13.<br><br>הקבוצה תישאר בבלגרד עד למשחק מול לונדון ליונס בשלישי הבא. <a href="https://t.co/4ka8Znuy6z">pic.twitter.com/4ka8Znuy6z</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1742636272538067409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The makeup game from Round 2 took place in Belgrade.  