Frutti Extra Bursaspor takes on ratiopharm Ulm in a pivotal game in Group B. It is also a chance to see Onuralp Bitim of Bursaspor take on Jaron Blossomgame of Ulm. 

Major matchup: Ulm's Blossomgame vs. Bursaspor's Bitim

Blossomgame should not make things easier for Bitim. He ranks third in the competition in PIR average (20.9) this season, averaging 15.7 points on 59.6% two-point shooting, 8.0 rebounds and 3.6 fouls drawn. Blossomgame is a versatile player who can pull the trigger from downtown, score in transition and attack the rim with great explosiveness. He played well against Bursaspor in Round 8 with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 fouls drawn and a PIR of 24 in a winning effort. 

Round 17 at a glance: Decision time

## Group A

[MoraBanc Andorra vs. Boulogne Metropolitans 92](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/morabanc-andorra-boulogne-metropolitans-92/U2021/162/)

Andorra will try to get back to winning ways against a direct rival in a race for home-court advantage when Metropolitans 92 alights in the principality on Tuesday. Both teams sit on 9-5 records with two games to play, and a win would guarantee Metropolitans at least a fourth-place finish and home-court advantage in the eighthfinals. Andorra, meanwhile, can do the same if it wins by more than 15 points or if it wins and gets some help from Turk Telekom Ankara. The margin to keep in mind is from their Round 8 game, which Metropolitans won by 7 points.

[Joventut Badalona vs. Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/joventut-badalona-slask-wroclaw/U2021/163/)

Group A leader Joventut (11-4) will play its final game of the regular season when it welcomes Slask (3-11) to town. There is an awful lot riding on the outcome of this game for Joventut, which can clinch the first place in Group A with a win. Joventut is undefeated on its home floor this season, and that perfect record indicates how much of an advantage it would be for the team to finish first and host games at least until the EuroCup Finals. Slask will try to play the role of spoiler after securing its own playoff spot last week.

Watch the Game Highlights from Slask Wroclaw vs. Joventut Badalona, 12/22/2021

Slask Wroclaw vs Joventut Badalona - Game Highlights_3990098.mp4

[Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Turk Telekom Ankara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/lietkabelis-panevezys-turk-telekom-ankara/U2021/161/)

Lietkabelis (8-5) will try to continue to protect its home floor when it hosts Turk Telekom (6-8) in the first game on Wednesday's slate. Lietkabelis has won six consecutive home games by an average margin of 14.6 points, having last lost at Cido Arena on November 10. After having won five of those games by a double-digits, another victory would be a big step for Lietkabelis in trying to secure home-court advantage in the eighthfinals. Turk Telekom, on the other hand, has only one road win this season and is averaging a lowly 71.4 points away from Ankara.

[Hamburg Towers vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/hamburg-towers-dolomiti-energia-trento/U2021/165/)

Hamburg (5-8) will try to get back to the winning ways when it hosts already-eliminated last-place Dolomiti Energia Trento (1-13). Hamburg will try to put on display again an offense that has put up 90.4 points on average in home games during this, the club's debut season in the competition. Trento has not much else but pride to play for, as it is currently on a 10-game losing streak in Group A.

Watch the Game Highlights from Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Hamburg Towers, 12/22/2021

Dolomiti Energia Trento vs Hamburg Towers - Game Highlights_3990255.mp4

## Group B

[ratiopharm Ulm vs. Frutti Extra Bursaspor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/ratiopharm-ulm-frutti-extra-bursaspor/U2021/170/)

Already-qualified Ulm (7-9) will try stack consecutive wins for the first time in two months when it meets a playoff hopeful Bursaspor (7-9) in Round 17's opener. Ulm will hope to build upon its strong playoff-clinching performance last week in Bourg, while Bursaspor enters the game on a three-game winning streak. All of those Bursaspor wins were at home, and now it goes back onn the road, where it has lost seven straight. Its only away win came in Bursaspor's first road game of the season, back in late October. The visitors know they can book a place in the playoffs with a win or a loss by Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse.

[Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/virtus-segafredo-bologna-gran-canaria/U2021/168/)

In a high-profile showdown on Tuesday, Virtus (9-7) hosts Group B leader Gran Canaria (12-4) with plenty at stake for both teams. Virtus is in a tight three-team race against Cedevita and Buducnost for two playoff spots that come with home-court advantage in the eighthfinals. The hosts will try to avenge a 100-80 loss at Gran Canaria in Round 8 that was Virtus's worst EuroCup loss since 2003 and second-largest ever. Meanwhile, Gran Canaria enters this contest on a three-game winning streak, nowing it can clinch the first place in Group B with another victory or if Valencia Basket loses a day later.

[Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/buducnost-voli-podgorica-mincidelice-jl-bourg-en-bresse/U2021/169/)

Buducnost (9-7) will try to get right its ship before the playoffs against visiting Bourg (5-11) in the Montenegrin capital. Both teams that have struggled lately, with Bourg having lost three games in a row and four of its last five. Buducnost, which needs a win to control its destiny as it chases home-court advantage in the eighthfinals, has won just two of its last seven games, failing to score more than 78 points in six of those. On the other hand, Bourg has allowed at least 85 points in each of the last three games. Bourg must win its last two games and get help along the way to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs, and that includes needing Ulm to down Bursaspor a day earlier.

Watch the Game Highlights from JL Bourg en Bresse vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, 12/21/2021

JL Bourg en Bresse vs Buducnost VOLI Podgorica - Game Highlights_3982250.mp4

[Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Valencia Basket](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/cedevita-olimpija-ljubljana-valencia-basket/U2021/166/)

Offensive fireworks might be in store when Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (9-7) hosts Valencia Basket (11-5), two of the hottest teams in all of the EuroCup, clash in the Slovenian capital on Wednesday. Cedevita has six victories in a row while Valencia has been the winner in seven of its last nine. In addition, these are the two highest-scoring teams left in the competition, with Cedevita averaging 87.2 points and Valencia right behind at 86.5 per game. Valencia still has slim chances to claim first place in Group B, while Cedevita is in a tight three-team race in the middle of Group B for home-court advantage in the playoffs.

[Umana Reyer Venice vs. Promitheas Patras](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/game-center/2021-22/umana-reyer-venice-promitheas-patras/U2021/167/)

Umana Reyer Venice (7-9) will look to put an end to its four-game losing streak when it hosts already-eliminated Promitheas Patras (4-12) on Wednesday night. Three of Reyer's last four losses have come by 11 points or more, but the team can qualify for the post-season with a victory in this game. Reyer will also punch a playoff ticket if either Bursaspor or Bourg lose their games. Promitheas has only one road win this season, along with seven double-digit losses.

Watch the Game Highlights from Promitheas Patras vs. Umana Reyer Venice, 12/21/2021

Promitheas Patras vs Umana Reyer Venice - Game Highlights_3981720.mp4

David Michineau - Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (photo Olivier dAlmeida - Metropolitans) - EC21

With all but two of 16 spots in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals accounted for already, all eyes are on three Group B teams trying to squeeze into the playoffs.

Stats review: Three hopefuls, two playoff spots

### High-Gravity Matchups

While the playoff qualifiers in Group A are already set, lots of teams notched important wins that helped solidify their seeding with the postseason looming, The pressure at this point, however, is on the teams at the bottom of Group B.

### Three teams, two spots

Umana Reyer Venice, Frutti Extra Bursaspor, and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse are all vying for the final two playoff positions in Group B. With both Venice and Bourg losing in Round 16, Bursaspor's win over second-place Valencia stands out as perhaps the biggest victory of the week, moving them two games clear of Bourg and tied with Reyer on the seven-win line.

Looking ahead, five-win Bourg is effectively in must-win mode from here on out and, in the final two rounds, faces a pair of quality opponents in Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Still, Bourg lost to those teams by a total of just 5 points combined their earlier games this season. Bursaspor will also face Buducnost to close the season but has a matchup with fifth-seeded Ratiopharm Ulm up first. Venice, which currently holds currently the tiebreaker over Bursaspor, will face last-place Promitheas Patras and first-place Gran Canaria to close out its season. 

Whether things break just right for Bourg and all three teams end up on the seven-win line or not when the season comes to a close, these three teams have all competed at a very high level on the floor all season, making for some interesting matchups in the EuroCup's first year under its new format. In fact, this trio represents two of this season's three most efficient offenses and its second most-efficient defense. Postseason-bound or not, each of these teams has stood out at times.

Bourg leads the EuroCup in offensive efficiency thanks in large part to their high-powered pick-and-roll attack. With Rasheed Sulaimon and Calvin Harris doing a lot of the scoring while Axel Julien and Hugo Benitez do a lot of the playmaking, this team was able to push the boundaries of how much offense a team can create out of ball screens this season. Not only did they generate a record 55% of their half-court possessions through pick-and-rolls, but they scored 1.01 points per possession used that way – right in step with their top-ranked season standard.

Bursaspor led the EuroCup in offensive efficiency last season and currently sits third. This year's team has been explosive in transition and tremendous from the perimeter, shooting a particularly impressive eFG% of 72% in unguarded catch-and-shoot situations. With several dangerous perimeter scorers who can be x-factors at any given night, Bursaspor has steadily lit up the scoreboard against teams that have not been timely with defensive rotations.

While excelling offensively, both Bourg and Bursaspor have had a hard time getting stops consistently. The opposite has been true for Reyer, which has been exceptional on the defensive end. For many EuroCup defenses, how they contest shots tends to matter more than what they take away. Reyer has fallen on the other end of the spectrum, however, doing a tremendous job limiting the number of catch-and-shoot three-point attempts allowed to opponents in half-court situations. While forcing turnovers at a strong rate, the way that Reyer's defenders have influenced the shot selection of opponents is the reason they rank second in overall defensive efficiency this season.

### Looking ahead to Round 17

Whether Bursaspor or Reyer punch their ticket to the postseason with a win or Bourg is able to keep the dream alive is a compelling storyline to watch in Round 17 as the regular season winds down.  

Joventut will look to clinch the top spot in Group A on Tuesday when it hosts Slask Wroclaw. 

Keys to victory: Joventut vs. Slask

### Defense is the name of the game for Joventut 

This game plays to Joventut’s strengths as Coach Duran’s side boasts the top defense in the league in terms of points allowed (70.5 ppg.) and both opponents’ two-point shooting (48.5%) and three-point shooting (30.3%) percentages. Slask has averaged the second-fewest points scored (73.1 ppg.) and the second-lowest shooting numbers (47.2% on twos and 30.7% on threes) in the competition. Staying focused on the defensive end should put Joventut on the right path this week.

### Slask must eliminate miscues to succeed on the road

Slask will have a tough task to win on the road in Spain and to make it happen, it can ill-afford to give the opponents easy points. Two sources of such easy points are off turnovers and offensive rebounds. So far this season, Slask has committed the third-most turnovers (14.7 per game) and allowed the second-most offensive rebounds (12.3 orpg.) this season. 

Joel Parra - Joventut Badalona (photo Dawid Podsiadlo - Slask) - EC21

Joventut Badalona v Slask Wroclaw (2022-03-29T19:00:00.000Z)

In a high-profile game that has plenty at stake for position in the standings for both teams, Virtus Segafredo Bologna plays host to Gran Canaria.

Keys to victory: Virtus vs. Gran Canaria

### Virtus must win the turnover battle

Virtus has done a great job in limiting turnovers lately, committing just 8.7 on average over the last three games, including a club record-low 5 last week in Patras. Facing Gran Canaria, which ranks second this season in forcing turnovers (15.4 per game), it will be even more important or Virtus to continue on the same path. Virtus has all the experience needed to control any game and winning the turnover battle would go a long way to victory.

### Gran Canaria needs control in the paint

One of Gran Canaria's strengths is its play in the paint, where it holds opponents to 49.3% two-point shooting on one end and is pulling down 11.3 offensive rebounds on the other. Gran Canaria's front line will be put to a true test against a Virtus frontcourt that features big man Mam Jaiteh and new addition Tornike Shengelia. Controlling the glass and limiting close to the baskets is a recipe to victory for Gran Canaria.

AJ Slaughter - Gran Canaria (photo Gran Canaria) - EC21

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Gran Canaria (2022-03-29T18:30:00.000Z)

MoraBanc Andorra will try to get back to its winning ways against a direct rival in the race for home-court advantage in the eighthfinals when it hosts Boulogne Metropolitans 92 on Tuesday.

Keys to victory: Andorra vs. Metropolitans 

### Andorra needs good transition defense

Metropolitans are one of the best teams in transition and it will be imperative for Andorra to slow them down. Discipline and focus are crucial in those situations. Of course, another way to take away the opponents' transition game is to make its own offense work, where good ball movement could be key in making everything click. That is where the experience of Codi Miller-McIntyre and Clevin Hannah will be of great importance against Metropolitans' backcourt.

### Metropolitans need to stress team effort

The visitors nurture an offensive balance that few teams possess. With many weapons capable of scoring, Metropolitans must keep using them to their advantage. Metropolitans has seven different players averaging 8.5 points or more. A team that is tied for fourth with 19.6 assists per game cannot allow itself to step away from that style of play, which has allowed it to win in six of its last seven games. Making it a team game will be a key once again for Metropolitans.

Clevin Hannah - MoraBanc Andorra (photo Olivier dAlmeida - Metropolitans) - EC21

MoraBanc Andorra v Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (2022-03-29T18:00:00.000Z)

Already-qualified ratiopharm Ulm will try to build off a strong performance last week when it faces playoff-hopeful Frutti Extra Bursaspor, which arrives on a three-game winning streak. 

Keys to victory: Ulm vs. Bursaspor

### Ulm needs to minimize turnovers

No coach like to see his team commit turnovers, and Jaka Lakovic has seen plenty of them this season. Ulm averages 14.9 turnovers per game, which is second-most in the competition. That could be especially dangerous against a team that has the speed and athleticism to play in transition like Bursaspor does. Ulm will have to make sure to take good care of the basketball.

### Bursaspor needs to maintain recent confidence

Bursa has had a perfect homestand, winning each of its three games to come to the verge of the EuroCup playoffs. Bursaspor must try to display the same levels of energy and confidence now that the team is playing away from home. Bursaspor showcased last week that it can win high-profile games even when its long-range shots are not falling and the team will need that same resilience when it visits Ulm.

Both teams have plenty to play for when Buducnost VOLI Podgorica hosts Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse on Wednesday.

Keys to victory: Buducnost vs. Bourg

### Rebounding could make the difference for Buducnost

Buducnost is one of three teams with identical records between third and fifth place in Group B and only two of them can clinch home-court advantage for the eighthfinals, which raises the stakes for Buducnost. The Montenegrin champs have been an above-average rebounding team this season; they have taken 1.8 more rebounds per game than their opponents. Bourg, in contrast, has taken the fewest rebounds in the league (29.3 rpg.) and the fewest offensive boards (7.5 orpg.), while being outrebounded by 4.6 per game. If the hosts control the glass, Justin Cobbs, DJ Seeley and Kendrick Perry can make things happen in transition, which benefits Buducnost greatly.

### Bourg must win the three-point race

Bourg is the top three-point shooting team in the league, shooting 41.0% from downtown for the season and making more than 40% of its tries both at home and on the road and in both wins and losses. However, it’s three-point defense has been worrisome, especially on the road, where it has seen opponents shoot an otherworldly 45.0% from downtown. Bourg’s perimeter defenders cannot allow Buducnost to snipe freely, even though Buducnost is among the weaker three-point shooting teams, having made a EuroCup-low 6.0 threes per game at 31.0%. If Bourg makes its threes and limits Buducnost, its chances to win rise.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2022-03-30T17:00:00.000Z)

Marko Jagodic-Kuridza  - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) - EC21

Lietkabelis Panevezys will try to improve into the top four spots in Group A when it hosts Turk Telekom Ankara in the first game on Wednesday of Round 17.

Keys to victory: Lietkabelis vs. Turk Telekom

### Cleaning the glass aids Lietkabelis

Lietkabelis has won six straight home games and is one of three teams in a dead heat for third place with the other two – MoraBanc Andorra and Boulogne Metropolitans 92 – due to play the night before. One way for Lietkabelis to take this game by the horns is by taking charge on the glass. Lietkabelis, which has outrebounded opponents by 2.4 boards per game, faces Turk Telekom, which has allowed the most offensive rebounds in the competition (13.2 per game) and been outrebounded by 5.2 boards per game. If Lietkabelis can take charge of the glass, its chances to win at home rise.

### Turk Telekom needs to put emphasis on defense

Turk Telekom has won only once on the road this season and the difference between the team’s defense at home and away is like night and day. While Turk Telekom has held teams to 73.8 points in games in the Turkish capital, it has allowed 86.0 points on the road. The team is 1-6 this season when allowing opponents to score at least 80 points. Lietkabelis has won the last five times it scored at least 80, so keeping the home team below that number seems critical for Turk Telekom.

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Turk Telekom Ankara (2022-03-30T16:00:00.000Z)

Can Ogut - Turk Telekom Ankara (photo Turk Telekom) - EC21