Round 20 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will see the competition’s co-leaders facing tough challenges at home as the race for the playoffs heats up. Here’s your guide to all the action.
At a glance: Home games for the teams atop the table
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Thursday, January 9
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. ALBA Berlin
Fenerbahce (11-7) will look to build on last week’s Istanbul derby victory by overcoming last-placed ALBA (3-16). The all-around talents of Marko Guduric came to the fore with his best performance of the season to help down Efes last week (17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists), and Coach Saras Jasikevicius will have also been heartened by a much-improved collective defensive display that limited its dangerous opponent to 76 points. That’s exactly what ALBA needs after allowing 105 points against Monaco last week – the fifth time this season the German team has shipped triple figures. The visitors will also hope to exploit the long-range shooting prowess of Matt Thomas, who averages 2.3 triples per game.
AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona
League-leading Monaco (13-6) faces a tough challenge from a Barcelona team (10-9) looking to claim a second straight road win. The Spanish giant overcame Paris last week with a determined team effort, led by in-form point guard Tomas Satoransky who has dished 8 assists in each of the last three games. He faces a tough task in overcoming a Monaco backcourt now finally featuring ex-Barca star Nick Calathes, who made a solid debut with 7 assists in last week’s win over ALBA. The visitors will also hope that big man Willy Hernangomez continues his resurgence after bagging his first double-double of the season in Paris, while Monaco will attempt to control him through Donatas Motiejunas, who grabbed 5 offensive boards in Berlin and has converted 17 of his last 21 two-point attempts.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
Milan’s (10-9) quest to climb into the top 10 will be challenged by a Maccabi team (5-14) desperate to boost its fading postseason hopes. Maccabi has won just one of its last seven games and has already tasted defeat against the Italian team this season, losing 98-86 in Round 11 behind predictably strong displays from dynamic duo Zach LeDay (22 points) and Nikola Mirotic (20). The game did feature 10 assists from Maccabi playmaker Rokas Jokubaitis and the Israeli champs will hope that his backcourt combination with league leading distributor Tamir Blatt (8 assists per game) will be enough to overcome a Milan team that showed excellent defense to get back into winning ways by downing ASVEL last week.
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade
The legendary Zeljko Obradovic will make his latest return to Athens by attempting to lead ambitious Partizan (9-10) past in-form reigning champ Panathinaikos (12-7). The Greens have won four straight behind a potent offense which has reached triple figures in three of those triumphs, most recently netting a season-high 111 points to destroy Virtus last week. The depth of options available to Ergin Ataman was shown by the previously under-performing Omer Yurtseven leading the way with 27 points in that rout and Partizan will need to repeat the excellence at both ends of the floor that resulted in last week’s 23-points triumph over Maccabi, featuring another strong performance from in-form shooter Sterling Brown (21 points) along with 8 assists for key playmaker Carlik Jones.
Friday, January 10
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
In Friday's opening tip-off, a pair of teams on the fringes of the playoff places go head to head as ASVEL (8-11) travels to Efes (10-9). The French team needs to take better care of the ball after committing 21 turnovers in last week’s loss to Milan – 13 of those coming from backcourt stars Nando De Colo and Theo Maledon. ASVEL will hope that important big man Joffrey Lauvergne, who poured in 20 points in a 97-82 win over Efes earlier this season, is fit enough to return after three games out. Efes was gridlocked in last week’s derby loss to Fenerbahce and needs to create better looks on the perimeter after only making 6 triples in that game, with three of those netted by Shane Larkin.
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Real Madrid
In a meeting between two of the five teams currently tied for eighth place, fading Zalgiris (10-9) will attempt to end a three-game losing streak with a visit from a reignited Real (10-9), which is looking for a fifth straight victory. Arguably the high point of Zalgiris’s season – and Real’s low – came with an 83-92 triumph in Madrid last month, propelled by 21 points from the dangerous but inconsistent Lonnie Walker. But the fortunes of both teams have changed dramatically since then, and Real will look to keep on climbing by leaning on a strong inside game which has converted a league-best 61% of two-point shots. That includes 10.3 points per game for the incomparable Walter Tavares, who also leads the league in both rebounding and blocked shots.
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Paris Basketball
Two direct rivals in contrasting form meet in Belgrade as Zvezda (11-8) aims for a fourth straight win against a Paris team (11-7) that has lost four in a row. Zvezda has the head-to-head advantage between the teams under control after winning 77-80 in the French capital in the opening round of the season, and will look to again restrict a Paris offense that has sputtered in recent weeks despite MVP contender TJ Shorts (19 points and 7.4 rebounds) continuing his remarkably consistent season. Zvezda showed great spirit and self-belief to snatch last-gasp road wins from Barcelona and Baskonia in its last two games, and will hope that Isaiah Canaan’s dramatic game-winner last time out will propel the sharpshooter to a return to top form.
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Bayern Munich
Red-hot Olympiacos (13-6) will attempt to maintain its top spot status with a visit from a Bayern team (11-8) that needs to improve on the road to stay in the top four fight. The Greek giant is targeting a fifth consecutive victory, while Bayern has lost three of its last four. The German team would love Carsen Edwards to repeat the 30-points performance that powered October’s 84-80 home win over Olympiacos, while Devin Booker’s power in the paint will also be crucial in attempting to contain the rebounding prowess of Nikola Milutinov. The Reds demonstrated their title credentials with an outstanding comeback win at Zalgiris last time out, with playmaker Thomas Walkup netting a season-high 13 points, and will be fighting hard to stay in first place.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz
Virtus (5-14) boss Dusko Ivanovic will attempt to boost his team’s fading playoffs hopes by overcoming his beloved former club Baskonia (8-11). The Spanish team – which has only won twice on the road this season – has been weakened by the loss of influential forward Tadas Sedekerskis to injury, and will hope that his absence can be covered by recent signing Luka Samanic. Virtus will want to recover its defensive identity after allowing 111 points in last week’s mauling at Panathinaikos, where Will Clyburn gave a reminder of his offensive capabilities by netting 25 points. Clyburn also authored one of this season’s most memorable moments when the teams last met, sinking a four-point play to snatch an 81-82 road win which Baskonia will be eager to avenge.