After a two-week break, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague returns for the final straight of the regular season, with Round 27 headlined by a must-win Clasico. Here's your overview of all this week's action.
At a glance: The postseason beckons
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Thursday, February 27
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Zalgiris Kaunas
Two newly crowned domestic cup champions will look to keep riding their triumphant wave as Zvezda (16-10) welcomes Zalgiris (12-14) to Belgrade. The Serbian team has climbed into a share of third place with a run of three straight wins, propelled by a rock-solid defense that has not allowed more than 71 points in any of those games. Offensive fireworks come from Isaiah Canaan, who has made 3 triples in five of the last seven games. Zalgiris can no longer call upon Lonnie Walker following his return to the United States, so it needs three-point shooting threat Deividas Sirvydis to repeat the scoring form that saw him net 17 points in a narrow home loss to Milan just before the break.
Paris Basketball vs. FC Bayern Munich
A fast-paced showdown is guaranteed as Paris (15-10) welcomes Bayern (16-10) for a crucial game near the top of the standings. Both teams love to light it up from long range, where there will be a battle for supremacy between Paris starlet Nadir Hifi and Bayern marksman Andreas Obst - Hifi has attempted a league-high 7.7 three-pointers per game, while Obst leads the league with an average of 3 triples per night. Also in the backcourt, a key question will be whether visiting defensive ace Nick Weiler-Babb will be able to limit the influence of Paris dynamo TJ Shorts, who has dished more assists than anyone else in the competition with 7.3 per night. Bayern won a thriller, 109-107, when the teams met in Round 4, and similar excitement is expected on Thursday.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. AS Monaco
Two teams with burning playoff ambitions go head to head as Milan (14-12) welcomes Monaco (16-10). The visiting team could give a debut to new signing Daniel Theis, who would have the task of helping slow down the red-hot Zach LeDay. Milan's forward is in the best form of his life after averaging 25.3 points and 31 PIR in the last three games, most recently helping earn a crucial victory at Zalgiris. Nico Mannion also excelled in that game with 21 points and 6 assists and he will need a similarly strong performance this week to combat a multi-talented Monaco backcourt led by all-time EuroLeague leading scorer Mike James. Monaco started the season with a 93-80 home win over Milan, so it can put significant distance between the teams by claiming the head-to-head tiebreak advantage this week.
A Clasico of high significance on the fringes of the playoff places will see Real (13-13) and Barcelona (14-12) seek a return to winning ways. Both teams continued their poor EuroLeague form by enduring domestic disappointment in the Spanish cup, with Real losing in the final and Barca's quarterfinal exit worsened by a shoulder injury to top scorer Kevin Punter. The hosts are looking to complete a valuable season sweep after a dramatic overtime win in Barcelona earlier this season when Facundo Campazzo orchestrated his team with 18 points and 10 assists. The Blaugrana will look to slow down Campazzo through the energy of former Real youngster Juan Nunez and need Jabari Parker to compensate for the absence of Punter by leading his team's scoring threat.
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul
After tasting glory in their domestic cup campaigns during the break, Maccabi (6-20) and Fenerbahce (17-8) will aim for more success as they meet in Belgrade. Maccabi, which could give a debut to new guard Jimmy Clark, is looking to end a three-game losing streak and remains vulnerable defensively after conceding at least 89 points in each of those defeats. Fenerbahce is firing on all cylinders with seven wins in the last eight, and star forward Nigel Hayes-Davis will hope to maintain his pre-break form after netting 21 and 20 points in the last two games. Maccabi came close to upsetting the Turkish team in Round 6 before being edged out 84-82, and will hope Jaylen Hoard - who netted 20 points in that game - now recovered from a hamstring injury, can threaten Fener again.
Friday, February 28
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. ALBA Berlin
In Friday's opening tip-off, Efes (12-14) will attempt to boost its push for the playoffs with a visit from last-placed ALBA (4-22). The visiting team will look to the rebounding power of big man David McCormack, who has averaged 7.6 rebounds over the last five games. Efes is targeting a third straight home win and will again lean on the the playmaking skills of Darius Thompson after his combination of 9 points, 8 assists and 3 steals led his team to a comfortable Round 7 win in Berlin. On the other side, ALBA must take better care of the basketball to improve its league-worst average of 15.4 turnovers committed per game. History is very much on the side of the hosts, with Efes winning all nine of its previous home games against ALBA.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos (19-7) can potentially become the first team to secure postseason qualification when it visits Virtus (7-19), which is sliding rapidly towards mathematical elimination after four straight losses. However, the Reds will need other results to also go their way to advance this week. Unlike the hosts, Olympiacos is high in confidence after heading into the break with a road win at Barcelona as Evan Fournier again demonstrated his big-game credentials by netting the winning basket on the final buzzer. Nigel Williams-Goss is also in his best form of the season after averaging 17 points in the last two games, and he'll look to overcome a Virtus backcourt led by the consistency of Isaia Cordinier (13.2 points and 4.2 assists per night). Another key duel will take place in the power forward position, where Toko Shengelia is one of the league's few players potentially capable of outshining Olympiacos ace Sasha Vezenkov.
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz
Partizan (14-12) will attempt to protect its home court - and a place in the all-important top 10 - against a Baskonia team (11-15) running out of time to seriously challenge for postseason action. The Spanish team has struggled all season on the road, with just two victories away from Vitoria-Gasteiz, whereas Partizan boosted its confidence and showed its potential with an outstanding road victory at Monaco before the break. Tyrique Jones played a key role in that triumph with 17 points and 7 rebounds and his personal battle with Baskonia big man Donta Hall - who has recorded double-digit PIRs in nine consecutive games - is sure to provide some highlight reel plays.
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
ASVEL (11-15) will attempt to boost its fading playoff hopes by overcoming reigning champ Panathinaikos (16-10). The visiting team will be high on confidence after being crowned Greek Cup champion during the break and has fond memories of ASVEL after winning the last six games between the teams. Most recently, the Greens cruised to a 92-68 triumph in October behind 17 points from Lorenzo Brown, who would love to enjoy another night like that after scoring 0 points in the last four games. The French team lost three straight games before the break, struggling offensively with just 66 and 67 points scored in the last two. But playmaker Paris Lee has found his best form of the season, netting 14 points in the Round 26 loss at Bayern, and will look to keep ASVEL in the playoff picture by damaging the prospects of his former club.