When Zalgiris Kaunas takes the floor the second time this week and welcomes Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Friday, perimeter players will be a big factor.
Major matchups: Giffey, Zalgiris vs. Beaubois, Efes
In his first season in Kaunas, Niels Giffey is averaging 5.5 points per game coming off the bench, however, he's had a pair of big games in recent weeks. He netted 15 points in fewer than 15 minutes in a big road win at AS Monaco and then scored 16 points in a huge upset against league-leading FC Barcelona last week. Giffey scored just 3 points on Tuesday against Olympiacos Piraeus, but he will be poised to put that one behind and help Zalgiris with his shooting against the defending champions.
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Rodrigue Beaubois has started in 21 of his 28 appearances this season, but regardless of his role, his ability to knock down shots from downtown has played a big role for Efes, especially in recent weeks. Beaubois is averaging 10.5 points per game and has been worth 13.7 points over the last seven games, a stretch during which he has made 21 of his 44 three-point shots (47.7%). Efes will need Beaubois to keep connecting from beyond the arc with such accuracy on Friday night.