One of the most exciting on-court clashes in Round 5 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will pit two All-EuroLeague guards, AS Monaco's Mike James and Lorenzo Brown of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. The two players both earned All-EuroLeague honors last season and were the main protagonists of a thrilling five-game EuroLeague playoff series. This will be the 13th time James and Brown go head-to-head.

One of the most exciting head-to-head matchups of [Round 5](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/?round=5&season=E2023) will take place at Salle Gaston Medecin in Monaco, pitting two superstar guards opposite one another, AS Monaco's [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) and[ Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

The two players both earned All-EuroLeague honors last season – Brown as a first-team selection while James made the second team - and were the main protagonists of a thrilling five-game EuroLeague Playoffs series in which Monaco ousted Maccabi to reach its first-ever Final Four.

Best plays from Mike James and Lorenzo Brown in the 2023 EuroLeague playof series between AS Monaco and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Mike James vs Lorenzo Brown: 2023 playoff highlights

During that series, both players performed at a high level. James might have struggled, shooting just 21.6% from three-point range, but that did not prevent him from having all-round performances, one after another. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the series, including posting 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the decisive Game 5.

Brown kept up, averaging 15.4 points, despite making just 42.1% of his two-point shots during the series, and also had 4.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in those five games.

Now James and Brown [will go at it once again](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/41/) in this early-season re-match, which will mark the 13th time they go head-to-head since Brown entered the league in the 2019-20 season.

They first faced each other in February 2020 when James was with CSKA Moscow and Brown with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. James shined with 29 points in the Serbian capital, while Brown scored 10 in an [81-86 defeat](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2019-20/crvena-zvezda-mts-belgrade-cska-moscow/E2019/222/#boxscore).

In the 2020-21 campaign, James's CSKA and Brown's Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul split regular-season road wins, while in the 2021-22 season, James and Monaco swept Brown's UNICS Kazan. The two also played a pair ofregular-season games last season, and despite how prolific they are as scorers, it is interesting to note that each scored more than 15 points just once in those six regular-season games.

Brown had [16 points and 8 assists](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2020-21/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-cska-moscow/E2020/24/#boxscore) in Fenerbahce's overtime home loss against CSKA in October 2020, while James had [25 points and 7 assists](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2021-22/as-monaco-unics-kazan/E2021/175/#boxscore) in Monaco's thrilling 79-76 win over UNICS in February 2022.

Overall, James has outperformed Brown in their head-to-head games. Not only has he won eight of those games, but he also averaged 16.8 points compared to Brown's 12.5. While the two players were dead even in the assists they delivered, each with 4.3 per game, James also had an edge in rebounding, with 4.6, quite remarkable for a guard, with Brown pulling down 3.0 per game.

Brown has picked up 1.3 steals per game in those 12 contests and shot the ball better from the distance, making 20-of-60 triples (33.3%), compared to 19-for-90 (21.2%) that James shot from long range. However, James has a significantly better average PIR of 14.5, compared to Brown's 8.5 per game.

Some of those numbers will likely need to swing in Brown's favor for Maccabi to have a shot at beating Monaco on the road on Thursday night.

Two All-EuroLeague guards, Mike James and Lorenzo Brown, go against each other once again in Monaco on Thursday night. 

Head-to-head: Mike James vs. Lorenzo Brown

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-10-26T19:00:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos Athens forward Ioannis Papapetrou is set to be sidelined for two more months due to a knee injury.

Panathinaikos: Papapetrou, out two more months

[Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/) has been sidelined since Round 2 and only played one Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games this season, getting 8 points, 4 rebounds, a steal and a PIR of 10 in a 78-71 victory over FC Bayern Munich. As such, Papapetrou may return in late December or early January, missing half of the regular season. He just started his second stint with Panathinaikos, after playing four seasons with the Greens from 2018 to 2022. Papapetrou re-joined Panathinaikos from Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, where he played in the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 38 games.

The third-ever EuroLeague edition of the Belgrade derby between KK Partizan and KK Crvena zvezda takes place on Thursday, with Zeljko Obradovic coming up against the recently appointed Ioannis Sfairopoulos on the sidelines.

Another thrilling Belgrade derby awaits… with a twist

There are few rivalries in world sports that come close to the Belgrade derby. Whenever [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade face off](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2023/39/), not only does Serbia come to a stop but thousands of people from across the world tune in. Make no mistake, this third installment of the ‘Eternal derby’ in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is not worth missing.

Just last year, Partizan and Zvezda went head-to-head for the first time in the EuroLeague and it was epic. In Round 12, with Partizan hosting Zvezda at Stark Arena, the game looked as though it was going to overtime, only for [Nemanja Nedovic to drain a game-winning three-pointer, 76-79,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2022/103/) with 00:02 left on the clock.

Zeljko Obradovic’s Partizan got its revenge over Dusko Ivanovic’s Zvezda in Round 21, however, by [winning 78-79 at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2022/186/). Another Nedovic triple with 2 seconds remaining gave the visitors hope of a miracle, but it was Partizan that got the win over the line.

The capital of Serbia is a city that lives and breathes basketball and when Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and its archrival Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade meet on the shiny stage of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the sports world pays attention.

No words can describe the Belgrade Derby

### A new chapter in the Belgrade derby

Looking at the Belgrade derby this Thursday evening (18:30 CET), one major change from last season comes on Zvezda’s bench. Last Saturday, the club decided to part ways with Coach Ivanovic, with [Ioannis Sfairopoulos being appointed as his successor one day later](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zvezda-brings-ioannis-sfairopoulos-back-to-the-euroleague/). Now, four days since arriving at Zvezda, the Greek tactician is being thrown into a game that can define a coach’s tenure on the red and white half of Belgrade.

The start to this season has not quite gone to plan for Partizan nor Zvezda, with both sides coming into this derby with a 1-3 record, yet there is still plenty of time for them to turn things around. For Zvezda, however, it clearly felt that time was of the essence as it faces Partizan in the EuroLeague this Thursday and then again next Monday in the ABA League. Coach Sfairopoulos quickly has the chance to become a legend if he engineers two wins from those games.

### Getting back on track

Nevertheless, there’s no denying that both Partizan and Zvezda – two teams with aims of reaching the EuroLeague Playoffs – need to get back on the right track. That said, the two teams come into this derby in contrasting moods, as Partizan lost 88-86 against Mega Basket in the ABA League on Monday night, whereas Zvezda grabbed a 72-83 win at FMP in Coach Sfairopoulos’s first game in charge.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">Prva utakmica novog trenera <a href="https://twitter.com/GSfairopoulos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GSfairopoulos</a> na klupi crveno-belih ✅🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/jStMMkPR6Y">pic.twitter.com/jStMMkPR6Y</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1716552759208517697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Partizan lost some key players over the summer, such as Dante Exum, Mathias Lessort and Yam Madar, and its new players – namely ex-NBA duo PJ Dozier and Frank Kaminsky – are still trying to get up to speed. Some of last year’s players, like Aleksa Avramovic, Alen Smailagic and Balsa Koprivica, have taken on bigger roles in the rotation as well. Partizan may still be a work in progress, but at least it can still lean on the tried-and-trusted trio of Kevin Punter, James Nunnally and Zach LeDay.

Speaking of teams trying to figure things out, Zvezda is still trying to get everyone on the same page. After making nine additions to its roster, it was always going to take a bit of time. The good thing is that some players have already started to show what they can do, with Shabazz Napier, Rokas Giedraitis and Joel Bolomboy all impressing in recent weeks. Perhaps the change of coach from Ivanovic to Sfairopoulos could liberate two Zvezda playmakers, Milos Teodosic and Yago Dos Santos, that have struggled thus far, too.

### Expect the unexpected

One of the great things about a derby is that form tends to go out of the window. A team can be playing horribly, but once it goes onto the court against its archrival, it can come out with the victory. That is what makes predicting the Belgrade derby so difficult.

Will the experience of Coach Obradovic lead to a coaching masterclass against Partizan’s eternal rival, or will the arrival of Coach Sfairopoulos liberate the Zvezda players to grab a win that would silence the home fans? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure heading into the EuroLeague’s third-ever Belgrade derby: expect the unexpected.

Nemanja Nedovic of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade shoots his game-winning triple over the outstretched arm of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade forward Zach LeDay during the first Belgrade derby in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Ioannis Sfairopoulos will coach in his first ‘Eternal derby’ just four days after becoming the Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade head coach.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-10-26T16:30:00.000Z)

New FC Barcelona center Willy Hernangomez is one of many players to have crossed the Barca-Real Madrid Baloncesto divide, and he will face his former side in this latest EuroLeague edition of the El Clásico.

Willy Hernangomez joins long list of El Clásico crossovers

As [FC Barcelona travels to take on Real Madrid at WiZink Center in Round 5](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-fc-barcelona/E2023/40/) in a battle for first place, two of the visitors -- [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolas-laprovittola/006435/) and summer recruit [Willy Hernangomez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/willy-hernangomez/003196/) -- will find the setting more than familiar.

As many as 24 players have worn both teams' jerseys over the years. The latest player to join that list is Hernangomez, who came through Real’s academy and spent seven years in the NBA, only to sign with Barca when returning to his native Spain over the summer.

### Crossing the divide

When he joins the action on Thursday, Hernangomez will also become eighth player to play on both sides of the EuroLeague edition of *El Clásico* this century. He Hernangomez is the fourth player on that list to have played first for Real before joining Barca, following in the footsteps of Laprovittola, Nikola Mirotic and Ante Tomic. Mirotic managed to reach the EuroLeague Championship Game with both teams, losing in 2013 and 2014 with Real and in 2021 with Barca. Tomic made it to the Final Four with both teams, too, but lost in the semis.

Four more players moved in the opposite direction, from Barca to Real, while taking part in EuroLeague derbies for each team against the other. [Mario Hezonja](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/), a former Barca youngster, won a EuroLeague title with Real last season; Adam Hanga managed to reach the Final Four with both teams; while Thomas Heurtel and Pepe Sanchez ran the point in EuroLeague games against both their once and future teams. Other players who wore both jerseys since 2000 but did not play *El Clásico* in the EuroLeague for both are Alain Digbeu, Ioannis Bourousis, Michael Hawkins and Maciej Lampe.

### Stepping up against former teams

Some of these crossover players have had monster performances against their old teams in previous EuroLeague editions of El Clásico. 

After joining Barca, Tomic had 18 points, 12 rebounds and a PIR of 34 against Real in the 2013 EuroLeague Semifinals, however his hold team won 67-74. Tomic also had a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds against Los Blancos in a 77-70 victory for Barca in March 2019.

Nicolas Laprovittola played for Real Madrid before joining FC Barcelona.

Nicolas Laprovittola: from Real to Barca

Mirotic established career highs of 31 points and 39 PIR for Barca in a 93-80 win over Real in December 2021, then matched that PIR with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in that season's semifinals despite a  83-86 loss to his former team.

Hezonja was a main pillar for Real against his old team in a 2023 semifinals victory over Barca, getting 14 points, 9 rebounds and a PIR of 18. 

Laprovittola had 20 points, 7 rebounds and a PIR of 27 in less than 20 minutes to lead Barca to a 68-86 triumph in the Spanish capital in February 2022. 

### Can Hernangomez replicate the successes of Bodiroga, Hezonja?  

Looking further back, another 16 players played for both teams in the past. Arguably the most successful of them was Dejan Bodiroga, who won continental trophies with both teams, claiming the 1997 Saporta Cup crown with Real and lifting the 2003 EuroLeague trophy with Barca, the club's first, as the Final Four MVP. Bodiroga, the current Euroleague Basketball president, also played for Real first before joining Barca. In between, he won two EuroLeague titles with Panathinaikos Athens, in 2000 and 2002.

Only Bodiroga and Hezonja played for both teams and won a EuroLeague title with one of them. Hernangomez joined Real's main roster the summer after the team's 2015 EuroLeague title and was into his seven-season NBA stint before Real won again in 2018. Now, having taken the "air bridge", as they say in Spain, between the two, Hernangomez is ready to challenge his old team's recent dominance while trying to bring Barcelona its first title since 2010.

Willy Hernangomez Top Plays of the 2023-24 Regular Season

2023-24 EuroLeague highlights; Willy Hernangomez, Barca

"I truly appreciate what \[Real\] did for me," Hernangomez said in a recent interview. "They helped me to be the person that I am right now. But Barcelona is the perfect place. Being in a great city, being in an amazing country, my country, \[I am\] able to play basketball and enjoy the sport that I love."

Time will tell if Hernangomez gets to face his former team in a EuroLeague Championship Game, which would be a first. Real and Barca have never competed in a continental final, whether in football or basketball. Right now, they are the only undefeated teams left in the EuroLeague this season, so Thursday night's game at WiZink Center promises to be a top-class affair.

The new FC Barcelona center will come up against his former team, Real Madrid, for the first time in the EuroLeague since leaving the club.

Willy Hernangomez joins long list of El Clásico crossover players

Real Madrid v FC Barcelona (2023-10-26T18:45:00.000Z)

### Kazys Maksvytis, Zalgiris head coach

"I think Valencia have strengthened in the off-season. They added some athleticism, and they have a deep roster. Valencia is very interesting team, not easy for our scouts to prepare, so it’s going to be a tough game. The newcomers on the front line, Semi Ojeleye and Brandon Davies, have a big influence on Valencia’s game. Damien Inglis is also playing well. They’ve definitely added size, athleticism, but they have some long-range shooters as well. Chris Jones usually has the ball in his hands. There is also a backup point guard, Stefan Jovic, who we know well from before. They have a lot of weapons, like some special combinations for the shooter Kassius Robertson."

### Alex Mumbru, Valencia head coach

"I expect a tough game against a team that has many automatisms form last season, they play great basketball. The arena is sold out and we will be facing a hot atmosphere. We must keep our cool at a mental level so we can face a tough game against a team that also plays tough. We must be able to play good defense and hold against the offensive bursts thay will be having, for sure."

### Tomas Dimsa, Zalgiris player

"Valencia seems to be in great shape, they have won three out of four games in EuroLeague, and they are also doing well in the domestic championship. They have quality in each position, which makes it tough for the opponents in defense. Our results are also good, but we have made some comeback wins, which isn’t that easy to do. We need to start games better, and not dig ourselves into deep holes. It will be great to be back to Zalgirio Arena after a double-week on the road. It’s another sold-out, so it will be a great atmosphere to play in."

### Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Valencia player

"I feel fine and I am happy to be back with the team after so long. I am here for whatever the team needs me for. The team is fine, competing well on both competitions. I am happy for them, and I want to jump aboard that ship and make it go forward. I am here to help."

Game News

Two of this season's surprise packages go head to head as Zalgiris (3-1) and Valencia (3-1) both look for a win to stay firmly in the playoffs places. A clear key to the game is the host's three-point shooting: Zalgiris leads the league with a 48.3% conversion rate from deep, with guard Dovydas Giedraitis making 5 of his 6 attempts during the double round week. But Valencia boasts the league's second-best perimeter defense, allowing opponents to make only 29.4% of their three-point shots. Valencia will also need its offensive weapons to fire, and will hope that Chris Jones can return to form after only making 6 of his 20 field goal attempts during last week's two games.

Pre-game quotes: Zalgiris vs. Valencia

Zalgiris Kaunas v Valencia Basket (2023-10-27T17:00:00.000Z)

### Pablo Laso, Bayern head coach

"We have to know the competition we are playing in. You face great teams every week, so we have to be ready to play form the beginning. This is how we approach Fenerbahce, a great team with great players at all positions. We knoe we will have to play 100 percent during 40 minutes. If we don't do that, we will have no chance. We are playing great teams, and we have to know form the start that we have to be ready. Fener has great players outside: Calathes, Wilbekin, Guduric... But also a good rotation inside with Papagiannis, Motley... They have a bit of everything run by Calathes and their bigs play solid defense."

### Dimitris Itoudis, Fenerbahce head coach

"We play against a team that is very athletic, experienced and well-coached. We play on the road. The last time we played on the road, we had a very bad start and we had to catch it up. We are working on trying to be in continuity and we try to be more consistent in what we are doing in more minutes."

### Devin Booker, Bayern player

"If you dig yourself a deep hole at the beginning of the game, you will have a hard time gettin out of it. That's what happened to us at Barcelona, there was no way out for us. It was our mistakes. With Panathinaikos we did something similar, but we tried to get out of it. We know this will be a good challenge for us. Fenerbahce is a great team and playing at home gives us some advantage. We have to focus on their personnel and know what to do. It's awlays good to see familiar faces, I am looking forward to it."

### Sertac Sanli, Fenerbahce player

"We had a good week as a team. We finished the double-week and the derby with victories. Now we have a difficult task in the EuroLeague. Bayern Munich is a good and effective team. They reflect their physical advantages very well, especially in rebounding, and we will be facing one of the best teams in the EuroLeague in terms of rebounding. We know that our fans in Munich will support us like how and what we have in Istanbul, and we will try to take advantage of this. I believe it will be a tough and good fight. We want to win and get our first away win in the EuroLeague this season."

Bayern (2-2) will attempt to recover from last week's club-worst 39-point loss against Barcelona with a visit from a Fenerbahce side (3-1) that won twice in the double-round week. The German team needs more productivity from its guards after former Fenerbahce man Carsen Edwards, Leandro Bolmaro and Sylvain Francisco combined for just 12 points and 3 assists in Barcelona, and will rely on steady veteran big man Serge Ibaka (9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds per game) inside. Fenerbahce's remarkable second-half comeback against ASVEL last week featured 18 points in 20 minutes from Scottie Wilbekin, who will look to take on scoring opportunities as his team chases a third straight win.

Pre-game quotes: Bayern vs. Fenerbahce

FC Bayern Munich v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2023-10-27T18:30:00.000Z)

### Sasa Obradovic, Monaco head coach

"The content of our training sessions was good, but we didn't manage to put it into practice on the court against Valencia and Virtus. We need to rediscover the automatisms we had last year. We're starting a new season with the return of Jordan Loyd. It's a good problem to have, because he's a key player who needs to get back into form and get back to his normal routine. I don't know yet whether he'll play against Maccabi, we're thinking about it. The only cure is time. This match has a special flavor because the two teams know each other very well. The players know how to defend. It's all going to depend on how we manage our timeouts, we can't give them any easy shots and we have to muzzle the backs, especially Lorenzo Brown and DiBartolomeo. It's going to be a physical battle. It's important to manage the players' playing time well. It's a long season and it's important to find playing time for everyone."

### Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach

"We remember from last year how difficult this arena is to play in. Monaco are a very talented team this year too, with great continuity, and it will not be an easy task. We will want to make our fans happy, we are thinking about them every day, they are with us along with the citizens and soldiers. It will not be a simple game, but we are prepared as mush as we can and hope to come out with a good result".

### Mike James, Monaco player

"The series against Maccabi last year was good. Now it's time to move on, as we're starting a new season. We're going to try and string together some wins in the EuroLeague. The team started to play harder after the first two defeats. That's what we saw in Belgrade in particular, this positive development. There wasn't enough intensity at the start of the season. I think we arrived in the EuroLeague over-confident. Sometimes it's good to get a slap in the face and get back on track. For my part, I'm trying to play at my best and do what I can, no matter what time of the season it is. I'm going to keep training. I'm feeling good. I work every day, whether it's after good or bad games. I try to stay consistent in what I do and prepare well for the games."

Fast-improving Monaco (2-2) hosts dangerous Maccabi (2-1) in a repeat of last season's playoffs series, won by the Roca Team in the maximum five games. This meeting, Thursday's final tip-off, is highlighted by a stellar backcourt battle between two of the competition's best guards. Mike James has scored at least 14 points in every game this season, while Lorenzo Brown averages 15.7 points per night and leads the league with 10.3 assists per game. James needs just 7 points to become just the fourth EuroLeague player to reach the career milestone of 4,000 points, but he'll have to be constantly on alert against Brown, who also tops the competition with 2.3 steals per night.

Pre-game quotes: Monaco vs. Maccabi

### Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach

"It is very important for us to come out with an absolutely different motivation than it was against Mega and with more energy. We will play in the Arena in front of our fans, who have always done everything they can for the team, I hope my boys will understand that and that they will come out with a different motivation and energy. And that is the most important thing. Alen Smailagić did not train tonight, he has pain in the leg area. Also, Ponitka did not train. For Alen, tomorrow morning we will see if he will be able to play. I hope so. "Smiley" is someone who was always ready to help the team. I hope it will be the same this time as well. We deal with ourselves, to understand what we need to do and how to behave. Desire, motivation, a full Arena of people cheering you on , does anyone need anything more?"

### Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Zvezda head coach

"First I want to say that this is a very important match for us and for them. Everyone knows the importance of the derby. I think the players know how important it is for the entire Crvena Zvezda institution to win, and that's why I want us to fight, to respect Partizan, but to do our best. We are Zvezda and we will fight. I have some ideas that I am slowly incorporating into the team. We work on priorities first, and then on other things."

### Ognjen Jaramaz, Partizan player

"We have to start very aggressively. To show our fans that we are a better team and to do our best. I think it will be very challenging, after all, we are playing two derbies in five days. It is a specific situation, but I hope that we will win."

### Adam Hanga, Zvezda player

"It's the derby. We are all excited, since the schedule was announced this summer we have all been waiting for this match. We have two derbies in a row. Our situation, I will not say that it is complicated, but we have gone through changes in the last few days. We are trying to adapt to a new coach, a new system, to change small things. We didn't have time for big changes. The coach has a new influence, it's a process, we are excited for the match."

Local pride and much more is at stake as Partizan (1-3) hosts Zvezda (1-3) for the always-passionate Belgrade derby in Thursday's opening tip-off. Both teams are looking to bounce back after losing twice in the double round week, and history suggests we should expect a tight game after both meetings last season were decided by a single possession in favor of the visitor. Zvezda's new head coach, Ioannis Sfairopoulos, will look for his team to improve on inside efficiency after only making 48.3% of its two-point shots so far. Partizan, conversely, leads the league in two-point efficiency (61.4%) and will look for Zach LeDay (12.0 points per game) to win his personal battle against Rokas Giedraitis (11.8).

Pre-game quotes: Partizan vs. Zvezda

### Ettore Messina, Milan head coach

"ALBA Berlin, under Coach Gonzalez, has always been able to play with an aggressive and athetic roster, they like to play uptempo and force a lot of turnovers. This is an area where we need to improve, so it will be important for us to move the ball efficiently and, defensively, contain their one-on-one plays. It is an interesting game because Maodo Lo is coming home and will be finally available for us, and also because it is intriguing for us to face two young Italian prospets like Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo."

### Johannes Voigtmann, Milan player

"It doesn't matter who is playing for ALBA. They don't depend on individual players, they have had the same system for years, they play hard, they play aggressively, they play fast and make sure it is always difficult for everybody to take the win from them, especially in Berlin. So, we have to stay focused, play hard for 40 minutes, and be ready for a tough night."

ALBA (0-4) is still looking for its first win of the season as it welcomes Milan (1-2). Ettore Messina's team did not find the energy to compete with Real Madrid in the second half of Round 4's heavy loss, so ALBA's traditional fast-paced style could test the visitors again. Matt Thomas bounced back from a slow start to the season by netting 5 three-pointers in last week's loss at Monaco, and his perimeter play will be vital for an ALBA team which always likes to shoot a high volume of three-pointers. Milan possesses a similar long-range scoring threat through Kevin Pangos, but he only made 1 of 5 three-point attempts in the loss at Madrid and is looking for rhythm after failing to dish any assists in that game.

Pre-game quotes: ALBA vs. Milan

ALBA Berlin v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-10-26T18:00:00.000Z)