Basketball Champions League Week 6 Preview - Tenerife on the verge of consecutive home wins record, Unicaja visit Le Mans
- → Le Mans host Unicaja after Andalucians give Real Madrid first loss of the season.
- → Tenerife host Darussafaka to match AS Monaco's home record.
- → Sassari and MHP Riesen looking to win in second-place race.
- → Rio Breogan to host Holon in crucial Group F matchup.
Falco Vulcano Szombathely vs Peristeri bwin game preview
Date: November 22, 2023.
Location: Aréna Savaria,Szombathely.
Tipoff time: 17:00 GMT.
With the Hungarian champions having lost by 17 at Persteri’s hand in the reverse fixture, the Greek’s 2nd biggest-ever BCL win, Falco Szombathely have a complicated task at hand if they want to make their play-ins chances feel as real as ever.
Their win in Le Mans means they’re currently part of a three-way 1 win 2 losses tie in Group A. A win against struggling on the road Peristeri ( who lost their last four road games) would make them credible candidates for a play-ins spot. Sixth-man Zoltan Perl, key player for the home side, will need to keep his form when playing at home against GBL teams: the Hungarian guard averaged 20, 5 boards, and 5 assists in these two encounters.
Peristeri can’t afford to lose another game against a direct rival and will need much better from new signing Jaylen Hands, kept to 9 points only by Unicaja, and will look to bounce back against Szombathely. After winning consecutive home games in the GBL, Spanoulis’ team needs to translate domestic form into continental consistency if they want to have any hope of progressing to play-ins and furter in the Basketball Champions League.
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VEF Riga vs Cholet Basket Game Preview
Date: November 22, 2023.
Location: Arena Riga, Riga.
Tipoff time: 17:30 GMT.
With their play-ins hopes hanging by the thread of a needle, VEF Riga need to produce a Basketball Champions League win after a six-game losing streak if they are to claw their way back in BCL standings.
On the other hand, Cholet, after achieving an upset over Darussafaka Lassa, will travel to Riga full of hope as they look to benefit from the clash between the Turkish side and Lenovo Tenerife. The young French team based their BCL success on fast breaks (18.3 points per game per Opta, highest of any BCL team) whereas Riga focus on a measured halfcourt offense, having scored only 5.7 points per game on fast breaks.
Cholet will look to sink Riga’s BCL hopes and take advantage of the big match in Tenerife as they lace up at the Riga Arena to chase their first-ever three-game winning streak.
How to watch VEF Riga - Cholet Basket
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Telekom Baskets Bonn vs Bursaspor Info Yatirim Game Preview
Date: November 22, 2023.
Location: Telekom Dome, Bonn.
Tipoff time: 19:00 GMT.
BCL holders Telekom Baskets Bonn host Bursaspor confident as they have won five consecutive games against Turkish oppositions. The reverse fixture resulted in an 18-point win, and Bonn are looking for more of the same in this Group G matchup, with a competitive first-place race between the Germans and Hapoel Holon.
This iteration of Bonn, after losing their coach and most of their team in the summer, is building its success on defensive pressure: the German outfit have been able to force a BCL-leading 20.3 turnovers per game in their three outings.
If Bursaspor stumble again on the road, they will become the first-ever Turkish team to lose all their first three games in the BCL. Bonn approach this game after three consecutive wins, including road wins at Gottingen, a narrow home win against Bayern, and their BCL dismissal of Rio Breogan.
How to watch Telekom Baskets Bonn - Bursaspor Info Yatirim
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Lenovo Tenerife vs Darüssafaka Lassa
Date: November 22, 2023.
Location: Santiago Martin Arena, San Cristobal de La Laguna.
Tipoff time: 20:00 GMT.
After winning their last 16 home games in the Basketball Champions League, the Canarios need one more win in San Cristobal to match the longest-ever home winning streak in the BCL, currently held my AS Monaco between 2016 and 2018.
The visitors had the upper hand in the reverse fixture (84-88) and this game is a crossroads for Group C in the BCL, with three teams tied 2-1 in first place. Point differential might also be a consideration as fine margins might determine this competitive group’s outcome.
As usual, Lenovo Tenerife will rely on Marcelino Huertas, only 5 assists shy of reaching 500 assists, a milestone no one has reached in the BCL yet.
How to watch Lenovo Tenerife - Darussafaka Lassa
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AEK Betsson BC vs King Szczecin Game Preview
Date: November 23, 2023.
Location: Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, Athens.
Tipoff time: 17:30 GMT.
After winning all of their three games in the Basketball Champions League so far, AEK is the clear favorite to come out on top of Group E, with the other two places to contend in an exciting three-way tie between King Szczecin, Sassari, and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.
Despite their immaculate 3-0 record, AEK have a meager +18 points difference, showing how close the competition in Group D is: Current leaders AEK can’t afford any slip-ups.
Chasing their first-ever 4-0 start, Ben McLemore & co will look to keep their continental form as they face the Polish champions, confident in their ability to dominate the paint (a BCL-leading 43.3 points per game for The Queen).
King Szczecin looked competitive, but will their leaky defense be enough to contain Justin Tillman’s paint dominance? The big man has looked unstoppable so far, with 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest, with 76.7% from the field, making him the most accurate BCL player so far.
How to watch AEK Betsson BC - King Szczecin
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Le Mans Sarthe vs Unicaja game preview
Date: November 23, 2023.
Location: Antarés, Le Mans.
Tipoff time: 19:30 GMT.
After getting stunned by Falco Szombathely at the Antarès, Le Mans have caused themselves some trouble, opening the door to a three-way tie below Unicaja, leading Group A with 3 wins and no losses.
Although the French side haven’t lost back-to-back home games since 2018 in the BCL, they have a tough opponent in Unicaja, the most assured BCL team, fresh off giving Real Madrid their first disappointment in Liga ACB on their home court.
The Andalusians, led by Kravish and Kam Taylor at the WiZink Center, have won 9 games in a row, and are undefeated in all competitions since October 8th, when they lost to Gran Canaria on the road. Their coach, Basque Ibon Navarro, will hope they can keep it up at the Antarès, where Le Mans have not been as consistent this season.
How to watch Le Mans Sarthe vs Unicaja
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Banco di Sardegna Sassari vs MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg Game Preview
Date: November 23, 2023.
Location: Palaserradimigni, Sassari.
Tipoff time: 19:30 GMT.
The Sardinians will host MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg at the Palaserradimigni, where the Germans can even the score in the head-to-head, currently favoring Sassari 3-2. The Italians have won the reverse fixture in Ludwigsburg and look to get some momentum in a stuttering season start, both domestically and in Europe.
The same is true for the visitors, with Josh King’s outfit currently mid-table in the Bundesliga and lacking consistency. This matchup is crucial as it will likely decide the favorite to secure 2nd place and keep homecourt advantage in the following play-ins. However, with both teams' current form, a surprise by King Szczecin is still possible.
How to watch Banco di Sardegna Sassari – MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg
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Rio Breogan vs Hapoel Holon Game Preview
Date: November 23, 2023.
Location: Pazo Provincial Dos Deportes De Lugo, Lugo.
Tipoff time: 19:30 GMT.
Rio Breogan go back to Lugo where they’ve won the only game of their BCL season so far. They will host Hapoel Holon, still undefeated in Group F and looking to win their third game to claim first place.
Spanish soil is not the best for the Israeli team: C.J. Harris & co have lost 4 out of their 5 games played in Spain. Breogan will look to put things right after their defeat in the reverse fixture in Riga. To defy all odds Rio Breogan will need to produce much more on offense if they want to cause trouble for Holon, but will look at a close loss last week in Riga with optimism.
Will the Galicians be able to stop Hapoel Holon's terrifying three-point form? The Israelis have scored 50% of their threes, and 45% of their points (per Opta) come from behind the ark.
How to watch Rio Breogan vs Hapoel Holon
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