Week 5 - Wednesday Games Preview

 MIES (Switzerland) - Week five of the Basketball Champions League continues on Wednesday November 2 with another three games (not including the Game of the Week), as Groups D, E, G and H finish their games before the two-week break for national team windows.

Here's a look at the three games on Wednesday:

Game 1: Darussafaka (1-1) v MHP RIESEN (2-0) - Group E

Where: Istanbul, Turkey

When: 18:00 CET

 

 

Darussafaka have won their last five home games in the BCL, after winning just two of their previous five matches at home in the competition; they have scored 80 or more points in eight of their last nine home games in the BCL. Darussafaka are averaging 32 defensive rebounds per game in the BCL this season, more than any other team, but RIESEN have grabbed the most offensive rebounds per game (18.5) and have the best offensive rebounds rate, grabbing 44 percent of the rebounds available under their opponents' basket. Gabriel Olaseni made his first BCL double-double in his most recent game in the competition (20 points, 12 rebounds v Bakken Bears) – he scored 20 points in that game but is yet to score 20+ points in consecutive league games; Olaseni scored only two points in his previous BCL matchup with RIESEN, the fewest for him in a single game as a starter. RIESEN are undefeated in their last three games in the BCL but haven't had a longer winning streak in the league since a six-game streak in January – March 2018. Yorman Polas has scored 14+ points and has grabbed exactly six rebounds in each of his two games with RIESEN in the BCL this season; however, Polas has never scored in double figures, nor has he grabbed 6+ rebounds in more consecutive games in his 57 appearances in the league. [/unordered]

 

 

Game 2: Igokea m:tel (1-1) v Surne Bilbao (2-0) - Group D

Where: Laktasi, Bosnia and Herzegovina

When: 18:30 CET

 

 

This will be Igokea's fifth game against a Spanish team in the BCL, winning just one of the previous four; however, that sole win happened at home, back in March 2021 (77-75 v San Pablo Burgos). Igokea have won six of their seven home games in the BCL regular season. Bryant Crawford scored 33 points in his most recent BCL game, the most by any Igokea player in league history; he is yet to miss a free-throw (7-of-7) and has 2+ steals in each of his two BCL games. Bilbao have won their first two games in the BCL this season, but they have never won more consecutive games in the competition; they have already won as many games this season (W2) as in their previous BCL campaign in 2020-21 (W2 L4). Bilbao are averaging the fewest possessions per game this season in the BCL (66.1) but have the best assists per turnover ratio in the league (2.5). Adam Smith scored 17 points off the bench in his last BCL game with Bilbao, but he has never scored 15+ points in consecutive games off the bench in league history; Smith has scored in double figures in 14 of his 15 away games in the competition. [/unordered]

Game 3: Bnei Ofek Dist Herzliya (1-1) v Lenovo Tenerife (1-1) - Group H

Where: Hadera, Israel

When: 18:30 CET

 

Herzliya will host the defending champions after winning their first home game in the BCL (90-85 v Rytas Vilnius); they have conceded 85 or more points in each of their two previous games and went to the half-time break in a losing position in both of those encounters. Maurice Kemp has scored 20+ points in three of his last four games in the BCL, including in his two games with Herzliya this season; he has scored 6+ free-throws in each of his two games this season after not scoring more than three in each of his previous five games in the competition. Tenerife have lost their most recent game in the BCL (v Peristeri) but only once before have they lost consecutive games in league history (L2 in November 2016); however, 10 of their last 11 defeats in the competition happened when they weren’t playing at their home venue. Tenerife (49.0) and Herzliya (47.5) are two of the three teams, alongside UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia (48.3) to have conceded the most first-half points this season in the BCL. Tenerife, however, are the team that is scoring the most points per possession on average this season (1.22). Sasu Salin has scored 15+ points in each of his last three games with Tenerife in the BCL but only once before has he had a longer scoring streak in the competition, as he had four consecutive games with 15 or more points between January and March 2020. [/unordered]

 

Game of the Week: Unicaja (2-0) v PAOK mateco (1-1) - Group G

For the Game of the Week preview, click here.