Week 8 - Tuesday Games Preview

MIES (Switzerland) - Next up in the Basketball Champions League is week eight that begins on Tuesday December 6, as the regular season continues to get one step closer to the end. Some teams have the chance to advance, while others will be playing to stay alive in the competition.

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

Game 1: S.L. Benfica (3-1) v VEF Riga (1-3) - Group F

Where: Lisbon, Portugal

When: 19:00 CET

Benfica won their last game against BAXI Manresa, 92-82, while Riga lost to Limoges 80-53. Riga would be eliminated with a defeat to Benfica and also if Limoges CSP defeat BAXI Manresa.

 

Benfica have won three of their four BCL games, including the last game against VEF Riga 89-76, however, their only defeat in the competition happened in their sole game at home (97-78 v BAXI Manresa). Toney Douglas has combined for 10+ points and 5+ assists in three of his four games with Benfica in the BCL; he scored 17 points in the last game against Riga, tied for his most points scored in the BCL, also making his best mark of three-pointers made (3) and assists (7) during that game. Riga have won just two of their 19 games on the road in the BCL and have lost their most recent 10 – only three teams have had longer losing streaks away from home: Juventus Utena (11), Zielona Gora (12) and Rosa Radom (12). Riga are averaging 18.8 turnovers per game in the BCL this season, more than any other team; Benfica are the team making the most steals per game this season (10.5). Riga's Kristers Zoriks has scored more than 15 points in his last two games in the BCL but has never scored that many points in more consecutive games; he made his only double-double in the BCL against Benfica in the last game (14 points and 10 assists). [/unordered]

Game 2: Hapoel Atsmon Holon (3-1) v Legia Warszawa (1-3) - Group C

Where: Holon, Israel

When: 20:00 CET

Holon suffered their only loss of the season to Galatasaray Nef in their last game, 88-75, while Legia defeated Filou Oostende 71-66. Legia would be eliminated with a defeat to Holon, if Oostende also defeat Galatasaray.

 

Holon have won 10 of their 11 games at home in the BCL since the start of the 2021-22 season, while scoring 90.2 points per game in their last five home games. Holon won the last game against Warszawa 84-81. Holon's Joe Ragland is the only player averaging 16+ points and 8+ assists in the BCL this season (16.8 points and 9.5 assists per game); he is eight assists away from becoming the seventh player with the most assists in league history (currently at 261, only behind Eugene Lawrence, 268). Warszawa won their most recent game in the BCL (71-66 at Filou Oostende), their first win in the competition after losing their first three games in the competition; they have scored exactly 71 points in their two away games this season. 46.8 percent of Warszawa's points this season in the BCL come from three-pointers, the highest such proportion among all teams; on the other side, 47.1 percent of the points conceded by Holon come from behind the arc, more than any other team. Warszawa's Devyn Marble scored 21 points in the last game, tied for his most in a BCL game (also 21 v Bakken Bears while at Aris in October 2016); he scored five three-pointers in that game, the most for him in a single league game. [/unordered]

Game 3: BAXI Manresa (3-1) v Limoges CSP (1-3) - Group F

Where: Manresa, Spain

When: 20:30 CET

In their last game, Manresa lost their first game of the season to Benfica, while Limoges won their first game of the season against Riga. Manresa would advance to the Round of 16 with a win over Limoges, but they also need Benfica to lose to Riga.

 

Manresa lost their most recent home game in the BCL (92-82 v Benfica) and will try to avoid losing consecutive games at their home court for the second time in league history (lost two in January-February 2020). Manresa have made 58.6 percent of their two-pointers in the BCL 2022-23, only Unicaja (58.7 percent) have a better accuracy; however, Limoges are the team that is conceding the fewer two-pointers per game (11.5). Jerrick Harding has scored more than 15 points in nine of his last 10 games in the BCL, including in all four with Manresa this season; with 16 points, he was Manresa's top scorer in the last game. Limoges won their last game in the BCL (80-53 v Riga) and will try to win consecutive games for the first time in the competition; Limoges' last two games ended with margins of 20 or more points, after each of their previous eight ended with margins of six or fewer points. Limoges' Jayvon Graves is one of six players to have recorded 10+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists in multiple BCL games this season; however, he failed to score in double digits in the last game (9 points). [/unordered]

Game of the Week: Galatasaray Nef (3-1) v Filou Oostende (1-3) - Group C

For the Game of the Week preview, click here.