EuroLeague: Matchday 38 Decisive with Playoffs on the Line and Multiple Scenarios Still Open

The final matchday of the EuroLeague regular season will completely define the playoff bracket, with several positions still to be decided in both the fight for the Top 4 and access to the play-in. Matchday 38 arrives packed with games with direct implications and no room for error for many teams.

Thursday, April 16

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:00 CEST)
Fenerbahce (23-14) will attempt to reverse its poor form and keep its options alive to finish in the top four in its visit to last-place ASVEL (8-29). The defending champion is going through a surprising streak of five consecutive losses, although it may have found the path to improvement with a solid defensive performance in last week's loss to Real Madrid.

The home team is condemned to finish in last place, but will want to say goodbye to their fans with a strong showing, and Fenerbahce must be very alert to the scoring talent of Braian Angola, who has made four three-pointers in each of his last two games. The Turkish team hopes to rely on Brandon Boston, who arrives after stringing together back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time this season.

Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. Virtus Bologna (20:05 CEST)
Maccabi (18-19) will seek to close a difficult season with good feelings by trying to inflict another loss on a Virtus (13-24) in free fall. The Israeli team comes off a hard-fought loss in Sunday's Tel Aviv derby, a game that again showed its ability on the offensive glass, with Jaylen Hoard and Oshae Brissett each grabbing four.

Matching that physical level will be one of the challenges for the Italian team, which faces the end of the season after a tough streak of eight consecutive losses. Virtus will try to hurt from beyond the arc with Derrick Alston Jr., who made four three-pointers last week against Baskonia, and will also look for Carsen Edwards to repeat the performance that led him to score 26 points in November's victory over Maccabi.

Olympiacos Piraeus vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:15 CEST)
Olympiacos (25-12) has the opportunity to secure first place with the visit of an already-eliminated Milan (17-20). The Greek team has arrived in peak form, with five wins in their last six games that have guaranteed them home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Another positive aspect has been the return of Moustapha Fall after a long injury, recording 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks in his comeback during the victory over Hapoel. The center will now look to accumulate more minutes in an interesting matchup with Josh Nebo, who has not been at his best in recent weeks. Tyler Dorsey will try to maintain his outside accuracy after averaging 4.5 three-pointers in the last four games, while Milan looks to snap a streak of three consecutive losses.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Baskonia (20:30 CEST)
Closing the season with good feelings is the goal for both Partizan (15-22) and Baskonia (13-24). The Spanish team is going through its best stretch of the season with four consecutive wins, including their first road victory since January in the previous matchday against Virtus.

Eugene Omoruyi was key in that game with 22 points, his best mark of the season, and Partizan must also contain the scoring consistency of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who has scored at least 12 points in his last 12 games. On offense, Carlik Jones will look to celebrate his contract extension with an offensive improvement for the team, while Sterling Brown will try to regain form after going 1 of 8 from three-pointers in the last two games.

Real Madrid vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:45 CEST)
Real Madrid (23-14), very solid at home, will try to secure a spot in the top four against an equally motivated Crvena Zvezda (21-16). The white team wants to clinch home-court advantage in the playoffs, something especially important given their 17-1 record in Madrid.

For its part, Zvezda seeks to avoid dropping in the standings to guarantee itself a play-in game in Belgrade. Facu Campazzo will try to maintain his accuracy after going 4 of 4 from three-pointers against Fenerbahce, although he will face a Codi Miller-McIntyre in great form (16.8 points and 9.3 assists in the last four games). On the perimeter, Mario Hezonja (13 points per game) will face off against Jordan Nwora (17.2).

Friday, April 17

Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Paris Basketball (19:00 CEST)
Zalgiris (21-15) has the opportunity to secure direct playoff participation if it beats a dangerous Paris (15-22). The Lithuanian team maintained control of its destiny with a hard-fought victory on Partizan's home court, where Moses Wright again imposed his interior presence with double-digit rebounds for the sixth time this season.

Paris, however, comes off a great offensive performance against Maccabi, with six players in double figures led by Justin Robinson's 25 points. The French team has surpassed 100 points in three of their last four games under Julius Thomas's direction, so Zalgiris will need the best version of Nigel Williams-Goss to control the pace.

AS Monaco vs. Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv (19:30 CEST)
Two teams with much at stake face off in the Principality. Monaco (21-16) hosts Hapoel (23-14) after securing their top 10 spot with a victory over Barcelona. The Monegasque team can still aspire to the top 6 if certain results go their way, and hopes to get back Nikola Mirotic and Terry Tarpey.

Hapoel, meanwhile, arrives after securing their playoff spot in the derby against Maccabi, with Chris Jones leading with a double-double of 13 points and 11 assists. His connection with Vasilije Micic will test Monaco's defense.

Dubai Basketball vs. Valencia Basket (20:00 CEST)
Valencia (24-13) faces a demanding trip to Dubai (19-18) as preparation for the playoffs. The Spanish team has already secured home-court advantage after three consecutive wins, averaging 99.3 points in that stretch thanks, among other factors, to the outside accuracy of Brancou Badio.

Dubai needs to win and hope for a Barcelona stumble to enter the top 10, after a tough loss to Efes that led to the dismissal of Jurica Golemac. The team will look to recover the accuracy of shooters like Dzanan Musa and Davis Bertans.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:15 CEST)
Panathinaikos (21-16) will try to maintain its top 6 chances against a clearly improving Efes (12-25). The Turkish team arrives after achieving two consecutive victories for the first time since February, with Rodrigue Beaubois scoring 18 points in his last game.

Kai Jones also stood out with 7 rebounds and 5 blocks, in an interior matchup that promises against Matthias Lessort. Panathinaikos needs to recover the best version of Kendrick Nunn, while Cedi Osman will look to repeat his great performance against Efes in the first meeting.

FC Barcelona vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:30 CEST)
The final game of the regular season will pit a Barcelona (20-16) in need of a win against Bayern (17-20) to secure the top 10. The Blaugrana must stop Neno Dimitrijevic, who is in great form in recent matchdays.

Additionally, the game will have a special component with Svetislav Pesic, who will coach his final game in the competition before retiring. Saying goodbye with a road victory would be a symbolic close in a matchup that is far more consequential for Barcelona.