This article is part of our EuroLeague Primer series.
PREGAME UPDATES
- Zenit's Arturas Gudaitis has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle. He will not play in Game 2 and will likely miss the rest of the series.
- Barcelona's Leo Westermann will not play Friday. Leandro Bolmaro will suit up after being inactive for Game 1.
- Fenerbahce's Dyshawn Pierre will be available for Game 2. Jan Vesely, Edgaras Ulanovas, Jarell Eddie, Ali Muhammed and Yigit Onan all remain out.
- CSKA's Joel Bolomboy remains out for Game 2.
- Vasilije Micic is in Efes' starting lineup for Game 2, and Dogus Balbay will be available off the bench.
- Real Madrid's Walter Tavares and Carlos Alocen will not suit up for Game 2, but Alex Tyus will be in uniform.
STATS AND INFO.
THE SLATE
Real Madrid at 
Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Status Check: Walter Tavares (MAD), Alex Tyus (MAD), Anthony Randolph (MAD), Vasilije Micic (IST), Dogus Balbay (IST)
Best Bets for Success: Real conceded a crushing defeat in the first game of the series, and Nicolas Laprovittola was held relatively in check. He spent only 18 minutes on the court, so he will be ready to handle a full workload in Game 2, and the Spanish squad will need a big night from him in order to even up the series. Tavares flirted with a double-double in the opener, but his situation has to be monitored closely, as he played an injury and was involved in just 22 minutes of action. Sertac Sanli was at his best again, with 16 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal. With Efes well ahead going into last quarter, Sanli was rested late, so he should have plenty left in the tank Thursday. Krunoslav Simon recovered on time to face Real and, as usual, produced a decent haul of fantasy points. He wasn't limited by the injury that kept him out of the last regular-season game and delivered 24.0 DFS points in 27 minutes of action.
DFS Darlings: Tristan Vukcevic, who surprisingly started in Game 1, became a viable option for fantasy tournaments. With Tavares banged up and Tyus' status uncertain, Vukcevic could be even more involved Thursday night. Rodrigue Beaubois had an excellent start to the series, scoring 19 points and grabbing five rebounds in the first matchup. His involvement could increase in the next game if Micic takes it easy after leaving with an injury in the last quarter of Game 1.
FC Bayern Munich at 
AX Armani Exchange Milan
Status Check: Nick Weiler-Babb (MUN), Nihad Dedovic (MUN)
Best Bets for Success: D.J. Seeley unexpectedly starred in Bayern's ranks in Game 1, stuffing the stat sheets with 23 points, six rebounds, two assists and five threes, and he should feature heavily in the next act of the series with both Weiler-Babb and Dedovic sidelined. Wade Baldwin didn't make his expected impact in the first matchup, with just 10 points and four assists, but it's unlikely he will struggle in a second consecutive game after an impressive regular season. Zach LeDay was the man of the match Tuesday night and scored the game-winning bucket at the buzzer. LeDay produced 30.75 DFS points, converted all nine free throws and was fouled seven times in 33 minutes on the court. Sergio Rodriguez was impressive in Game 1, tallying 13 points and three conversions from distance. El Chacho scored all his points in the second half and was big factor in Milan's comeback from a 17-point halftime deficit.
DFS Darlings: JaJuan Johnson produced 17.0 DFS points in just 15 minutes on the court on Tuesday and will continue to provide backup for James Gist. Zan Sisko delivered a solid 20.25 DFS points on Tuesday, stepping while Baldwin was struggling. Sisko was the second-best producer of DFS points in Bayern's ranks, and he could feature again with the German club short-handed in the backcourt.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul at 
CSKA Moscow
Status Check: Jan Vesely (ULK), Dyshawn Pierre (ULK), Edgaras Ulanovas (ULK), Jarell Eddie (ULK), Ali Muhammed (ULK), Yigit Onan (ULK), Nikola Milutinov (CSK), Joel Bolomboy (CSK)
Best Bets for Success: Nando de Colo did his best in Game 1 of this series, but a decimated Fenerbahce roster couldn't stop CSKA from claiming a win. de Colo finished the game with 41.5 DFS points, the most among all players. Considering all the absences in Fener's ranks, he will most likely be heavily-involved again Friday night. Kyle O'Quinn provided the most support, contributing in all areas of the game and producing 27.5 DFS points in 26 minutes on the court. With Vesely likely out again and Ahmet Duverioglu not involved in the first game, O'Quinn is in pole position for another start in Game 2. Johannes Voigtmann recorded his second double-double of the season in Game 1, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards. The big man extended his run of scoring double-digit points to seven games now. Will Clyburn produced 36.25 DFS points on Wednesday on the strength of a 20-point showing in the box score. He also notched five rebounds and assists apiece and swatted two shots.
DFS Darlings: Tarik Biberovic successfully stepped up for the short-handed Fenerbahce team by scoring nine points. He will likely get another chance to impress Friday, as it's likely Fenerbahce will roll with the same roster it trotted out in Game 1. Semen Antonov also scored nine points Wednesday night thanks to three triples. He produced 15.0 DFS points in 14 minutes of action.
Zenit Saint Petersburg at 
FC Barcelona
Status Check: Mateusz Ponitka (DYR), Arturas Gudaitis (DYR)
Best Bets for Success: Kevin Pangos again led Zenit to victory -- its most-important one so far this season. In the victory over the top seed in Game 1, the Canadian point guard narrowly missed a double-double and buried the game-winning shot with 10 seconds left on the clock. KC Rivers started Zenit's first playoff game and produced a solid 18.0 DFS points. The veteran should start again in Game 2 with Ponitka likely still sidelined. Brandon Davies was Barca's best player in the first game of the series, providing 31.25 DFS points. Davies finished one board short of a double-double after spending 28 minutes on the court. Cory Higgins provided a season-best six assists on Wednesday night and bettered Nick Calathes, who usually leads the way in that category for Barcelona. Higgins produced 26.0 DFS points, his best result in the last six outings.
DFS Darlings: Alex Poythress scored 17.25 DFS points in 16 minutes of action in the opening game of the series. His playing time could increase Friday, as Gudaitis limped off with an injury in the last quarter of Game 1. Kyle Kuric recorded 12 points, and he could get a chance to back that up, as Alex Abrines struggled in the opener.
