Barcelona at Maccabi Tel Aviv
Date: 1/14
Time: 8:05 PM CET
Game Preview
Barcelona will spar with Maccabi in a Round 19 matchup that brings together the third and fourth overall teams in the EuroLeague. It will be the teams' second meeting of the season. In their first, in Round 10, Maccabi suffered a humiliating 96-73 defeat. Since then, however, the Israeli club has rallied with a 6-2 record despite an injury-plagued end to the year. Scottie Wilbekin has emerged as Maccabi's leader, using his deadly long-range shot to keep opposing defenses on their toes. Beyond Wilbekin, they have a well-rounded offensive attack with five players averaging more than eight points per game, including newcomer Jalen Reynolds, who's posted averages of 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games since signing with the club on Dec. 30th. Barcelona, which is coming off a tough loss to top-ranked Efes, is oriented around Nikola Mirotic, who's averaging 18.5 points per game, good for fifth-best in the league. He's complemented by Cory Higgins and Brandon Davies, who're both supplying double-figure scoring averages, as well as Malcolm Delaney, who's dishing 5.3 assists per game. Both teams will be tough to beat, but Barcelona appears to enter the Round 19 contest with a slight edge.
Injuries
FC Barcelona Lassa
Thomas Heurtel - OUT - Knee
1/9 10:53 PM IST - Heurtel (knee) is expected to be cleared to play before the end of January, according to Mundo Deportivo. Heurtel resumed working out in December, and he is now as close to making his season debut as he has been since undergoing surgery in August. Heurtel will provide a boost at the point guard position for Barcelona once he is back in action.
Kevin Pangos - OUT - Toe
1/9 11:08 PM IST - Pangos is in the final stretch of his recovery from a toe injury, according to Mundo Deportivo. Pangos is still dealing some soreness in his toe, but he has gradually been improving, and could be ready to play again before January comes to a close.
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv
Tarik Black - OUT - Knee
1/10 10:57 PM IST - Black will not require surgery on his injured knee and is expected to return to action in eight weeks, according to teamscout.net. While it's good news that Black will not go under the knife, it will still be a while before he is ready to get back on the court. If all goes well, though, he will still return to action at some point before the regular season ends. Expect Othello Hunter to continue holding down the starting center spot in Black's absence.
Omri Casspi - OUT - Knee
1/14 12:04 AM IST - Casspi has traveled to the United States for further evaluation of his injured knee, according to eurohoops.net. It was reported last week that Casspi may need surgery to repair his injured knee, and that's likely what his latest trip to the doctor will determine. Casspi is expected to return to Israel in about 10 days, but it remains to be seen if he will be ready to play at that time.
John Dibartolomeo - OUT - Pectoral
12/6 9:04 PM IST - Dibartolomeo is expected to miss up to six months with a torn mectoral muscle suffered in Thursday's victory over Bayern Munich, according to Maccabi's official website. Dibartolomeo's timeline all but rules him out for the season, and will leave Maccabi without its captain and dependable guard off the bench. His absence -- coupled with that of fellow guard Nate Wolters (hip) -- figures to open up opportunities for youngsters Yovel Zoosman, Elijah Bryant, and Deni Avdija.
FC Barcelona Lassa Probable Starters
G - Cory Higgins
G - Adam Hanga
F - Victor Claver
F - Nikola Mirotic
C - Ante Tomic
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv Probable Starters
G - Scottie Wilbekin
G - Yovel Zoosman
F - Elijah Bryant
F - Quincy Acy
C - Othello Hunter
Top Picks
Nikola Mirotic, BAR, - The star forward's scored in double figures in all but one game this season. Moreover, he's made strides on the defensive end in recent weeks, having generated both a block and a steal in three of his past six contests.
Scottie Wilbekin, MTA, - Maccabi's star guard is scoring a career-high 16.1 points per game. He's done so primarily through a knockdown three-point shot as he's making 3.4 attempts per game at a 45.6 percent clip.
Brandon Davies, BAR, - Davies is coming off a 20 point outburst against Efes, his first time topping 20 this season. In addition to his season-long average of 10.2 points, Davies' offering 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks.
Jalen Reynolds, MTA, - The newly-signed forward has impressed in his two games so far with the Israeli club. His recent line of 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists from Round 18, could be a sign of things to come.
Captaincy Options
Dream 11 Team
| NAME | POS | TEAM | OPP | CREDITS |
| Scottie Wilbekin | PG | TEL | BAR | $17.00 |
| Malcolm Delaney | PG | BAR | @TEL | $11.50 |
| Cory Higgins | SG | BAR | @TEL | $12.50 |
| Elijah Bryant | SG | TEL | BAR | $10.00 |
| Yovel Zoosman | SF | TEL | BAR | $9.00 |
| Nikola Mirotic | PF | BAR | @TEL | $21.00 |
| Deni Avdija | PF | TEL | BAR | $6.00 |
| Brandon Davies | C | BAR | @TEL | $13.00 |
Grand League Combination
Mirotic, Wilbekin, Davies, Avdija
Small League Combination
Mirotic, Wilbekin, Higgins, Delaney
