Both teams have little time to prepare, but Bayern do at least have home advantage: after the narrow defeat in Kaunas, the German champions returned from Lithuania on Wednesday afternoon and will host 21-time French champions ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne at the SAP Garden on Thursday from 8:30 p.m. For the Munich side, ahead of the already sold-out visit of defending champions Fenerbahce Istanbul (April 1), it’s the penultimate home outing in Europe’s top competition this season. The goal is clear: the 14th win of the season.
Tipoff at 8:30 p.m.
The team currently in 20th place also comes off a road trip with an even more unfortunate finish, losing 78-79 at Partizan in Belgrade on Tuesday on a free throw in the final second. Izzy Bonga led the Serbs—now level on points with Bayern—back into the game with eight points in the closing minutes. The French side’s top scorer was former national team guard Thomas Heurtel (19; 9.3 ppg, 5.2 apg), ahead of US guard Shaquille Harrison (12) and center Mbaye Ndiaye (10). Over the season, the leading scorers are guard Glynn Watson (14.2 ppg, 3.1 apg) and wing Braian Angola (14.1).
For Bayern, Svetislav Pesic is expected to return to the bench, and guard Neno Dimitrijevic should also be an option again. “We’ll need a lot of energy once more in our own arena and we want to finish the double week with a win,” said FCBB guard Justinian Jessup.