Turk Telekom Game Preview

Game details

London Lions vs Turk Telekom

EuroCup Round of 16

Date: Wednesday 6th March 2024

Tip: 18:00
Doors open: 16:30

In the tale of European basketball at the Copper Box this season, the narrative has been nothing short of cinematic. From game-tying buzzer-beating 3-pointers (If you know, you know) to debut dunks and plenty of drama. Looking back on this European adventure, some remarkable moments flood the mind, as the Lions have made huge strides forward this campaign.. Last season, there was a playoff flirtation, securing the 6th and last playoff spot in the group with 8 wins and 10 losses. Compare that with the current campaign and it’s clear to see the difference, boasting 12 victories and a mere 6 defeats – a form that has firmly placed London on the European basketball map.

The London Lions exited the competition at this stage last season, losing against Joventut Badalona on Spanish soil (89-78). With home-court advantage this time around, the Lions will be looking to capitalize on that and progress, becoming the first-ever British team to reach the EuroCup quarter-finals.

The spotlight falls on East London for this round of 16 tie as the Lions face last year's finalists and runners-up, Turk Telekom. Strong and defensively dominant, the Ankara-based side has weathered a disappointing European campaign by their high standards, clinching the last playoff spot with a sixth-place finish in their group, progressing ahead of Budocnost only on points differential. With the group stage behind them, they head to London focused on replicating the performance that took them to last season's final, where they narrowly lost to Gran Canaria.

The last meeting between these two teams ended in a narrow 5-point victory for Turk Telekom in London last season (84-89), and they walked away with an even more commanding 102-74 win in the return game in Turkey. However, the Lions have improved significantly since then, making this a much closer matchup. Sam Dekker led the scoring for the Lions on both occasions, knocking down 25 and 20 points, respectively. Though presently sidelined by injury, it is unknown whether he will play a part in this game, but his return to the court for the league MVP will be eagerly anticipated by Lions fans.

We are in for an exciting night on Wednesday, March 6th, as the game tips off at an earlier-than-usual 18:00 to accommodate its broadcast on TNT Sport. The winner will advance to the quarter-finals, packing their bags for a trip to Romania and a formidable clash with the second-place finisher in Group B, U-BT Cluj-Napoca. However, for the defeated, this marks the end of the road.

The last two EuroCup home games have been sold out, and tickets for the game are selling fast. To avoid disappointment, book your spot today.

By Ash Ledran