Real Madrid at CSKA
Date: 1/14
Time: 6:00 PM CET
Game Preview
Round 19 kicks off with a formidable matchup between the past two EuroLeague champions. Host CSKA, the defending champions, have done an admirable job in their title defense thus far this season. They boast a 12-6 overall record that's fueled by the league's third-best defense and fifth-best offense. They've managed to maintain their success despite drastic personnel changes, including the loss of their top five scorers from last year to either free agency or injury. Their opponent, Real Madrid, will seek to avenge its loss to CSKA in last year's semifinals. With a nearly identical team to a year ago, Madrid's jumped out of the gates to a 15-3 overall record, which puts them in a first-place tie with Efes. They're anchored by the imposing frontcourt of Anthony Randolph -- when healthy -- and Walter Tavares but have impressive veteran depth at all positions and boast a versatile style of play. CSKA, on the other hand, primarily operates through two guards, Mike James and Darrun Hilliard. James, in particular, has been virtually unstoppable this season and is putting up 20.9 points per game. Considering these teams met in the semifinals of the past two Final Fours, Tuesday's matchup should pack plenty of punch.
Injuries
CSKA Moscow
Will Clyburn - OUT - Knee
11/11 8:25 PM IST - Clyburn underwent surgery Monday to repair the torn ACL in his right knee, John Askounis of Eurohoops.net reports. The operation officially spells an end to Clyburn's season after the 29-year-old injured his knee during CSKA Moscow's Round 4 game in EuroLeague play. Clyburn will return to Moscow to continue his rehab and is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Daniel Hackett - GTD - Finger
1/10 1:40 AM IST - Hackett (finger) will not play Friday against Bayern Munich, according to CSKA's official website. Hackett's finger injury is apparently not as severe as originally reported, but it will cost him at least one EuroLeague game. It's still a bit uncertain how long he will be sidelined, so it remains to be seen whether he will be available for one or both of the EuroLeague games CSKA will play next week.
Janis Strelnieks - OUT - Hamstring
1/5 11:10 PM IST - CSKA Moscow announced Sunday that Strelnieks will be out "long term" after suffering a left hamstring injury in the second half of Friday's 106-102 loss to Panathinaikos in Round 17. The point guard will conduct his rehab at the club's facility in Russia before he's likely re-evaluated within the next few weeks, but it's fair to expect him to remain sidelined at least through the end of January. Strelnieks has appeared in 17 EuroLeague matches for CSKA Moscow this season, averaging 8.0 points, 2.2 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 16.6 minutes.
Real Madrid
Rudy Fernandez - OUT - Undisclosed
1/13 9:45 PM IST - Fernandez didn't travel with Real Madrid to Russia this week for an undisclosed reason and won't be available for Tuesday's Round 19 game against CSKA Moscow or Thursday's Round 20 matchup with Khimki, John Askounis of Eurohoops.net reports. It's unknown whether or not Fernandez is nursing a legitimate injury, as Real Madrid could simply be giving the 34-year-old some rest after he appeared in each of the club's first 18 EuroLeague games to date, averaging 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.2 three-pointers, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals in 19.8 minutes in those outings. Real Madrid will hope to have Fernandez back in action for its big matchup in Round 21 versus Anadolu Efes on Jan. 24. Both clubs enter Round 19 play tied at the top of the EuroLeague standings with 15-3 records.
Anthony Randolph - OUT - Calf
1/13 9:40 PM IST - Randolph (calf) didn't travel with Real Madrid to Russia this week and won't be available for Tuesday's Round 19 matchup with CSKA Moscow or Thursday's Round 20 matchup with Khimki, John Askounis of Eurohoops.net reports. Along with Randolph, Rudy Fernandez (undisclosed) didn't make the trip to Russia, though their absences will be offset to some degree by the returns of Sergio Llull (thigh) and Gabriel Deck (knee) from multi-game absences. Randolph -- who hasn't seen any EuroLeague action since Dec. 26 -- will turn his sights to moving past the calf issue ahead of Real Madrid's Round 21 game versus Anadolu Efes on Jan. 24.
Real Madrid Probable Starters
G - Facundo Campazzo
G - Fabien Causeur
F - Trey Thompkins
F - Jordan Mickey
C - Walter Tavares
CSKA Moscow Probable Starters
G - Mike James
G - Darrun Hilliard
F - Nikita Kurbanov
F - Johannes Voigtmann
C - Kyle Hines
Top Picks
(C) Mike James, MOS - The star of the CSKA squad, James sits second overall in the EuroLeague in individual scoring. In addition to his 20.9 points per game, he's offering 4.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 threes alongside excellent percentages of 45.3 percent from the field and 45.6 percent from deep.
Facundo Campazzo, RM - Campazzo acts as the offensive conduit for Real Madrid and provides one of the more well-rounded stat lines. Though his scoring can be inconsistent, the veteran point guard more than makes up for it by generating 6.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 threes per contest.
Jordan Mickey, RM - With Anthony Randolph (calf) sidelined again this week, look for Mickey to get a third consecutive start. He's been a terrific fill-in for Randolph and averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks over the past two rounds.
Darrun Hilliard, MOS - Hilliard has filled in admirably in the wake of a season-ending ACL injury to Will Clyburn as an offensive complement to James. Primarily a long-range threat, Hilliard is translating 2.1 threes per game into 10.6 points and is the only other member of the CSKA club averaging double figures.
Captaincy Options
Dream 11 Team
| NAME | POS | TEAM | OPP | CREDITS |
| Mike James | PG | CSK | MAD | $19.50 |
| Facundo Campazzo | PG | MAD | @CSK | $17.00 |
| Sergio Llull | PG | MAD | @CSK | $10.00 |
| Darrun Hilliard | SG | CSK | MAD | $12.50 |
| Nikita Kurbanov | SF | CSK | MAD | $9.00 |
| Jordan Mickey | PF | MAD | @CSK | $13.00 |
| Johannes Voigtmann | PF | CSK | MAD | $11.00 |
| Joel Bolomboy | C | CSK | MAD | $8.00 |
Grand League Combination
James, Campazzo, Voigtmann, Llull
Small League Combination
James, Campazzo, Hilliard, Mickey
