Euroleague Basketball Predictions, News & Injury list

Euroleague Basketball Tips

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Khimki – Fenerbahce

Two teams in the thick of the playoffs race will face each other on Friday when Khimki Moscow Region (12-15) hosts Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (13-14) for Round 28. After having won three in a row, Khimki’s streak came to a halt earlier this week at Zalgiris, while Fener won at home against Zvezda and finally entered the playoff positions.

Going into the game, Khimki’s best option will probably be to unleash its better offense. Fenerbahce is also the worst team of the league under the boards, so if the hosts manage to control those defensive rebounds and run on offense, thanks to their second-best assists numbers in the league, they could have solid options to take this win.

Fenerbahce finally overcame the mental obstacle of being outside of the playoffs zone, and seems to be getting up to speed. Even if Khimki shows better numbers on almost all aspects, the biggest weapon for the guests will be a strong mentality that is just getting stronger week after week and, of course, the second-best three-point shooting in the league.

Tip: 2 at 2.20 with bet365
(Price correct at 06/03/2020, 10:05 CET, subject to change)

Anadolu Efes – Olympiacos

A classic EuroLeague matchup will live a new edition on Friday when league leader Anadolu Efes Istanbul (23-4) welcomes Olympiacos Piraeus (12-15) for Round 28. Efes comes off a rare loss earlier in the week at Maccabi that snapped its 11-game winning streak. The hosts will be facing the Reds, who land in Turkey fresh off a close win at home in the Greek derby against Panathinaikos earlier this week.

It’s kind of ironic that Efes suffered its first loss in 12 rounds just when it had its full roster available again. The hosts are the second-best offensive team in the league, and this loss shows that they are human after all, but it could also be a wake-up call just at the right time. Efes is already in the playoffs, but a win in this game combined with either a Maccabi or CSKA Moscow loss, would secure home-court advantage for the hosts in the next phase.

Olympiacos is having one of the most irregular seasons of the last decade, and having Vassilis Spanoulis and Nikola Milutinov sidelined does not help, either, However, the Reds have won three of their last four games and they are still pushing hard to make the playoffs in a tough competition. On paper, Efes is basically better at everything this season, but Olympiacos is famous for beating the odds, and the fact that they play on the road with the chance to avenge the home loss earlier this season just adds to the motivation.

Tip: Over 158.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 06/03/2020, 10:05 CET, subject to change)

Crvena Zvezda – Maccabi

Playoffs hopeful Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (10-17) will welcome Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv (19-8), a team that just punched its postseason ticket, on Friday for Round 28 of this double-feature week. The hosts are going through a rough patch, having lost eight of their last nine games, including a close one at Fenerbahce earlier this week, 66-63. On the other hand, Maccabi comes from a thrilling home win over Efes, 77-75, that increased its winning streak to five games and secured the club a playoff berth for the first time since 2015.

The hosts need to get out of the dark zone they are in right now. A motivated and happy team like Maccabi might not be the best option to do that, but Zvezda plays at home and that is always a big factor in any game. Maccabi does not have many weak points, but its free-throw percentage is the third-worst in the league, so stepping up on defense and then sending the guests to the line could work in Zvezda’s favor for this game.

Maccabi is in a good place right now. The team is playing well, the wins keep coming in and the playoffs are a reality once more after four seasons. Now it’s just a matter to keep pushing in order to earn home-court advantage. Maccabi has the upper hand in this game, especially in offense, and also with the second-best numbers of the league under the boards. Zvezda also has the worst percentage in two-pointers, so paying attention to defense could bring a big payoff to the guests.

Tip: 2 (-4.0) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 06/03/2020, 10:05 CET, subject to change)

Barcelona – Bayern

Two teams in opposite places will face each other on Friday as already qualified FC Barcelona (21-6) welcomes FC Bayern Munich (8-19) for Round 28. Barca is one of the hottest teams in the league, with eight consecutive wins, including on Wednesday against another German team, ALBA. The hosts also have the February MVP, Nikola Mirotic, on a roll. Bayern, on the other hand, has lost 11 of its last 13 games, including at home to Baskonia earlier this week, and at risk of soon being mathematically ruled out of the playoffs race.

It all looks bright for Barca going into this game. The hosts are facing the second-worst offense in the league, and the second-worst team in rebounds per game. All in all, Barcelona averages a PIR of 20 more than Bayern per game, plus the hosts are playing well and winning games like they had not done for quite a few seasons now. If Barca manages to execute its game plan, it should be able to add another win and get closer to home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Bayern is in a rough moment of the season and the fact that it plays on the road against one of the hottest teams does not help. Barca is a talented team with a deep bench, so Bayern will have to clench its teeth from tip-off and try to start building a win through defense. Expect the visitors to base their game on going inside to Greg Monroe and Danilo Barthel, and hope that creates space for shooters like Petteri Koponen, who will be playing on his former home floor.

Tip: Over 159.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 06/03/2020, 10:05 CET, subject to change)

Baskonia – ALBA Berlin

Two teams still in the race for the playoffs will square off on Friday when KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (11-16) welcomes ALBA Berlin (9-18) in Round 28. Baskonia has won three of its last four games, including the last road win at Bayern, and seems to be making a big push towards the postseason spots. ALBA has lost three of its last four games and needs to get back to the winning track if it wants to retain some options.

Baskonia has the worst offense in the league and plays against the fourth-best. That could seem a tall order for the hosts, but these teams are in opposite trends and Baskonia stands at the better end of those. Baskonia is also the EuroLeague team averaging the least assists per game, while ALBA is third, so this will be a clash of styles. If Baskonia manages to put its third-ranked defense at the top of its priority list against an opponent that gives up the most points this season, the hosts could be on their way to their fourth win in five games.

ALBA just fell short of defeating Barcelona in Berlin, and has now lost three of its last four games. Against Baskonia it will be a duel of opposite styles. ALBA will have to by-pass the tough defense of the hosts in order to display its fun-to-watch offense. If those league-best assists flow and those threes fall in the basket (third best numbers in the league for ALBA), the guests could upset Baskonia for a second time this season, even if missing some players like Peyton Siva.

Tip: 1 (-5.5) at 1.95 with bet365
(Price correct at 06/03/2020, 10:05 CET, subject to change)