BASKETBALL

Euroleague Tips with Previews – Round 10 – 21/11/2019

Published

2 months ago

November 21, 2019

livetipster

Euroleague Basketball Tips

Euro League basketball predictions appear under each mini game preview.

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Zalgiris – Crvena Zvezda

Two teams with three-game losing streaks will battle to get back on the winning track when Zalgiris Kaunas (3-6) hosts Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (2-7) on Thursday of Round 10. Earlier in this double-feature week, Zalgiris fell to Panathinaikos OPAP Athens at home by a single point, 85-86, while Zvezda was defeated in Berlin by ALBA, 93-80. The win will be a breath of fresh air for whichever manages to come out on top from this duel.

Zalgiris has already lost four games at home this season, and the team will have to play hard to reverse the situation. Fortunately for the hosts, Zvezda has only won two games, both at home, and is still looking for its first road triumph. Zalgiris holds a small edge in the total calculation of points for and against, but Zalgiris will have to watch out for an aggressive defense that has Zvezda swiping 7.7 steals per game, second best in the league. Zalgiris, currently at the bottom of the rankings in steals and blocks, will want to try to match that intensity on defense. With a little bit more ‘D’ and the support of the hot fans at Zalgirio Arena, Zalgiris has a good opporunity to get back on a winning path.

With six losses in the last seven games, Zvezda needs a win badly. It’s never easy to triumph in Kaunas, but the numbers say that the guests could have a solid chance to steal a win. Zvezda has a small edge on Zalgiris in several statistics, especially on defense, but has lower shooting percentages from all ranges. Zvezda will be missing Stratos Perperoglou and James Gist, two of its best contributors, but if Derrick Brown, who returned against ALBA this week, gets up to speed soon, the guests could have a good tool to try to return home with the win.

Tip: 1 (-9.5) at 1.86 with bet365
(Price correct at 21/11/2019, 09:50 CET, could have changed)

ALBA Berlin – Olympiacos

Two teams with identical records but different trends face off on Thursday when ALBA Berlin (3-6) welcomes Olympiacos Piraeus (3-6) to the German capital. After dropping six straight games, ALBA seems to have found its pace with two wins in a row, the last one on Tuesday at home against Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade. All this despite having its two playmakers, Peyton Siva and Stefan Peno, injured. Olympiacos is still struggling with many changes in the roster, having lost five of its last seven games, including the last one at FC Bayern Munich. The Reds will try to put an end to their week in Germany with a new victory.

Strangely enough, ALBA has seemed to found its rhythm with both playmakers injured. The entire team has stepped up, and the hosts will look to keep that up against a team that has not found consistency yet this season, giving a chance for ALBA to equal its club record with a third consecutive win. ALBA averages 11 points more than Olympiacos, so we can expect the hosts deliver offense in spades. Defense will have to be the key for them, especially against Nikola Milutinov, considering that a new injury, to center Johannes Thiemann, will keep ALBA short-handed. Trying to force Olympiacos to shoot from beyond the arc, where the guests make a league-low 30.1% of their attempts, is one way for ALBA to win.

Olympiacos had not been in such a dire situation for many seasons, but the Reds retain the character and more than a few players that can get them out of the current situation. On paper, ALBA is more dangerous in offense and has better overall numbers than Olympiacos. Defense will be the key for the guests, as they will have to try to stop the ALBA shooters from running and taking the open shots. Look for them to concentrate on going inside to Milutinov and Printezis for points. The rest of the Reds will need to get their running shoes on, because even when not fastbreaking, ALBA moves the ball and its scorers quickly at all times. Keeping up with them is essential to having a chance to pull of a road win.

Tip: Over 163.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 21/11/2019, 09:50 CET, could have changed)

Milano – Anadolu Efes

At least a share of first place is up for grabs when league leaders AX Armani Exchange Milan (7-2) and visiting Anadolu Efes Istanbul (7-2) square off in the fashion capital on Thursday. The winner will share first place at game’s end with either CSKA Moscow or FC Barcelona, who both play on Friday. Efes is looking for its fourth consecutive victory, having won its last two away from Istanbul.

Both teams are without signature centers, as Milan has been missing Arturas Gudaitis and Bryant Dunston did not make the trip with Efes. The battle on the boards will be up for grabs, in that case, and in Milan’s case, defense of the rim will be key. Efes ranks second in the EuroLeague with 57.0% efficiency on two-pointers, and without Gudaitis to intimidate, others will have to step in. Kaleb Tarczewski and Paul Biligha are the next biggest bodies, and neither played much in Tuesday’s win over Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, but they might be called on to step up against Efes.

The visitors’ superfly backcourt of Micic and Shane Larkin is all the more important in the absence of Dunston. They rank among the EuroLeague top seven scorers, but their defense on the perimeter might be more of a key on Thursday. Milan is the runaway EuroLeague leader in three-point shooting efficiency, making 44.5% from the arc, and when that happens at home, the hosts will be hard to beat. Expect Efes to balance its own attack by going to the rim as well as almost any EuroLeague team so far and forcing Milan to defend every inch of the court.

Tip: 1 (-2.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 21/11/2019, 09:50 CET, could have changed)

Valencia – Khimki

A classic 7DAYS EuroCup duel makes its jump to the big stage as Valencia Basket (3-6) welcomes Khimki Moscow Region (6-3) to Spain on Thursday. After a struggling start, Valencia has managed to win three of its last four games, the last two in a row, the last one at home against Zenit St Petersburg in a thriller. Khimki seems much more consistent but comes off a blowout loss at Real Madrid and will look to get back on the winning track in its second game of the week in Spain.

Valencia is on a roll after a rough start, and will want to keep the party going at home. The first worry that coach Jaume Ponsarnau will have is Shved, of course. But Khimki is so much more than him. The guests boast the third-best offense in the league and basically outperform Valencia on all fronts except for steals. Valencia will have to look again for the collective effort and do many things right to defeat one of the top teams in the competition. La Fonteta will be there giving the extra push, the rest is up to Valencia and the focus that it brings to the game.

After a brilliant start, Khimki has dropped two of its last four games, and that is a wakeup call not to take any games in the EuroLeague for granted. Going into the game Khimki has the upper hand in virtually every aspect of the game, so the main trio of Shved, Jonas Jerebko and Devin Booker will try to remain the solid pillar they have been for Khimki. As of now, Khimki gives up more points per game than Valencia, but the hosts have the second-weakest numbers from beyond the arc in the league, so the guests will probably try to exploit that.

Tip: 1 at 2.50 with bet365
(Price correct at 21/11/2019, 09:50 CET, could have changed)

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News Source: Euroleague.net
Basketball tips: Livetipster

Euroleague Standings

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

BASKETBALL

Basketball predictions today

Published

10 hours ago

January 25, 2020

livetipster

The only basketball tipster you will even need…

We love the NBA. We feel devotion with the Euroleague. We can’t wait for international basketball either. Call it Eurobasket or World Cup, you name it and we’ve got your basketball tips.

That explains why basketball is our second biggest sport in our interest list. We provide basketball tips including daily NBA predictions as well as Euroleague tips. We follow all major leagues around Europe and the biggest international tournaments like the Eurobasket. So, why don’t you sit comfortably and check our basketball tips below?

We also produce Euroleague tips for every match day of the competition.

Daily Basketball Picks

Date	League	Event	Pick	Odds	Bet	+/-	Type
25/01/2020	NBA	UTA Jazz v DAL Mavericks	2 (+3.5)	1.90 (25/01/2020 at 09:00)	1000		Pre
24/01/2020	NBA	CHA Hornets v MIL Bucks	Over 219.0	1.90 (24/01/2020 at 09:20)	1000	-	Pre
23/01/2020	NBA	BKN Nets v LA Lakers	1 (+5.5)	1.90 (23/01/2020 at 08:05)	500	-500	Pre
22/01/2020	NBA	NY Knicks v LA Lakers	2 (-11.0)	1.90 (22/01/2020 at 09:55)	2000	+1800	Pre
21/01/2020	NBA	DAL Mavericks v LA Clippers	1 (-1.0)	1.90 (21/01/2020 at 09:25)	1000	-1000	Pre
20/01/2020	NBA	HOU Rockets v OKC Thunder	Over 229.0	1.90 (20/01/2020 at 10:25)	500	-500	Pre
19/01/2020	NBA	DEN Nuggets v IND Pacers	Over 211.5	1.90 (19/01/2020 at 08:50)	2000	+1800	Pre
18/01/2020	NBA	NY Knicks v PHI 76ers	Under 220.0	1.90 (18/01/2020 at 09:05)	2000	+1800	Pre
17/01/2020	EL	Panathinaikos v Zalgiris	Under 163.5	1.90 (17/01/2020 at 09:40)	1500	-1500	Pre
17/01/2020	EL	Olympiacos v Bayern	1 (-6.5)	1.90 (17/01/2020 at 09:40)	2000	+1800	Pre
16/01/2020	EL	Fenerbahce v Barcelona	Under 162.0	1.90 (16/01/2020 at 09:55)	2000	+1800	Pre
15/01/2020	EL	Panathinaikos v Bayern	Over 152.5	1.90 (15/01/2020 at 10:30)	2000	+1800	Pre
15/01/2020	EL	Zenit v Baskonia	Over 165.5	1.90 (15/01/2020 at 10:30)	2000	-2000	Pre
14/01/2020	EL	Olympiacos v ALBA Berlin	1 (-6.5)	1.86 (14/01/2020 at 08:05)	1000	-1000	Pre
14/01/2020	EL	CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid	Over 166.5	1.90 (14/01/2020 at 08:05)	1000	-1000	Pre
13/01/2020	NBA	IND Pacers v PHI 76ers	2 (-1.0)	1.90 (13/01/2020 at 09:55)	1000	-1000	Pre
11/01/2020	NBA	DAL Mavericks v PHI 76ers	Over 223.5	1.90 (11/01/2020 at 10:55)	450	-450	Pre
10/01/2020	EL	Barcelona v Anadolu Efes	Over 168.0	1.90 (10/01/2020 at 10:00)	450	-	Pre
09/01/2020	EL	Milano v Panathinaikos	2	1.90 (09/01/2020 at 10:00)	200	-200	Pre
08/01/2020	NBA	IND Pacers v MIA Heat	1 (-1.0)	1.90 (08/01/2020 at 10:05)	100	-100	Pre
07/01/2020	NBA	TOR Raptors v POR Trail Blazers	Over 220.0	1.90 (07/01/2020 at 09:55)	50	-50	Pre
06/01/2020	NBA	CHA Hornets v IND Pacers	Over 209.0	1.90 (06/01/2020 at 10:45)	50	+45	Pre
05/01/2020	NBA	CLE Cavaliers v MIN Timberwolves	2 (-1.5)	1.90 (05/01/2020 at 08:45)	50	+45	Pre
04/01/2020	NBA	ATL Hawks v IND Pacers	Over 222.0	1.90 (04/01/2020 at 08:25)	100	+90	Pre
03/01/2020	EL	CSKA v Panathinaikos	2 (+6.5)	1.90 (03/01/2020 at 07:00)	300	+270	Pre
02/01/2020	NBA	MIA Heat v TOR Raptors	2 (+5.5)	1.90 (02/01/2020 at 08:00)	150	-150	Pre
01/01/2020	NBA	MIL Bucks v MIN Timberwolves	Over 227.5	1.90 (01/01/2020 at 09:20)	100	-100	Pre

* Odds are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.

Do not get confused with basketball tips

Bet365 and other bookmakers list the visitors in the NBA first. In LiveTipster.com we always list the home team first.

You can also check our football predictions here.

Disclaimer: This is not investment or gambling advice. Always conduct your own independent research.

BASKETBALL

Euroleague Tips with Previews – Round 21 – Friday

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2020

livetipster

Euroleague Basketball Tips

Euro League basketball predictions appear under each mini game preview.

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Fenerbahce – Milano

After a three-game winning streak, Fenerbahce (8-12) suffered a home loss against FC Barcelona but has this opportunity to bounce back in front of its home crowd. Milan (10-10) is on a seven-game road losing streak. Its last victory away from Mediolanum Forum came in late October. Nando De Colo (18.8 ppg.) is Fenerbahce’s top scorer, followed by Derrick Williams (11.8) and Kostas Sloukas (11.3). Sergio Rodriguez (13.2), Vladimir Micov (11.5) and Keifer Sykes (10.5) are leading Milan’s offense right now.

Fenerbahce’s improved defense has made it more competitive. The Turkish powerhouse has allowed 80.7 points on average this season, but just 69.7 in the last three games. Rebounding remains an issue, as Fenerbahce ranks last with 29.7 boards per game, and allows 11.3 offensive rebounds on average. If Fenerbahce is able to control the defensive boards, players like De Colo, Sloukas, Vesely and Luigi Datome will take care of business at the other end.

Milan is one of the best teams at defensive rebounds (25.3 drpg.) but ranks really low in offensive boards (9.4 orpg.), which is particularly worrying when the Italian powerhouse is last in two-point shooting percentage (46.6%). Milan does a great job at limiting turnovers, with just 11.8 on average. With the right ball circulation, coach Ettore Messina’s team has enough talent everywhere to improve that shooting percentage and eventually be more competitive.

Tip: Over 156.0 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 24/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

Zalgiris – ALBA Berlin

Zalgiris (6-14) comes off a narrow road loss against Panathinaikos but has been doing better. After a recent nine-game losing streak, Zalgiris went on to win three of its next five games. ALBA (7-13) comes off a triumphant double-round week, with road wins against Olympiacos and Zvezda, and now looks for another one. Zach LeDay (10.9 ppg.), Lukas Lekavicius (10.8) and Jock Landale (10.5) are leading Zalgiris right now. Rokas Giedraitis (13.5) is ALBA’s top scorer, followed by Marcus Eriksson (10.9) and Martin Hermannsson (10.7).

Zalgiris is hitting just a third of its three-point shots (78-of-234, 33.3%) at home and is also struggling (49.0%) inside the arc. Feeding off its crowd’s energy will be very important for Zalgiris, as well as sharing the ball better, considering that it ranks 17th assists at 15.7 per game. Lekavicius has been on fire lately, but he will need help, especially from his frontcourt teammates, to make Zalgiris as competitive as it can be.

ALBA leads the EuroLeague in turnovers (14.5 per game), a critical issue to make the most out of its run-and-gun offense. ALBA is also first in assists (19.8 apg.) despite not having the best shooting percentages (50.3% 2FG, 38.8% 3FG). Overcoming the strong basketball atmosphere at Zalgirio Arena will be important for ALBA, as well as getting its most experienced players – Sikma, Siva and Giedraitis – involved on offense.

Tip: 1 (-6.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 24/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

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Panathinaikos – Villeurbanne

Panathinaikos (12-8) comes off a solid double-round week with come-from-behind home wins against FC Bayern Munich and Zalgiris Kaunas. On the other hand, ASVEL (8-12) is on a four-game losing streak and must battle hard in the Greek capital to snap it. Jimmer Fredette (14.3 ppg.) is Panathinaikos’s top scorer, followed by DeShaun Thomas (14.2) and Nick Calathes (13.6). Former Panathinaikos center Adreian Payne (11.1) is ASVEL’s top scorer, followed by David Lighty (9.8) and Livio Jean-Charles (8.9).

Panathinaikos is the highest-scoring team in the competition (89.0 ppg.) and leads the EuroLeague in two-point attempts (43.0 per game) with great efficiency (56.2%) inside the arc. Almost half of the team’s assists (18.6 apg.) come from Calathes, so grabbing defensive rebounds and allowing him to create for others will be, as usual, a big key for the Greens. Panathinaikos has a lot of great finishers – Tyrese Rice, Ioannis Papapetrou, Georgios Papagiannis, Thomas… – so finding who’s hot, a Calathes specialty, will be critical, too.

ASVEL is the lowest scoring team on the road (66.9 ppg.) and allows 84.7 points on average away from The Astroballe. Better ball circulation is needed to improve its shooting percentages (47.8% 2FG, 32.0% 3FG), so ASVEL relies on Taylor and Diot not only to slow Calathes down, but to find the right rhythm on offense, finding good shots and making the most out of its athletic advantage in the paint. If Jean-Charles, Jekiri and Payne can dominate inside and attack the offensive glass, ASVEL will have a better chance to beat Panathinaikos again.

Tip: 1 (-13.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 24/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

Real Madrid – Anadolu Efes

The top two teams in the standings stage a monumental showdown to finish off Round 21. League leaders Efes (17-3) set itself apart with a two-game sweep last week, while Real (15-5) saw a 13-game win streak stopped with consecutive losses and now has three 14-win teams breathing down its neck, making this result especially important for the hosts, who are unbeaten at home this season. Efes has an 8-1 road record, however.

Real rarely finds itself hard-pressed to outgun opponents, but that happened in its last loss, at Khimki Moscow Region, and Efes outscores the hosts 87.4 to 84.4 points per game. For that reason, Tavares and defensive aces Jeffery Taylor and Facundo Campazzo will be important on Friday. Both teams allow the same amount of points (77.4 per game) but Real holds opponents to much lower PIRs on average, and that effort has to be focused on keeping the Efes scorers, especially red-hot Shane Larkin, from going off.

Although Efes seems to be able to do no wrong, lately, it will need to do a lot right to win in the Spanish capital. Protecting the perimeter, where Madrid ranks second with 11.2 triples per game, will be job one. Getting around Tavares for good shots close to the basket will be another challenge. Power forward Chris Singleton may have a big role to play in helping lure Tavares outside, especially if Real is without its own corner ace, Anthony Randolph, who has missed the last four games due to injury.

Tip: Over 168.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 24/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

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News Source: Euroleague.net
Basketball tips: Livetipster

Euroleague Standings

Standings provided by Sofascore LiveScore

BASKETBALL

Euroleague Tips with Previews – Round 20 – Friday

Published

1 week ago

January 17, 2020

livetipster

Euroleague Basketball Tips

Euro League basketball predictions appear under each mini game preview.

Get up to £100 in Bet Credits!

CSKA Moscow – Baskonia

CSKA (13-6) comes off a hard-fought victory against Real Madrid and wants to keep its momentum going. Baskonia (7-12) has only won twice in the last nine games and arrives in Moscow after a road loss against Zenit St Petersburg. Mike James (20.8 ppg.) has been CSKA’s top scorer until now, followed by Darrun Hilliard (10.8) and Kyle Hines (9.2). Toko Shengelia (16.7 ppg., 6.0 rpg.), Nik Stauskas (9.7) and Shavon Shields (8.3) have led Baskonia’s offense until now.

CSKA limited Real, one of the best offenses in the competition, to just 55 points, and will need the same defensive mentality against Baskonia. After pulling down 44 against Real, CSKA now leads the rebounds standings at 38.1 per night, getting 26.2 defensive boards on average. That is mandatory for CSKA to get going in transition, making the most out of mobile big men like Nikita Kurbanov, Johannes Voigtmann and Hines.

Baskonia allowed Zenit to score 77.4% of its two-point shots, the second highest percentage in the EuroLeague this season. Protecting the paint will be mandatory for Baskonia. Its big men – Michael Eric, Youssupha Fall and Ilimane Diop – must be ready to be aggressive down low. Baskonia keeps struggling from the three-point line (28% against Zenit, 32.5% overall) and only improving those shooting numbers will make the team more competitive.

Tip: Over 159.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 17/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

Zenit – Valencia

Zenit (6-13) has won consecutive games for the first time this season, using great defense to do so. Valencia (9-10) is also in a good moment, coming off a road victory against Khimki Moscow Region. After a 0-5 start, Valencia is 9-5 in the last 14 games. Gustavo Ayon (12.3 ppg.) is Zenit’s top scorer this season, followed by Will Thomas (10.9) and Mateusz Ponitka (10.0). Jordan Loyd (11.2), Fernando San Emeterio (7.9) and Alberto Abalde (7.3) will be Valencia’s leaders in this game.

Zenit is allowing 79.4 points per game this season but has dramatically improve those numbers in the last four games, allowing just 71.3 on average. That defensive improvement has allowed the team to find more balance on offense, hitting 77.4% of its two-point shots against Baskonia this week. Without Dubljevic and Tobey on court for Valencia, Zenit must get Colton Iverson and Ayon involved to make the most of its size advantage and depth in the paint.

Valencia has averaged 91.5 points over the last four games, winning three of them, and must try to speed up the game tempo against a defensive-minded team like Zenit. It is mandatory for Valencia to make the most out of its depth at point guard, with Sam Van Rossom, Quino Colom and Guillem Vives giving coach Jaume Ponsarnau plenty of options. Stopping Will Thomas down low and getting Fernando San Emeterio and Alberto Abalde involved at both wings will be other keys for the Spanish powerhouse.

Tip: 2 (+2.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 17/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

Crvena Zvezda – ALBA Berlin

After four consecutive wins, Zvezda (9-10) suffered a home loss against Zalgiris Kaunas on Wednesday and wants to bounce back right away. ALBA (6-13) comes off a brilliant road victory against Olympiacos Piraeus and wants to keep its momentum going. Lorenzo Brown (14.1 ppg.) has been Zvezda’s top scorer until now, followed by recently signed Kevin Punter (12.7) and Vladimir Stimac (12.3). Rokas Giedraitis (13.8), Marcus Eriksson (10.9) and Luke Sikma (9.9, 6.2 rpg.) are leading ALBA right now.

Zvezda has averaged 81.0 points since Punter joined the team, as he has made the team’s offense more unpredictable. Zvezda is struggling to shoot the ball with high percentages at home (49.1% 2FG, 34.7% 3FG in Belgrade) and has a good opportunity to improve those numbers. Stimac and Kuzmic have a size advantage in the paint while Brown, Baron, Punter and Dejan Davidovac give coach Dragan Sakota more options. Charging the offensive glass will be important to stop ALBA’s transition game.

ALBA is one of the highest-scoring teams in the competition (84.3 ppg.) and leads the 2019-20 EuroLeague in assists (19.8 apg.). The German powerhouse, however, hits just 49.8% of its two-point shots on average and has struggled to rebound the ball under its own rim, grabbing just 22.6 defensive rebounds per game while allowing 10.3 offensive boards to its opponents. Boxing out and locking down the glass will lead to more transitions, in which players like Giedraitis, Niels Giffey and Peyton Siva feel most comfortable.

Tip: 1 (-5.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 17/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

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Olympiacos – Bayern

Olympiacos (7-12) comes off a tough home loss against ALBA Berlin and has only managed to win twice in the last eight showdowns. Bayern (6-13) is on a five-game losing streak, its longest in the competition since 2014, and needs a victory as soon as possible. Georgios Printezis (12.1 ppg.) has been Olympiacos’s top scorer until now, followed by Nikola Milutinov (10.7) and Vassilis Spanoulis (10.6). For Bayern, Greg Monroe (12.7 ppg.), Vladimir Lucic (11.7) and Maodo Lo (9.3) have been leading the offense until now.

Olympiacos has struggled on defense, allowing 92.7 points on average in the last six games. Head coach Georgios Bartzokas has a reputation as a defensive coach and is expected to bring those numbers down. Olympiacos relies on its legendary core of players (Spanoulis, Printezis, Milutinov, Kostas Papanikolaou) to step up at both ends, preventing Bayern from running the floor, and to play with extra patience on offense.

Bayern has struggled to protect its paint, as opponents hit 55.6% of their two-point shots and grab 10.9 offensive rebounds on average. Its big men – mainly Monroe, Barthel, Mathias Lessort and Leon Radosevic – must make an extra effort to box out, as getting in transition will benefit Bayern’s many fast perimeter players such as Lo, Lucic and Nihad Dedovic. Josh Huestis gives Bayern extra explosiveness, much needed against a deep team like Olympiacos.

Tip: 1 (-6.5) at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 17/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

Panathinaikos – Zalgiris

Zalgiris (6-13) is arriving in Athens running high on confidence after having won three of its last four games, but Panathinaikos (11-8) and its high-scoring offense intend to keep protecting the home floor. Nick Calathes is running the show for Panathinaikos with 13.6 points, 9.4 assists and 4.9 rebounds, but the Greens’ two best scorers are Jimmer Fredette (14.5 ppg.) and DeShaun Thomas (14.1). Zalgiris is missing its top scorer, Marius Grigonis, and has big men Zach LeDay (11.0 ppg. 4.7 rpg.) and Jock Landale (10.7 ppg. 4.4 rpg.) carry the biggest load. Thomas Walkup who does a bit of everything with 9.6 points, 4.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

No team allows more offensive rebounds (13.2) or more three-pointer per game (10.7) per game than Panathinaikos. If the team can control either of the two defensive segments, it will have an opportunity to get its offense in transition and running, and no one this season does it better than Panathinaikos, the best scoring team in the competition, averaging 88.6 points.

It is imperative for Zalgiris to keep Panathinaikos from running and engaging in a shootout. The hosts have the highest-scoring offense, but also one of the most porous defenses, which allows 85.8 points on average. That’s where Zalgiris’s chances lie, playing long and patient possessions and attacking the offensive glass. If Zalgiris also gets an efficient three-point shooting night, it will have its chances in OAKA.

Tip: Under 163.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 17/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)

Anadolu Efes – Villeurbanne

Efes is in its best moment of the season, overcoming injuries to lead the standings (16-3). It is on a four-game winning streak. ASVEL (8-11) has lost its last three EuroLeague games and its only road victory, against Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, was in mid-November. Shane Larkin (20.7 ppg., 3.9 apg.), Krunoslav Simon (9.3) and Tibor Pleiss (8.6) are Efes’s leaders in this game. Adreian Payne (11.0 ppg.) is ASVEL’s top scorer, followed by David Lighty (10.3) and Tonye Jekiri (9.0).

Efes is the second-highest scoring team in the competition (86.6 ppg.) and has been equally unstoppable (87.0) in the last two games without Micic. Its outstanding ball circulation (1.76 assists per turnover) allows Efes to shoot the ball with high percentages (57.0% 2FG, 39.9% 3FG). Running its offense through Larkin is where it all starts for Efes, as he opens all sort of options for its many talented players.

After a strong defensive start to the competition, ASVEL is allowing opponents to shoot the ball with great effectiveness (54.5% 2FG, 39.0% 3FG), so lowering those numbers would be a first step for the French champs. ASVEL has to make the most out of its athleticism in the paint, trying to get Pleiss into foul trouble, and need Diot and Taylor to put Larkin into some sort of trouble at both ends of the floor, especially on offense.

Tip: Over 158.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 17/01/2020, 10:30 CET, subject to change)