2019 Basketball World Championship Qualifiers Latvia vs Ukraine Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 07-01-2018, 09:00 EDT

Spread: Ukraine -1.5

Total: +151.5

In this battle between two squads tied in the second place of Group B, Ukraine (3-2) who are looking to bounce back after their latest defeat on Thursday, are hosting Latvia (3-2), who want to extend their small winning streak. The games takes place at the Palace of Sports Arena of Kiev, on Sunday, July 1^st 2018.

Ukraine have a 3-2 record so far in the tournament and are currently tied with today’s opponent Latvia in the second place of Group B and remain second by winning the tie-breaker. In their last game they saw a two-game winning streak getting snapped by losing against Turkey on the road with an 80-66 score. They are led in scoring by Viacheslav Kravtsov with 14.4 ppg, adding a team-best 7 rebounds per game. He is followed by Sergii Gladyr with 13.4 ppg and 4.8 rebounds per game, while Eugene Jeter adds 12.7 ppg and a team high 5 assists per game.

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Latvia also have a 3-2 record so far in the tournament and are currently tied with today’s opponent Ukraine in the second place of Group B but ended up third by losing the tie-breaker. They have won three of their last four matches and in their last game they won on the road against Sweden with a 72-82 score. They are led in scoring by Janis Strelnieks with 27 ppg, while Davis Bertans follows with 22 ppg. Zanis Peiners adds 12.4 ppg, 4.6 rebounds and a team high 4 assists per game.

In their previous meeting in the first round of the qualifiers, Ukraine won on the road with a 68-82 score. Latvia are better offensively, scoring 76.8 ppg to Ukraine’s 73.8, while Ukraine are better defensively, allowing 71.4 ppg to Latvia’s 76.4. Ukraine have a better 2-point percentage, shooting with 53.4% to Latvia’s 47.4%, while Latvia have better percentages both in 3-pointers, shooting with 36.4% to Ukraine’s 32.8% and in free throws (75% to 69.2%). Ukraine are slightly better both in rebounding (37 to 35) and in assists made (20 to 19), while both teams commit exactly 12 turnovers per game. Ukraine have already won once and on the road and bookmakers give them a -1.5 spread for today’s game and expect them to beat the odds for the home victory.

Latvia vs Ukraine Prediction: Ukraine -1.5 (-119)