European Basketball World Cup Qualifiers Lithuania vs Croatia Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  09-14-2018, 11:00 EDT

Spread: Croatia -7

Total: +155

In the 7^th round of the European 2019 Basketball World Championship Qualifiers we have a battle between the group leaders and perfect in the competition so far Lithuania, against a team caught in a quadruple tie in the second place but have ended up fifth. Both teams are currently running lengthy winning streaks and looking to extend them with a victory today.

Lithuania are 6-0 so far in the competition and are sitting on top of Group J. They have won their last six games in their latest matchup they were victorious against Hungary on the road, 50-73. Croatia are 3-3 so far in the competition and are tied with 3 more squads in the 2^nd place of Group J but have ended up 5^th by losing all tie-breakers. They have won their last three games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Romanis on the road, 63-90.

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Lithuania are led in scoring by Arturas Gudaitis with 11.5 ppg. He also leads the team in rebounding with 8 per game, while Eimantas Bendzius follows with 11 ppg. Deividas Gailius adds 8 ppg and 4.5 rebounds per game. Croatia are led in scoring by Bojan Bogdanovic with 17 ppg. He also leads the team in assists made with 5.5 per game, while Ivica Zubac follows with 16 ppg and 6.5 rebounds per game. Dario Saric adds 15.5 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 10.5 per game.      

In their latest matchup in a 2017 friendly game, Croatia were victorious with an 82-80 score. Lithuania have both a better offense with 85.3 ppg to Croatia’s 71.8 and a better defense, allowing 58.7 ppg to Croatia’s 69.8. They also have a better accuracy both from inside the arc (55.9% to 43.4%) and from behind the arc (40.4% to 32%). Lithuania also dish more dimes (22 to 13) and grab more boards per game (44 to 38), while both squads are equal in turnovers committed, with 12 each. The Lithuanian squad have been playing extremely well in the competition and the Croatians don’t seem to pose a threat even at home. Expect the Lithuanians to force a closer game than 7 points so pick them today.

Lithuania vs Croatia Prediction: Lithuania +7 (-118)