Italian Lega A Finals Sassari vs Venezia Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  06-10-2019, 14:45 EDT

Spread: Venezia -3

Total: +162.5

In Game 1 of the Italian Basketball League (Lega Basket Serie A) Finals, the third-seeded Reyer Venezia Mestre, or Reyer Venice Mestre, after eliminating the 2^nd Cremona in the semifinals 3-2 wins, are hosting the fourth-seeded Dinamo Basket Sassari, currently known as Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, who on the other hand had an easier time in the previous round, sweeping Olimpia Milano 3-0.

Venezia finished the regular season with a 20-10 record and were placed third in the league. They have won four of their last five matches and in their last game they won on the road against Cremona in game 5 with a 69-79 score. They are led in scoring by Mitchell Watt with 14.7 ppg, adding 5.5 boards per game. He is followed by Austin Daye with 12.3 ppg and 5.3 boards per game, while Michael Bramos adds 10.1 ppg and 3.9 boards per game.

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Sassari finished the regular season with a 18-12 record and were placed fourth in the league. They have 15 consecutive wins and in their last game they won at home against Olimpia Milano in Game 3 with a 108-96 score in overtime. They are led in scoring by Scott Bamforth with 19 ppg, adding 3.1 dimes per game. He is followed by Jack Cooley with 14 ppg and a team high 8.7 boards per game, while Rashawn Thomas adds 13.7 ppg and 7.1 boards per game.  

In their three previous meetings so far this season Venezia leads Sassari 2-1 wins and are 1-1 at home. Venezia have a 15-5 home record, while Sassari are 11-7 on the road. Sassari are better offensively, scoring 89.8 ppg to Venezia’s 81.3, while Venezia are better defensively, allowing 75.2 ppg to Sassari’s 84. Sassari have better percentages both in field goals (47.5% to 46.2%) and in 3-pointers (38.7% to 36.2%). Venezia on the other hand are better in dimes made (18.8 to 17.9) and in turnovers committed (12 to 12.7), while Sassari are better in rebounding (38.3 to 33.9). Bookmakers give Venezia a -3 spread but don’t expect them to beat the odds as Sassari are coming in as hot as it gets and will get away with the road win one way or another. 

Sassari vs Venezia Game 1 Prediction: Sassari +3 (-111)