Italian Lega A Sassari vs Olimpia Milano Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  05-29-2019, 14:30 EDT

Spread: Olimpia Milano -6.5

Total: +155.5

In Game 1 of this Italian Basketball League (Lega Basket Serie A) semifinal, the defending champions and top-seeded Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano (also known as EA7 Emporio Armani Milano), after eliminating Avellino in the quarterfinals with 3-2 wins, are hosting the fourth-seeded Dinamo Basket Sassari, currently known as Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, who swept Brindisi 3-0 wins.

Olimpia Milano finished the regular season with a 23-7 record and were placed on top of the league. They have won three of their last four matches and in their last game they won at home against Avellino in Game 5 with a 92-76 score. They are led in scoring by Mike James with 15 ppg, adding a team high 5.2 assists per game. He is followed by Arturas Gudaitis with 14.8 ppg and a team high 8.2 rebounds per game, while James Nunnally adds 14.7 ppg.  

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Sassari finished the regular season with a 18-12 record and were placed fourth in the league. They have 12 consecutive wins and in their last game they won on the road against Brindisi in Game 3 with a 106-97 score. They are led in scoring by Scott Bamforth with 19 ppg, adding 3.1 assists per game. He is followed by Jack Cooley with 14.2 ppg and a team high 8.9 rebounds per game, while Rashawn Thomas adds 13.1 ppg and 6.6 rebounds per game.  

In their two previous meetings earlier this season each team won once on the road (Sassari by 14 points and Olimpia Milano by one in overtime). Olimpia Milano have a 15-3 home record, while Sassari are 9-7 on the road. Sassari are better offensively, scoring a league-best of 90 ppg to Olimpia Milano’s 89.8, while Olimpia Milano are better defensively, allowing 81.7 ppg to Sassari’s 84 ppg. Milano have a better field goal percentage (47.8% to 47.2%), while Sassari have a better 3-point percentage (38.5% to 36.7%). Sassari are better both in boards grabbed (38.1 to 33.3) and in dimes made (18.1 to 16.3), while Milano are better in turnovers committed (11.6 to 12). Bookmakers give Olimpia Milano a -6.5 spread but don’t expect them to beat the odds as Sassari will surely force a closer game than that.

Sassari vs Olimpia Milano Game 1 Prediction: Sassari +6.5 (-112)