Spanish ACB Badalona vs Barcelona Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-31-2019, 15:30 EDT

Spread: Barcelona -9.5

Total: +160

In Game 1 of this Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) quarterfinal, the second-seeded FC Barcelona Lassa (27-7), looking to extend their current small winning streak, are hosting the seventh-seeded Club Joventut de Badalona (also known as Divina Seguros Joventut) (18-16), who want to turn their latest victory into a streak.

Barcelona finished the regular season with a 27-7 record and were placed second in the league. They have won four of their last five matches and in their last game they won on the road against Obradoiro CAB with a 63-83 score. They are led in scoring by Thomas Huertel with 11.6 ppg, adding a team high 5.7 dimes per game. He is followed by Adam Hanga with 10.3 ppg, while Ante Tomic adds 9.4 ppg and a team high 5.4 boards per game.

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Badalona finished the regular season with a 18-16 record and were placed seventh in the league. They have won two of their last three matches and in their last game they won at home against Estudiantes with an 86-78 score. They are led in scoring by Nicolas Laprovittola with 17.2 ppg, adding a team high 6.4 dimes per game. He is followed by Shawn Dawson with 11.7 ppg and 4.2 boards per game, while Marko Todorovic adds 11.2 ppg and a team high 6.1 boards per game. 

In their two previous meetings in the regular season each team won once at home (Badalona by 12 points and Barcelona by 2 in overtime). Barcelona have a 15-2 home record, while Badalona are 7-10 on the road. Barcelona are better both offensively, scoring 86.7 ppg to Badalona’s 83 and defensively, allowing 76.2 ppg to Badalona’s 85.2. They also have better percentages both in field goals (50.1% to 48.1%) and in 3-pointers (41.8% to 37.7%). Barcelona are better in dimes made (18.2 to 16.5), in turnovers committed (12.1 to 14.5) and in boards grabbed (33.8 to 30.4). Bookmakers give Barcelona a -9.5 spread and expect them to beat the odds for the home win today. 

Joventut Badalona vs Barcelona Game 1 Prediction: Barcelona -9.5 (-110)