Spanish ACB Barcelona vs Joventut Badalona Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 04-28-2019, 13:30 EDT

Spread: Joventut Badalona +6

Total: +162

Two squads sitting on mirror sides of the playoff places of the Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) are clashing in the 29^th round of action, when Club Joventut de Badalona (also known as Divina Seguros Joventut), who are struggling having won only once in their last six matches are hosting the league leaders FC Barcelona Lassa, who are red-hot and looking to extend their current lengthy winning streak.

Badalona have a 15-14 record so far this season and currently sit in the 8^th place of the league table. They have lost five of their last six matches and in their last game they lost on the road against Tenerife with a 79-72 score. They are led in scoring by Nicolas Laprovittola with 16.8 ppg, adding a team high 6.5 assists per game. He is followed by Shawn Dawson with 11.7 ppg and 4.2 rebounds per game, while Marko Todorovic adds 10.4 ppg and a team high 6.3 rebounds per game. 

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Barcelona have a 23-4 record so far this season and currently sit in the first place of the league table. They have six consecutive wins and in their last game they won on the road against Zaragoza with an 86-91 score. They are led in scoring by Thomas Huertel with 10.3 ppg, adding a team high 5.9 assists per game. He is followed by Kyle Kuric with 10.3 ppg, while Chris Singleton adds adds 9.8 ppg and 4.2 rebounds per game. 

In their previous meeting in the first round of the regular season Barcelona won at home with a 94-92 score in overtime. Badalona have an 8-5 home record, while Barcelona are 9-4 on the road. Barcelona are better both offensively, scoring a league-best of 88 ppg to Badalona’s 80.2 and defensively, allowing 75.9 ppg to Badalona’s 80.2. Barcelona have better percentages both in field goals (50.4% to 47.9%) and in 3-pointers (41.7% to 38%). They are better in dimes made (18.3 to 16.5), in boards grabbed (34.4 to 30.7) and in turnovers committed (11.9 to 14.8). Vegas odds give Barcelona a -6 spread and expect them to beat the odds as they have been playing much better than the struggling Badalona lately.

Barcelona vs Joventut Badalona Prediction: Barcelona -6 (-114)