Spanish ACB Estudiantes vs Murcia Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-24-2018, 14:30 EDT

Spread: Murcia -7.5

Total: +162.5

Two teams that until last week were in the hunt for the 8^th and final playoff place of the Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) are clashing in the 34^th and final week of action, when Club Baloncesto Murcia, more commonly referred to as UCAM Murcia are hosting Club Estudiantes (also known as Movistar Estudiantes). The game takes place at the Palacio De Deportes Arena in the city of Murcia on Thursday, May 24^th 2018.

Murcia have a 17-16 record so far this season and currently sit on the 9^th place of the league table, already eliminated from the playoffs. In their last game they snapped a three-game losing streak by winning on the road against Bilbao with a 73-82 score. They are led in scoring by Clevin Hannah with 12.9 ppg, adding a team-best 4.2 dimes per game. He is followed by Vitor Benite with 11 ppg, while Ovie Soko adds 11 ppg as well and 5 boards per game.

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Estudiantes have a 16-17 record so far this season and are currently tied with Fuenlabrada in the 10^th place of the league table, already eliminated from the playoffs. They have won two of their last three matches and in their last game they won at home against Gran Canaria with an 88-75 score. They are led in scoring by Sylven Landensberg with 20.1 ppg. He also adds 4 boards per game, while Alec Brown follows with 10.9 ppg and 4.5 boards. Nic Caner-Medley adds 8.2 ppg and 3.9 boards per game.

In their previous meeting in the first round of the league, Murcia won on the road a 79-91 score. Murcia have a 9-7 home record so far this season, while Estudiantes are 5-11 on the road. Estudiantes are better offensively, scoring 84.4 ppg to Murcia’s second-worse of 77.4, while Murcia have the second-best defense in the league, allowing 76.12 ppg to Estudiantes’ 85.48. Estudiantes have a better field goal percentage, shooting with a second-worse of 43.2% to Murcia’s league-low of 41.9%, while Murcia have a better 3-point percentage, shooting with 33.7% to Estudiantes’ third-worse of 32.4%. Estudiantes are better in assists made, with 17.8 to Murcia’s league-low of 12.5 and in turnovers committed (10.3 to 12.2), while Estudiantes are better in rebounding (33.2 to 32.7). Murcia have been struggling lately and Vegas odds give them a -7.5 spread but don’t expect them to beat the odds as Estudiantes will force a closer game than that today.

Estudiantes vs Murcia Prediction: Estudiantes +7.5 (-114)