Spanish ACB Fuenlabrada vs Gipuzkoa Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  09-30-2018, 06:30 EDT

Spread: Gipuzkoa -3.5

Total: +156.5

In the opening week of the Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) we have a battle between two teams that did not participate in last season’s playoffs, as the tenth last year Fuenlabrada are visiting one of the two newcomers of last season, Gipuzkoa, who ended up in the fourteenth place.

Fuenlabrada had a 17-17 record last season and finished in the tenth place of the league. They won their last two games last year and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Gipuzkoa at home, 84-70. Gipuzkoa had a 13-21 record last season and finished in the fourteenth place of the league. They are 1-5 in their last 6 games last year and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Fuenlabrada on the road, 84-70.

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Fuenlabrada were led in scoring by Marko Popovic with 15.2 ppg. He also added 3 assists per game, while Christian Eyenga followed with 12 ppg and 4.3 rebounds per game. Paco Cruz added 11.8 ppg and also led the team in assists made with 3.3 per game. Gipuzkoa were led in scoring by Henk Norel with 13.9 ppg. He also led the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game, while Kenny Cherry followed with 13.6 ppg and 2.2 assists per game. Dan Clark added 11.5 ppg and 4.9 assists per game.     

Last year those two squads met twice and each one was victorious at home. Gipuzkoa won with an 81-76 score and Fuenlabrada with 84-70. Gipuzkoa had a 7-10 home record last year, while Fuenlabrada had a 8-9 road record. Gipuzkoa had a better offense with 80.6 ppg to Fuenlabrada’s 77.7, while Fuenlabrada had a better defense, allowing 82.5 ppg to Gipuzkoa’s 83.9. Fuenlabrada had a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 45.2% to Gipuzkoa’s 44.9% and from behind the arc, shooting with 34.9% to Gipuzkoa’s 32%. Gipuzkoa were better in rebounding (33.6 to 30.9) and in assists per game (15.9 to 15), while Fuenlabrada committed fewer turnovers per game (13.1 to 13.9). Fuenlabrada are more experienced and expect them to force a road victory one way or another today against the weaker Gipuzkoa.

Fuenlabrada vs Gipuzkoa Prediction: Fuenlabrada +3.5 (-110)