Spanish ACB Gran Canaria vs Barcelona Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  09-27-2018, 14:30 EDT

Spread: Barcelona -7.5

Total: +162.5

The third and fifth-best squads of the Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) last season face off in the opening game of the season, as the 5^th last year Herbalife Gran Canaria are visiting the 3^rd last year Barcelona, with both teams having been eliminated in the playoff semifinals last season.

Gran Canaria had a 20-14 record last year and finished in the 5^th place of the league. They had lost their last three games last year and in their latest matchup they got defeated at home by Real Madrid in game three, 92-99 and got eliminated in the second round. Barcelona had a 24-10 record last year and finished in the 3^rd place of the league. They were 1-3 in their last 4 games last year and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Baskonia at home against Baskonia in game four, 82-88 and got eliminated in the second round.

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Gran Canaria are led in scoring by Marcus Eriksson with 11.4 ppg. He is followed by DJ Seeley with 9.8 ppg, while Eulis Baez added 9.2 ppg and 4.4 rebounds per game. Barcelona were led in scoring by Kevin Seraphin with 12.1 ppg. He also added 4.9 rebounds per game, while the starting PG Thomas Heurtel followed with 11.3 ppg and also led the team in assists made with 6.5 per game. Starting C Ante Tomic added 9.7 ppg and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Barcelona led Gran Canaria 2-1 wins in their three matchups last year and each squad has been victorious on the road. Gran Canaria won the previous game in Barcelona by 11 points. Barcelona had a 12-5 home record last year, while Gran Canaria had a 6-11 road record. Barcelona were better both offensively, scoring a second-best of 89.1 ppg to Gran Canaria’s 83.8 and defensively, allowing 79.1 ppg to Gran Canaria’s 81.7. Barcelona also had better accuracy both from inside the arc, shooting with 48.8% to Gran Canaria’s 48.3% and from behind the arc, shooting with 38.9% to Gran Canaria’s 35.2%. They were also better in assists per game, with 19.6 to Gran Canaria’s 16.9, in rebounding, grabbing 32.4 to Gran Canaria’s 31.2 and committed fewer turnovers per game (11.7 to 12.6). Barcelona are looking to start the season on the right foot and expect them to win easily at home by more than 8 points.  

Gran Canaria vs Barcelona Prediction: Barcelona -7.5 (-111)