Spanish ACB Unicaja vs Baskonia Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-27-2018, 12:30 EDT

Spread: Baskonia -6.5

Total: +164.5

In Game 1 of this Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) quarterfinal, the second-seeded Baskonia (25-9), who are red-hot having lost only once in their last 7 games, are hosting the seventh-seeded Unicaja Malaga (19-15), who have won only once in their last 4. The game takes place at the Fernando Buesa Arena in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz on Sunday, May 27^th 2018.

Baskonia finished the regular season with a 25-9 record and were placed second in the league table. They have won six of their last seven matches and in their last game they won on the road against Obradoiro CAB with a 77-83 score. They are led in scoring by Tornike Shengelia with 16.1 ppg, adding a team high 5.6 boards per game. He is followed by Rodrigue Beaubois with 11.5 ppg, while Matt Janning adds 10.4 ppg.

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Unicaja finished the regular season with a 19-15 record so far this season and are currently tied with Gran Canaria in the 5^th place of the league table. They have lost three of their last four matches and in their last game they lost on the road against Badalona with an 85-78 score. They are led in scoring by Nemanja Nedovic with 13.6 ppg, adding a team high 3.8 dimes per game. He is followed by Giorgi Shermadini with 9.9 ppg and 4.2 boards per game, while Jeff Brooks adds 8.8 ppg and 4.3 boards per game.

Baskonia have won all four previous meetings against Unicaja, twice in the Spanish League and twice in Euroleague. They have won both home games with an 88-82 and a 96-78 score. Baskonia have a 15-2 home record this season, while Unicaja are 6-11 on the road. Baskonia have the third-best offense in the league, scoring 86.6 ppg to Unicaja’s 81.7, while Unicaja are better defensively, allowing 77.38 ppg to Baskonia’s 78.47. Baskonia have better percentages both in field goals, shooting with 49.4% to Unicaja’s 45.5% and in 3-pointers, shooting with 37.6% to Unicaja’s 35.8%. They are also better in rebounding, grabbing 33.9 to Unicaja’s 33.2 and in assists made, with 19.3 to Unicaja’s 18.6, while Unicaja are only better in turnovers committed (11.3 to 12.7). Baskonia are playing much better lately and expect them to win easily today by more than 7 points for an opening victory in this series.

Unicaja vs Baskonia Game 1 Prediction: Baskonia -6.5 (-112)