Spanish ACB Valencia vs Real Madrid Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 06-06-2019, 15:00 EDT

Spread: Real Madrid -8.5

Total: +164.5

In Game 1 of this Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) semifinal, the top-seeded and defending champions Real Madrid (28-6), after eliminating Manresa 2-0 wins in the first round, are hosting the fourth-seeded Valencia Basket Club (23-11), who had a harder time in the quarterfinals and eliminated Unicaja 2-1 wins.  

Real Madrid finished the regular season with a 28-6 record and were placed on top of the league. They have won 15 of their last 16 matches and in their last game they won on the road against Manresa in game 2 with a 73-88 score. They are led in scoring by Sergio LLull with 11.3 ppg, adding 3.9 assists per game. He is followed by Jaycee Carroll with 10.2 ppg, while Trey Thompkins adds 10.1 ppg and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

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Valencia finished the regular season with a 22-10 record and were placed fourth in the league table. They have won three of their last four matches and in their last game they won at home against Unicaja in game 3 with a 79-76 score. They are led in scoring by Boban Dubljevic with 12.4 ppg, adding a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. He is followed by Matt Thomas with 11.4 ppg. 

Real Madrid have won both previous meetings against Valencia so far this season (at home by 6 points and on the road by 18). Real Madrid have a 16-2 home record, while Valencia are 10-9 on the road. Real Madrid are better offensively, scoring 89 ppg to Valencia’s 82.1, while both teams are almost equal defensively, allowing 78.6 and 78.8 ppg. Real Madrid have a better field goal percentage (49.5% to 48.4%) and both teams have identical 3-point percentage (37.9%). Both teams are almost equal in turnovers committed (11.9 to 12.2), while Valencia are better in dimes made (17.9 to 17.4) and Real Madrid in boards grabbed (34.4 to 30.9). Bookmakers give Real Madrid a -8.5 spread and expect them to beat the odds for the home win.  

Valencia vs Real Madrid Game 1 Prediction: Real Madrid -8.5 (-111)