Spanish ACB Valencia vs Unicaja Game 2 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 06-02-2019, 10:15 EDT

Spread: Unicaja 0

Total: +158

With the guests making a break in the opening game, thus stealing the home court advantage and taking the 1-0 lead, the series moves to Malaga for Game 2 of this Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) quarterfinal, when the 5^th-seeded Baloncesto Malaga, more commonly referred as Unicaja, are hosting the 4^th-seeded Valencia Basket Club (23-11), who are looking to bounce back and tie the series.

Unicaja finished the regular season with a 22-10 record and were placed fifth in the league. They have won six of their last seven matches and in their last game they won on the road against Valencia in game 1 with a 78-85 score. They are led in scoring by Jaime Fernandez with 11.8 ppg, adding a team-best 4.4 assists per game. He is followed by Kyle Wiltjer with 11.5 ppg, while Brian Roberts adds 9.9 ppg and 3.1 assists per game. 

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Valencia finished the regular season with a 22-10 record and were placed fourth in the league. They have lost two of their last three matches and in their last game they lost at home against Unicaja in game 1 with an 85-78 score. They are led in scoring by Boban Dubljevic with 12.9 ppg, adding a team high 6.5 rebounds per game. He is followed by Matt Thomas with 11.4 ppg, while Will Thomas adds 10.7 ppg and 4.5 rebounds per game. 

In their five previous meetings so far season Valencia leads Unicaja 3-2 wins and are 1-1 on the road. Unicaja have a 15-2 home record, while Valencia are 9-8 on the road. Unicaja are better offensively, scoring 83.6 ppg to Valencia’s 82.1, while Valencia are better defensively, allowing 78.6 ppg to Unicaja’s 81.6. Valencia have better percentages both in field goals (48.3% to 47%) and in 3-pointers (38.1% to 37.8%). They are better in assists made (18 to 17.1), in rebounding (31 to 30.4) and they also commit fewer turnovers per game (11.9 to 12.6). Bookmakers give a 0 spread for this game and expect Unicaja to win at home one way or another today.

Valencia vs Unicaja Game 2 Prediction: Unicaja 0 (-109)