Spanish ACB Valencia vs Unicaja Preview and Prediction

Date/Time:  09-28-2018, 15:30 EDT

Spread: Unicaja -3

Total: +158.5

In the opening week of the Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) we have a battle between two teams that made it in last year’s postseason and both got eliminated in the opening round as the fourth last year Valencia are visiting the seventh last year Unicaja Malaga.

Valencia had a 22-12 record last year and finished in the 4^th place of the league. They were 1-4 in their last 5 games last year and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Gran Canaria at home in game three, 89-92 score and got eliminated in the first round. Unicaja had a 19-15 record last year and finished in the 7^th place of the league. They had lost their last three games last year and in their latest matchup they got defeated by Baskonia at home in game three, 64-80 and got eliminated in the first round.

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Valencia were led in scoring by Fernando San Emeterio with 12.8 ppg. He was followed by Erick Green with 11.9 ppg, while the starting center Boban Dubljevic added 11.4 ppg and led the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game. Unicaja were led in scoring by Nemanja Nedovic with 13.5 ppg. He also led the team in assists made with 3.8 per game, while Giorgi Shermadini followed with 9.7 ppg, adding 4.2 boards per game. Jeff Brooks added 8.5 ppg and 4.3 rebounds per game. 

Valencia led Unicaja 3-1 wins in their 4 matchups last year and both teams split wins in Malaga. Unicaja had a 13-4 home record last year, while Valencia had an 8-9 road record. Valencia had both a better offense with 82.6 ppg to Unicaja’s 81.7 and also had the best defense in the league, allowing 75.9 ppg to Unicaja’s 77.4. Valencia had better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 47.4% to Unicaja’s 45.1% and from behind the arc, shooting with 41.4% to Unicaja’s 35.4%. Unicaja were better in assists per game, with 18.6 to Valencia’s 16.7 and in rebounding, grabbing 32.8 to Valencia’s 30.9, while both teams were almost equal in turnovers committed (11.4 and 11.5). Unicaja had been very effective at home last year and expect them to utilize that advantage and get away with the home win today.

Valencia vs Unicaja Prediction: Unicaja -3 (-108)