Spanish ACB Zaragoza vs Baskonia Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-30-2019, 14:15 EDT

Spread: Baskonia -11

Total: +169.5

In Game 1 of this Spanish Basketball League (ACB or Liga Endesa) quarterfinal, the third-seeded Club Deportivo Saski-Baskonia, commonly known as Saski Baskonia or simply as Baskonia, looking to bounce back after their latest defeat, are hosting the sixth-seeded Basket Zaragoza 2002 (also known as Tecnyconta Zaragoza), who on the other hand want to turn their latest victory into a streak.

Baskonia finished the regular season with a 26-8 record and were placed 3^rd in the league. In their last game they saw a nine-game winning streak getting snapped by losing on the road against Valencia with a 92-81 score. They are led in scoring by Tornike Shengelia with 13.4 ppg, adding 4.7 boards per game. He is followed by Shavon Shields with 11.5 ppg and 3.1 boards per game, while Darrun Hilliard adds 11.3 ppg. 

Top Basketball Bookmakers

Zaragoza finished the regular season with a 17-15 record and were placed 6^th in the league. In their last game they snapped a two-game losing streak getting snapped by winning at home against Manresa with an 83-74 score. They are led in scoring by Stan Okoye with 14.8 ppg, adding a team high 5.1 boards per game. He is followed by Reinaldas Seibutis with 11.1 ppg, while Nemanja Radovic adds 9.6 ppg and 4.7 boards per game.

In their two previous meetings in the regular season each team won once at home (Baskonia by 23 points and Zaragoza by 2). Baskonia have a 15-2 home record, while Zaragoza are 7-10 on the road. Baskonia are better both offensively, scoring 86.1 ppg to Zaragoza’s 83 and defensively, allowing 75 ppg to Zaragoza’s 85.2. They also have better percentages both in field goals (50.5% to 46.1%) and in 3-pointers (37.2% to 35.8%). Baskonia are better in dimes made (19.4 to 15.4), while both teams are almost equal both in turnovers committed (12.3 to 12.4) and in boards grabbed (33.2 to 32.9). Bookmakers give Baskonia a -11 spread and expect them to beat the odds for an easy home victory.  

Tecnyconta Zaragoza vs Baskonia Game 1 Prediction: Baskonia -11 (-112)