Turkish BSL Galatasaray vs Anadolu Efes Game 1 Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-31-2019, 12:00 EDT

Spread: Anadolu Efes -14

Total: +167.5

In game 1 of this Turkish BSL League semifinal, the top-seeded Anadolu Efes (25-3), who are as hot as it gets having won their last twenty-one games and eliminated Banvit in the first round 2-0, are hosting the fourth-seeded Galatasaray (18-10), who eliminated Gaziantep in the quarterfinals with 2-1 wins.

Anadolu Efes finished the regular season with a 25-3 record and were placed on top of the league. They have 21 consecutive wins and in their last game they won on the road against Banvit in game 2 with a 77-87 score. They are led in scoring by Brock Motum with 17.5 ppg, adding 5.5 boards per game. He is followed by Adrien Moerman with 15.3 ppg and a team high 8.3 boards per game, while Tibor Pleiss adds 15.3 ppg and 7.8 boards per game. 

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Galatasaray finished the regular season with an 18-10 record and were placed 4^th in the league. They have won three of their last four matches and in their last game they won at home against Gaziantep in game 3 with an 89-77 score. They are led in scoring by Aaron Harrison with 14.6 ppg, adding 3.2 boards and 3.4 dimes per game. He is followed by Zach Auguste with 13.2 ppg and a team high 8.5 boards per game, while Nigel Hayes adds 12.7 ppg and 5.4 boards per game.

Anadolu Efes have won both previous meetings against Galatasaray so far this season (at home by 10 points and on the road by 3). Anadolu Efes have a 13-2 home record, while Galatasaray are 8-8 on the road. Anadolu Efes are better both offensively, scoring 89.6 ppg to Galatasaray’s 81.1 and defensively, allowing 75.7 ppg to Galatasaray’s 76.5. Anadolu Efes have better percentages both in field goals (49.4% to 47.4%) and in 3-pointers (38.9% to 36.7%). They are also better in dimes made (22.9 to 19.4), in turnovers committed (11.1 to 11.9) and in boards grabbed (35.6 to 32.6). Bookmakers give Anadolu Efes a -14 spread but don’t expect them to beat the odds as Galatasaray will surely force a closer game than that on the road.

Galatasaray vs Anadolu Efes Game 1 Prediction: Galatasaray +14 (-110)