Euroleague Tips with Previews – Round 28 – Thursday

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Zenit – Real Madrid

It will be a tough battle for the playoffs on Thursday when sixth-placed Zenit St Petersburg (16-10) welcomes seventh-placed Real Madrid (16-11). Zenit got back to the win column on Tuesday against ALBA Berlin, 87-71, and has now won two of its last three games. Also on Tuesday, Real fell at Khimki, 78-77, and now has three losses in its last four games. Expect a tough battle between direct opponents.

Zenit has one of the weaker offenses in the league, but also the second-best defense, and that will probably be its main focus to try to defeat Real. Curiously enough, Zenit has better percentages from the field, so maintaining that consistency on offense will also be key to try to defeat a Real team that will visit St Petersburg with some notable absences. It can be a good chance for Zenit to have its revenge, beat the guests for the first time and also take a giant step forward in the race for the playoffs.

Real is going through a rough patch and will surely arrive to St Petersburg wounded after the loss to Khimki. On paper, the guests show better numbers almost everywhere, but the absences of Sergio Llull, Anthony Randolph and Rudy Fernandez are having an impact on the team’s performance lately. Also, Zenit is one of the most consistent teams in the league, so Real will have to face this game against a direct rival in the standings with 100% focus.

basketball prediction Tip: 1 at 2.05 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/03/2021, 11:00 CET, subject to change)

Efes – CSKA Moscow

Two teams with winning momentum will face each other on Thursday when Anadolu Efes Istanbul (16-10) welcomes defending champs CSKA Moscow (18-8) for a duel right in the heat of the playoffs race. Efes has won eight of its last nine games, including the last five. Its newest success came on Tuesday with a home win over Valencia Basket, 99-83. After a short skid, CSKA has started a new winning streak and on Tuesday it defeated Maccabi on the road, 80-84.

Efes has huge momentum going for it. The team is winning and playing better and better, so the duel against CSKA probably arrives at the perfect moment. CSKA still has the best offense in the league (83.6 ppg.) but Efes is not far behind (81.5 ppg.) and also has the third-best defense. The hosts will have to make good use of their defense and pay attention to the boards, as CSKA leads the league in that front (37.0 rpg.).

CSKA is back to its winning ways. This week’s victory in Tel Aviv is always a huge morale boost, and now it has to face arguably the hottest team in the league. Efes is rolling, so the guests will have to make good use of all their weapons for a chance to win. Newcomer Iffe Lundberg seems to have adapted right away, and he will be a key piece in the CSKA puzzle. The biggest stain for CSKA is the second-worst two-point accuracy (50.9%) in the league, so trying to get better options inside can go a long way for the still-defending champs.

basketball prediction Tip: Over 166.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/03/2021, 11:00 CET, subject to change)

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Maccabi – Valencia

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (10-15) will try to put an end to its four-game losing streak and catch the last train to join the playoffs race when it welcomes Valencia Basket (14-13) on Thursday. It is the second game in a double-round week for each team. Maccabi is coming off a home 80-84 loss against CSKA Moscow. Valencia, on the other hand, is a win away from the final playoff spot and will try to rebound from a 99-83 loss at Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

It is imperative for Maccabi to find a way to rediscover its offense. After averaging 80.0 per game until Round 22, Maccabi has not managed to score more than 75 points in three consecutive losses, then scored just 33 points in the first half of Tuesday’s game against CSKA. Against Valencia, which ranks second in scoring with 82.6 points per game and dishes a league-high 20.3 assists, Maccabi will need to have better offensive production.

Valencia needs to bounce back from a loss 48 hours earlier and get back its momentum as it is trying to catch up in the playoffs race. Offense has not been a problem for Valencia, and even in Tuesday’s loss in Istanbul, the team made 14 triples and had 20 assists. But Valencia must come out with an extra dose of energy against the hosts, who are playing with their backs against the wall.

basketball prediction Tip: 2 (+3.0) at 1.86 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/03/2021, 11:00 CET, subject to change)

Bayern Munich – Panathinaikos

FC Bayern Munich (17-10) will be looking to continue its run of good form and a historic playoff push when it hosts Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (9-16) on Thursday. Bayern, a winner in five of its last six games, is aiming to make the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time ever, and is coming of a come-from-behind 76-78 road win over Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos is all but eliminated from the playoffs race but will be looking to bounce back after losing 77-85 at home against FC Barcelona.

Bayern has won five of its last six games but has pulled out each of the last three victories similarly dramatic fashion, with come-from-behind efforts after trailing for the first three quarters, only to make a late fourth-quarter rally. Coach Andrea Trinchieri and his players will need to avoid that same pattern against Panathinaikos and try to take control of the rhythm and the scoreboard earlier in this contest.

Before allowing 85 points in its loss against Barcelona on Tuesday, the Greens had strung together five games in which they allowed 78 or fewer points. Panathinaikos will need to make sure it matches Bayern’s toughness and physicality in this contest. It will be important for Panathinaikos to control the boards and keeps its defensive focused against Bayern, which plays disciplined and patient basketball.

basketball prediction Tip: 2 (+7.5) at 1.86 with bet365
(Price correct at 04/03/2021, 11:00 CET, subject to change)

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News Source: Euroleague.net

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