Euroleague Basketball Predictions, News & Injury list

Euroleague Basketball Predictions

Euro League basketball tips appear under each mini game preview.

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Fenerbahce – Efes

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (15-10) is on a 10-game winning streak and arrives to the Turkish derby in top form, led by Nando De Colo (14.4 ppg., 4.1 apg.), Jan Vesely (13.0 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) and Marko Guduric (12.2 ppg., 3.5 apg.). Anadolu Efes Istanbul (14-10) has also been really solid lately, winning six of its last seven EuroLeague showdowns. Vasilije Micic (15.2 ppg.) has been its top scorer until now, followed by Shane Larkin (15.1 ppg.) and Krunoslav Simon (10.9 ppg.).

Fenerbahce is 10-0 since Guduric joined the team, as he balanced his team’s offense with his excellent spacing, three-point shots and passing skills. On defense, Fenerbahce should play physical against Micic and Larkin, and will rely on Brown and Edgaras Ulanovas to do so. Finding Vesely and Kyle O’Quinn down low is also one of the biggest keys to this game, as it would give De Colo, Jarrel Eddie and Guduric more chances to play one-on-one and find good shots from outside the arc.

Stopping Vesely down low should be a priority for Efes, which counts on Bryant Dunston, Sertac Sanli and Tibor Pleiss to play strong, physical defense against him. Efes excelled on defense against Olympiacos Piraeus last week, allowing just 25 points in the final 29 minutes of their Round 25 game. That defensive approach could well be needed against a talented team like Fenerbahce. As always, Efes should run its offense through Micic and Larkin, two great, unselfish scorers who also can find their teammates in double-team situations.

Tip: 2 at 2.10 with bet365
(Price correct at 25/02/2021, 12:00 CET, subject to change)

Baskonia – Crvena Zvezda

Two teams with much different momentum meet on Friday night when TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz hosts Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade. Baskonia has won three straight games to climb to 12-13 and is within striking distance of the playoff zone. Zvezda, which has lost five in a row to fall to 7-18, has dropped six of its last seven road games.

Baskonia leads the league with 8.0 steals per game, but some of those gains are offsets by its 14.6 turnovers, which are third-most. If Baskonia can remain aggressive defensively and in transition while cutting down on turnovers, it will be in a promising position to extend its winning streak.

Zvezda must play better in the paint to have a chance in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The team has been outrebounded by more than a rebounds per game on average, while Baskonia has outrebounded its opponents by 3.2 per game. Moreover, Zvezda is the only team shooting below 50% on two-pointers this season and Baskonia has limited teams to just 51.8%. This task will fall on the shoulders of Ognjen Kuzmic, Landry Nnoko and Marko Jagodic-Kuridza, among others.

Cory Walden, Langston Hall, Landry Nnoko, Duop Reath and Quino Colom all missed the last two games because of COVID-19.

Tip: Over 154.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 25/02/2021, 12:00 CET, subject to change)

ALBA Berlin – Panathinaikos

ALBA Berlin (8-17) is on a four-game losing streak and has won just twice in its last 12 EuroLeague games. Luke Sikma (9.0 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.0 apg.), Ben Lammers (10.2 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) and Marcus Eriksson (10.7 ppg.) are its main pillars right now. Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (9-14) has won its last two games and wants to keep it going. The Greens are led by Nemanja Nedovic (16.7 ppg.m 3.8 apg.), Ioannis Papapetrou (12.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) and Georgios Papagiannis (9.6 ppg., 6.2 rpg.) and on Monday signed swingman Mario Hezonja to add even more punch.

ALBA did a lot of good things against Fenerbahce last week, sharing the ball with efficiency – 25 assists, 13 turnovers – and shooting with solid percentages (61.8% 2FG, 36.7% 3FG, 100% FT). Running its offense through Sikma, a forward with outstanding passing skills, should allow ALBA to get better options all around on offense. Lammers and Johannes Thiemann have the tough mission to stop Dinos Mitoglou and Papagiannis down low. If ALBA boxes out on defense and gets its transition game going, it should have a better chance to win.

Niels Giffey has been sidelined since Round 17 with an injury.
Jayson Granger is out after having hand surgery.
Luis Olinde is expected to miss several weeks after injuring his hand ahead of Round 25.

Panathinaikos has a size advantage in critical spots, such as center – with Papagiannis – and small forward – with Papapetrou – and should make the most out of it. Panathinaikos ranks second in offensive rebounds (11.9 orpg.) and should keep looking to power the glass for second-chance opportunities. It is important for the Greens to prevent ALBA from running, so transition defense and putting pressure on Siva and Maodo Lo should one of the biggest keys to this game.

New signing Mario Hezonja’s first appearance will have to wait until thw next round.

Tip: Under 163.5 at 1.90 with bet365
(Price correct at 25/02/2021, 12:00 CET, subject to change)

Barcelona – Villeurbanne

FC Barcelona (17-8) leads the standings and has won seven of its last eight games. Nikola Mirotic (16.0 ppg.) has been its top scorer until now, followed by Cory Higgins (12.9 ppg.) and Brandon Davies (11.8 ppg.). LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (11-14) is on a five-game winning streak, a record for French teams in the EuroLeague. Moustapha Fall (9.3 ppg., 70.0% 2FG, 5.5 rpg.), Norris Cole (13.4 ppg., 3.5 apg.) and David Lighty (11.7 ppg.) have been its main pillars throughout the season.

Barcelona comes off a really convincing win against Zalgiris Kaunas, forcing its opponents into low shooting percentages (48.6% 2FG, 26.3% 3FG) and forcing 20 turnovers. That kind of hustle should be needed against a physical team like ASVEL. Zalgiris averages 9.0 offensive rebounds, but grabbed 15 against Barcelona, so there is room for improvement. On offense, Higgins and Mirotic should stay as Barcelona’s go-to guys. On defense, Calathes faces a key matchup against Cole.

Leo Westermann missed Round 25 game with an ankle injury.

Since it started to shoot the ball better, ASVEL has become unstoppable. Before its current winning streak, ASVEL had hit 38.8% of its three-point shots (171-of-441). Since then, it has improved to 45 of 97, or 46.4%. Sharpshooter Antoine Diot, Lighty and Matthew Strazel must keep finding good shots, creating space for Guerschon Yabusele and Moustapha Fall to play one-on-one in the paint. Preventing Calathes from dominating the game tempo should be another big key to this game.