One more turn and then straight. These could be the instructions to the teams making their way to the play-offs spots. We are only two rounds away from the end of the Regular Season , but still a lot to be decided in the final games. Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow will be 1st or 2nd while Olympiacos have also secured the 3rd place and the home advantage for the play-offs. The 4th place is still for grabs and the rest of the teams fight for a better ranking or their pride! Huge game of the week comes from Athens where Panathinaikos hosts CSKA Moscow.
Friday’s matches
Friday’s first tip-off comes in Istanbul, where to maintain hopes of claiming home-court advantage in the playoffs, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (16-12) needs a win on its trip to face Galatasaray Odeabank (10-18). The Turkish team has been a dangerous opponent at Abdi Ipekci recently, winning four of its last five home games. Baskonia ranks third in the league in two-point conversions with an average of 22.3 per game, while Galatasaray prefers shooting from long-range, tying for fourth in three-pointers made (9.0). This is not an easy task for Baskonia and they might not cover the -5.0 points difference. The 1 (+5.0) is priced at 1.90 with bet365.
Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (15-13) will know by tip-off against visiting Unics Kazan (7-21) whether victory will be enough to secure a playoffs spot, but in any case the Serbian team will be anxious to end a two-game losing streak. Unics has lost 11 consecutive games and won just twice on the road all season, but did beat Zvezda in a tight game in Round 6. Expect both teams to seek inside dominance: Zvezda ranks last in three-pointers with 6.9 per game, while Unics is ranked 14th with 7.3 on average. It’s all or nothing for the Serbians and the home win with a handicap of -6.0 is priced at 1.90 with bet365.
After just falling short in its playoffs bid, Zalgiris Kaunas (13-15) plays its last home game of the season against an EA7 Emporio Armani Milano (7-21) team which has not won on the road since October. Defense has been a particular problem on its travels for Milan, which has conceded at least 90 points in four of its last six away games. After last week matching its highest road scoring tally in 12 years, Zalgiris will seek similar success after scoring no more than 68 points in its last three home games. No bet here. Clearly.
Home-court advantage in the playoffs will be on the mind of Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens (17-11) as it welcomes a CSKA Moscow (21-7) team which is still chasing top spot in the standings. The Greens share the EuroLeague’s best defensive (73.3 points allowed per game) but will be sorely tested by CSKA’s league-leading offense (87.3 per game) on the back of the competition’s runaway best true shooting percentage (53.2%) – a category in which Panathinaikos ranks dead last, making just 46% of its shots. The two European giants score on average 144 points in their last 10 meetings. How can they can top the 157.0 is an answer they need to answer but I will stick with the Under 157.0, priced at 1.90 with bet365.
If Panathinaikos and Baskonia both lose, home-court advantage in the playoffs could be secured by Fenerbahce Istanbul (17-11) with a road victory at first-place Real Madrid (21-7). Fenerbahce has lost three of its last four games, while Madrid is looking to extend an 11-game winning run at home. Madrid has a sizeable rebounding advantage (36.5 per game to 32.2 per game), boasts the competition’s best assists-to-turnover ratio (172.7%) and has had the fewest number of shots blocked (1.86 per game). But Fenerbahce has a better three-point shooting percentage (39.2% to 37.1%).
Daily Basketball Picks
| Date | League | Event | Pick | Odds | Bet | +/- | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/11/2023 | NBA | MIA Heat - MIL Bucks | 1 (+3.0) | 1.90 | 100 | Pre | |
| 27/11/2023 | NBA | UTA Jazz - NO Pelicans | 1 (+4.0) | 1.90 | 200 | +180 | Pre |
| 26/11/2023 | NBA | MIL Bucks - POR Trail Blazers | 1 (-12.5) | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 25/11/2023 | NBA | UTA Jazz - NO Pelicans | 1 | 2.00 | 200 | +200 | Pre |
| 24/11/2023 | EL | Efes - Partizan | 2 (+3.0) | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 23/11/2023 | EL | Panathinaikos - Valencia | Home Over 81.5 | 2.17 | 2000 | +2340 | Pre |
| 22/11/2023 | NBA | BOS Celtics - MIL Bucks | Over 235.5 | 1.90 | 1000 | -1000 | Pre |
| 21/11/2023 | NBA | LA Lakers - UTA Jazz | 2 (+8.5) | 1.90 | 400 | -400 | Pre |
| 20/11/2023 | NBA | CHI Bulls - MIA Heat | 1 (+1.5) | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 19/11/2023 | NBA | CLE Cavaliers - DEN Nuggets | 2 (-2.5) | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 18/11/2023 | NBA | MIL Bucks - DAL Mavericks | Over 242.5 | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 17/11/2023 | NBA | CLE Cavaliers - DET Pistons | 2 (+8.5) | 1.95 | 2000 | +1900 | Pre |
| 16/11/2023 | EL | Maccabi - Fenerbahce | Over 160.5 | 1.90 | 1000 | -1000 | Pre |
| 15/11/2023 | EL | Panathinaikos - Zalgiris | 1 & Over 150.5 | 1.90 | 400 | -400 | Pre |
| 14/11/2023 | EL | Valencia - Real Madrid | Over 157.5 | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 13/11/2023 | NBA | MIL Bucks - CHI Bulls | Over 229.0 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 12/11/2023 | NBA | LA Clippers - MEM Grizzlies | 2 (+8.5) | 1.95 | 200 | +190 | Pre |
| 11/11/2023 | NBA | ORL Magic - MIL Bucks | 2 (-3.0) | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 10/11/2023 | EL | ALBA - Panathinaikos | 2 (-3.5) | 1.95 | 400 | +380 | Pre |
| 09/11/2023 | EL | Partizan - Fenerbahce | 1 (-6.5) | 2.20 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 08/11/2023 | EC | Turk Telekom - Gran Canaria | Over 160.5 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 07/11/2023 | EC | Venezia - Cedevita | 2 (+8.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 06/11/2023 | NBA | DET Pistons - GS Warriors | 2 (-6.0) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 05/11/2023 | NBA | DET Pistons - PHX Suns | 2 (-5.5) | 1.90 | 200 | +180 | Pre |
| 04/11/2023 | NBA | PHI 76ers - PHX Suns | Over 220.5 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 03/11/2023 | EL | Virtus Bologna - Efes | 1 (-2.5) | 1.90 | 200 | +180 | Pre |
| 02/11/2023 | EL | Fenerbahce - Olympiacos | 1 (-4.5) | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 31/10/2023 | EL | Milano - Maccabi | 2 (+5.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 30/10/2023 | GRE - A1 | Olympiacos - Panathinaikos | 2 (+7.5) | 1.90 | 200 | +180 | Pre |
| 29/10/2023 | GRE - A1 | Lavrio - PAOK | Under 157.5 | 1.94 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 28/10/2023 | GRE - A1 | Marousi - Karditsa | 1 (-4.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 27/10/2023 | EL | Bayern - Fenerbahce | Under 159.5 | 1.90 | 200 | +180 | Pre |
| 26/10/2023 | EL | Real Madrid - Barcelona | Over 166.5 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 25/10/2023 | EC | Slask - Aris Salonika | 2 (-2.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 24/10/2023 | BCL | Darussafaka - Tenerife | 1 (+4.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 23/10/2023 | GRE - A1 | Panathinaikos - Lavrio | Over 158.5 | 1.95 | 1000 | +950 | Pre |
| 22/10/2023 | SPA - ACB | Baskonia - Malaga | 1 (-4.5) | 1.98 | 400 | -400 | Pre |
| 21/10/2023 | SPA - ACB | Joventut - Andorra | 1 (-7.5) | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 20/10/2023 | EL | Barca - Bayern | 2 (+8.5) | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 19/10/2023 | EL | Olympiacos - Partizan | 2 (+6.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 18/10/2023 | EL | Virtus Bologna - Alba Berlin | 1 (-8.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 17/10/2023 | EL | Milano - Olympiacos | 1 | 1.78 | 1000 | +780 | Pre |
| 15/10/2023 | ITA - A | Varese - Tortona | Over 169.5 | 1.95 | 400 | -400 | Pre |
| 14/10/2023 | ITA - A | Milano - Reggio Emilia | Under 155.5 | 1.90 | 1000 | +900 | Pre |
| 13/10/2023 | EL | Olympiacos - Barcelona | 2 | 2.20 | 2000 | +2400 | Pre |
| 12/10/2023 | EL | Alba Berlin - Baskonia | Under 167.5 | 2.00 | 1000 | -1000 | Pre |
| 11/10/2023 | EC | Gran Canaria - Ulm | 1 (-8.5) | 1.95 | 3000 | +2850 | Pre |
| 10/10/2023 | EC | Lietkabelis - Aris | 2 (+4.5) | 1.95 | 2000 | -2000 | Pre |
| 09/10/2023 | GRE - A1 | Panathinaikos - Aris | Over 160.5 | 1.91 | 1400 | -1400 | Pre |
| 08/10/2023 | GRE - A1 | Aris - Olympiacos | 1 (+18.5) | 1.95 | 2000 | +1900 | Pre |
| 07/10/2023 | SPA - ACB | Tenerife - Breogan | Under 157.5 | 1.87 | 1700 | -1700 | Pre |
| 06/10/2023 | EL | Panathinaikos - Olympiacos | Under 154.5 | 1.91 | 1000 | -1000 | Pre |
| 05/10/2023 | EL | Maccabi - Partizan | 2 (+4.5) | 1.85 | 400 | -400 | Pre |
| 04/10/2023 | EC | Aris - Gran Canaria | 1 (+6.5) | 1.95 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 01/10/2023 | SPA - ACB | Real Madrid - Barca | Over 166.5 | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 30/09/2023 | GRE - SC | Olympiacos - Panathinaikos | Under 157.5 | 1.93 | 200 | +186 | Pre |
| 29/09/2023 | GRE - SC | Peristeri - Olympiacos | 1 (+13.5) | 1.93 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 28/09/2023 | SPA - ACB | Joventut - Granada | 2 (+11.5) | 1.90 | 500 | +450 | Pre |
| 27/09/2023 | SPA - ACB | Murcia - Baskonia | 1 (+4.5) | 2.00 | 2000 | +2000 | Pre |
| 26/09/2023 | FRA - PRO | Monaco - Saint-Quenin | 1 (-19.5) | 2.05 | 1000 | -1000 | Pre |
| 24/09/2023 | SPA - ACB | Gran Canaria - Manresa | 2 (+8.5) | 1.95 | 2000 | +1900 | Pre |
| 23/09/2023 | ITA - SC | Milano - Virtus Bologna | Over 154.5 | 1.80 | 1500 | -1500 | Pre |
| 19/09/2023 | WNBA | DAL Wings - ATL Dream | Under 170.5 | 1.90 | 900 | -900 | Pre |
| 18/09/2023 | FRA - Cup | Pont de Cheruy - Antibes | 2 (-11.5) | 1.90 | 300 | -300 | Pre |
| 17/09/2023 | WNBA | LV Aces - CHI Sky | Over 170.5 | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 13/09/2023 | WNBA | LV Aces - CHI Sky | Over 170.5 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 10/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Germany - Serbia | Over 42.5 Total Fouls | 1.85 | 200 | +170 | Pre |
| 09/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Latvia - Lithuania | Over 173.5 | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 08/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Serbia - Canada | 1 (+4.5) | 1.90 | 400 | +360 | Pre |
| 07/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Italy - Latvia | 1 | 1.90 | 150 | -150 | Pre |
| 06/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Canada - Slovenia | Under 176.5 | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 05/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Italy - USA | Under 178.5 | 1.95 | 100 | +95 | Pre |
| 03/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Spain - Canada | Over 168.5 | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 02/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Jordan - Mexico | 2 (-5.5) | 2.00 | 100 | +100 | Pre |
| 01/09/2023 | WC 2023 | Lithuania - Greece | 1 (-7.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 31/08/2023 | WC 2023 | Egypt - Jordan | 1 | 1.95 | 400 | +380 | Pre |
| 30/08/2023 | WC 2023 | USA - Jordan | Over 185.5 | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 29/08/2023 | WC 2023 | Montenegro - Lithuania | 1 (+5.5) | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 28/08/2023 | WC 2023 | Brazil - Spain | Over 162.5 | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 27/08/2023 | WC 2023 | Italy - Dominican Rep. | 2 (+5.5) | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 26/08/2023 | WC 2023 | USA - New Zealand | 2 (+36.5) | 1.90 | 1000 | +900 | Pre |
| 25/08/2023 | WC 2023 | Canada - France | Over 167.5 | 1.95 | 400 | -400 | Pre |
| 20/08/2023 | OG - Q | Turkey - Croatia | Over 167.5 | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 18/08/2023 | OG - Q | Croatia - Ukraine | Over 159.5 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 17/08/2023 | OG - Q | Chile - Colombia | Under 148.5 | 1.90 | 400 | +360 | Pre |
| 16/08/2023 | OG - Q | Portugal - Poland | Over 152.5 | 1.90 | 200 | -200 | Pre |
| 15/08/2023 | OG - Q | Bulgaria - Iceland | 1 (+4.5) | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 14/08/2023 | OG - Q | Sweden - Croatia | Over 155.5 | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
| 13/08/2023 | WNBA | WAS Mystics - CHI Sky | Under 159.5 | 1.95 | 200 | +190 | Pre |
| 08/08/2023 | WNBA | CHI Sky - MIN Lynx | 1 (-3.5) | 1.95 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 04/08/2023 | WNBA | IND Fever - CON Sun | 2 (-7.5) | 1.90 | 200 | +180 | Pre |
| 02/08/2023 | WNBA | SEA Storm - DAL Wings | Over 168.5 | 1.90 | 100 | -100 | Pre |
| 01/08/2023 | WNBA | IND Fever - PHX Mercury | Under 160.5 | 1.90 | 100 | +90 | Pre |
Thursday’s matches
First up, red-hot Anadolu Efes Istanbul (16-12) will look to maintain hopes of claiming home-court advantage in the playoffs by gaining a fourth consecutive win when Olympiacos Piraeus (19-9) visits Turkey. Expect a big battle when Efes shoots: the host leads the league in offensive rebounds (12.9 per game), while Olympiacos is top in defensive boards (25.6 per game). Another indication of these teams’ physicality is that Efes ranks second in blocked shots (3.43 per game), just ahead of Olympiacos’s 3.4 on average. But the visitors also hold the best defense in the league and despite they are definitely 3rd, I believe they have a great chance of winning. However, I’m backing the away win with a handicap of +5.5 points at 1.90 with bet365.
In Germany, Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul (14-14) needs to defeat host Brose Bamberg (10-18) to keep its playoff qualification hopes in its own hands. To do so, Darussafaka will have to end a seven-game losing streak on the road, while Bamberg is also looking for a turnaround after dropping three straight home games. After pulling in 50 rebounds last week – the third highest single-game tally of all teams this season – Darussafaka will look to repeat that kind of display against a Bamberg team which ranks last in the league in rebounding, with just 31.3 boards per game. It is pride against targets here and I will surprise you by backing the Germans. The home win is priced at 2.75 with bet365. Long shot but I’ve taken it.
FC Barcelona Lassa (11-17) and Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv (10-18) will play for pride in the knowledge that taking care of the ball is a priority: the Spanish team has committed more turnovers than any other team (14.9 per game), with Maccabi ranked joint third in that category (14.3 per game). Barcelona has committed the lowest number of fouls in the competition (18.3 per game), and that probably won’t change against Maccabi, which is ranked next-to-last in foul drawn with an average of 18.8. Despite the fact that Barcelona want to finish their poor regular season with a home win, Maccabi can prove unpredictable. Therefore I have to stay away from this one.
Stats source: euroleague.net
Basketball Tips: livetipster.com
