After losing to Zalgiris 67–72, Barcelona will want to get back on track offensively. Jabari Parker and Alex Abrines, supposed to be their deadly shooting tandem, shot a combined 2 for 11 from beyond the arc. Particularly in their first match against Panathinaikos, both teams will need to get into a routine to beat an ALBA Berlin defense that gave up 92 points. Barcelona will be looking to get back on track at home, so they will prioritize improving their attacking production.
Juan Nunez, a promising youngster for Barcelona, and Chimezie Metu, an athletic big man, will make their home debut in this match. Khalifa Koumadje, the towering big for ALBA, got 13 rebounds in his previous game and will give Metu a run for his money. Koumadje is famous for his play above the basket. In this clash, both teams will depend on their inside presence; thus, controlling the paint will be important.
With an outstanding 12 points and 9 assists in the season opening, Martin Hermannsson will spearhead ALBA Berlin’s playmaking. Tomas Satoransky and Nico Laprovittola, the star duo of Barcelona’s backcourt, will put him to the test. However, with Gabriele Procida and Matt Thomas out for ALBA, among other significant players, their choices may be limited.
Over 158.5 points is a good bet since you may expect a high-scoring game.