Juventus vs Zalgiris: Analysis and Prediction – Juventus and Zalgiris will play each other in the Lithuanian Basketball League second round.
Juventus vs Zalgiris Odds
Juventus vs Zalgiris (1/2): 6.40 / 1.11
Asian Handicap (+13.5 / -13.5): 1.85 / 1.89
Total Over/Under (158.5): 1.91 / 1.91
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
Juventus Team News
Juventus lived up to their favorite status in the first round of the domestic championship, defeating Mazeikiai by 81:74. Now they face a much tougher task as the reigning Lithuanian champions, Zalgiris from Kaunas, come to Utena.
The first game showed that Billy Ivey will be crucial to Juventus gameplay. He performed well last season for Ostrow, and now the goal is to showcase his skills in Lithuania. There’s also Scoochie Smith, who spent two years with Mega and one in Lublin, along with Ryan Taylor. These three players are undoubtedly the ones expected to shine in this matchup. On the bench is Serbian coach Oliver Kostic, who was a longtime assistant to Svetislav Pesic. He also works with him in the Serbian national team.
Juventus came very close to eliminating Lietkabelis in the quarterfinals of the Lithuanian Basketball League last season. They didn’t succeed, so now they want to fight from the start for a spot in the top 4 to ease their path to the semifinals, which is the club’s ambition. The test against Zalgiris will be a good indicator of how close they are to the best in the country.
Zalgiris Team News
Zalgiris dominated Gargzdai ten days ago in the opening of the domestic championship by107:55. There’s no doubt that Kazys Maksvytis team is an absolute favorite to once again clinch the title, but they are much more interested in what awaits them in the EuroLeague.
Somewhat surprisingly, Zalgiris lost Ignas Brazdeikis a few days ago. He made the decision to continue his career at Olympiacos, so it’s not excluded that the current Lithuanian champion will seek a new option on the market. Apart from Brazdeikis, all other key players from the previous season are still there, and Naz Mitrou-Long and Brady Manek have been added. Both have already shown that they will have a role in Maksvytis system, and both are expected to have a constant presence on both sides of the court.
This certainly isn’t a game where Zalgiris should fear anything. They will see it more as another test before the start of the EuroLeague. The question is how coach Maksvytis will distribute the minutes and who will get the chance to shine the most.
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Juventus vs Zalgiris H2H
Zalgiris has secured 11 consecutive wins against Juventus, and last season they swept the H2H 3-0.
Absences and Injuries
All players are available for both teams.
Juventus vs Zalgiris Prediction
Juventus was highly competitive against Zalgiris in two out of three games last season. On their home turf, they can surely maximize their performance, which should be enough to avoid a convincing loss. The reigning Lithuanian champions are still getting in sync, especially as several players have recently returned from the FIBA World Cup.
Tip-off Time: Thursday, 28.09.2023, 17:30 CET
Prediction: Juventus +14.5
Odds: 1.72
Sportsbook: 22Bet
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