In the second round of the newly formed Group N, New Zealand and Egypt will face each other at the FIBA World Cup.
New Zealand vs Egypt Odds
New Zealand vs Egypt (1/2): 1.44 / 2.79
Asian Handicap (-5.5 / +5.5): 1.88 / 1.88
Total Over/Under (165.5): 1.88 / 1.90
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
New Zealand Team News
New Zealand kicked off the FIBA World Cup with a loss to the United States. They then outplayed Jordan after overtime, setting up a match against Greece to advance to the second round. Despite holding a 15-point lead, they couldn’t withstand their opponent’s surge, resulting in a loss that relegated them to the 17th to 32nd place playoffs in the championship. This setback was evident when New Zealand, despite being favorites, lost the opening playoff game to Mexico by 108:100.
The most lethal player on this team is undoubtedly Finn Delany, a top-notch shooter and scorer. Reuben Te Rangi poured in 32 points against Mexico and has consistently played a pivotal role for the team. Shea Ili is the playmaker, filling every stat sheet and serving as the “brain” of the squad. Yannick Wetzell, a member of Berlin’s Alba, can certainly be a game-changer. One could argue that offense isn’t as much of a concern for this team as its defensive lapses.
New Zealand aims for the best possible finish at the FIBA World Cup. The difference between ending the tournament with a win or a loss can be monumental for any team. One gets the feeling that Coach Pero Cameron’s charges were still mentally lingering on the match against Greece when they faced Mexico. Facing Egypt, one of the weakest teams in the championship, could serve as a form of consolation—a win to cap off their campaign on the global stage.
Egypt Team News
In the initial phase of the FIBA World Championship, Egypt was in Group D with Montenegro, Lithuania, and Mexico. It’s clear that in such a balance of power, they didn’t stand much of a chance. Defeats by Montenegro and Lithuania were expected, but they then win against Mexico, registering their first win at the World Cup since 1994. Even though they didn’t advance to the next round, it’s evident that they are in good spirits. During their first match in the playoff for the final placement, they played against Jordan and secured a win by 85:69.
Ehab Amin Saleh stood out during the FIBA World Cup. Against Montenegro, he scored as many as 26 points, and against Mexico, he recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists. Assem Marei, a former MVP of the Turkish league, is definitely someone they can rely on. Patrick Gardner anchors the center position as a member of the Miami Heat, and it’s clear from where the biggest threat of the Egyptian team comes. What works against them is the fact that they’ve conceded a high number of points against every opponent, which is not commendable in their gameplay. However, the lack of quality players in such a competition inevitably had its impact
This game can be of exceptional importance for Egypt. It’s known that the best African team in the final standings secures a spot for the Olympic Games to be held in Paris next year. Unlike New Zealand, this team certainly has a greater motive. The fact is that, on paper, New Zealand is a much better team. The court will show whether they will justify that, while Egypt simply has nothing more to lose. Will that added motivation be enough for them?
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New Zealand vs Egypt H2H
New Zealand and Egypt have never met before in their history.
Absences and Injuries
For New Zealand, the Webster brothers and Steven Adams are not present. For Egypt, there are no absentees, and they are playing with their strongest lineup. In both teams, there are no injured players.
New Zealand vs Egypt Prediction
In this matchup, as we already mentioned, New Zealand doesn’t have a specific motive. The only thing of some significance for them would be to finish the FIBA World Cup with a victory, as that’s always better than a defeat. Global bookmakers give them a significant role as favorites. On the other hand, Egypt has reasons to give their last ounce of strength.
We predict that in the event of a win that will not be by a margin larger than what’s proposed. Also, for the more daring, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Egypt “steals” this victory.
Tip-off Time: Saturday, 02.09.2023, 10:45 CET
Prediction: Egypt +6.5
Odds: 1.75
Sportsbook: 22Bet
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