The previous year had presented sports fans with many interesting and memorable events. In basketball, too, there had been a lot of excitement. However, it’s 2023 with the Euroleague regular season round of 17 still to come. Zalgiris Kaunas will host Fenerbahce.
Tournament – Turkish Airlines Euroleague;
Date – 05.01.2023;
Kick-Off – 18:00 UK;
Venue – Žalgiris Arena (15.415);
City – Kaunas, Lithuania.
Bookmaker Ratings: Prediction #1 – Handicap (+4) for Zalgiris – 1.872.
Bookmaker Ratings: Prediction #2 – Total Points Under 160 – 1.54.
Bookmaker Ratings: Prediction #3 – Zalgiris Kaunas Points Over 76.5 – 1.936.
Zalgiris Kaunas has every chance of achieving another success. The Lithuanians are playing well at home, so it’s not impossible that they can take on Fenerbahce. The Turks are still far from overcoming their crisis. Their performance is far too fragile. It’s very likely that they won’t be able to put up a good fight in Kaunas.
Zalgiris is a cautious team. The Lithuanians don’t give their opponents much space in the home court. Because of that, most of their games are drawn. Given that Fenerbahce is in crisis, we don’t think anything will change much.
The Lithuanians have scored more than 76 points in 3 of their last 4 home games.
Zalgiris is performing well on home soil. Maksvytis’ men have lost only two games at home this season. In the other six games, they won. Those wins put the Lithuanians in ninth place in the standings. They stand a good chance of clinching one of the playoffs.
It should be noted that Zalgiris lost its last game. Last week, the team from Kaunas fought Monaco on the road. Maksvytis’s men looked good, but their luck was not on their side that night (82-84). In that match, Rolands Smits scored 18 points and 5 rebounds.
Zalgiris has won 75% of its home games of the season.
In Zalgiris’ games, 155 points are scored on average.
Fenerbahçe is in crisis. Dimitrios Itoidis’s side has lost its last four games and is relegated to fifth, although they were on top recently.
That’s not to say the Istanbul side has performed poorly in recent matches. The Canaries could have beaten Partizan and Virtus Bologna, but they were unlucky. They lost to the Serbs (72-73) and to the Italians (88-92).
In the game against Virtus Bologna, Johnathan Motley scored 26 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists.
In Fenerbahce’s games, 160 points are scored on average.
In our opinion, the teams will take to the field with the following line-ups:
Zalgiris Kaunas: Keenan Evans – Ignas Brazdeikis – Edgaras Ulanovas – Rolands Smits – Kevarrius Hayes.
Fenerbahce: Nick Calathes – Scottie Wilbekin – Nigel Hayes – Dyshawn Pierre – Kostas Antetokounmpo.
The fixture will be played at Žalgiris Arena (15.415) in Kaunas, Lithuania.
This starting whistle will sound on the 5th of January 2023, at 18:00 UK Time.
We recommend checking out the odds for the Turkish Airlines Euroleague: Zalgiris Kaunas vs Fenerbahce at 1xBet.