Euroleague Week 2 Expert Picks for Thursday, 12th October: Top Picks for the Second Round of Action in the Euroleague

Action returns to the Euroleague on Thursday, October 12th, with the highly anticipated second round taking center stage. The initial round was brimming with surprises, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the excitement the second round has in store.

Basketball expert Agbeniga Ayobami offers her insights on some of the matches scheduled for Thursday.

For more daily basketball tips, visit the bettingexpert community, and for more expert predictions, visit Expert Insights.

In this article:

• Euroleague Week 2 Expert Picks: 12th October, 2023.
• Anadolu Efes vs Real Madrid: Can Efes Best the Champions?
• Alba Berlin vs Baskonia: Both Sides Desperate to Return to Winning Ways
• Panathinaikos vs Bayern: Panathinaikos Aim to Bounce Back
• Safer Gambling

Euroleague Week 2 Expert Picks: 12th October, 2023

• Real Madrid +4.5 at 1.59 odds
• Total over 162.5 at 1.57 odds
• Panathinaikos -3.5 at 1.50 odds

Odds available as of 10th October, 2023. Odds may now differ.

Anadolu Efes vs Real Madrid: Can Efes Best the Champions?

Anadolu Efes Istanbul had a rocky start to their season, suffering a disappointing 91-74 loss to FC Barcelona on Thursday night. Barcelona showcased their dominance, outrebounding Efes 35-25 and converting an impressive 72.6% of their two-point attempts. The final 17-point gap in score was the widest of the night, only surpassed by Crvena Zvezda’s 21-point lead over Lyon-Villeurbanne in the first round of the Euroleague.

Shane Larkin led Can Erdem’s squad with 16 points and 12 assists, although their efforts fell short. New additions to the team, such as Darius Thompson (formerly of Baskonia – ESP) contributed with 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists, Tyrique Jones (from Turk Telekom) with 10 points and 4 rebounds, Erkan Yilmaz (also from Turk Telekom) with 3 points and 1 assist, and
Derek Willis (formerly of Venezia – ITA) with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Anadolu Efes bounced back in their domestic game, defeating Cagdas Bodrum Spor with a score of 87-75. Team captain Rodrigue Beaubois and other new signings played vital roles in securing the victory. They maintain an undefeated record in their league this season and currently share the top spot with Galatasaray, both having earned 4 points.

On the other hand, the reigning champion, Real Madrid, kicked off their season with a thrilling road win of 79-77 against Baskonia. Despite missing several key players, including top rebounders Walter Tavares and Gabriel Deck, Real Madrid fought hard throughout the game. The hosts enjoyed a physical advantage and held the lead for most of the match, even having a 75-69 advantage midway through the final period.

However, Real Madrid refused to accept defeat and relied on a barrage of three-pointers, sinking 15 out of 39 attempts from beyond the arc. Guerschon Yabusele played a crucial role, scoring 18 points, including 4 three-pointers, and grabbing 8 rebounds. Sergio Llull also contributed with 4 triples in his 15 points. Dzanan Musa (13 points) and Vincent Poirier (10 points) both secured 7 rebounds each, showcasing a team effort that led to the victory.

In the Spanish league, Jesus Mateo’s team are performing impressively, having defeated Basquet Girona 93-74 in their last game, placing them at the top of the table with 8 points from the 4 games they’ve played so far. Real Madrid remain undefeated in their last 7 games, indicating that they will put up a strong fight at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul to secure the much-needed points.

• Expert Pick: Real Madrid +4.5
• Best odds: (1.59)
• Bookmaker: (Marathonbet)
• Stakes: 5/10

Alba Berlin vs Baskonia: Both Sides Desperate to Return to Winning Ways

Bayern showcased a stellar defensive performance in the second half and asserted their dominance in rebounding to kick off the season with an impressive comeback victory over Alba Berlin in the highly anticipated German derby. Johanness Thiemann and Louis Olinde shared the top scoring honors for Alba with 12 points each.

On the other hand, Baskonia found themselves unable to withstand the resilience of the reigning champions, Real Madrid, suffering a narrow 77-79 defeat in front of their home fans during the opening round of Euroleague action. Baskonia controlled the game and held the lead for the first three quarters, but unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain their advantage in the final quarter, resulting in a significant loss. However, they showed resilience in their domestic league, bouncing back with an organized performance to defeat Granada 90-81.

In league clashes, Alba couldn’t recover from their Euroleague loss as they were defeated 100-88 by Ulm. Conversely, Baskonia seemed to have learned from their Euroleague defeat and displayed improved organization in their victory over Granada.

Considering the previous two games between these teams resulted in high-scoring games with 180 and 169 points, respectively, and both sides are eager to return to the winning ways after their opening game losses, it’s likely that this desire for victory will reflect in the point total of the upcoming game.

• Expert Pick: Total over 162.5
• Best odds: (1.57)
• Bookmaker: (Marathonbet)
• Stakes: 3/10

Panathinaikos vs Bayern: Panathinaikos Aim to Bounce Back

Olympiacos Piraeus delivered a tough start to the season for Panathinaikos Athens by securing an 88-78 overtime victory at their Greek rival’s home turf. Olympiacos fought back from a 10-point deficit, and a closely contested game eventually headed into overtime, where Olympiacos seized control with a 12-point run to secure the win.

Kostas Sloukas led all scorers with 20 points, facing his former team, while Marius Grigonis contributed 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Juancho Hernangomez added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Panathinaikos in a losing effort.

The loss made it second consecutive defeat to Olympiacos, following a 75-51 loss in the Greece Super Cup. However, Panathinaikos bounced back to winning ways with an 82-71 victory over Marousi in the Greece Basket League. Panathinaikos have now won 5 of their last 7 games across all competitions.

Meanwhile, after a year away from the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, two-time champion head coach Pablo Laso made a triumphant return, guiding his new team, FC Bayern Munich, to a comeback win in their season opener. Bayern displayed a stellar second-half defense and controlled the boards to secure an 80-68 victory over Alba Berlin in the highly anticipated German derby.
They fought back from an 11-point deficit in the second quarter and limited their opponents to just 24 points in the second half. Bayern dominated the rebounding department, boasting a 49-17 advantage, including 20 offensive rebounds, tying a club record. Sylvain Francisco led Bayern with 17 points, Isaac Bonga recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and both Devin Booker and Leandro Bolmaro contributed 10 points each.

Pablo Laso and his team now aim to secure their second consecutive Euroleague victory as they face Panathinaikos at the O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens. However, it will be a challenging task for the German side as they have suffered defeat at the hands of Panathinaikos in 7 of their last 10 encounters.

• Expert Pick: Panathinaikos -3.5
• Best odds: (1.49)
• Bookmaker: (1xBet)
• Stakes: 2/10

SAFER GAMBLING

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