EuroLeague Primer: Round 13 - Wednesday

Written by

Kevin O'Brien

Updated on December 14, 2022 2:06PM EST

PREGAME UPDATES

Isaia Cordinier and Alessandro Pajola will be available Wednesday for Virtus Bologna.
ALBA's Gabriele Procida and Christ Koumadje will suit up for Round 13, but Yannick Wetzell will not.
Monaco's Jordan Loyd will not play Wednesday.
Barcelona's Cory Higgins, Sertac Sanli and Oscar da Silva will be available for Round 13.
Shane Larkin will not play Wednesday for Efes.
Baskonia's Arturs Kurucs will suit up for Round 13.

STATS AND INFO.

THE SLATE

BKN Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz at EFS Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Status Check: Pierria Henry (BKN), Arturs Kurucs (BKN), Shane Larkin (EFS), Dogus Balbay (EFS)

The Breakdown: If the over/under is any indication, the first game of the day will be a fun one, as at least on one website the total points expected exceeds 170.0. Each club is expected to be down a key guard, but there will still be enough scorers left over to pile up points in bunches. The reigning champions have ran off five wins in a row, and the experts expect them to make it six, as they are favored by as many as 8.5 points on their home court. The margin could wind up closer according to at least one metric, as Efes owns only a 2.3-point edge in net rating.

Best Bets for Success: The two priciest options on the DraftKings slate are both on the Efes roster, but they are also averaging more points on that website than anyone else available. It's tough separating Vasilije Micic and Will Clyburn, but the former may be a bit better option in this one, as Baskonia will presumably be down its top perimeter defender in Henry and is allowing guards to get up 10 more shots per game than forwards. It has been tough separating Baskonia's guards of late, but if Henry indeed sits out, Darius Thompson looks like his club's best option for Round 13. Thompson averaged 32.7 DraftKings points in the four games Henry has not appeared in, and he will be a double-double threat in an up-and-down game.

Fantasy Factors: Rodrigue Beaubois is getting a bit pricey on DraftKings, but he has now topped the 30-point mark on that website in four straight appearances and put up a season-best 40.0 points his last time out. Barring a Larkin return, he should remain the third option behind the top two producers on the Efes side. Baskonia ranks bottom-3 against centers in points, rebounds and assists, so you could also consider Ante Zizic and Tibor Pleiss in this one. Markus Howard's DraftKings price is down to $8,200, which makes him tough to overlook Wednesday. A Henry absence would afford him some extra opportunities, and he is plenty capable of capitalizing. It's tough to find much else to like on the Baskonia side, but Steven Enoch's minutes are trending upward, and he could be worth a dart throw on DraftKings at $5,700.

BAR FC Barcelona at ASM AS Monaco

Status Check: Cory Higgins (BAR), Sertac Sanli (BAR), Alex Abrines (BAR), Oscar da Silva (BAR), Sergi Martinez (BAR), Jordan Loyd (ASM)

The Breakdown: In what is anticipated to be the closest contest of the evening, the Spanish squad that sits in fifth place will head to the principality to take on second-place Monaco. The hosts are 4-1 on their home court this season, but the oddsmakers have given a slight edge to the visitors, who are favored by fewer than 2.0 points across the board. Both teams profile pretty similarly, with Barcelona checking in less than a point better in net rating. However, Monaco will likely be down one part of its dynamic backcourt trio.

Best Bets for Success: Nikola Mirotic has led his team in DraftKings points in both games he has appeared in, and no player on the slate is returning more average value at his price point. He has an appealing matchup with Monaco ranking bottom-4 against forwards in points, rebounds and three-pointers, but Monaco handled him fairly well last season and his minutes could remain limited, so he is not a slam dunk. Should you pass on Mirotic you could look at Nicolas Laprovittola, who has hit the 20-point mark on DraftKings in seven straight appearances. Mike James remains the man for Monaco, and he is returning some of the most value on the board. He has put up at least 31.3 DraftKings points in three straight matchups with the Spanish squad.

Fantasy Factors: With Loyd unlikely to go, both Elie Okobo and Alpha Diallo could be counted on to pick up the slack in the scoring department. Okobo has the edge in the matchup, but Diallo has recorded more DraftKings points than his teammate in four straight Rounds, and neither player will run you more than $8,900 on that website. Barcelona will likely be pretty close to full strength, but with Abrines still out, Kyle Kuric looks pretty appealing on DraftKings at just $4,200. Tomas Satoransky brings plenty of upside to the table at $8,400. It's tough to find a lot more to like, as no team is ceding fewer points and field goal attempts to opposing centers than Monaco.

BER ALBA Berlin at VIR Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Status Check: Christ Koumadje (BER), Marcus Eriksson (BER), Gabriele Procida (BER), Semi Ojeleye (VIR), Isaia Cordinier (VIR), Alessandro Pajola (VIR), Awudu Abass (VIR), Leo Menalo (VIR)

The Breakdown: Round 13 wraps up in Italy with a matchup between two teams in desperate need of a win. Virtus has not picked up a EuroLeague win since Nov. 17, and ALBA comes in having lost nine straight in the continental competition. The home team is favored by as many as 6.0 points, but ALBA does fare better in both net rating and point differential, so there is at least reason to believe they will be the team that puts an end to its losing streak.

Best Bets for Success: No one on either team has been particularly consistent of late, so we're still going to give the edge to Luke Sikma for ALBA and Jordan Mickey for Virtus. Sikma has put up at least 30.3 DraftKings points four times this season, and Virtus ranks bottom-4 against forwards in points and FGA. Mickey did at least put up at least 25.0 DraftKings points in four of five appearances prior to Round 12, and his minutes could pick up with Ojeleye out.

Fantasy Factors: ALBA ranks bottom-5 against guards in points, assists, three-pointers and FGA, which could allow both Iffe Lundberg and Milos Teodosic to get back on track -- particularly if Cordinier and Pajola sit out. Kyle Weems will also be in consideration on DraftKings at $6,000. Jaleen Smith averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.9 triples over his last seven appearances, which gives him some appeal at $8,600. You could also bank on a breakout from Maodo Lo, who is far too talented to be listed at just $7,300.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Kevin O'Brien plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kevob100, DraftKings: kevob100.