Zalgiris Kaunas vs Besiktas Istanbul Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Round 10

Besiktas needed the comeback of the season to win in Bologna last Friday, and Lonnie Walker dragged them through it almost alone. Zalgiris arrive in Istanbul on Friday on a quieter run, three straight wins built on defense and the glass, against a home team that scores freely and gives it all straight back.

The Matchup

These two have never met in this competition, and they arrive in very different moods. Zalgiris have won three straight, beating ASVEL 105-85 at home, winning 91-74 at Virtus Bologna and holding off Partizan 87-80 in Kaunas, and they sit at 5-4. Besiktas are 4-5 after the wildest win of last week, a 103-101 victory at Virtus where they trailed by 13 points with under four minutes left and still got out with the game.

The visitors are carried by two players in form. Carsen Edwards is Zalgiris's top scorer at 15.8 points per game, and he led them again against Partizan with 17 points and 4 assists. Jonas Valanciunas gives them a second problem in a different place.

He scored 17 points with 11 rebounds at Virtus and followed it with 16 points and 8 rebounds against Partizan, and his 8.1 rebounds per game lead the league. Azuolas Tubelis chips in from the frontcourt at 11.3 points per game, so Zalgiris score from the guard spot, the block and everywhere in between.

Besiktas lean much harder on one man. Lonnie Walker IV returned in Round 9 after missing Round 8 and produced 30 points on 7 of 11 three-point shooting, with 5 assists and a performance index rating of 36 that won him the round's MVP award.

Scottie Wilbekin added 16 points in Bologna, and when Walker fires like that Besiktas can outscore anyone for a night. The question is how often a team can ask for that. Walker has played just two games in this competition for Besiktas, and the rest of the offense has to hold up on the nights he is merely good.

Key Factors

The gap in this game is at the defensive end. Besiktas score 90.0 points per game but allow 91.8, the leakiest defense in this matchup by a distance, while Zalgiris allow just 84.0 per game.

That leak has hurt most at home, where Besiktas have won just one of their four games in Istanbul. Zalgiris also control the glass, pulling down 39.3 rebounds per game to Besiktas's 31.1, and they shoot 41.2 percent from three-point range, so a defense that gives up second chances and open looks is playing into their hands twice over.

Availability favors the visitors, with two home names to watch. Nigel Williams-Goss is out for Zalgiris. He last played in Round 6 and is dealing with a hamstring injury, and the rest of the Zalgiris rotation has no listing on the Round 10 report. DaQuan Jeffries is out for Besiktas.

He has been sidelined since a wrist injury in Round 1 that required surgery, and Mady Sissoko is out as well. Ante Zizic is questionable to play on Friday. He did not play in Round 9 and was not on the roster for Monday's Turkish League game. Keep an eye on whether Ante Zizic plays before placing a bet.

Devon Dotson is questionable to play on Friday too. He was ruled out for Rounds 8 and 9 and also missed Monday's domestic game. Furkan Korkmaz is the counterpoint: he missed Rounds 8 and 9 but played 12 minutes in the Turkish League on Monday, so he is working his way back rather than sitting out.

Neither side is on short rest. Both last played in this competition on October 30, and both won domestic games on Monday, Zalgiris taking the derby 94-89 at Rytas Vilnius behind 24 points from Dustin Sleva and Besiktas beating Cayirova 93-76 at home. Zalgiris make the trip to Istanbul with the steadier defense, the stronger glass and the deeper recent form. Besiktas have the loudest single scorer in the game and a home crowd, and they will need both at full volume.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.