Adam Williams presents his prediction for the EuroBasket 2025 qualifying match.
The situation in Group A is intriguing, with three teams tied at five points each. The matchup between Slovenia and Portugal sees two of these leaders face off, where a victory would almost ensure a place in the final tournament.
Slovenia
Slovenia's main issue lies in their notably weak defence, conceding an average of 78 points per game. A significant factor is their high turnover rate; in their last outing, the team committed 19 turnovers compared to just 21 assists. It's also worth mentioning their underwhelming performance on the boards, as they managed only 34 rebounds in the previous match, while Portugal secured 42.
Portugal
Portugal, on the other hand, have a much stronger defensive setup, allowing just 74.3 points on average. They excel in rebounding, with an impressive average of 37.3 per game. Additionally, the coaching staff has successfully improved their offensive play, as evidenced by their 82-point performance in the first game of the second qualifying stage, with 11 different players contributing to the scoreline.
Slovenia vs Portugal Prediction
Last week, Portugal comfortably defeated Slovenia at home (82:74). They now aim to solidify that success on the road. Despite being underdogs, we believe they have an excellent chance to do so in this outing.
