Battle for the top of the EuroLeague: prediction for Olympiacos vs Dubai Basketball
BC Olympiakos Piraeus
Dubai Basketball
Olympiacos and Dubai will meet on Thursday, November 12, in Round 11 of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will be played in Piraeus, with tip-off at 20:15 Central European Time. My pick is the over on the game total.
Head-to-head and stats
- Olympiacos have won five of their previous six meetings.
- Dubai are on a four-game winning streak.
- Dubai have won eight consecutive road games.
- The teams split their home games last season.
Olympiacos: home-court advantage and dominance on the glass
Olympiacos come into this game with a 7-3 record, sitting among the EuroLeague leaders. The Greek club average 87.2 points per game and allow 81.6. They have shown a fairly solid defense and boast one of the league’s best offensive rebounding numbers. Olympiacos pull down an average of 13.1 offensive boards per game, regularly creating extra scoring opportunities.
Their recent EuroLeague results have been mixed. Olympiacos fell 62-57 to Crvena Zvezda, having previously lost 64-61 to Fenerbahce. However, they won their three games before that: 105-100 away to Barcelona, 81-73 against Besiktas and 84-78 against Milan. The win over the Catalans was especially significant, showcasing the Greeks’ offensive potential against a strong opponent.
In the domestic league, Olympiacos remain one of the main title contenders, as usual. They have a deep rotation and can adjust the pace of the game to suit the situation. Ahead of their matchup with Dubai, though, it is worth noting that their last two EuroLeague defeats came against teams that managed to limit the effectiveness of the Greek side’s offense.
Sasha Vezenkov remains the team’s leading offensive star, averaging 19.1 points per game. The Bulgarian forward can score effectively both around the rim and from mid-range, while his movement without the ball creates extra opportunities for his teammates. Evan Fournier also plays a key role, with his presence noticeably boosting the team’s offensive efficiency.
Dubai: high-powered offense and impressive road form
Dubai also have seven wins and three losses after ten rounds of EuroLeague action. They average 88 points per game, slightly outscoring Olympiacos. However, they allow 84.1 points per game, suggesting their defense is less reliable.
Dubai have been in excellent form in their recent EuroLeague games. They beat Virtus Bologna 93-75 on the road, Hapoel Tel Aviv 97-83, Bayern 107-91 and Milan 101-97. Their only defeat in that stretch came against Paris, in a 99-93 loss. Dubai have therefore won four of their last five games in the competition and arrive in Piraeus with plenty of offensive firepower.
Dubai’s strong road form is a major asset. They have won four of their five EuroLeague away games, showing they can remain effective even in challenging conditions. Dubai do not rely solely on home-court advantage and can impose a fast-paced style on their opponents.
Against Olympiacos, however, they will need to focus on controlling the boards and preventing second-chance points, as the Greek club often creates extra opportunities through its activity around the rim.
What’s the best bet?
Olympiacos have home-court advantage, a more reliable defense and a strong presence on the boards. Dubai, meanwhile, are more efficient offensively and come into the game having won four of their last five EuroLeague outings. A tight matchup is expected between two teams with identical win-loss records. Olympiacos can make the most of their edge around the rim and the support of the home crowd, but Dubai have the scoring power and road form to keep the game close. My pick is over 184 total points.
