Gunma Crane Thunders vs. Akita Northern Happinets Prediction, Tips & Odds – Dec. 19, 2021
Akita has stepped up their game since the international break. With four wins from their last five games, they are climbing up the standings and currently sit at sixth place. Yesterday they were too strong for Gunma to build a double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter and eventually win comfortably 82:72.
With their top-level defense Akita are always in playoff contention and able to beat the top teams in the league. They proved that a week ago when they took down title favorites Alvark twice at home. In the middle of this week, they had a very tough away game against Utsunomiya who proved too strong and won 87:72 but Akita immediately rebounded yesterday with a dominant win.
🎉記録達成🎉
本日12/18(土)群馬クレインサンダーズ戦で #川嶋勇人 選手がB1個人通算400スティールを達成🙌🙌🙌
史上2人目の達成となります✨記録達成記念グッズは後日販売予定です‼️
お楽しみに～🥰今季のスティールをまとめた映像はこちら💁♂️ https://t.co/jcWUbQq6tz#ハヤト#akitanh #Bリーグ pic.twitter.com/TUnEPXuokz
— 秋田ノーザンハピネッツ (@AKITA_NH) December 18, 2021
It was much easier for them since Gunma have a depleted squad without several key players including one of their best scorers American import Justin Keenan and starting center Ondrej Balvin from the Czech Republic. These are huge absences and big blows for them so it comes as no surprise they only kept up with Akita for one-half yesterday.
Today same problems await Gunma who despite home-court advantage are aware their chances are very slim. They clinched promotion last season and looked very stable throughout most of this season but these absences could seriously handicap their progress.
【4Q END】
72点 #群馬クレインサンダーズ
82点 #秋田ノーザンハピネッツ30 #山崎稜
この悔しさを明日の試合にぶつけ⚡️
明日は勝利を‼️💪
本日も熱い🔥応援ありがとうございました🙇♂️#バスケットLIVE で配信📡https://t.co/GrjfwcSAq4#群馬クレインサンダーズ🆚#秋田ノーザンハピネッツ pic.twitter.com/QLLWO8pyGc— 群馬クレインサンダーズ (@gunmacrane3ders) December 18, 2021
On the other hand, Akita´s injury list is slowly clearing as their starting center and biggest addition during the offseason, Colton Iverson, is back from injury and in full form. With a healthy roster, their recent form has been superb as they are playing much more aggressive defense and have more offensive production from their new center who missed almost half of the games this season because of an injury.
Gunma Crane Thunders vs. Akita Northern Happinets Prediction
In yesterday´s game huge absences were too much to handle for the hosts who disappeared in the third quarter and went down by almost 20 points losing the game. Akita has plenty of firepower and is in excellent form so they should once again take advantage of Gunma´s issues and get an important away win in the playoff battle.
Pick: Handicap Akita (-3.5)
Odds: 1.72
Bookmaker: 22Bet
[single_affiliate_xl title=”22bet” ]
