Montenegro vs Ukraine Prediction 31 August 2026

Recently, Montenegro’s basketball team faced Georgia and suffered a heavy 74-101 defeat. Offensively, Montenegro are clearly struggling, and there’s little to suggest they’ll significantly improve on their recent average of 70.6 points per game over the last ten outings. Yes, American guard Yogi Ferrell has been naturalized, but his addition alone is unlikely to solve their scoring woes. Traditionally, Montenegro rely on their size and physicality, and that’s where they’ll need to maximize their advantages. Most likely, the hosts will lean towards a defensive approach - after all, they simply don’t have the firepower for a high-scoring shootout.

Ukraine have brought a fairly solid squad for this international window, with Shulga and Mykhailiuk expected to take the floor. Both players offer a well-rounded skill set, and it’s likely that this duo will drive most of the offense. However, it’s hard to see the visitors replicating their recent success against Greece (82-76). While there are a few reliable options in the lineup, the rest of the roster lacks the experience of their opponents. In this scenario, Ukraine will have to rely heavily on their defense. Additionally, the isolation plays run by their star duo are likely to eat up the shot clock - don’t expect many quick possessions in this matchup.