The NBL23 season is heating up and so are we with our betting tips. Fresh off a +6.5-unit round, we look to continue our momentum with some more great plays in Round 15.
Jake Smit brings you his best NBL tips for all 11 games in Round 15 below!
Also, if you’re looking for a new sportsbook who provide quality odds and a broad range of markets, why not try Betr? They emerged on the scene in 2022 and are quickly becoming one of the major players in the Australian betting industry.
NBL Round 15 Preview & Betting Tips
Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Tuesday January 10th, 7:30pm AEDT, WIN Entertainment Centre
Kicking us off in Round 15 we have the Hawks taking on the JackJumpers in Wollongong.
The injury bug has had a field day with the Hawks this season and claimed import Michael Frazier as its latest victim. Frazier joins fellow imports Peyton Siva and Jerome Robinson on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
Injuries, along with poor form have made this a season to forget for Hawks fans. They’ve witnessed just two wins from their team for the entire season and it’s likely they won’t see another one in NBL23 with how things are trending.
Meanwhile, the JackJumpers lost against United last start to make it two losses from their last three games. I expect them to be fired up for this one and to whip the Hawks just like they did when they met only a couple of weeks ago (87-60).
Tasmania JackJumpers -9.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers
Tuesday January 10th, 9:30pm AEDT, RAC Arena
*Click here for our full preview and betting tips for this game*
Brisbane Bullets vs Sydney Kings
Wednesday January 11th, 7:30pm AEDT, Nissan Arena
The end of the season couldn’t come quick enough for the Bullets who are dishing up embarrassing performances on the regular. They were blown off their home court by the Taipans in Round 14 and now have to face the best team in the competition on Wednesday night.
The Kings are ramping up their intensity as we approach the business end of the season and will enter Round 15 on a four-game win streak. They thoroughly enjoyed their lengthy homestand by winning all four games by 16+ points.
These teams met twice really early on in the season and the Kings were easy winners in both games. The defending champions have only gotten better since then and I expect them to dominate this matchup again on Wednesday night.
Sydney Kings 11+
$1.98 (2 Units)
New Zealand Breakers vs Melbourne United
Thursday January 12th, 5:30pm AEDT, Christchurch Arena
The New Zealand Breakers have had to wait more than three months to get the chance to avenge their overtime loss against Melbourne United way back in Round 1 (97-101).
So much water has gone under the bridge since then, but you can expect their second battle to be just as, if not more intense as the first considering what’s at stake.
For the Breakers, they’re eyeing off a top-two spot and it’s imperative they defend home court as regular as possible if they’re to achieve that. While for United, every game is do or die as they continue their quest for a top six finish.
United have been firing since getting all of their key guys back from injury and head to New Zealand having won five of their last six games, including two in a row on the road. As long as they play at the level they’ve shown in recent games, they’ll be every chance of securing another vital win.
Melbourne United +6.5
$1.85 (1.5 Units)
Tasmania JackJumpers vs Adelaide 36ers
Thursday January 12th, 7:30pm AEDT, MyState Bank Arena
*Click here for our full preview and betting tips for this game*
Cairns Taipans vs Illawarra Hawks
Friday January 13th, 7:30pm AEDT, Cairns Convention Centre
The Taipans will continue their quest for a top two finish when they host the Hawks on Friday night. They enter this matchup in fantastic form after winning each of their last four games.
In more great news for Snakes’ fans, MVP candidate Keanu Pinder is expected to return for this one after missing the last couple due to injury. Pinder is the front-runner to win his second straight Most Improved Player award on the back of his 18 points and 10 rebounds per game averages.
Meanwhile, the Hawks will be trying to avoid their 10th straight defeat when they head up north. They began Round 15 with a narrow three-point loss against the JackJumpers, although the 92-89 score line flatters them quite a bit.
The Hawks are 0-10 on the road this season and are absolutely decimated by injuries, particularly at the guard positions. With that said, I simply can’t see them getting anywhere near the Snakes on this occasion.
Cairns Taipans 11+
$1.93 (2 Units)
Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United
Saturday January 14th, 5:30pm AEDT, Nissan Arena
After being humiliated by the Kings to the tune of 49 points in their Round 15 opener, the Bullets will now play hosts to one of the other form teams in the competition in Melbourne United.
Their performance on Wednesday night was nothing short of embarrassing, although unfortunately it wasn’t exactly surprising. They’ve now lost three straight games by double-figure margins and have suffered 11 such defeats for the season.
In contrast, United are absolutely flying at the minute and are now a legitimate chance to make the top six. They’ve won three straight on the road and two of those were in extremely difficult places to win in Tasmania and New Zealand.
One team has it all to play for, and the other has nothing to play for. That alone makes United the highly-deserving favourites. I expect them to dominate this matchup and deal the Bullets another double-digit loss on their home deck.
Value: Melbourne United -11.5 (1 Unit) - $3 @ Ladbrokes
Melbourne United -4.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
Saturday January 14th, 8pm AEDT, RAC Arena
The Wildcats secured a massive, massive win in the scheme of their season against the Breakers on Tuesday night. They trailed by five points heading into the final frame but were the more desperate team in the clutch and were able to come away with the chocolates.
The Wildcats had played eight of their last nine games on the road heading into that Tuesday night clash, but will now play at home in five of their seven remaining games, which puts them in the box seat to be one of six teams playing in the post-season.
After losing comfortably to the JackJumpers in Tasmania on Thursday night, the 36ers have now slipped to eighth in the standings. They’ve lost three of their last four games and are finding themselves in a form slump at the wrong time of the season.
Another loss for the 36ers on Saturday night would make it extremely difficult for them to finish in the top six. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what I expect to happen, and I’ll be backing in the Wildcats to cover the small spread as a result.
Perth Wildcats -3.5
$1.80 (1.5 Units)
New Zealand Breakers vs Cairns Taipans
Sunday January 15th, 2pm AEDT, Spark Arena
The Breakers are going through a bit of a form slump at the wrong time of the season. They’ve lost five of their last seven games including their Round 15 opener at home to Melbourne United.
In contrast, the Snakes are on a five-game winning run and have done the bulk of their work without MVP candidate Keanu Pinder. He will remain on the sidelines again on Sunday afternoon.
The form of the Snakes certainly looks a lot stronger than the Breakers at first glance, but three of their last five wins have been against bottom two sides and the other two wins were against an undermanned Phoenix and a volatile 36ers.
I’m not completely sold the Snakes form is as good as it looks and playing against the Breakers in New Zealand is certainly the toughest test they’ve had in some time. With that said, I’m leaning towards the home side to get the job done in a clash with massive finals implications.
New Zealand Breakers -2.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Sydney Kings vs Illawarra Hawks
Sunday January 15th, 4pm AEDT, Qudos Bank Arena
We have another edition of the Freeway Series on our hands this Sunday afternoon, with the Kings playing hosts to the Hawks. The Kings are looking to complete the season sweep after winning all three of their meetings so far in NBL23.
Although the Kings are at the top and the Hawks on the bottom of the standings, all three meetings have been close and entertaining affairs. The Kings have won their matchups by 9, 1 and 7 points respectively, and their second win was via a buzzer-beating three.
It’s felt like the Hawks have been up against it and were no chance of being competitive against their crosstown rivals on all three occasions, yet they seem to put in a good account of themselves every time. I’m expecting something similar again on Sunday afternoon, which makes the Hawks +13.5 the best way to play this one.
Illawarra Hawks +13.5
$1.97 (1 Unit)
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix vs Brisbane Bullets
Monday January 16th, 7:30pm AEDT, State Basketball Centre
South East Melbourne will finally return home to play in front of their fans after five straight games on the road. It was an awful road trip that ended with four straight losses and two of those were blowouts. Still, the Phoenix remain in the top six and will be confident they can turn the corner as they start to become healthy again.
The Bullets showed some fight in their recent loss to Melbourne United but still ended up going down by 10 points. They’ve now lost four straight games by double-figures and each of those were on their home deck.
The Phoenix have been a completely different beast at home (9-2) compared to on the road (3-9) this campaign and certainly don’t need to be world-beaters to come out on top against the Bullets. I expect them to bounce back in a big way and deal the Bullets another double-figure margin L.
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix -9.5
$1.85 (1 Unit)
