The NBL continues this week with a huge eight matches scheduled for Round 3, including double-headers on both Saturday and Sunday. As always, we bring you our best bets from the best value games of the round, which you can find below. Good luck to everyone following!
NBL Round 3 Betting Tips
Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday 27th Jan, 7:30pm AEDT
Adelaide 36ers players have certainly earned their paycheque in the first two rounds, playing four matches, two of which were decided in overtime. They come into Round 3 all square at 2-2 and have a chance to go above .500 for the first time this season with a win here.
New Zealand Breakers have only played the one game so far, which was a nail-biting loss against the 36ers. The Breakers were on top for much of the contest but were unable to run out the game the way they would’ve liked, with a couple of their players lacking fitness due to a limited preseason.
These clubs will be meeting for the second time in less than a week when they suit up on Wednesday night, so you can expect there’s going to be plenty of adjustments made by coaches on both ends of the floor. With that said, we expect the Breakers to be the improvers after their game last weekend as it was really the first time a lot of their guys have played together. With a bit more continuity and some run in their legs, we expect them to get the job done against what we believe is one of the lesser-talented teams in the league.
Cairns Taipans vs The Hawks
Thursday 28th Jan, 7:30pm AEDT
Cairns Taipans certainly haven’t had the start that both they and many of us thought they would. They’re 1-3 after two rounds and all four of their games have been at the Snake Pit. Their most recent game was a nail-biting two-point loss against the title-fancies in Melbourne United.
The Hawks have been the surprise packet of NBL21 so far with three wins in as many games. New head coach Brian Goorjian has had an immediate impact on his new-look Hawks, particularly on the defensive end where they’re giving up just a tick over 80 points a night.
The different defensive schemes the Hawks have been utilising throughout the course of a game has made it incredibly difficult for opposing teams to find any rhythm, which has led to the ‘Unders’ saluting in all three of their games. The bookies are yet to adjust their lines accordingly, so we recommend targeting this market again here.
Melbourne United vs SE Melbourne Phoenix
Sunday 31st Jan, 3pm AEDT
Melbourne United talked the talk in the pre-season but have managed to walk the walk so far through two games. They opened up their campaign with a dominant road win over the 36ers and backed it up with a narrow victory over the talented Taipans at the Snake Pit.
South East Melbourne Phoenix have had a mixed bag so far in their second season in the competition. They kicked their campaign off with a tough overtime loss against Adelaide, before bouncing back against them in their second game. Most recently, Phoenix went down to Perth on the road to take them to 1-2 coming into Round 3.
United three of four meetings between these clubs last season, including each of the last three. They’ve certainly improved their roster in the off-season, while the jury is still out on Phoenix’s squad. We have United getting the job done comfortably in their first meeting this season, covering the small spread in the process.
Melbourne United -4.5
$1.90
