We hit on three of four of our NBL betting tips last weekend to continue what has been a very profitable season to date. We now shift our focus to the first round of the new year and look to get the ball rolling. Good luck to everyone following!
NBL Round 12 Betting Tips
Cairns Taipans vs Brisbane Bullets (Thursday 7:50pm AEDT)
The first game of the round sees the Taipans host the Bullets in Cairns. This is the second meeting between these teams this season. Interestingly, the first time they met was in Round 1, and it was the Taipans who won that match-up by 18 points. However, months later that win remains their only one of the season.
There’s not too much you can say about the Taipans at this point. They’ve lost 14 on the spin and their season is well and truly done and dusted.
On the other hand, the Bullets continue to surprise with scalp after scalp. They now sit in fourth position on the ladder with a 9-8 record, and don’t look like slowing down anytime soon.
We’re surprised to see the line open at -4.5 here. Although the Taipans won the opening fixture between these teams, they’ve done absolutely nothing since. Also, in all 14 of their losses they’ve lost by 5+ points. Seems like great value on Thursday night,
Brisbane Bullets -4.5
$1.94
Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers (Friday 7:50pm AEDT)
Second up we have the Breakers travelling to Adelaide to take on the 36ers. This is an interesting and very important battle between two teams vying for the final spot in the finals.
The 36ers come into this in some really strong form having won each of their last four games and six of their last eight. This recent stretch has propelled them to fifth position on the ladder and only percentage outside the top four.
Meanwhile, the Breakers have won two of their last three, but other than that have had a pretty poor season to date.
These teams played in Round 11 in the exact same fixture, and it was the 36ers who reigned supreme by 11 points. We don’t see too much changing this time around and are happy to back them in to get the job done once more.
Adelaide 36ers -3.5
$1.90
Illawarra Hawks vs Sydney Kings (Saturday 2:50pm AEDT)
The lone Saturday game this weekend has the Illawarra Hawks playing host to the Sydney Kings at 2:50pm (AEDT). This will be the third of four meeting for the season in a regular season series the Kings currently lead 2-0.
The Hawks really let us down last weekend in a game I truly thought they would win. For one reason or another though, they just never looked likely. That loss has their season on a knifes edge at 7-10 and a couple of games outside the playoff picture.
On the other hand, the Kings look every bit of the contenders we thought they’d be heading into the season. They’re starting to fire on all cylinders and now sit on top of the NBL ladder at 11-5 after some really strong rounds.
The Kings have won both games between these teams really comfortably this season and we don’t see this being any different. Although we do expect the Hawks to respond after last weekend’s embarrassment, the skill gap is too much here.
New Zealand Breakers vs Perth Wildcats (Sunday 12pm AEDT)
The first of two Sunday games has the Breakers hosting the Wildcats in New Zealand. This will be the fourth and final meeting between these teams in the regular season. As it stands, the Wildcats lead 3-0, so the Breakers will be desperately trying to avoid a sweep.
This will be the second game of the round for the Breakers after travelling to Adelaide on Friday, making this a bit of a tricky one to predict.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats snapped a losing streak against the Taipans last weekend, which keeps them in touch with United and the Kings at the top of the table.
There are quite a few variables making this one a tricky proposition, however, at the time of writing we do favour the Breakers on their home court to avoid the dreaded sweep.
Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United (Sunday 2pm AEDT)
The second and final Sunday game will see the Brisbane Bullets host Melbourne United. These teams have already faced off three times this season, which means this will be the last time of the regular season. The Bullets currently have a 2-1 advantage.
This will be the Bullets second game of the round after facing the Taipans in Cairns on Thursday. It shouldn’t be the most draining encounter in Cairns, plus the break is long enough for fatigue not to be a factor here for the Bullets.
For United, well this will be their first game of the new year, meaning they will be super fresh coming into Brisbane. United have had a few indifferent weeks of late, but they’ve got enough class to flick the switch when push comes to shove.
This is another tricky one to predict at this point in time, but we do feel that United will begin to flex their guns in the new year and surge towards the top of the ladder.
Melbourne United Win
$1.80
Cairns Taipans vs Sydney Kings (Monday 7:50pm AEDT)
The final game of Round 12 has the Cairns Taipans taking on the Sydney Kings in a top vs bottom clash.
Again, the Taipans are a basket case and will most likely have 15 consecutive losses under their belts coming into this fixture. In contrast, the Kings are top of the ladder at the time of writing and will have arguably four of the top five players on the court in this match-up.
We expect nothing other than a straight forward win to the Kings on Monday.
