Round 2 in the NBL25 season was an exciting one with multiple games going right down to the wire. We were able to get on the right side of a couple of close results to take our season record to 12-4 and +5.4 Units. We now turn our attention to Round 3 where there are seven games on the schedule with the first of those getting underway on Thursday night. We bring you our free betting tips for all seven games below!
Also, we’re providing previews and expert betting tips for every game of the NBL25 season, so make sure to head over to our NBL Tips page regularly to keep up to date with all of our content.
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NBL25 Round 3 Preview & Betting Tips
Adelaide 36ers vs SE Melbourne Phoenix
Thursday 7:30pm AEST, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Click here for our full preview and best bet!
Cairns Taipans vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Friday 7:30pm AEST, Cairns Convention Centre
Click here for our full preview and best bet!
Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United
Friday 9:30pm AEST, RAC Arena
Click here for our full preview and best bet!
Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers
Saturday 5:30pm AEST, WIN Entertainment Centre
The Illawarra Hawks have had a superb start to the season with wins in their opening three games. They were the favourites in their first two games but had to overcome the odds against the Kings in their Freeway Series battle last weekend. All of their starting five scored double figure points against the Kings, making it two games in a row where that’s occurred.
The Adelaide 36ers lost their first two games of the season but came out on top at home against the Phoenix on Thursday night. Montrezl Harrell was injected into the starting lineup and it paid immediate dividends as he posted a double-double. Isaac Humphries and Kendric Davis also flourished with 22 points after a tough first couple of games.
The 36ers may have won on Thursday night but it was against a Phoenix outfit that has lost 13 of their last 14 games. They now face much tougher opposition in the Hawks who are flying and full of confidence. The line for this game has been set at 6.5 which is a number the Hawks have covered in all three of their wins so far. I expect them to make it four from four.
Illawarra Hawks -6.5
$1.92 (1 Unit)
Brisbane Bullets vs Sydney Kings
Saturday 8:00pm AEST, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
The Brisbane Bullets enter Round 3 with an 0-2 record but return to Brisbane for their first home game of the season. Slow starts have been the killer so far for the Bullets where they’re a combined -18. On the flip side, they’ve fought on strong to finish games and almost pulled off a miraculous comeback in their opening game of the season thanks to a 35-19 fourth quarter.
The Sydney Kings were humbled by their NSW rivals last weekend as they lost at home by seven points against the Hawks. That result came after the Kings too care of business in their opening two games with wins against the 36ers and the Wildcats. Star guard Jaylen Adams is the very early front runner for the MVP after a blistering start.
Unsurprisingly, the Kings are priced as the very hot favourites for this Saturday night clash. They have a clear talent advantage in this matchup and it’s tough to see them not winning easy here. Strange things do happen in such a talented league, but I do like the Kings to cover the spread.
Sydney Kings -6.5
$1.91 (1 Unit)
Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans
Sunday 2:30pm AEDT, John Cain Arena
Despite being without arguably their best player in Matthew Dellavedova, Melbourne United put on a clinic against the Wildcats in Perth on Friday night. They destroyed the Wildcats from start to finish to win by 29 points and notch their third win of the season from four attempts.
Meanwhile, the Taipans have bounced back superbly from what was a horror showing in their opening game of the season. They lost their opener to the Hawks by 27 points but have secured back-to-back wins against the 36ers and the JackJumpers. Importantly, star guard Taran Armstrong made his return on Friday night and was superb in the win.
United on their home deck are always a tough proposition and they were always going to start this game as the hot favourites. However, I think the Snakes have been a touch disrespected with the line being set at 9.5 points. If they can bring a similar level of play to what they produced last outing, then there’s no reason why they can’t push United all the way here.
Cairns Taipans +9.5
$1.91 (1 Unit)
Tasmania JackJumpers vs Perth Wildcats
Sunday 4:30pm AEDT, MyState Bank Arena
The JackJumpers were well beaten by the Taipans in their opening game of Round 3 despite being the favourites. The defending champions are now 1-2 on the season with both losses coming on the road. The good news for the Jackies is they return home to the Nest on Sunday and their only game there to date was a strong nine-point win against United.
The Wildcats were humiliated in front of their home fans in their opening game of Round 3, as they went down to United by 29 points. Bryce Cotton had his second straight poor game, and the Cats were without a couple of key players in the loss. They’ve now lost two on the spin and will be looking to respond on Sunday.
It’s an interesting game to finish the round with both teams coming off poor showings in their first game of Round 3. I expect both clubs to bring increased intensity to this clash, although I do have to lean towards the JackJumpers on their home deck, especially considering how poor the Wildcats were on Friday.
Tasmania JackJumpers -3.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
