Round 12 in NBL25 continues on Friday night with a standalone fixture that should be an absolute cracker! It’s 1v2 with Melbourne United hosting Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena from 7:30pm AEDT. We bring you our full betting preview for this top of the table clash 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.
NBL25 Round 12 Preview & Betting Tips
Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks
Friday 7:30pm AEDT, John Cain Arena
Melbourne United experienced vastly different outcomes in their Round 11 double-header. They began with an easy 27-point win on the road against the Breakers but finished the weekend with a surprising eight-point home loss against the Bullets. Their recent loss snapped a five-game win streak which is the longest such streak by any team so far this season.
Sharpshooter Chris Goulding missed both games last weekend and will miss both again in Round 12, but is expected to return from his minor calf injury next weekend. Big man Marcus Lee is the other one with some injury issues and is expected to miss Friday night’s game, but is a chance to play against the Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.
The Illawarra Hawks began NBL25 in strong fashion with five wins from their first six games but have failed to really go on with it since. They’ve split their past eight games at 4-4 but were last start winners against the Wildcats in an absolute shootout at RAC Arena, which was one of their better wins for the season so far. The Hawks enter Round 12 at 9-5 and currently occupy second spot on the ladder and will remain there regardless of this weekend’s results.
The Hawks have had a blessed run with health this season, particularly in recent weeks. The only player currently listed on the official NBL injury report is Dan Grida who continues to work through a calf complaint, but even he is a nearing a return to the court.
Game Prediction: What a cracking contest we have on our hands here with two of the biggest championship threats locking horns in a standalone Friday night game. This will be the second meeting between these teams this season but the first at John Cain Arena. United were winners at the WIN Entertainment Centre in their October 24th meeting, taking down the Hawks on the road by five points.
Not only did United defeat the Hawks in the ‘Gong earlier this season, but they’ve also had the wood over them for the best part of three seasons. They’ve won eight of their last nine meetings with the Hawks including five in a row on their home deck.
United aren’t quite at full strength here but they certainly have the depth to cover the likes of Goulding and Lee. They also have a knack of bouncing back with an emphatic win after tasting defeat, and they’re the only team yet to lose back-to-back games this season. I expect that trend to continue and for United to come out on top on Friday night
United -3.5
$1.96 (1.5 Units)
