Five games will be played in Round 11 of the NBL and there is plenty of value to be taken from a betting perspective.
The Sydney Kings posted an impressive win over Cairns in Round 10, but they face two big tasks in the form of New Zealand and Brisbane on Thursday and Saturday respectively.
Sydney Kings vs New Zealand Breakers
The table suggests that this could be the mismatch of the Round, but Thursday’s meeting between the Kings and Breakers in Sydney is set to be an exciting game in the NBL.
The Kings seemingly faced a big task in overcoming the ever-dangerous Cairns Taipans last weekend, but they rallied to score one of their biggest wins of the season; walking away 88-69 victors. The win was once again spearheaded by Point Guard Jerome Randle, who finished with seventeen points and six assists. The Kings remain anchored to the bottom of the table, but if they can string together a few similar performances, they can make a run towards the top four.
It was almost the opposite for the Breakers last weekend, who failed to make anything of their home court advantage or strong run of form and ended their game with Adelaide one wrong end of a 90-75 game. Coach Paul Henare labelled the performance as ‘weak’ and his team is sure to respond to what was probably their worst game of the season.
The Breakers represent terrific value to cover a 0.5 point spread at $1.90.
Tip: Back the Breakers to cover the spread (-0.5) at $1.90
Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers
Melbourne’s surge towards top spot continued last weekend, but they face a big test in a similarly-impressive Adelaide 36ers side on Friday night.
Melbourne quite easily accounted for the Illawarra Hawks away from home on Saturday night, thanks largely by terrific games from both Tai Wesley and Josh Boone. The pair combined for 37 points and 16 rebounds, while it was also a fruitful night for the likes of Casper Ware and Captain Chris Goulding.
Adelaide starved the New Zealand Breakers out of their Friday night meeting across the ditch and they remain a live threat to this year’s title, despite falling slightly off the pace in recent weeks.
Melbourne will be without the services of Casey Prather, who was taken off the court after suffering a dislocated elbow last weekend. That is clearly a loss, but the depth of talent in their squad means that they will be extremely difficult to beat as is and they can send another warning to the league with a dominant win here.
Tip: Back Melbourne to cover the spread (-3.5) at $1.90
Brisbane Bullets vs Sydney Kings
Last weekend, the Bullets really announced themselves to the NBL for the first time this season and they look like a team that could go on with the job in a big way here.
Travis Trice has really come into his own through the last few weeks and he was instrumental in the Bullets sneaking home against Cairns, before comfortably beating the Perth Wildcats away from home on Saturday.
Sydney have started to show glimpses of quality through their recent games, including a comprehensive win over the Cairns Taipans last weekend, but they were pretty easily accounted for by the Bullets when the two teams last met in Round 9.
Brisbane are starting to look like a team that could make waves in post-season and this is another good opportunity for them to win.
Tip: Back Brisbane to win @ $1.65
Illawarra Hawks vs Perth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are currently available at odds of $1.75 to beat the Illawarra Hawks and they are subsequently out best bet of Round 11 of the NBL.
The Hawks have yet to make much of an impact on the tournament this year and following another disappointing loss to Melbourne United last weekend, sit sixth overall and in real danger of being leapfrogged by the Bullets this week. If not for Rotnei Clarke, the Hawks would have little fight at all and they are in for a difficult time throughout the second half of the season.
Perth were surprise losers to the Brisbane Bullets in the nation’s west last weekend, but their form prior was excellent and they are again the league’s benchmark.
The Wildcats beat the Hawks in Illawarra a fortnight ago and they should repeat that result on Saturday night.
Tip: Back Perth to win @ $1.75
Adelaide 36ers vs Cairns Taipans
We are set for an exciting game on Christmas eve when the Cairns Taipans travel to Adelaide and attempt to return to winning form.
Round 10 was not a memorable one for the Taipans, who were beaten by a solitary point by the Bullets, before a trip to Sydney also failed to deliver anything. Cairns are in real danger to slipping into seventh and they need to return to winning form if they are any chance of a finals berth.
Adelaide continue to chip away at the season and smart 15 point win over New Zealand last weekend means that they are well-and-truly in the mix. The 36ers play Melbourne United earlier in Round 11 and while the result of that game will have some bearing, they should comfortably win this.
Tip: Back Adelaide to cover the spread (-5.5) @ $1.90