This weekend marks the midway point in the NBL regular season and we are set for plenty of exciting basketball throughout the coming days.
You can take advantage of a wide variety of betting options and terrific odds across all NBL games right here at Neds!
New Zealand Breakers vs Brisbane Bullets
The ladder suggests that this game is one of the bigger mismatches in Round 9 of the NBL, but if the Bullets can muster a similar performance to that which saw them fall one point short of the Breakers last weekend, they will be in the hunt again.
Its been a stellar season for the Breakers, who find themselves perched atop standings after posting nine wins from their twelve games to date. The story is almost the opposite for the Bullets, who have again struggled to get a foothold and have won only four of their games.
Given that this is being played across the ditch and so-far, the Breakers have made light work of games like this, the result here really does appear to be a foregone conclusion.
Tip: Back the Breakers to cover the line (-6.5) @ $1.90
Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
The Wildcats and 36ers will reignite their old rivalry in the nation’s west on Friday.
Both teams have performed well this season and again, both remain live chances of taking out this season’s competition.
When comparing the Wildcats with the league-leading Breakers, the Perth franchise actually have a game in hand and should they be successful in that, they will be tied atop standings. They dismantled the Breakers in New Zealand last weekend and there simply is not a better form indicator than that in the NBL this season.
The 36ers probably haven’t been good this season as they were in 2016/17, but they third overall and are in a box seat heading into the middle of the season. The 36ers haven’t tasted anything but success six Round 6 and this is an intriguing contest.
The Wildcats deserve favouritism, but they’re a little short and I am confident that the 36ers can go very close.
Tip: Back the 36ers to cover the line (+5.5) @ $1.90
Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets
The Bullets are in action for the second time in three days when they travel to Sydney to play the Kings on Saturday afternoon.
Obviously, the result of Thursday night’s game with the Breakers will have some bearing on the starting odds of this game, but currently the Bullets represent great value to beat a Kings side who have floundered from week 1.
That being said, The Kings did produce their most convincing performance of the season last week when they managed to beat the Taipans by 9 points in front of their home crowd. Since that, they’ve gone on to lose to the Taipans by 9 points away from home, so that form has not been franked.
The Bullets could take plenty of confidence from Thursday’s game and they represents great value at early odds here.
Tip: Back to Bullets to win @ $2.65
Cairns Taipans vs Melbourne United
The Taipans and Melbourne United square off in North Queensland on Saturday night, in what is set to be one of the more intriguing contests in Round 9.
Melbourne has two games in hand on the Taipans and sit only one win ahead of the Cairns franchise in overall standings. This therefore looms as a must-win for Taipans, who will not want to begin to lose touch with the top four.
Cairns responded to their disappointing performance against the Kings with a convincing win over the same team at their most recent appearance and at home, are one of the league’s tougher prospects.
Melbourne have continued to chip away at this season without really setting the league on fire, but their dismantlement of the Illawarra Hawks to the tune of 18 points on Sunday was among their bext performances of the campaign and they really do look like a team that can go on with the job.
This is an extremely tough game to pick, but the Taipans have made a habit of pulling something out of the bag when it is required and they represent value as outsiders.
Tip: Back the Taipans to win @ $2.05
Illawarra Hawks vs Perth Wildcats
The Illawarra Hawks are yet to find the kind of form that carried them to the playoffs last season and they face a stiff task in the form of the Perth Wildcats on Sunday.
The Hawks could not get into their game with Melbourne United last week and eventually finished on the wrong end of an 18-point score line. Rotnei Clarke again led the way for his team; sinking 24 points in another impressive solo performance.
Its been business as usual for the Wildcats, who have every chance of leapfrogging the Breakers into top spot by the conclusion of Round 9. Perth was only in action once in Round 8, but they made it count with a comfortable 16-point win over the Breakers in New Zealand.
This could be one of the more one-sided fixtures of Round 9 and I am happy to take the $1.78 on offer for the Wildcats to win.
Tip: Back the Wildcats to win @ $1.78
Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers
This is another game that will be a bit clearer after both teams have taken to the court earlier in the round.
Adelaide are the league’s third-best team at home this season, while the Breakers aren’t quite an potent on the road as they are across the ditch. The Breakers should be able to hold off the Bullets on Thursday night, while the 36ers will be returning home from a trip to Perth.
Tip: Back the Breakers (but not with any real confidence at this stage)
Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings
The old rivalry doesn’t look as it once did, but Melbourne and Sydney will meet in the final game of Round 9.
Both teams play earlier in the round, but that shouldn’t make too much of a difference. At this stage, Melbourne is looking good for a finals berth, while the Kings’ season is pretty much already all but over.
Melbourne should just win, but they don’t represent a great deal of value at current odds. The line is current set at 4.5 points and I am confident that Melbourne will win by a greater margin.
Tip: Back Melbourne to cover the line (-4.5) @ $1.85