The race to top spot could not be tighter and we are set for five exciting and potentially crucial games in Round 14 of the NBL.
Adelaide 36ers vs Cairns Taipans
Adelaide produced two strong performances for two wins in Round 13 and prove a tough prospect for the Cairns Taipans on Thursday night.
The 36ers made light work of the league-leading Perth Wildcats last Thursday and sent a warning to the rest of the league with that performance. While they were forced to extra time against the Bullets in Brisbane on Sunday, Adelaide went to another level in the extra stanza and finished the game easy 11-point winners.
Cairns accounted for the Bullets in what was an exciting fixture on Friday evening, but they failed to take any momentum across the ditch and were easily accounted for by the Breakers on Sunday.
This looms as one of the more one-sided games in this weekend’s NBL fixtures and Adelaide should post another comfortable win.
Tip: Back Adelaide to cover the line (-6.5) at $1.90
Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United
A top of the table clash highlights Round 14 of the NBL and we are set for a particularly exciting clash when Melbourne United travel to Perth on Friday night.
Melbourne have posted six-consecutive wins, spanning back to Round 9 and are a team that looks on track for a serious title claim once the season draws into finals. Chris Goulding and latest signing Carrick Felix were outstanding in Round 13 and played a key role in Melbourne getting out of jail in Illawarra on Saturday. The pair scored a combined 41 points, while Felix also produced ten rebounds and three assists.
The Wildcats suffered a disappointing loss to old rivals Adelaide in Round 13 and will be eager to respond here. Derek Cooke Jr was a shining light for Perth, particularly in their most-recent win over the Kings and is a handful for any opposition defence.
Home court advantage could be key here, but Melbourne can steal a win if they bring their best.
Tip: Back Melbourne to win at $2.40
Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers
The 36ers fired a warning shot to the league with a comprehensive win over the 36ers last weekend and they are offered another good opportunity when they face Sydney on Saturday.
Majok Deng had the round of his career last weekend; producing some fourth-quarter brilliance to blow the Wildcats out of the water, before repeating that effort in Adelaide’s extra time win over the Bullets in Brisbane. He was particularly potent against the Bullets, whereby he hit three triples when the 36ers were down by 7 to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Sydney have failed to get anything of a grasp on the competition and their lacklustre season continued with a 76-68 loss to the Wildcats last weekend. They are the only team worse than the Bullets currently and they stand little chance against Adelaide.
Tip: Back Adelaide to win at $1.70
Illawarra Hawks vs New Zealand Breakers
The Hawks and Breakers will square off in Illawarra on Saturday evening, in what looms as an interesting game from a betting perspective.
The Hawks failed to end Melbourne United’s winning streak in Round 13, but they are a club that has shown glimpses of terrific form at the right point of the season, having registered smart wins in each of their three games prior to that, including a Round 12 triumph over Perth. They were up by 18 points at one stage last weekend and playing at home, that really should have been enough to close the game out.
The Breakers returned to winning form with a comfortable triumph over the Taipans in New Zealand and they now sit third in overall standings on for-and-against alone.
Given how easily they crumbed last weekend, it’s difficult to trust Illawarra against another opponent as quality as New Zealand.
Tip: Back the Breakers to win at $2.05
Brisbane Bullets vs Perth Wildcats
Round 14 will draw to a close in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon when the Bullets and Wildcats do battle.
It’s been another tough season for the Brisbane-based franchise and they were languishing in seventh overall; perhaps only saved from the bottom of the ladder by an even worse Sydney Kings team. They did all the hard work and appeared on their way to a good win over Adelaide last weekend, but completely gave up when the game was forced to extra time and eventually finished 11 points in the red.
This is Perth’s second game of the round and they really should be winning this with relative ease. A current $1.65 quote seems over the odds.
Tip: Back Perth to cover the spread (-4) at $1.90