There’s been a massive amount of upsets over the past two weeks that have made finding winners with our NBL basketball tips extremely hard. However, this week there are a few standout games that have caught our eye. Take a look below, where we’ve assessed some of the key upcoming games and previewed our NBL betting tips for Round 12!
2017-18 NBL Round 12 Preview & Betting Tips
Illawarra Hawks Vs Cairns Taipans (Thursday, 28th December, 7:30pm AEDT)
The Hawks are coming off their best game of the season after defeating the Wildcats 96-84 in Round 11. The win kept their playoff hopes alive, as they sit with a 6-9 record in second last position. Clarke and Conger combined for 42 points and 9 assists in the win in a solid all-around performance. They will be put to the test once again this weekend when they face the in-form Taipans on Thursday Night in another must-win game.
As mentioned above, the Cairns Taipans have found some form and are making a push towards the playoffs. Despite boasting a true star like a lot of the heavyweights in the league, the Taipans have managed to grind out wins in 3 of their past 5 games. Their latest win was an impressive 19-point away victory against the Adelaide 36ers.
Although the Taipans were victorious on the road last weekend they are still one of the worst travelling teams, with a dismal 2-5 record. We expect an inspired Hawks outfit to get the job done in this one.
TIP: Illawarra Hawks at the line (-3.5) - $1.90 at CrownBet
Adelaide 36ers Vs New Zealand Breakers (Friday, 29th December 7:30pm AEDT)
The 36ers are coming off their most disappointing game of the season, losing at home to the Taipans by 19 points. They are now 8-8 for the season and are sitting in fourth place with 12 games to play. They will host the Breakers on Friday Night, who they are 2-1 against this season and 1-0 at home. Star import Josh Childress has started to find some decent form and will be needed once again on Friday with the absence of Mitch Creek from the line-up.
The Breakers have somewhat cooled off after an explosive 9-1 start to the season. They are now 11-5 and have lost 2 of their past 3 games, both of which came against the 36ers. Their one and only game last weekend was a 4-point win against the bottom of the table Sydney Kings, where Robert Loe led the way with 24 points and Edgar Sosa chipped in with 21 points of his own.
The 36ers have matched up really well against the Breakers this season and we expect Friday Night to be no different. We see Adelaide breaking this one open in the second half.
TIP: Adelaide 36ers at the line (-2.5) - $1.90 at Ladbrokes
Sydney Kings Vs Melbourne United (Saturday, 30th December 5:30pm AEDT)
The general consensus surrounding the Kings is that their season is over. They are dead last on the ladder with a 5-13 record with 10 games to play. They need to win at least 9 of their remaining 10 games to have a chance at making the playoffs. In Round 11 they split their two matches, falling to the Breakers at home before defeating the Bullets on the road. They will face another test this weekend when they host the red-hot Melbourne United.
United won a thriller in their Tuesday Night clash with the Bullets, defeating them by 1-point in a huge comeback. They have now won their last 4 games and are clearly the form side of the competition. A win against the Kings on Saturday Night could see them reach the pinnacle of the competition if other results go their way.
We are riding the hot hand here and are taking Melbourne United at the line. Backing against the Kings this season has been free money and we’ll continue to do that this week.
TIP: Melbourne United at the line (-3.5) - $1.94 at Sportsbet
Tips are provided for entertainment and information purposes, and do not guarantee profit. Always gamble responsibly.
