Round 12 in NBL25 begins on Thursday night with a double-header to treat Aussie hoops fans. First up is a 5:30pm (AEDT) clash in New Zealand which pits the Breakers against the JackJumpers. It should be a cracking game for viewers, and we have you covered with a full game preview and best bet 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
New Zealand Breakers vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Thursday 5:30pm AEDT, Eventfinda Stadium
The New Zealand Breakers have seen their season take a turn for the worst over the past two rounds where they’ve gone 0-4. This comes after they began NBL25 with seven wins from 10 games and looked to be one of the genuine contenders. However, despite recent struggles they remain in fifth spot on the ladder with a 7-7 record.
The departure of Freddie Gillespie has made a big impact to the Breakers ability to defend the paint, as he was the leading shot-blocker in the competition when he was here. On top of that, Jonah Bolden has missed a chunk of games with injury, which has left Sam Mennenga to do almost all of the heavy lifting in the front court, and he’s certainly not known for his rim protection. The good news is Bolden is listed as a game-time decision, so hopefully we see him suit up on Thursday night.
The other issue plaguing the Breakers right now is the inconsistent scoring output from guys not named Parker Jackson-Cartwright. Matt Mooney has shown glimpses in his first season in New Zealand, but his questionable decision-making and carelessness with the rock has left a lot to be desired.
In stark contrast, the Tasmania JackJumpers have seen their season flip on its head, but in the right way. They began their championship defence with seven losses from their opening 10 games, but enter Thursday night’s clash on a four-game win streak – the complete opposite form line to their upcoming opponents.
Their change in fortunes has coincided with the return of Sean Macdonald who I believe to be a vital piece for their organisation. His shooting and playmaking ability was sorely missed early in their campaign, and he also takes some of the pressure off the likes of Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford.
The JackJumpers now have a clean bill of health heading into Round 12 as per the official NBL injury list,which is a big positive considering we’re about to embark on the busiest portion of the NBL25 season.
Game Prediction: The JackJumpers form looks lovely with four wins in a row, but none of those wins have actually been impressive when you consider the quality of opponent they played, coupled with the key players that were missing from those clubs. On top of that, three of the four wins came on their home deck, and they must now hit the road where they’ve tasted success only twice from eight attempts this season.
Meanwhile, this is a huge game for the Breakers and their season. They’re back home where they’re 4-3 and also look likely to regain one of their most important pieces in Jonah Bolden. With all of that in mind, I think there’s some value in taking the Breakers at the + line here.
Breakers +4.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
