The fresh and exciting 2021 NBL season continues this week with six games scheduled for Round 2. Action tips off on Wednesday night with the 36ers hosting Phoenix and concludes on Monday night with a Taipans vs United blockbuster. As always, we bring you our best bets from the key games of the round and wish you the best of luck if following!
NBL Round 2 Betting Tips
Brisbane Bullets vs The Hawks
Thursday 21st Jan, 7:30pm AEDT
Brisbane were unable to make the most of home court advantage in their first game of the season when losing to the Hawks by six points. Nathan Sobey tried hard with 19 points and import Vic Law was solid with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but they got little out of their second import in Orlando Johnson who couldn’t take part in the second half due to injury.
The Hawks lost 10 straight games to finish last season but are a totally new roster in 2021 and boy were they impressive in Round 1. They kicked things off with a gritty away win over the Bullets and followed it up with a demolition job of the Taipans at the Snake Pit. Justin Simon looks a real find for them, particularly with what he can do on the defensive end under Brian Goorjian.
These teams face off for the second time in a week after the Hawks got the chocolates in their first matchup via a 90-84 score line. We thought the Hawks improved even more from that game with their performance against the Taipans and should be too strong once again against the Bullets, providing they play with the defensive intensity they showed in Round 1.
Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers
Friday 22nd Jan, 7:30pm AEDT
Adelaide 36ers have the busiest schedule of any team in the NBL to start the season. They played two games in Round 1 and have another two this round. The 36ers kicked their season off with a lacklustre performance against a title fancy in Melbourne United where they were outscored 52-26 in the second half. They followed that up with a nail-biting win in double overtime against Phoenix, led by Daniel Johnson with 33 points and Josh Giddey with a 16/11/7 split.
New Zealand Breakers are one of two teams beginning their 2021 NBL campaigns in Round 2. They’ll bring in a new-look roster led by superstar recruit and ex-Bullets forward Lamar Patterson. The key contributors around him will be Finn Delaney and Tom Abercrombie, as well as Corey Webster once he recovers from his innocuous hand injury.
The early value in this game certainly looks to be the Breakers in the H2H market ($2) and potentially the 11+ market ($5+). They have the more talented roster of the two clubs and will also be the fresher team in this matchup. It’ll be interesting to see how the 36ers fare against the Phoenix in their first game of Round 2, but regardless of that result, we believe the Breakers should be the favourites to start their season off with a win.
New Zealand Breakers
$2.00
Cairns Taipans vs Melbourne United
Monday 25th Jan, 7:30pm AEDT
Cairns Taipans were a little disappointing in Round 1 despite picking up a win over the Kings in their opening game. They were lucky to get away with the points there as we thought they were a touch outplayed, but they were certainly more than a touch outplayed in their second outing against the Hawks. The Snakes were smacked at home to the tune of 16 points by the Hawks and never really threatened to make a meaningful comeback.
Melbourne United were arguable the most impressive team in Round 1 with their dominant away win over the Adelaide 36ers. Despite trailing by two points at the half, United finished up as 24-point winners on the back of a second half onslaught. United had five guys finish with double-figure points and looked to be gelling extremely well despite being a fairly new-look squad.
United were clearly the better of these two clubs in Round 1 and we also believe they have room to improve in Round 2 if Scottie Hopson can get going. The Snakes looked lost on both sides of the ball without DJ Newbill and we can’t see them bouncing back against one of the major title fancies on Monday night.
Melbourne United -2.5
$1.90
