Round 6 of the 2022-23 NBL season brings us a blockbuster Friday night clash between the Cairns Taipans and Melbourne United. Cairns have had a great start to the season and have the home court advantage here, while United will be desperate to keep their win-loss ledger in the positive for the season.
Greg Davis returns with his preview and NBL betting tips for the clash!
Cairns Taipans vs Melbourne United Preview & Betting Tips
Cairns Convention Centre, Friday, 4 November 6.30pm AEST
As a star-studded and championship-contending side based in Australia’s basketball heartland, Melbourne United is often blessed with primetime exposure.
And they sure do make it count – especially under the Friday night lights of the NBL.
United will travel to Far North Queensland to take on Cairns with Melbourne gunning for their eighth-straight win on a Friday night.
Melbourne suffered rare back-to-back defeats at home in Round 4 with losses to Sydney and Cairns at John Cain Arena but they bounced back with a tough double overtime victory against Illawarra and a belting of Perth in Round 5.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes had a night out against the Wildcats – who fell their fourth-straight loss – with 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for United who welcomed back guard Shea Ili from injury as well as their offensive mojo.
In a timeslot they clearly revel in, United will take some genuine momentum with them to Cairns where they have won the last two times they ventured to the deep north.
Melbourne also typically gets off to a fast start against Cairns, winning the first quarter in the last seven meetings between the clubs.
So, you can expect a confident United to come out firing.
But the Snakes have plenty to play for here.
Cairns have lost both of their home games in 2022-23 but find themselves in the top four courtesy of their outstanding 4-1 record on the road.
Their only blemish away from Cairns came last week when former Taipan Kouat Noi hit the match-winner on the buzzer in what was an absolute belter of a contest that was further evidence that the Snakes can mix it with the big boys this summer.
Cairns beat Melbourne United only two weeks ago with a 81-77 triumph coming on the back of Keanu Pinder’s 26 points. Pinder fouled out early against the Kings with 18 points and seven boards to his name.
He looms large for the Snakes with his battle with United big man Isaac Humphries sure to be pivotal.
The stats from their last meeting were more or less even except for free throw shooting with Cairns hitting 89 percent from the charity stripe while United shot a paltry 54 percent in what was essentially the difference between the teams on the night.
It should be another tight affair with United up-and-about while Cairns will be hell-bent on delivering a win to their fanatical Orange Army of fans.
The result may well come down to another buzzer-beater between two squads that both look every bit play-off bound. A quality contest coming up.
Either team by 7 or less
$2.00
