There are eight games scheduled for play in NBL Round 10, with plenty of exciting matchups among them. Here, we preview all eight games and bring you our best betting tips. Good luck to everyone following!
Also, make sure to check our NBL tips page where you’ll find our best bets for every game of the 2022-23 NBL season!
NBL Round 10 Preview & Betting Tips
New Zealand Breakers vs Sydney Kings
Thursday 5:30pm AEDT, Spark Arena
*Click here for our full preview and betting tips for this game*
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix vs Illawarra Hawks
Thursday 7:30pm AEDT, John Cain Arena
Virtually back at full strength, the Phoenix are starting to build some serious momentum in NBL23. They enter Round 10 having won three of their last four and seven of their last 10, which has seen them rise to fourth in the standings. The Phoenix are expected to welcome big Zhou Qi back into the rotation this weekend, which will give them another look on both ends of the floor.
The Hawks finally snapped their losing streak last weekend with a win over another struggling side in Melbourne United. Sam Froling had his way with the United bigs with a career-high 29 points to go along with nine rebounds. While his performance was great, it’s hard to see him having anywhere near the same output against the likes of Alan Williams and Zhou Qi on Thursday night.
The Phoenix demolished the Hawks by 34 points only a couple of weeks ago, and while the Hawks should put in a better account of themselves this time around, it’s still hard to see them getting within 10 points of the Phoenix in Melbourne.
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix -6.5
$1.76 (2 Units)
Adelaide 36ers vs Perth Wildcats
Friday 7:30pm AEDT, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
*Click here for our full preview and betting tips for this game*
Cairns Taipans vs Illawarra Hawks
Saturday 5:30pm AEDT, Cairns Convention Centre
Playing for the second time in a couple of days, the Hawks will be looking to bounce back from a horror showing against the Phoenix. Tied at 50-50 late in the second term, the Hawks would go on to score just 22 points for the rest of the game while giving up 61. It doesn’t get any easier for them on Saturday night when they travel to take on a talented Taipans outfit. The Snakes have had a couple of tough losses in their last three games but are still firmly in the top four and will be confident they can get back onto the winners list.
This is the first meeting between these teams this season, and while the Snakes haven’t had much success in this matchup in recent seasons, they’ll be the firm favourites on Saturday night. As long as they bring the intensity we’ve seen from them all season long, they’ll have far too much firepower for the Hawks on this occasion.
Cairns Taipans -6.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Melbourne United vs Brisbane Bullets
Saturday 8pm AEDT, John Cain Arena
The second game on Saturday night’s double-header will see Melbourne United host the Brisbane Bullets at John Cain Arena. United enter this contest having lost five games on the spin, including a 93-79 defeat against the bottom-of-the-ladder Hawks last time out. Meanwhile, the Bullets are finding wins hard to come by themselves having saluted just once in their last four games.
United are nowhere near as good as they’ve been in recent seasons, but their eight-game win streak against the Bullets has to count for something. They also welcome back Isaac Humphries and Shea Ili to the rotation, which puts them at full strength for the first time this season. In particular, Ili is pivotal to United on both ends of the floor and having him back to face the Bullets puts them in the box seat to snap their losing streak. I expect them to get the job done.
Melbourne United -1.5
$1.90 (2.5 Units)
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix vs Adelaide 36ers
Sunday 2pm AEDT, John Cain Arena
Although it was against the bottom team in the league, I loved the defensive intensity from the Phoenix against the Hawks on Thursday night, particularly in the second half where they kept them to a measly 22 points. The Phoenix now have an almost full strength squad and it’s starting to show with their better performances.
The 36ers were disappointing in their loss to the Wildcats on Friday, and their need for another perimeter defender was evident once again with Bryce Cotton absolutely torching them down the stretch. Until they fill their final import slot, I won’t have much confident in the 36ers against the better teams in the league. So, with that said, I’m keen to be on the Phoenix to cover the small spread in this one.
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix -4.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Sydney Kings vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Sunday 4pm AEDT, Qudos Bank Arena
The Kings have had plenty of days rest between their games over the last couple of rounds, so should be feeling fit and fresh in front of their home fans on Sunday afternoon. They flexed their championship muscles on Thursday night with a win on the road against the Breakers in a game that proved they’re still clearly the team to beat in NBL23.
The JackJumpers will head to Sydney in some decent form of their own having won each of their last two and seven of their last 10 games. They’ve been real road warriors so far this campaign with wins in five of their last six on their travels, which will give them some confidence of pulling off a big upset on Sunday.
The Kings are clearly the more talented team in this matchup, but the JackJumpers determination and willingness to hang around in games always gives them a chance. I expect them to be competitive enough to at least cover the big spread.
Tasmania JackJumpers +7.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United
Monday 9:30pm AEDT, RAC Arena
Bryce Cotton showed his class in a dominant fourth quarter display against the 36ers on Friday night, guiding his team to another much-needed win. The Wildcats have now won four of their last six games and look to be building some solid momentum. Rumour has it, Cotton’s Australian Citizenship is just around the corner as well, which you free up another import slot for the Wildcats.
Melbourne United avoided unwanted history by winning on Saturday night to escape their sixth straight defeat, which would’ve been the most in a single season in franchise history. United were dominant in their win over the Bullets and looked a far better outfit with Shea Ili back on the court.
United have an absurd record at RAC Arena having won six in a row there, including an 84-81 victory this season. That record, coupled with now having a full-strength roster, will give them plenty of confidence on Monday night. They’re every chance to come away with another win.
Melbourne United +4.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
