The NBL24 Play-In Tournament includes a double-header on Wednesday night with the second game being a do-or-die battle between the Sydney Kings and the New Zealand Breakers. Named the Play-In Qualifier, this clash should be an epic one and we have a full preview and best bet below!
Also, we’re providing previews and expert betting tips for every game of the NBL24 playoffs, so make sure to head over to our NBL Tips regularly to keep up to date with all of our content.
NBL24 Play-In Tournament Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Kings vs New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday 7:30pm AEDT, February 28th, Qudos Bank Arena
Game scenario
The winner of this game will take on the loser of the Tasmania JackJumpers vs New Zealand Breakers for a spot in the semi-finals where they will play a three-game series against Melbourne United. The loser of this game will be eliminated from the NBL24 playoffs.
Game preview
After a rollercoaster regular season, the Sydney Kings will attempt to begin their back-to-back title defence in the Play-In Qualifier on Wednesday night.
The Kings began the regular season in strong form despite being without some of their key personnel, and a lot of pundits believed they would only improve when the likes of DJ Hogg returned to the lineup. However, that simply wasn’t the case as the Kings managed to win only six of their 18 games since Round 8.
There have still been some signs of life over the past six rounds however, with strong wins over the Breakers and the ladder-leading United being the highlights. On top of that, the Kings recorded the biggest every win in the 40-minute era in their most recent outing against the undermanned Phoenix, which saw them scrape into the top six to keep their season alive.
In some ways, the New Zealand Breakers’ season has been a complete contrast to their upcoming opponents. They too had plenty of injury concerns early but weren’t able to find many wins, beginning with a woeful 4-8 record which put their playoffs hopes in jeopardy.
However, the Breakers got healthy at around the halfway mark of the season and the wheel started to turn almost immediately. They went on an important four-game win streak from Rounds 11-13, and also finished the regular season with a 5-3 record over their last eight games to secure what once seemed like an unlikely Play-In Tournament berth.
Unfortunately for the Breakers, injuries have struck again and in a big way. Star forward Anthony Lamb went down with an Achilles rupture a couple of weeks ago, while starting point guard Will McDowell-White suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last start against the 36ers.
Prediction: Not many would’ve predicted that last season’s two Grand Finalists would be meeting in the Play-In Qualifier in NBL24, yet here we are.
The Kings ended the Breakers’ dreams of a championship last season and they’re the favourites to do it once again on Wednesday night. At the time of writing the Kings are $1.50 favourites while the Breakers are at the underdog price of $2.40.
If both teams were at full strength, those prices would be justified but that simply isn’t the case with the Breakers missing two extremely important players in Lamb and McDowell-White. Without that pair, I’m fully expecting the Kings to come away with a relatively comfortable win and advance to the Play-In Tournament final.
Sydney Kings -3.5
$1.90 (2.5 Units)
