The NBL24 Finals continue on Friday night with the semi-final’s series between the Perth Wildcats and the Tasmania JackJumpers getting underway. The clash is scheduled for a 9:30pm (AEDT) tip-ff, and we have you covered with our 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 Semi-Finals Preview & Betting Tips
Perth Wildcats vs Tasmania JackJumpers (Game 1)
Friday 9:30pm AEDT, March 8th, RAC Arena
After a poor start to the season which raised plenty of questions about both the playing group and the coaching staff, the Perth Wildcats were able to steady the ship and reel off win after win as they cruised to yet another finals series.
The Wildcats wouldn’t be happy with their finish to the regular season where they lost four of their last six games, although their fate had been sealed a long way out and perhaps they took their foot off the gas knowing a top two finished has already been secured.
Nevertheless, the Wildcats have earned homecourt advantage in this semi-finals series which significantly strengthens their chances of advancing to the Grand Final. They won 10/14 of their games at RAC Arena in the regular season which was the second-best home record in the competition, behind only Melbourne United (11/14).
In contrast to their upcoming opponents, the Tasmania JackJumpers finished the regular season in sizzling form with wins in each of their last five games. Their current five-game win streak is their best of the season to date, and it included a convincing win against the Hawks in the all-important Seeding Qualifier a little over a week ago.
As a result, the JackJumpers will be entering their third finals campaign full of confidence and will feel they’re capable of beating anyone, anywhere, especially considering they had an identical home record (8-6) compared to their away record.
In more positive news, the shoulder injury Marcus Lee sustained in their most recent outing against the Hawks is not as bad as first thought. He’s currently listed as day-to-day, which means he’s a live chance to suit up on Friday night.
Match prediction: These clubs met on three occasions during the regular season and it was the Wildcats who won the series 2-1. They won the opening two games by a combined seven points, both of which were at RAC Arena, before the JackJumpers returned with a 14-point win at MyState Bank Arena in their third clash.
As mentioned above, the Wildcats were a tough team to beat at home this season, which the JackJumpers learned first-hand, and it’s interesting to see this priced as an even-money game as a result. Yes, the JackJumpers are more than capable of pulling off a road win, but the Wildcats deserve to be shorter in the H2H market and are worth having something on here in my opinion.
Perth Wildcats to Win
$1.87 (1 Unit)
