This week the NBL season winds back up after the Christmas – New Year’s break with a full five games back on for Round 14 of the competition.
Things kick off on Wednesday night with Cairns vs Perth opening the proceedings in the north before Thursday sees Melbourne play their first game at the State Netball and Hockey Centre taking on Illawarra in a match we’ve got even odds on!
Friday night has reigning-champions and our pick in futures NBL Championship betting to take out the comp again the New Zealand Breakers hosting the Adelaide 36ers, before the Reptile Rumble in Cairns pits the Taipans against the Townsville Crocodiles.
The round concludes on Saturday night in the final NSW Derby of the season with the Kings hosting hot favourites the Illawarra Hawks for their second of the week in Sydney.
We’re offering the week’s best NBL betting odds and promos right here at Ladbrokes!
Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats
Wednesday, January 6, 7:30pm (AEST)
Round 14 kicks off in Cairns with the Taipans underdogs to hold off the Perth Wildcats despite the home side’s upset win over the Breakers last week. They lost their second match however when traveling to Sydney to go down by 10 to the Kings, where their defence was typically stingy. Perth are fresh after a week off and are closing in on the Breakers in early 2015/16 NBL Championship betting after their recent good form and look the ones to beat here.
Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks
Thursday, January 7, 7:30pm (AEST)
Melbourne defeated Sydney in Sydney last week 100 – 90 and are after more success here in the Hawks’ first of two Round 14 clashes. Illawarra were easy winners over Townsville up in NQ last round and will take some beating again though in what is sure to be a nail-bitter. We’re having a hard time separating these two in betting with current even odds on offer, both teams ticking plenty of boxes. Daniel Kickert produced a flawless 10-of-10 shooting night during United’s win over Sydney, and with that kind of points-power they could have the edge.
New Zealand Breakers vs Adelaide 36ers
Friday, January 8, 5:30pm (AEST)
The Breakers remain top of futures NBL Championship markets, but need to bounce back in Round 14 after last week’s shock loss to the Taipans in Cairns. The 73 – 66 defeat saw New Zealand record their lowest score of the season, and they’ll be fired up looking to atone with a home match here. The 36ers come off a week’s break so haven’t played since their Round 12 win over Melbourne. Even so, the Breakers are a classier team overall and shouldn’t have a problem returning to winning form with home court advantage.
Cairns Taipans vs Townsville Crocodiles
Friday, January 8, 7:30pm (AEST)
The second of Friday night’s NBL double-header takes place up in Cairns with the Taipans playing their second of the round, this time against fellow North Queenslanders Townsville. Home advantage is a big plus for Cairns again who managed to beat last season’s best the Breakers 73 – 66 in Round 13. They then went down 77 – 87 when travelling to Sydney however, but Townsville should be easier rivals. The Crocs suffered a big 74 – 98 loss to the Hawks last week in a disappointing result for the record crowd in Townsville and will have trouble posting a win again here.
Sydney Kings vs Illawarra Hawks
Saturday, January 9, 7:30pm (AEST)
Illawarra travel to Sydney Olympic Park to play the Kings in the season’s final NSW Derby on Saturday night and are short-priced favourites to hand it to the home squad. The Kings are at the longest odds of the round to score the upset despite a win over Cairns last week. Illawarra smashed Townsville up at the Swamp in Round 13 and if they can jump Sydney like they did the Crocs right out of the blocks with crippling full-court pressure again here, they’ll be winning by plenty of points.