The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 8 of the 2023/24 NBL season.

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Tasmania JackJumpers vs New Zealand Breakers Thursday November 16, 7:30pm Silverdome

To tip-off Round Eight we have the resurgent JackJumpers (have won 11 of their last 15 matchups) up against  the dizzy, quite literally, Breakers (have lost their last six clashes away from New Zealand). The ‘Jackies’ are far and away favourites to take out this dub here and rightfully so! Their latest clash being incredibly commanding proof of exactly that as they took out the games first three quarters to beat the 36ers in South Australia by ten-points, 82-72. With star Guard Milton Doyle again making his presence felt with a near double-double of 13PTS & 8AST + 5REB + 4STL. In complete contrast for the visiting team, last Friday night saw them overrun by a rampant Perth side to the tune of a 94-76 scoreline at RAC Arena. An encounter which saw Mody Maor’s Men hit a dismal 30% rate from deep (10/33) and turn the ball over a MASSIVE 14 times compared to the Wildcats three. The Breakers will have to push hard from the jump in order to make this some close, competitive Basketball action.

The JackJumpers 82-72 win against the 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre was truly a five-star performance all round from Scott Roth’s visiting troops. Winning Q2 22-16 and taking out Q3 24-16 was particularly vital in the context of ‘Tassie’ winning the affair. Jordan Crawford led the way with 17PTS, 6REB, 3AST and 3STL. Whilst Jack McVeigh went 6/9 as he got 14PTS, 3REB and 1AST. There was also Milton Doyle who was already mentioned, as well as Marcus Lee with 12PTS, 8REB and 1AST, as he shot a solid 54.5% out on the court.

Meanwhile for the Breakers in their 94-76 defeat to the Wildcats in Western Australia, they were already gone and out by the conclusion of Q1, as they lost that period 34-17. Bryce Cotton lit them up for 37PTS. And despite Parker Jackson-Cartwright ending the clash with 20PTS on 9/17 shooting, as well as 3REB, 4AST and 1STL, that wasn’t enough to get it done! Anthony Lamb being the clubs main force to be reckoned with as he also shot 9/17, but for 25PTS + 6REB, 2AST, 1STL and 1BLK. And Mangok Mathiang was also pretty chill with it, going 5/8 en route to a nice double-double of 11PTS and 14REB.

Tasmania have collected dubs in two out of their latest three games against New Zealand. And outside of that they have also won four out of their five overall home contested clashes versus the Breakers. Their last affair which was a 92-85 ‘Jackies’ triumph witnessed an explosive second quarter from the visitors, as they prevailed 29-12. And its also no coincidence that they’ve won five out of the last six Q2s throughout their last six wins. Because Tasmania are a team who will always fight tooth and nail in order to banish the opposition on the stroke of half-time. I really and truly don’t think the Breakers are prepared for the onslaught that is about to face them and as a result we should see victory NO.7 of the season for the JackJumpers.

Betting tips: Pick Tasmania to win at $1.40 and for them to also take out Q1 at $1.57 (Bet365)

Additionally look for both teams to have 81+ PTS with TAS at $1.23 and NZ at $1.57 (Bet365)

Also look for the total points scored to be at 172+ at $1.85 (BlueBet)

Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings Sunday November 19, 4:00pm John Cain Arena

What a way to end Round Eight as in the late game at John Cain Arena we have Melbourne United taking on the back-to-back champs the Sydney Kings. A loss for the 9-2 1st-placed side headed up by Dean Vickerman would see the gap closed between them and the visitors to just a single matchup (Sydney are currently 7-3). And who will write the latest chapter of heroics into these two teams history? It was only earlier this year in the NBL Blitz when United ‘blitzed’ the Kings 105-87. As Chris Goulding, Luke Travers and Ariel Hukporti combined for 60PTS, 17REB, 8AST, 4STL and 4BLK! Jordan Hunter was also very scary in their most recent regular season clash, as he put up 14PTS and 4REB. There was also their famous 89-87 Game Three Kings Semi-final victory from seasons ago, as Kings such as Tate scored 20PTS and Ware 15, while McCarron had 18, Long 17 and Trimble also a 17-piece meal for the visitors. Now who will step up to the plate and deliver on the big stage within one of Australia’s most fiercest sporting rivalries?

For Melbourne last round at the ‘Fire Pitt’ aka John Cain Arena, it didn’t matter if they were technically the ‘visiting’ team as a 24-16 Q4 victory saw them take out the Melbourne Derby against the Phoenix 92-83. Chris Goulding went mental as the veteran hit six-threes en route to 27PTS + 1AST. Whilst Jo Luall-Acuil Jr was similarly brilliant as he went 10/16 from the floor for 26PTS + 11REB + 1AST + 2BLK. Off the bench Flynn Cameron was great with 14PTS, 8REB and 2AST. And Shea Ili procured 12PTS, 4REB, 4AST and 1BLK.

Sydney’s home 104-95 victory against the Bullets saw the visitors forced into ‘drawing blanks’, as the Kings went on a miraculous 15-0 run to close out the game. Winning Q4 overall 28-24. Jaylen Adams took over and was his vintage MVP-self with 24PTS, 1REB, 4AST and 1BLK. Whilst DJ Hogg was also very vital with a late game steal and dunk, all a part of his 16PTS, 6REB, 3AST, 1STL and 1BLK. Alex Toohey also had 12PTS, as Jordan Hunter collected 10PTS & 7REB. Denzel Valentine also had 9PTS and off the pine Jonah Bolden had 13PTS and 9REB. Whilst Angus Glover conjured up 12PTS and Shaun Bruce 8PTS.

I mean how the hell are you supposed to call this game!!! There’s just two games separating them in 1st and 2nd-position this campaign. Whilst their last six games have been split right down the middle at three-wins a piece. As well as all of that, Melbourne scored 105PTS in their most recent clash and the Kings had 101 in the one prior to that. Then in their final matchup of 2021, the Kings won explosively by twenty-points, but in the two clashes before that they mustered up just 68 and 47-points. You just don’t know what to expect. However with the likes of Jaylen Adams (18.7PPG this season) and DJ Hogg (15PPG this season) visiting Victoria, as well as the likes of Chris Goulding (17.2PPG this season) and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (17.5PPG this season) bound to feature, expect the scoring to be a plenty and very, very, very bountiful. This should be a clash extremely befitting of Australia’s top two Basketball franchises.

Betting tips: Odds will be updated for this encounter when they become available. 

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