Breakers v United NBL betting tips & best odds – January 28, 2023

Round 17 of the NBL continues with finals implications for this Saturday evening clash between the New Zealand Breakers and Melbourne United at Spark Arena in Auckland. A win for the Breakers could push them into the top two on the ladder behind the Kings and guarantee them a spot in the finals, while a win for United would press their claims further for the play-in tournament.

The Breakers are on a two-game winning streak having beaten the Brisbane Bullets comfortably as well as the Sydney Kings. United have been building a head of steam with five straight wins, including beating the JackJumpers in Tasmania, and will be looking to capitalise on their momentum.

United have won all five of their last five matches against the Breakers, with one of those wins coming in New Zealand. Despite Barry Brown Jr’s return to the Breakers side, United are impossible to ignore in their current form and are capable of winning in Auckland at the $2.50 outsider odds.

Typically, clashes between these sides are low-scoring affairs. The combination of the Breakers’ incredible physical defence and United’s sometimes-inconsistent offensive efficiency is the obvious explanation. Both teams also find themselves in the bottom half of the league in points per game for the season. Look for this trend to continue in Auckland with this match falling below the 174.5 points total.

While this may be a low-scoring affair, given the attributes of both sides, United are the more likely side to perform better offensively given their roster. Rayjon Tucker, Chris Goulding and Xavier Rathan-Mayes form one of the most dynamic trios in the NBL. Look for them to band together and lead their side to the highest-scoring quarter of the match.

Key matchup: Barry Brown Jr v Rayjon Tucker

The battle between these two elite scorers will be vital to the outcome of this match. With the Breakers’ focus on defence, and United’s offensive inconsistency, their impact on this match will be clearer to see than usual. Both players lead their sides in scoring, and they also have the ability to rebound the ball and push the pace in transition. This will be key to creating easy scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.

NZ Breakers v Melbourne United match prediction

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