Sydney Kings vs. Melbourne United – NBL betting & line tips

Sunday, December 11, 2016, 3pm AEDT, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney.

FAST becoming one of the NBL’s newest and fiercest rivalries, the rejuvenated Melbourne United head north to Sydney for a date with the Kings on Sunday.

And there is a mountain at stake, with United a chance to leap into the top four with a win, while the Kings could have their lead at the top of the table trimmed to just one game.

It’s a juicy match up that features several of the NBL’s best players and it is fitting that it will be the free to air televised game this weekend.

The Kings, led by naturalised Aussie Kevin Lisch and athletic guard Brad Newley, lost on opening night, and then won five straight games to give them a big early lead at the top.

But have faltered recently, losing three of their past five – including their last outing against United.

Every one knows about United’s horrible struggles, losing five straight, before dumping their import Cedric Jackson and replacing him with NBA man Casper Ware.

Ware, along with the return from injury of Boomer Chris Goulding, has provided United with the spark it needed, the Melbourne side lifting itself off the bottom of the ladder with three straight wins.

The first of those was against Sydney and it was no coincidence that Ware starred.

It was tight, but United got home by three points, 95-92, with Ware dropping 28 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. Goulding chimed in with 15 and four, while four other players reached double figures for United.

That – along with a remarkable deep three from Ware with two seconds on the clock – helped them overcome 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists from Newley. But Lisch was well held, scoring just 12 points, well below his near 19 per game.

The return of sharp shooter Todd Blanchfield has also helped the United cause and he says the last gasp win over the Kings has galvanised the squad.

“It lit a fire in the group,” Blanchfield said.

“We have to keep this thing rolling.

“For a while there it looked like our season was on the line.”

While it has a date with Perth tonight, United could be in the running to be part of the top four after the weekend’s games.

And Goulding says his side is relishing the chance to hit there road and take on the NBL’s best.

“It was important to lock down these three games, especially today, knowing the challenge that we have in front of us,” Goulding said after Sunday’s win over the New Zealand Breakers.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing how a full squad responds to being on the road and playing two of the best teams out there in the next couple of games.

“Road wins build tremendous camaraderie and character within the group.

“In this league, they’re hard to come by, so if you can snatch one here or there or string a few together on the road, that’s a really big achievement.”

In the Breakers’ game, Ware – who leads the league with 22 points per game – went off again, dropping 26 points, with Goulding adding 14 in the 98-74 drubbing last weekend.

The Kings snapped a two game skid with their win over the Illawarra Hawks on the weekend, 93-99.

Lisch had his customary 23, but had great help from Jason Cadee (22) and Greg Whittington (20). Newley had 15, seven and six in another great all-round effort.

The Kings – complete with Melbourne basketball legend Andrew Gaze at the coaching helm – have had to move on from the loss of NBA import Steve Blake, who was released on bereavement and went back to the USA.

“It was pleasing that the players got together throughout the week not under the direction of the coaching staff,” Gaze said.

“Steve Blake was heading towards his best and when you don’t have that on the back of a couple of losses, you get challenged.

“But the playing group had some heart-to-heart conversations and we saw a change in intensity and the way in which they approached the game against the Hawks.

“It was really pleasing to see.”

Match predictions

Match result: Melbourne United to win ($2.25 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Line betting: Melbourne United +2.5 ($1.90 with Sportsbet.com.au)

We tipped United to beat Sydney at Hisense in Melbourne last time out and said, with a new import and the return of their stars, it was time to stand up. United did that – albeit with a clutch bucket in the dying seconds – and has now lifted itself off the bottom of the ladder. Well we now say it is time again. If United wants to be taken seriously by this league, it must win some games on the road. And what better way to do that than to knock off top of the table in their own domain. It won’t be easy, but it is not an impossible task. If Ware, Goulding and company are on their game, the Kings have shown over the past fortnight that they are very gettable – even if Newley and Lisch fill it up. It will take a strong all-round effort from the Kings to win this. They are certainly capable of it, but we reckon United has the form and the confidence to take it right up to them and continue its renaissance.