Wildcats v Taipans NBL best bets & top odds – February 3, 2023

The final round of the NBL season continues in Perth with the Wildcats hosting the Cairns Taipans this Friday night. This last round will decide the fate of many teams and their finals schedule, not least this must-win clash for these two sides.

The Taipans need to win this match to give themselves their best chance to advance past the play-in tournament and straight to the NBL playoffs. Meanwhile, a win for the Wildcats would give them a home-court advantage in the play-ins.

The Wildcats have won their last five games in a row against the Taipans, who have lost three of their last five matches in the NBL. With the home court, and Keanu Pinder missing from the Taipans lineup, the Wildcats are a safe bet to win at home ($1.55).

Four of the last five matches between these two sides have been relatively high scoring, with the Wildcats scoring 100+ points on three occasions and the match finishing in excess of 180 total points. The loss of Pinder will be massive for the Taipans offensively, creating more opportunity for the Wildcats to pour the points on. Should that scenario play out as anticipated, this match should exceed the 184.5 total points line ($1.85).

In conjunction with the anticipated increase in the Wildcats’ offensive output, the Taipans — as they have in the past — will struggle to contain Bryce Cotton, Corey Webster and TaShawn Thomas. If these three turn up at their best on Friday, look for the Wildcats to record the highest-scoring quarter of the match ($1.65).

Key matchup: Bryce Cotton v Tahjere McCall

The battle in the backcourt between these two guards will certainly decide the outcome of this match. In their last five matches, Cotton has averaged 27 points per game with a high of 36. He will be the top of the scouting report for the Taipans and their main target in defence. Where the Taipans can make up for Pinder’s absence is through Tahjere McCall. The Cairns point guard is as much a scorer as he is a distributor, and if the Taipans are to have any chance of winning, he will have to play a massive role by both scoring points and getting his teammates involved in attack.

Wildcats v Taipans NBL match prediction – 3/2/2023

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