NBL Saturday, and we have two games to get through for Round 3 of NBL22.
It all starts in Sydney, where the Sydney Kings will be looking to bounce back at home after an abysmal performance against Melbourne United on Thursday Night. Melbourne United got the early jump on the Kings, and the Kings were never in the match, shooting the ball at just 21% from the field and 14% from the three-point line. Kings coach Chase Buford will have his work cut out for him if they are to turn that form around.
For the evening match, we head up to Far North Queensland, where the Cairns Taipans will host the Adelaide 36ers and the possible debut of Kai Sotto.
Another fine day of hoops to look forward to
Here are some NBL Tips and NBL Predictions for Saturday 18th December and Round 3 of NBL 22.
Be sure to check back before each NBL22 Match for NBL Previews, NBL Head to Head Predictions, NBL Tips, NBL Picks and NBL Predictions for each match of NBL Season 22.
A Star Rating is used to show the confidence level of each Head to Head NBL Match Prediction.
⭐ = A Tough Match to Pick
⭐⭐ = A Decent Chance
⭐⭐⭐ = Should Get the Win
Sydney Kings vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Venue – Qudos Bank Arena
Tip Off – 5.30pm Eastern Standard Time
Season Record
| Team | Win/Loss | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 1-2 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| SEM | 3-0 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
Season Team Statistics
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Rebs | Assists | Tu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 70.0 | 85.0 | 46.0 | 15.7 | 16.7 |
| SEM | 92.7 | 79.7 | 34.7 | 16.7 | 9.7 |
Shooting Statistics
| Team | FG % | 3PT % | FT % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 35.7% | 24.5% | 72.0% |
| SEM | 50.0% | 44.1% | 69.1% |
Player Stat Leaders
| Team | Points | Rebs | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | J.Adams 15.0 | X.Cooks 8.0 | X.Cooks 3.7 |
| SEM | M.Creek 23.7 | Z.Qi 6.0 | X.Munford 5.0 |
Last 3 Head to Head Matches
| Date | Matchup | Score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd, April 21 | SEM vs Sydney | 81-101 | (Kings by 20 Pts) |
| 15th, April 21 | Sydney vs SEM | 97-90 | (Kings by 7 Pts) |
| 11th, April 21 | Sydney vs SEM | 84-98 | (Phoenix by 14 Pts) |
Prediction
The Sydney Kings were well out of sorts on Thursday Night, and Melbourne United took advantage and won the match comfortably. Some Sydney players looked a little disinterested at times, and coach Chase Buford will be up against it to get them ready for Saturday’s clash with the Phoenix.
The Kings may be at home, but they come up against a Phoenix side full of confidence and shooting the ball well. Throw in the form of big man Zhou Qi, and it is hard to see them losing this match.
South East Melbourne should be too strong and get the win in Sydney
Prediction – South East Melbourne Phoenix (Win) ⭐⭐
Cairns Taipans vs Adelaide 36ers
Venue – Cairns Convention Centre
Tip Off – 8pm Eastern Standard Time
Season Record
| Team | Win/Loss | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 1-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Adelaide | 2-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
Season Team Statistics
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Rebs | Assists | Tu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 68.0 | 76.0 | 44.5 | 14.0 | 21.0 |
| Adelaide | 81.3 | 82.8 | 43.8 | 17.2 | 14.8 |
Shooting Statistics
| Team | FG % | 3PT % | FT % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 38.2% | 28.3% | 69.0% |
| Adelaide | 44.3% | 33.7% | 73.0% |
Player Stat Leaders
| Team | Points | Rebs | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | T.McCall 18.0 | S.Zimmerman 13.0 | T.McCall 4.5 |
| Adelaide | D.Johnson 17.5 | M.McCarron 8.0 | M.McCarron 5.0 |
Last 3 Head to Head Matches
| Date | Matchup | Score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th May, 21 | Adelaide vs Cairns | 92-76 | (36ers by 16 Pts) |
| 14th April, 21 | Cairns vs Adelaide | 91-88 | (Taipans by 3 Pts) |
| 9th Jan, 21 | Cairns vs Adelaide | 96-88 | (Taipans by 8 Pts) |
Prediction
The Cairns Taipans got the win over the JackJumpers in Round 2, but it is difficult to read too much into it as Tasmania shot the ball at just 31% from the field and 14% from beyond the arc. However, the Taipans defence has to be credited, and it will need to be on if they are any chance against the 36ers.
Adelaide got off to a poor start last week against New Zealand, but outscored the Breakers by 20 points in the second half to finish off the game strong. They shot the ball at 48% from the three-point line and will be full of confidence heading up to Cairns.
Cairns may be a slim chance at home if Scott Machado does suit up, but the 36ers look too strong in this clash.