NBL Playoffs Tips and Previews, 3rd March
After 28 regular season matches and an expanded playoff series, the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers are the last two teams left standing in the NBL as they prepare to kick off the 2022/23 championship series this Friday.
The Kings will enter the first of their five-game series as $1.54 favourites with Bet Nation, while Breakers fans will consider their team value at $2.47.
Bet Nation looks at the form of both teams and predicts how it will all pan out.
Sydney Kings vs. New Zealand Breakers
March 3rd
Both sides sat out the play-in tournament to kick off the playoffs after earning a direct semi-final berth by finishing in the top two at the end of the regular season.
The Kings, who earnt the home-court advantage by finishing in the top spot, registered a 19-9 record before edging past the Cairns Taipans 2-1 in the semis. With the teams split at 1-1 after the first two playoff games, the Kings put on a defensive masterclass in the final quarter and outscored the Taipans 17-6 to a 15-point victory. Dejan Vasiljevic top-scored with 15 points, while Xavier Cooks and Kouat Noi registered 11-point, 11-rebound double-doubles.
Derrick Walton Jr (16.4ppg) and Cooks (16.2ppg) have led the scoring for the Kings all season. Cooks has also dominated on the boards, averaging 7.8 rebounds.
After earning a direct flight to the semis, the Breakers were also made to work for a 2-1 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers. It was a similar story whereby the Breakers held the JackJumpers to just 13 points in the fourth and ran out 15-point winners. Barry Brown Jr starred for the New Zealanders with 32 points off the bench, while Dererk Pardon had 15 points and 14 boards. Brown Jr is the key to the Breakers’ scoring, with his 19.5ppg ranking fourth in the league.
The Breakers have arguably been in better form recently, with seven wins from their past eight, compared to the Kings, who have lost three of their past five after wrapping up the top spot and easing into playoffs.
Head-to-head, however, is a different story, as the defending champions boast a 4-1 record from their past five encounters.
The Kings will be looking to make it three championships since 2020, while the Breakers haven’t tasted the ultimate success since their three-peat from 2011-13.
Given the home-court advantage, their recent record in the playoffs and dominance over the Breakers, it’s hard to go past the Kings in their first-up clash.
