New Zealand Breakers vs Melbourne United Live Stream & Tips - Goulding-less United to struggle in NBL

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 04 Dec 2024

Jeremy Darke 04 Dec 2024

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New Zealand Breakers vs Melbourne United expert predictions for Thursday’s Round 11 NBL matchup
Breakers seek to bounce back at home after recent losses
United lead the league but are without key player Chris Goulding

Expired

Breakers backed (Getty)

New Zealand Breakers vs Melbourne United Tips
Head to Head
New Zealand Breakers Form & Team News
Melbourne United Form & Team News

New Zealand Breakers vs Melbourne United Tips

The Breakers have endured a tough run on the road and can claim victory on their return home. New Zealand can cover the 2.5 points as the underdog.

Home underdogs of 2.5 points or less have covered in 6 of 7 games this season.
New Zealand are 4-1 at home this season.
New Zealand has won 6 of their last 8 games at Wolfbrook Arena.
New Zealand ranks second with a 46.9 field goal percentage.

Head to Head

2024/25 Match Results

04-11-24: Melbourne United 79 - 113 New Zealand

2023/24 Season Series

Melbourne United won 3-0

New Zealand Breakers Form & Team News

New Zealand have hit a wall losing three of their past four games as their offence has struggled to find momentum after dealing with a rough patch of injuries that have seen periods on the sideline for Mitch McCarron, Mojave King, Max Darling and now Dane Pineau and the biggest of all Tacko Fall.

New Zealand were on the wrong end of a Bryce Cotton masterclass which saw them go down 123-112 in their second game of round 10, however, their biggest concern was the thumping they took by Illawarra on Thursday, losing to the Hawks 109-71.

The pace was so high in the Breakers game that it hid the fact that they have been struggling offensively, averaging just 70.66 points in their three games prior.

Matt Mooney hasn’t had the same consistent impact in his last four matches, scoring in single digits in three of four games and has not been able to take the pressure off Parker Jackson Cartwright, as he did in the purple patch for New Zealand in late October.

Melbourne United Form & Team News

Melbourne have pushed three wins clear of the rest of the NBL with 11 wins and four losses, doing exactly what they need to do in the first two thirds of the season before they spend a long patch on the road during the Australian Open tennis.

United have been taking care of business, winning seven of their past eight games, with their only loss coming at the hands of New Zealand, at John Cain Arena, on November 4.

Melbourne’s success can come down to the hot hand of Chris Goulding over the past month dropping an average of 26.6 points in his past five games. The unfortunate news is that Goulding will be missing for United over the next two rounds where they will play four matches.

United are going to have to revert back to their defensive mindset and structure with Goulding point production missing and will need to get some more scoring from Matthew Dellavedova and Shae Ili.

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Verdict

New Zealand Breakers v Melbourne United

New Zealand will force the hand of Melbourne without their star shooter Chris Goulding. Expect their field goal percentage to decrease which will keep this game under 180.5 points as New Zealand cover as the home underdog.

New Zealand -2.5

Handicap/Line

@9/10 - 2 Units

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Under 180.5

Game Total

@11/12 - 2 Units

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