Sports

NBL – Melbourne United v Cairns Taipans

Friday January 15, 4.30 PM, State Netball and Hockey Centre

Melbourne return home on top of the table and are set to increase their lead.

Game rating – United 86 v Cairns 82

Melbourne United answered their critics with an excellent away win against the Taipans in Cairns on Wednesday night (65-83).  As hard as Cairns tried they were just stone cold from outside the arc and conversely, United were on.  But aside from that, United showed they can win games of basketball against good defensive sides under hostile conditions.  Goulding, Holt and Tomlinson were on target all night for the three pointers while Kickert and Warrick were strong in the paint.  Craig and Worthington tried hard for Cairns but were no match for the class of United.

Prediction

Cairns will come out hard but if they cannot beat Melbourne at home they most certainly are going to struggle away.  Their record on the road is a poor 2-9 while Melbourne have beaten Illawarra and Perth in their past two home games.  Melbourne to win, cover the line and go 3-1 up in the series versus Cairns.

Suggested Bets

Melbourne to win and cover the -7.5 spread.