NBL Championship Finals Game 1 Expert Tips & Predictions

All odds are with Picklebet Use Code: 'GOBET500'

The NBL Finals start on Saturday night with Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United Game 1, where the Hawks are heavy favourites to win.

We have NBL betting tips for Game 1, where there could be an upset brewing in the best-of-five opener.

Best New Betting Sites

Launched Feb 2025
Use Code: 'GOBET100'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET100'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

What are you prepared to lose today?

Set a deposit limit.

Best Betting Sites

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Launched Feb 2025
Use Code: 'GOBET100'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET100'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Take Us On!
Login to View Offers!Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET100'Check Offers

Use Code: 'JBGOBET'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOLD100'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET50'Check Offers

What are you prepared to lose today?

Set a deposit limit.

NBL Finals Game 1 Tips

—

Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United @ WIN Entertainment Centre

The Hawks are $1.48 favourites to win the opening game, and although they have the benefit of home court, those odds are too short for our liking.

They needed three games to get past S.E. Melbourne Phoenix, scoring a big win in Game 3. However, United looked more impressive when beating the Perth Wildcats in three games, especially considering Perth’s experience in the finals.

It might have come via a Chris Goulding foul in the dying seconds on Game 3, but it was still a clutch win from United, who also relied on Goulding to win the opening contest. He caught fire from behind the three-point line, which is why we’re in favor of United.

Goulding is a difference maker, so if the Hawks don’t defend him well, he could lead United to an opening victory on Saturday at juicy odds. Bookmakers have United at $2.67, which is a crazy price.

We understand why Illawarra is favoured to win, but in a game that could come down to the final quarter, we’ll take the experience of Melbourne over the upstart Hawks any day of the week.

Betting tip: Melbourne United @ $2.67

Use Code 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Illawarra Hawks vs Melbourne United Prop Picks

Punters get United at +5.5, which is a fantastic line and we would be silly not to take the points considering our head-to-head pick.

It should be a close game regardless of the winner, so punters should lock in the generous +5.5 line for the road underdogs, who don’t often get blown off the court, especially by the Hawks.

We’re also including under 198.5 points. They are high-scoring teams, but finals games are usually played much tighter defensively, which suits Melbourne, and we would be surprised if one team scored over 100 points, let alone both. One of our best NBL Finals Game 1 picks is under 198.5, and it’s well worth including in same-game multis.

We mentioned Goulding in our game preview and he’s integral to Melbourne’s chances. His experience and talent could be the difference maker, so getting $2.03 to score 20+ points is too good to overlook. He’s capable of scoring 20 in one quarter, let alone over 40 minutes, so he’s an excellent NBL prop pick.

Trey Kell is another good pick for 20+ points. The Hawks’ guard has been excellent this season, and we thought his odds would be shorter. He has to share the scoring duties with Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling, but he makes his own shots and he plays with more confidence than Harvey.

Punters get $1.95 for Kell to score 20+ points and we don’t mind the $3.60 for Kell to score 25+ points, with Goulding at $3.75 for the same option.

Betting tip: Chris Goulding 20+ Points @ $2.03

Use Code 'GOBET500'Check Offers

Use Code: 'GOBET500'Check Offers

All odds are with Picklebet Use Code: 'GOBET500'