NBL25 Finals Tips

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Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks NBL25 Championship Series Tips - United take commanding lead in the Championship Series

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: 10 Mar 2025

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Jeremy Darke 10 Mar 2025

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Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks expert predictions for Wednesday’s Championship Series NBL matchup
Tip-off is at 7:30 PM AEDT at John Cain Arena
Chris Goulding expected to influence scoring significantly in Game 2.
Game total anticipated to exceed 192.5 points, upping the stakes.

Game 2 Predictions: Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks

Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks Game 2 NBL25 Tips

Melbourne United will take a 2-0 series lead when they win at home at John Cain Arena on Wednesday night.

Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks Game 2 NBL25 Tips
Head to Head
MEL DefRankStatRankILL Off91.44PPG1101.440.24RPG144.445.1%3FG%148.6%34.5%43P%435.3%11.56TOV19.6
Melbourne United Form & Team News
Illawarra Hawks Form & Team News
Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks Frequently Asked Questions

The first match of the series couldn’t have gone better for United, coming back from 10 points down at the half to put on a defensive masterclass in the second and top the Hawks by 6 points 96 - 88.

The experienced Melbourne team know how important that first win of the series is, with the team taking the first victory going on to win the Championship in 8 of the past 10 NBL Finals.

Game 2 is expected to be a little more free flowing with the Hawks offence improving on their under-par performance in Game One. However, it is also expected that United open things up after Chris Goulding was slowed down in the first half getting into foul trouble for United. Goulding did all the damage in the semifinals against Perth and he will clip the wings of the Hawks with another big-time performance on his home court.

Expect this match to push up over the game total of 192.5 points with Chris Goulding dropping at least 20 points in the match for Melburne as they go on to take a commanding lead in this series, making it do-or-die for the Hawks at the WEC in Game 3 on Sunday.

United have won their last 4 games at John Cain Arena.
Melbourne have won 5 of their last 6 games against Illawarra at John Cain Arena.
8 of the last 10 Melbourne United home matches have had a total of over 192.5 points
Chris Goulding averaged 35.5 points at John Cain Arena (2 games) in the Playoff against Perth.

Head to Head

NBL25 Championship Series Results

08/03/25: Illawarra 88 - 96 Melbourne

NBL25 Season Series

18/01/25: Illawarra 117 - 95 Melbourne

13/12/24: Melbourne 93 - 106 Illawarra

24/10/24: Illawarra 87 - 92 Melbourne

Offensive & Defensive Rankings (NBL25 Season)

MEL Off	Rank	Stat	Rank	ILL Def
95.6	4	PPG	3	91.2
43.3	2	RPG	5	40.3
46.1%	7	FG%	2	44.2%
35.0%	5	3P%	3	33.9%
11.6	6	TOV	5	12

MEL Def Rank Stat Rank ILL Off
91.4 4 PPG 1 101.4
40.2 4 RPG 1 44.4
45.1% 3 FG% 1 48.6%
34.5% 4 3P% 4 35.3%
11.5 6 TOV 1 9.6

MEL Def	Rank	Stat	Rank	ILL Off
91.4	4	PPG	1	101.4
40.2	4	RPG	1	44.4
45.1%	3	FG%	1	48.6%
34.5%	4	3P%	4	35.3%
11.5	6	TOV	1	9.6

Melbourne United Form & Team News

Game 1 of the series couldn’t have gone better for United really, beating the Hawks 96-88 in the Shire at WIN Entertainment Centre with a chance now to take a 2-0 series lead on their home court.

United held Illawarra to 88 points, which is just the third time in 18 games that the Hawks did not score 90+ points in a game. Melbourne’s defensive display in the second half, holding Illawarra to a total of just 35 points won them the game while Chris Goulding came back from some early foul trouble and put the dagger in with some trademark threes.

Goulding finished the match with 15 points, with 11 points coming in the second half, while veteran Matthew Dellavedova led the scoring with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Marcus Lee was uncontainable for United, recording 15 rebounds along with 14 points.

United Monstered the Hawks in the paint with 17 offensive rebounds, leading to 22 second chance points in the match.

Illawarra Hawks Form & Team News

Game One was a match to forget for the Hawks needing to move on fast from their disappointing loss on their home court in the opener of the Championship Series.

The Hawks led the match 53-43 in the first half and had ample opportunity to kick on and put the first nail in in this series, but failed to capitalize on their early work, letting the game slip.

Illawarra’s leading backcourt of Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey had a tough night, unable to overcome the pressure that the Melbourne defence put them under. Kell 6 points going 3/11 from the field, while his partner in crime Harvey didn’t muster better, hitting 7 from 21 for just 9 points.

Sam Froling unlocked the Melbourne defence in the first half with 12 points with Todd Blanchfireld also getting loose with 11 points, however, United put a stop to that quick smart in the second half with the pair combining for just 6 points after the main break.

Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks start?

Tip-off between Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks is at 7:30 PM AEDT, Wednesday, March 12th

What channel is Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks on?

You can watch Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.

Verdict

Melbourne United v Illawarra Hawks

Melbourne will get the win at John Cain Arena with Chris Goulding finding space and dropping 20+ points, with the game total also surpassing 192.5 points.

Melbourne United

Money Line

$1.74 - 3 Units

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Over 192.5

Game Total

$1.92 - 2 Units

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Chris Goulding

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$2.25 - 2 Units

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