The Best of the Day preview drives to the hoop with NBL tips for a Wednesday night clash between big last-round winners NZ Breakers and Brisbane Bullets.

NBL Tips – New Zealand Breakers V Brisbane Bullets

17:00 (AEDT) @ State Basketball Centre, Melbourne

History: Played 16: Breakers 11 V Bullets 5

Last meeting: February 7, 2020: Breakers 91 d Bullets 87 at Nissan Arena

Final thoughts: The Best of the Day preview breaks down the NBL Round 8 opener. New Zealand Breakers’ clash with Brisbane Bullets also doubles as the first match of Round 3 of the NBL Cup in Melbourne. It is the clubs’ first meeting this season.

The 2-6 Breakers are second-last on the NBL ladder and recorded heavy losses to the Hawks (102-88) and Kings (96-78) in their first two NBL Cup matches.

But just two days after the defeat to Sydney, the nomadic Kiwi outfit racked up a franchise-record 106-62 demolition of the 36ers on Saturday.

The Breakers scored the first 14 points of the game and led 32-6 at the end of a phenomenal first quarter.

The Webster brothers, Tai (29 pts, 12 ast) and Corey (29 pts, 5 reb), had an unforgettable night out. The duo’s performance and the result was much-needed in the wake of star import Lamar Patterson’s knee injury.

The 5-5 Bullets enjoyed a superb weekend in Round 2 of the NBL Cup. Brisbane rolled high-flying Illawarra 97-91 on Friday night, before powering to a 115-99 win over Cairns on Sunday.

Vic Law (29 pts, 9 reb) starred against the Hawks, while Nathan Sobey put up 30 points against the Taipans.

The Breakers won three of the team’s four encounters last season, which each produced 186-plus points.

The over certainly appeals here (the total line is set at 176.5 points). But an extra day’s rest and the momentum from their watershed victory over Adelaide render the Breakers a compelling Best of the Day underdog.

Tip: Result – Breakers @ $2.12