Sports Betting, Sports News, Sports Updates, Australia

Where and When: Sunday 21 December, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, 5.00pm (AEDT)

Past Three Head-to-Head
Townsville Crocodiles 92-87 Sydney Spirit, Round 12 2008.
Townsville Crocodiles 103-101 Sydney Spirit, Round 6 2008.
Only met twice

Season Series
Crocs 2-0

Current Standings
Spirit (8-10) seventh, Crocs (10-9) fourth

The Townsville Crocodiles were desperately unlucky to go down to the South Dragons at the Hisense Arena on Saturday night – they led by eight points at quarter time and looked the better team for most of the first half but were eventually overrun with the Dragons prevailing 88-84.

Despite the loss the Crocs still remain in fourth position on the NBL ladder but they will be desperate to get a win here to open up a gap between themselves and the likes of Adelaide and Perth.

Meanwhile, the Spirit were thumped to the tune of 34 points by the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday and are in need of a win to keep in touch with the top six.

Townsville has won the two matches between these two sides but the Spirit could have easily won both contests with the Crocodiles prevailing by just five and two points in round 12 and six respectively.

In the round six loss the Spirit were led by big man Julian Khazzouh and import Derrick Low who both scored 18 points.

Khazzouh, Low and underrated guard Liam Rush have since gone overseas, therefore the onus is on Matthew Knight and Dave Gruber to have big games if the Spirit are going to be any chance of recording their ninth win of the season.

The Spirit were right in the contest in their loss to the Breakers – they trailed by just five points at half-time but fell away dramatically in the second half as New Zealand cruised to an emphatic 104-70 victory.

Sydney will need the likes of Jason Smith, Drew Williamson, Graeme Dann and new import Blagov Jane to provide greater support to Knight and Gruber to ensure that the scoreboard keeps ticking over.

Rob Beveridge’s men are a proud group and they will be keen to bounce back strongly after their abysmal performance against the Breakers.

They will battle hard throughout but the Crocodiles appear to have too much scoring power with import Corey Williams currently in form and the likes of John Rillie, Kelvin Robertson, Brad Williamson and Rosell Ellis all capable of posting big numbers.

The Crocodiles may have plenty of scoring power but they will need to be more efficient on the offensive end than they were against the Dragons if they are going to get the win.

Against the ladder leaders the Crocodiles shot a paltry 29% from three-point land and made just 13 of 22 free-throws.

A similar performance on Sunday and they will be punished by a Sydney side that likes to play a high-octane brand of basketball.

Being back at home will give the Spirit some confidence but Townsville’s depth should prove to be the difference in what shapes as being yet another hard-fought contest.

This punter suggests putting your money on a Crocodiles’ win by 1-10, offering $2.80.