NBL26 Round 10 begins on Wednesday night with a standalone fixture that pits the Adelaide 36ers against the Illawarra Hawks at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Both teams are absolutely stacked with talent, with the 36ers led by the league’s leading scorer in Bryce Cotton, while the Hawks have their beast in the paint in the form of JaVale McGee. As always, we bring you our full preview and best bet for the clash below!
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Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks Prediction & Betting Tips: NBL26 Round 10
36ers Finding Better Balance
Adelaide return home in Round 10 sitting at 9-3 and firmly entrenched in second place, continuing to track as one of the competition’s best early-season stories. Their narrow four-point win over Cairns last outing was far from perfect, but it underlined their growing ability to grind out results even when the offence stutters. With four wins from their past five games, the 36ers are beginning to project the consistency and toughness required to stay near the top of the ladder. Bryce Cotton’s shot-making and Zylan Cheatham’s all-round impact again proved decisive in that victory, giving Adelaide the stability and leadership needed in tight fourth-quarter moments. With confidence rising and their home floor becoming a genuine asset, they will feel well-placed heading into another important matchup.
The Jekyll and Hide Hawks
Illawarra, sitting seventh at 4-7, endured a brutal night in their 27-point loss to Sydney, raising renewed questions about their reliability from game to game. When the Hawks hit their stride, they can trouble anyone, but their inconsistency remains a major barrier to climbing the ladder. Will Hickey has been superb since returning from injury, injecting defensive pressure, slashing and desperation that often shifts their energy levels. JaVale McGee has also been a steady and imposing presence throughout the season, anchoring the paint and providing a consistent interior scoring option. However, both need more reliable support from the surrounding cast, particularly offensively, if Illawarra are to compete with a top-two outfit on the road. Until the Hawks find that balance, their volatility will continue to haunt them.
Recent H2H History
Recent head-to-head history gives further weight to Adelaide’s favouritism. When these sides met just a couple of weeks ago, the 36ers escaped with a tight two-point win, a contest that reflected their late-game composure and superior execution under pressure. Beyond that, the trends at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre paint an even clearer picture: the 36ers have won their last six home games against the Hawks, consistently controlling tempo and capitalising on their matchup advantages. Illawarra’s struggles to generate efficient offence in Adelaide have been a recurring theme across multiple seasons, and given the contrasting recent form lines, that pattern may again prove significant.
36ers or Hawks? Here’s Our Tip!
With Adelaide in strong rhythm, a proven home-court edge, and more trustworthy two-way structure, they deserve to enter this contest as favourites. Illawarra can certainly challenge in patches, but sustaining scoreboard pressure has been one of their biggest issues, especially away from home. Given the 36ers’ superior depth, form and reliability in close situations, Adelaide look well positioned to assert themselves and continue their winning surge.
Adelaide 36ers –3.5
$1.85 (3 Units)
36ers vs Hawks Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Wednesday, November 19th, 2025
Time: 7:30pm AEDT
Location: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Odds: 36ers $1.53 vs Hawks $2.50
Line: 36ers -3.5
Points: 185.5
Where to Watch 36ers vs Hawks
You can watch the 36ers vs Hawks clash live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
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