Round 18 of the NBL26 season comes to a close with a special Monday night game on Australia Day. The Brisbane Bullets will be looking to snap their demoralising losing streak when they host the Illawarra Hawks in Brisbane. We bring you our full game preview and betting tips below!
Also, we’re providing previews and expert betting tips for every game of the NBL26 season, so make sure to head over to our NBL Tips page regularly to keep up to date with all of our content.
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Brisbane Bullets vs Illawarra Hawks Prediction & Betting Tips: NBL26 Round 18
Bullets Barely Competitive
On Australia Day, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre plays host to an intriguing Round 18 clash between the Brisbane Bullets and the Illawarra Hawks. The Bullets have endured a difficult NBL26 campaign, currently sitting at the bottom of the ladder with a 6–21 record. Following the mid-season departure of Justin Schueller, interim coach Darryl McDonald has focused on developing the squad’s younger core, including Alex Ducas and the energetic Jacob Holt. While rookie big man Holt has shown flashes of brilliance, the team has struggled for consistency without several key veterans. Coming off a heavy loss to Melbourne United earlier in the round, Brisbane will be desperate to show some fight in front of their home fans on the public holiday.
Hawks Heartbeat
In contrast, the Illawarra Hawks arrive in Brisbane still fighting to keep their play-in hopes alive. The reigning champions recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a crucial 101–91 victory over a shorthanded Tasmania JackJumpers side. Despite that win, they currently sit in eighth place with a 9–16 record, trailing the sixth-placed JackJumpers by three wins with games in hand. Coach Justin Tatum has relied on the interior presence of JaVale McGee and Sam Froling to control the glass, while guard QJ Peterson has shown the ability to catch fire from deep. They view this fixture as a non-negotiable win to bridge the gap toward the top six.
Recent H2H History
The recent head-to-head history between these two sides heavily favours the visitors. Illawarra has dominated the match-up this season, including a 27 point demolition of the Bullets in Round 4 where they triumphed 116–89. More recently, in Round 12, the Hawks secured a 100–85 win behind a dominant team performance. In those encounters, the Hawks’ superior depth and size proved too much for Brisbane to handle, often leading to lopsided results in the second half. Brisbane’s inability to contain the Hawks' perimeter shooters while simultaneously managing the physical presence of the Illawarra frontcourt has been a recurring theme that McDonald must address to remain competitive this time around.
Bullets or Hawks? Here’s Our Tip!
Looking at the betting markets, the Illawarra Hawks are strong favourites, and for good reason. With Brisbane struggling for offensive identity and missing several key defensive pieces through injury, the Hawks are well-positioned to exploit mismatches across the floor. Given the Bullets' recent form, expect the visitors to maintain their intensity for all four quarters. The Hawks possess the scoring depth to pull away late in the game, making them a confident choice to cover the 10.5 point spread.
Illawarra Hawks –10.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Bullets vs Hawks Dabble Pick‘Em
Popular sportsbook Dabble have launched Pick’Em - a new a simpler way to combine player markets from the same game for bigger odds. We’ve put together a 3-Leg Pick’Em for the Bullets vs Hawks clash that you can follow via the link below! You can also learn more about Dabble’s Pick’Em feature here.
- Terry Taylor 13.5 Points (MORE)
- Jacob Holt 13 Points (MORE)
- Sam Froling 14 Points (MORE)
Dabble Pick‘Em Odds Multiplier: 6.5x ($10 to win $65) - Click here to get involved!
JackJumpers vs Hawks Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Monday, January 26th, 2026
Time: 7:30pm AEDT
Location: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Odds: Bullets $5.50 vs Hawks $1.15
Line: Hawks -11.5
Points: 185.5
Where to Watch Bullets vs Hawks
You can watch the Bullets vs Hawks clash live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
Back In our Bullets vs Hawks Tips at Dabble!
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