The NBL26 season continues this week with Round 12, and it’s another round stacked with quality matchups. Action will get underway on Wednesday night with the Phoenix vs JackJumpers in Melbourne and will conclude on Sunday with the usual doubleheader. There are eight games in total in Round 12 and as always, we have you covered with previews and betting tips for all of them right here!
NBL26 Round 12 Preview & Betting Tips
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Wednesday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 10), Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium
Click here for our full game preview and betting tips!
Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets
Thursday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 11), WIN Entertainment Centre
Click here for our full game preview and betting tips!
Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United
Friday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 12), Adelaide Entertainment Centre
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Perth Wildcats vs Sydney Kings
Friday 9:30pm AEDT (Dec 12), RAC Arena
The Wildcats return home for Round 12 looking to respond after a heartbreaking one-point defeat to the 36ers, a game where they led late but could not close it out. Now 9-7, they remain firmly in the top four mix, and their offence continues to function at a high level at RAC Arena where they usually push the tempo. Perth’s ball movement and spacing often lift in front of their home crowd, creating a style of game that tends to open up and produce high scoring stretches, particularly when they dictate pace early.
The Kings arrive at 7-7 after dropping their past two outings, creating some urgency to stabilise their season. They have shown flashes of strong offensive rhythm throughout the campaign, but their defensive lapses have made games far more free flowing than they would like. Sydney still possess enough firepower to keep up in a shootout, and their preference for early offence often encourages opponents to run with them. Against a Perth team that thrives in transition, the Kings are unlikely to slow things down for long stretches.
With both teams leaning heavily on their offence and each coming off games that opened up late, this shapes as an ideal spot for points. The total over 180.5 looks the best angle.
Over 180.5 Points
$1.91 (1 Unit)
Cairns Taipans vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Saturday 5:30pm AEDT (Dec 13), Cairns Convention Centre
The Taipans come into this Round 12 clash with a sense of renewed confidence after claiming two wins from their last three outings, highlighted by a stunning upset on the road against the Hawks. They managed that victory without Jack McVeigh, who missed the trip while awaiting the birth of his child, but he is expected to return on Saturday. Cairns also receive a significant boost with Sam Waardenburg set to make his season debut after recovering from injury, adding size, rim protection, and another interior presence to a team that has been patchy but competitive in stretches throughout the campaign.
Tasmania, meanwhile, finally halted a difficult run of seven losses in eight games with an eight-point win over the Phoenix on Wednesday. It was a much-needed circuit-breaker for a side that has struggled to find rhythm or cohesion, often fluctuating from strong defensive structure to inconsistent execution. With key rotation pieces returning and roles shifting, the JackJumpers remain hard to read week-to-week, mirroring the unpredictability that has defined Cairns’ season as well.
Given the instability on both rosters and the adjustments still taking place, this matchup carries plenty of unknowns. However, the total has gone under in the previous two meetings, and with both teams leaning more defensively, the under 178.5 looks the more reliable angle once again.
Under 178.5 Points
$1.91 (1 Unit)
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs New Zealand Breakers
Saturday 8:00pm AEDT (Dec 13), Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium
South East Melbourne head back to Gippsland for the second straight time, using their regional home base again after a six point loss to the JackJumpers in the same venue. Now 10-6 and sitting third, the Phoenix will be eager to respond with a more composed performance, particularly in late-game execution where their previous outing slipped away. Their earlier meeting with the Breakers finished in an 87-81 Phoenix win, and a similar defensive platform would give them the stability they need against an opponent currently building form.
New Zealand enter this clash with genuine momentum, having beaten the JackJumpers by 13 points at home to extend their winning streak to three and build a run of four wins from their last five. At 7-10 and sixth on the ladder, they have tightened their structures at both ends, showing improved discipline, better movement without the ball, and stronger interior resistance. That more stable defensive identity has been central to their climb and should again shape their approach in Gippsland, where slowing the Phoenix’s rhythm will be a priority.
The previous four matchups between these teams have totalled 168, 191, 150 and 160, and with this contest set at 186.5, the trend points clearly towards a more contained game. The total profiles to fall under.
Under 186.5 Points
$1.90 (2 Units)
Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings
Sunday 2:30pm AEDT (Dec 14), John Cain Arena
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Brisbane Bullets vs Perth Wildcats
Sunday 4:30pm AEDT (Dec 14), Brisbane Entertainment Centre
The Brisbane Bullets return home looking to respond after a disappointing start to Round 12, having fallen to the Hawks and slipping further down the ladder. Sitting second last at 5–12, their record doesn’t fully reflect where this group is at right now. The Bullets have added multiple imports over the past fortnight, and while cohesion is still developing, the added depth and athleticism has clearly lifted their overall level. That was evident in patches against the Hawks, even if execution late was lacking. With limited margin for error from here, Brisbane should bring a strong level of urgency into this matchup.
Perth also come into this game eager to bounce back after being comprehensively beaten by the Kings. The Wildcats are 9–8 and fifth on the ladder, but consistency remains an issue, particularly on the offensive end. They’ve struggled to find rhythm for extended stretches, and that was exposed again in their Round 12 opener. While Perth remain dangerous defensively and generally travel well, they haven’t been playing free-flowing basketball.
Given both sides are still searching for offensive flow and Brisbane’s recent changes, this shapes as a tight, physical contest. With scoring likely to come in bursts rather than waves, the total looks more suited to staying under the 184.5 line.
Under 184.5 Points
$1.95 (1 Unit)
