The exciting NBL26 season continues this week with Round 13, which includes 10 games across 7 days. We’re coming off a huge round where we hit 7 of our 8 tips, as well as a couple of our Dabble Pick’Em at 6.5x odds. As always, we have you covered with our previews and tips for all Round 13 NBL games below, and best of luck to everyone following along!
NBL26 Round 13 Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers
Wednesday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 17), AIS Arena
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Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks
Thursday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 18), John Cain Arena
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Perth Wildcats vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Thursday 9:30pm AEDT (Dec 18), RAC Arena
The Perth Wildcats come into this Round 13 clash sitting fifth at 10–8, having steadied the ship with a much-needed 24-point win over a depleted Brisbane side last time out. That result snapped a worrying run of three losses in four games, but it did not completely mask some recent issues. Perth have looked disjointed at times on both ends of the floor, with their offence often lacking rhythm and cohesion. That has put extra pressure on Kristian Doolittle, who has carried a heavy load this season but has been below his usual influence in recent weeks. The Wildcats will take confidence from getting back in the win column, yet they still feel like a team searching for consistency rather than one building momentum.
South East Melbourne arrive in stronger shape, sitting third on the ladder at 11–6. Their 12-point win over the Breakers last outing also ended a stretch of three losses in four games, though the key difference is that those defeats were all highly competitive. The Phoenix have generally maintained their structure and intensity, even during losses, and they have already shown they can handle Perth by winning by five when the teams met earlier in the season. With their balance and resilience, South East Melbourne look good value to repeat the result and extend their hold on a top-three spot.
Phoenix to Win
$1.98 (1.5 Units)
Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers
Friday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 19), Cairns Convention Centre
Cairns Taipans head into Round 13 anchored to the bottom of the NBL ladder with a 4‑13 record, having most recently fallen by 13 points to the Tasmania JackJumpers. Their season has been a tough grind, with losses stacking up in both offensive output and defensive consistency. Cairns’ scoring struggles and rebounding issues have been persistent themes, and they enter this clash still searching for identity and momentum. The Taipans’ record reflects those challenges, and they desperately need a turnaround to climb out of last place.
The New Zealand Breakers sit 7th at 7‑11 and are pushing to break into the top six as the finals race heats up. While they suffered a 12‑point defeat to the South East Melbourne Phoenix last time out, that loss came amid a strong run where the Breakers won four of five games prior. Their recent form shows they can string wins together and compete with the league’s mid‑table sides.
History also favours the Breakers in this pairing, and with their more stable form and ladder position, they should be too strong on the road. Expect New Zealand to claim the win and cover the -2.5 spread in this Round 13 showdown.
New Zealand Breakers -2.5
$1.88 (2 Units)
Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers
Saturday 5:30pm AEDT (Dec 20), WIN Entertainment Centre
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South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Brisbane Bullets
Saturday 8:00pm AEDT (Dec 20), John Cain Arena
The South East Melbourne Phoenix return home riding a wave of confidence after one of the wins of the season, producing a stunning one-point comeback victory against the Wildcats in Perth. That result pushed the Phoenix to 12–6 and further underlined their credentials as a genuine contender. Even when they were struggling to score early, their defensive pressure kept them within touch, and their composure late showed a group that is comfortable winning tight games. At home, the Phoenix have been particularly disciplined, controlling tempo and forcing opponents into long, inefficient possessions.
Brisbane arrive in a very different frame of mind. The Bullets have now dropped six straight games to slip to 5–13, with five of those losses coming by margins of 15 points or more. Offence has been a major issue, with Brisbane scoring more than 85 points just once in their past eight outings. Too often they have fallen behind early, and their inability to generate consistent perimeter scoring has made it difficult to mount any sustained fightback.
Given the contrasting form lines, this shapes as a game where South East Melbourne can dictate terms. With Brisbane struggling to score and the Phoenix happy to grind teams down defensively, the under 182.5 total points looks a strong play in what could be a controlled, lower-scoring contest.
Under 182.5 Points
$1.92 (1 Unit)
Tasmania JackJumpers vs Perth Wildcats
Sunday 2:30pm AEDT (Dec 21), MyState Bank Arena
The Tasmania JackJumpers return home in Round 13 with momentum finally on their side as they continue to climb back into the playoff picture. Sitting 6th on the ladder at 8-10, the JackJumpers look far more like the cohesive unit that built their identity in recent seasons. After battling injuries for much of the campaign, they are close to full strength again and the results are starting to reflect that, with two straight wins and three victories from their past four games. Their defensive intensity has lifted noticeably, while the ball movement and spacing at the offensive end has improved, allowing them to control tempo more effectively and play to their strengths.
The Perth Wildcats arrive in Tasmania coming off another frustrating loss, edged out by the South East Melbourne Phoenix by a single point despite holding the lead for most of the night. That defeat dropped Perth to 10-9 and 5th on the ladder, and it highlighted some ongoing issues in closing games. While the Wildcats remain dangerous and competitive, they have struggled to execute late, particularly when games tighten in the final minutes.
With their health improving and chemistry building at the right time, the JackJumpers appear to be playing the more connected basketball. At home, against a Perth side still searching for consistency late in games, Tasmania look well placed to continue their strong run and should be getting the job done.
JackJumpers to Win
$1.80 (2.5 Units)
Sydney Kings vs Cairns Taipans
Sunday 4:30pm AEDT (Dec 21), Qudos Bank Arena
The Sydney Kings come into their first home game of Round 13 riding a strong wave of momentum after opening the round with an impressive overtime win against the Adelaide 36ers. That result made it three wins in a row for the Kings, with all three victories coming against teams currently inside the top five. It has been a clear sign of their growth, particularly in tight, high-pressure moments, where their defensive focus and late-game execution have improved noticeably. Confidence is building quickly, and they are starting to look far more settled at both ends of the floor.
Cairns also opened Round 13 on a positive note, grinding out a four-point win against the New Zealand Breakers in their first game of the round. The Taipans are finally starting to look like a different team now that their injury concerns are easing. Sam Waardenburg’s return has been a major boost, giving Cairns greater structure and balance, and they have now won two of their last three games. Their defensive effort has lifted, and they are playing with more composure and purpose.
The Kings clearly deserve favouritism based on recent results and the quality of opposition they have beaten. However, Cairns’ improved health and growing cohesion suggest they should not be underestimated, and they look capable of keeping this contest close and covering the +8.5 spread.
Cairns Taipans +8.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Brisbane Bullets vs New Zealand Breakers
Monday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 22), Brisbane Entertainment Centre
The Brisbane Bullets return home for their second game of Round 13 under mounting pressure after a brutal 29-point loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Saturday night. That defeat extended their losing streak to seven games, with six of those losses coming by margins of 15 points or more. The Bullets look completely disjointed at the moment, struggling to generate any offensive flow while repeatedly breaking down defensively. Poor transition defence and a lack of cohesion on both ends have seen games slip away early, leaving them chasing shadows for long stretches. Confidence is clearly low, and without a dramatic response, this matchup shapes as another long night.
The New Zealand Breakers arrive in Brisbane also playing their second game of the round, but with a far different outlook. They went down narrowly to the Taipans by four points in their last outing, a result that made it two losses in a row but did little to dampen their overall competitiveness. With the race for the top six tightening, this is a spot where the Breakers will be desperate to respond. They’ve generally shown better structure, energy, and defensive intent than the Bullets, and this matchup presents a strong opportunity to reassert themselves.
Given Brisbane’s ongoing struggles and the Breakers’ urgency, New Zealand should comfortably cover the -4.5 spread here.
New Zealand Breakers -4.5
$1.91 (3 Units)
Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Tuesday 8:00pm AEDT (Dec 23), John Cain Arena
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