After a couple of rare days off, the NBL26 season resumes this Thursday with Round 17 which is Hoops Fest – where all 10 teams play in Perth over the weekend. It’s a quieter round than usual with just the five games taking place across four days, but there’s still plenty to look forward to. Here, we bring you our free previews and tips for all upcoming games!
NBL26 Round 17 Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Kings vs Brisbane Bullets
Thursday 9:30pm AEDT (Jan 15), RAC Arena
Click here for our full game preview and betting tips!
Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks
Friday 9:30pm AEDT (Jan 16), RAC Arena
Click here for our full game preview and betting tips!
Cairns Taipans vs New Zealand Breakers
Saturday 7:00pm AEDT (Jan 17), RAC Arena
Round 17 of NBL26 features another neutral-court clash as the Cairns Taipans meet the New Zealand Breakers at RAC Arena in Perth as part of HoopsFest. The Taipans sit ninth at 7–17 and are out of the top-six race, while the Breakers are seventh at 9–15 and virtually done as well, sitting three wins behind sixth with limited time to recover. The season series is split 1–1, with both teams claiming a win across two high-scoring encounters.
Those previous matchups produced totals of 198 and 194, and a similar script looks likely again. Neither side has been reliable defensively this season, regularly conceding easy looks and struggling to slow opposing guards. With little at stake on the ladder, this shapes as a free-flowing contest where offence takes priority. Expect pace, shot-making and minimal defensive resistance, making this an ideal setup for another high-scoring affair that should see the total push beyond the 180.5 line.
Over 180.5 Points
$1.91 (1 Unit)
Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Saturday 9:30pm AEDT (Jan 17), RAC Arena
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Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Sunday 2:30pm AEDT (Jan 18), RAC Arena
HoopsFest wraps up at RAC Arena with a massive top-of-the-table clash between the Adelaide 36ers and South East Melbourne Phoenix. This Round 17 finale is the biggest game of the weekend in Perth, pitting the 19-5 league leaders against a second-placed Phoenix side sitting at 16-8.
Adelaide has owned this matchup so far this season, cruising to victories of 17 and 13 points in their previous two meetings. Their path to another win looks even clearer now that South East Melbourne will be missing their best player, Nathan Sobey. Without Sobey’s scoring and leadership on the floor, the Phoenix face a huge uphill battle to stay competitive against the deepest roster in the league.
Expect the 36ers to take full advantage of the weakened Phoenix backcourt in the RAC Arena atmosphere. Between their head-to-head dominance and the massive hole left by Sobey’s injury, Adelaide should be too strong. They are well-placed to secure the win and cover the -4.5 spread to close out the round.
Adelaide 36ers -4.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
