Round 6 in the NBL26 season is jam-packed with quality matchups, with eight games set to play out across five days. It gets underway with a Wednesday night game between the Taipans and the Wildcats, while there will be double-header on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. We bring you our best bets for all eight games below!
Round 5 was a tough one for us with a 3-5 record, although we did nail our highest-staked game to stem the bleeding and remain ahead of the ledger for the season. Let’s bounce back with a big weekend of winners in Round 6.
And if you’re looking for a bookmaker to place your NBL bets on this season, look no further than Dabble – The official wagering partner of the NBL!
NBL26 Round 6 Preview & Betting Tips
Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats
Wednesday 7:30pm AEDT (Oct 22), Cairns Convention Centre
Click here for our full game preview and best bet!
New Zealand Breakers vs Brisbane Bullets
Thursday 5:30pm AEDT (Oct 23), Eventfinda Stadium
The New Zealand Breakers return home for Round 6 with a 2-6 record after falling to ladder leaders Melbourne United 104-88. Despite their struggles on the road, the Breakers have been far more competitive at home, winning two of their last three at Spark Arena. Their offence has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, and they’ll be eager to capitalise on home-court advantage to get their season back on track.
Brisbane enter this clash at 2-5 following a 95-86 defeat to United. The Bullets have battled through a run of injuries, leaving them undermanned, but they continue to compete hard and stay in games through effort and grit. Still, the lack of depth has made it difficult to close out contests late.
With both teams desperate for a win, the Breakers’ recent home form gives them the edge. In a near even-money matchup, New Zealand look the better bet.
Breakers to Win
$1.80 (1 Units)
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Sydney Kings
Thursday 7:30pm AEDT (Oct 23), John Cain Arena
Click here for our full game preview and best bet!
Cairns Taipans vs Melbourne United
Friday 7:30pm AEDT (Oct 24), Cairns Convention Centre
The Taipans enter their second game of Round 6 desperate to find form, sitting eighth on the ladder at 2-6 after being crushed by the Wildcats by 32 points. That result marked their fourth defeat of the season by more than 30 points, highlighting their continued issues on both ends of the floor. Cairns have struggled to generate any consistent offence and have been unable to contain opposition scoring runs, with their lack of depth and experience becoming increasingly evident.
Melbourne United, in contrast, have been the class act of the NBL26 season. They sit comfortably on top of the ladder at 7-0 and remain the only unbeaten side in the competition. United’s balance, depth, and relentless defence have made them the team to beat, and their system continues to overwhelm opponents. When these sides met just two weeks ago, United completely dominated in a 95-60 rout that showcased the gap in quality between them.
Given the contrasting form lines, this matchup appears heavily tilted in United’s favour once again. The Taipans will need to produce something extraordinary to stay in touch, but their offensive struggles make that unlikely. Expect Melbourne’s defensive discipline and composure to dictate proceedings, with the total points likely to stay under 180.5.
Under 180.5 Points
$1.87 (1 Unit)
Brisbane Bullets vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Saturday 5:30pm AEDT (Oct 25), Brisbane Entertainment Centre
The Brisbane Bullets return to action in Round 6 at 3-5 after a thrilling one-point comeback win over the Breakers on Wednesday. Brisbane looked gone early, trailing by as much as 24, but showed real grit to storm home late and snatch victory. Despite the result, their inconsistency remains a concern, with defensive lapses and stagnant offence still limiting their ability to compete with the league’s elite.
South East Melbourne, meanwhile, continue to look like a genuine contender. Their 17-point win over the Kings was arguably their most complete performance of the season, improving their record to 4-2. New import Wes Iwundu added spark on debut, and with more minutes and conditioning, he’s expected to make a bigger impact as the season rolls on.
With superior depth, structure, and momentum, the Phoenix should have too much polish for Brisbane and look the better bet to cover the -3.5 line.
Phoenix -3.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks
Saturday 8:00pm AEDT (Oct 25), RAC Arena
Click here for our full game preview and best bet!
Melbourne United vs Adelaide 36ers
Sunday 2:30pm AEDT (Oct 26), John Cain Arena
Round 6 wraps up with a blockbuster clash between the two best teams in the NBL so far as Melbourne United host the Adelaide 36ers. United have been flawless through the opening stretch of the season, sitting comfortably on top of the ladder at 8-0. Their dominant 27-point win over the Taipans earlier in the round was yet another statement of intent, marking their sixth double-digit victory from eight games. With unrivalled depth, elite ball movement, and a balanced inside-out attack, United continue to look a cut above the rest.
The 36ers, sitting second at 5-1, have also made a superb start and come into this contest full of confidence. Their offence has largely revolved around the brilliance of Bryce Cotton, who exploded for 53 points in their five-point win over the Taipans last outing. When Cotton is in that kind of form, Adelaide can trouble any opponent, and they’ll need another big performance from him to stay competitive against United’s defensive pressure.
However, Melbourne’s depth and versatility give them multiple options to throw at Cotton, and over four quarters that should make the difference. The 36ers can certainly make this one interesting early, but United’s consistency and depth should see them pull clear and cover the -5.5 spread.
Melbourne United -5.5
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Sydney Kings vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Sunday 4:30pm AEDT (Oct 26), Qudos Bank Arena
The final game of Round 6 sees the Kings host the JackJumpers in what should be a fascinating clash to close out the weekend. The Kings are coming off a poor 17-point defeat to the Phoenix, continuing their trend of alternating wins and losses across their opening seven games. While inconsistent, Sydney have generally bounced back well after defeats and will be eager to respond at home, where their athleticism and size often cause opponents issues.
The JackJumpers, meanwhile, also enter this one off a 17-point loss, after being held to just 65 points by the Breakers in a disappointing offensive display. That lack of scoring punch will be a concern heading into this matchup, especially against a Kings side that has historically matched up well with them defensively. Sydney’s length and energy on the perimeter have previously limited Tasmania’s ball movement and transition looks.
Although the JackJumpers did put up 86 points against the Kings in their most recent meeting, that performance looks more like the exception than the rule. Prior to that, Tasmania scored just 77, 70, and 61 in their previous three clashes with Sydney. Given the Kings’ defensive pressure and the JackJumpers’ recent struggles, the visitors are likely to fall short of their 84.5 team total line.
JackJumpers Team Total Under 84.5 Points
$1.87 (1 Unit)
