NBL27 Round 9 Predictions & Tips

The 2026/27 NBL season moves into Round 9 with nine games across five days, beginning with South East Melbourne hosting Illawarra on Wednesday night and concluding with a Sunday double-header featuring Sydney against New Zealand and Brisbane against Tasmania.

There are some fascinating matchups this week, headlined by Adelaide hosting Melbourne United, another Melbourne Throwdown, and a crucial home double for the Perth Wildcats. Tasmania's growing injury list will also be tested on the road, while Sydney look to maintain their position among the competition's leading teams.

We'll have dedicated betting previews for five of the nine matches, with quick previews of the reamining matches below. Full betting selections will be added as markets and team news are confirmed.

NBL27 Round 9 at a Glance

NBL27 Round 9 Predictions & Tips

Our Round 9 match previews are below, with the key talking points and early betting considerations for each fixture. We'll update the selections once markets and final team news become available.

South East Melbourne open Round 9 with an important home clash against Illawarra, looking to find greater consistency after a frustrating start to the season. The Phoenix have plenty of offensive talent, with Nathan Sobey, Angus Glover, Skylar Mays and D'Shawn Schwartz capable of producing big scoring performances, but their defensive execution has too often let them down. Coach Josh King will be demanding a more disciplined performance, particularly after the Phoenix's disappointing defeat to an injury-depleted Tasmania in Round 7.

Illawarra have shown encouraging signs of improvement after a difficult opening to their championship defence. Consecutive road victories over Perth and Cairns demonstrated what the Hawks are capable of when their offence is functioning effectively, with Kelan Martin, Tyler Harvey and Makur Maker providing the scoring punch. However, their subsequent heavy defeat to Adelaide was another reminder that the Hawks are still searching for consistency, particularly at the defensive end.

This shapes as a potentially high-scoring contest between two teams that can generate plenty of offensive opportunities but have struggled to maintain defensive intensity. The Phoenix should benefit from playing at home, although Illawarra's recent improvement makes them dangerous opponents. Rebounding and transition defence could be decisive, with both sides capable of building momentum quickly when they find their rhythm.

Adelaide host Melbourne United on Thursday night in one of the standout fixtures of Round 9. The 36ers produced an emphatic response to their earlier defeat against Brisbane by dominating Illawarra last Saturday, with Zylan Cheatham recording a triple-double in a commanding performance. Bryce Cotton remains the focal point of Adelaide's offence, but the contributions of Cheatham and the supporting cast will be crucial against one of the competition's strongest defensive teams.

Melbourne arrive with renewed confidence after stringing together several impressive victories, including a convincing performance against Brisbane in Round 8. Cole Anthony has become a major offensive weapon for United, while Josh Oduro continues to provide an imposing presence inside. With Luke Travers, Shea Ili, Chris Goulding and Joe Ingles contributing across the rotation, Melbourne have the experience and versatility to challenge any opponent when their defence and ball movement are functioning effectively.

The battle between Cotton and Anthony should be fascinating, but this matchup could ultimately be decided in the frontcourt. Cheatham's athleticism and versatility will test Melbourne's defensive structure, while Oduro's rebounding and interior scoring give United a significant weapon of their own. Adelaide's home-court advantage makes this a difficult assignment for Melbourne, and the contest shapes as one of the most evenly matched games of the round.

Perth begin a crucial home double-header against Tasmania on Thursday night, desperately needing to reverse a worrying run of results. The Wildcats have struggled to establish any consistency, with their defensive lapses and injury problems contributing to a difficult stretch. Kristian Doolittle continues to carry much of the responsibility at both ends of the floor, while Elijah Pepper and Dylan Windler provide important perimeter scoring. Brandon Knight is targeting a Round 9 return, but Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. remains sidelined, leaving Perth short of experienced options inside.

Tasmania, meanwhile, continue to defy a growing injury list, with Scott Roth's side relying heavily on its defensive structure and the leadership of Will Magnay. The JackJumpers have been particularly resilient in recent weeks, producing important victories despite being without several regular rotation players. Majok Deng, Ben Gold, Bryce Hamilton and David Johnson remain unavailable, while Nick Marshall may also be in doubt with an ankle strain, placing considerable pressure on the remaining players to maintain their intensity and effectiveness.

This is a fascinating matchup between Perth's offensive talent and Tasmania's disciplined defensive approach. The Wildcats will be eager to exploit their home-court advantage, particularly against a JackJumpers side operating with limited depth, but Tasmania have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to grind out victories in difficult circumstances. The availability of Knight and Perth's ability to control the rebounding battle could be decisive.

New Zealand return home on Friday night looking to make the most of their home-court advantage against a Brisbane side still battling injury concerns. The Breakers have been inconsistent throughout the opening rounds, although Sam Mennenga continues to be one of the competition's most productive offensive players. Parker Jackson-Cartwright has struggled in his return from injury and still doesn't seem 100% fit, with Carlin Davison elevating his game to carry the load in support.

Brisbane have demonstrated considerable offensive potential in recent weeks, highlighted by their victories over Adelaide and Perth in Round 8. However, their subsequent heavy defeat to Melbourne United exposed some familiar defensive problems, with the Bullets struggling to contain United's attacking weapons. Raul Neto's playmaking remains an important asset, while Tyrell Harrison, Nate Hinton and Jaylin Williams provide additional scoring options. Max Mackinnon is targeting a return from concussion in Round 9, although Brisbane remain without several other rotation players.

The Breakers will look to establish control through Mennenga's interior scoring and their improved backcourt play, while Brisbane need a more disciplined defensive performance to remain competitive on the road. Both teams have shown they can score heavily when their offence clicks, but neither has been particularly reliable defensively. New Zealand's home advantage gives them an edge, although Brisbane's ability to generate scoring opportunities through Neto could keep the contest close.

Cairns return home on Friday night with renewed confidence after producing an important victory over Perth at RAC Arena on Sunday. The Taipans have demonstrated their ability to trouble quality opposition throughout the opening rounds, with Jack McVeigh, Keanu Pinder and Jaylen Brown providing a dangerous combination of scoring, athleticism and versatility. Their offensive talent is undeniable, although defensive consistency remains the key to establishing themselves as genuine finals contenders.

Sydney have been one of the competition's benchmark teams, with Kendric Davis continuing to lead an offence featuring plenty of scoring options. Torrey Craig and Xavier Cooks provide experience and physicality, while the Kings have also demonstrated an ability to win through disciplined defence. Their victory over Tasmania in Launceston was a particularly strong example of that adaptability, with Sydney controlling the tempo in a low-scoring contest.

The Taipans will look to use their home-court advantage and offensive versatility to challenge the Kings, particularly through McVeigh's perimeter scoring and Pinder's presence inside. However, Sydney's defensive organisation and greater consistency make them difficult opponents. If the Kings can restrict Cairns' transition opportunities and control the rebounding battle, they will be well placed to secure another important road victory.

Another Melbourne Throwdown takes centre stage on Saturday night, with United and South East Melbourne renewing their rivalry at John Cain Arena. Melbourne have enjoyed the upper hand in their recent meetings, including a comeback victory earlier this season, and will be looking to maintain that dominance. Cole Anthony and Josh Oduro have emerged as two of United's most influential players, while the experience of Chris Goulding, Shea Ili and Joe Ingles gives Melbourne considerable depth and flexibility.

South East Melbourne possess enough offensive talent to challenge their cross-town rivals, particularly through Nathan Sobey, Angus Glover, Skylar Mays and D'Shawn Schwartz. However, the Phoenix have struggled to maintain defensive intensity throughout the opening rounds, with their inconsistent performances proving costly. Their ability to generate quick scoring runs makes them dangerous opponents, but they will need to be considerably more disciplined against a United side capable of punishing defensive mistakes.

The battle between Melbourne's structured defence and the Phoenix's aggressive attacking approach should make this an entertaining contest. United's rebounding strength and greater experience give them an advantage, although South East Melbourne's perimeter shooting can quickly change the momentum of a game. Both teams will also be playing their second match of the round, making rotation management and recovery important factors heading into Saturday night.

Perth complete their Round 9 home double-header against Illawarra on Saturday night, looking to make the most of consecutive games at RAC Arena. The Wildcats have struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances, particularly at the defensive end, where their inability to contain opposition scoring has contributed to several costly defeats. Kristian Doolittle remains their most influential player, while Elijah Pepper and Dylan Windler provide important perimeter scoring. The potential return of Brandon Knight would be a welcome boost to their backcourt.

Illawarra return to Perth having already recorded an impressive 105-98 victory over the Wildcats at RAC Arena in Round 7. Kelan Martin and Makur Maker were outstanding in that contest, helping the Hawks dominate the rebounding battle and control important stretches of the game. However, Illawarra's subsequent heavy defeat to Adelaide highlighted their ongoing inconsistency, and coach Justin Tatum will be looking for a more disciplined defensive performance.

Both teams will be playing their second game of the round, with Perth enjoying the advantage of remaining at home while Illawarra travel west after Wednesday's clash against South East Melbourne. The Wildcats will be eager to avenge their earlier defeat, particularly after being outworked on the boards, but the Hawks have already demonstrated they can exploit Perth's defensive weaknesses. This shapes as another potentially high-scoring contest, with both sides possessing plenty of offensive talent but struggling to produce consistent defensive performances.

Sydney return home on Sunday afternoon looking to maintain their strong position near the top of the NBL ladder. The Kings have been one of the competition's most consistent teams, with Kendric Davis leading an offence that also features Torrey Craig, Xavier Cooks and Makuach Maluach. Their ability to control the tempo and restrict opposition scoring has been particularly impressive, giving them several ways to win even when their outside shooting is not functioning at its best.

New Zealand face a challenging road assignment after hosting Brisbane on Friday night, with the Breakers needing to manage a relatively short turnaround and international travel. Sam Mennenga remains their most dangerous offensive player, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright's return from injury continues to be monitored. The Breakers have enough scoring talent to trouble quality opposition, but their defensive inconsistency and ability to maintain intensity across four quarters remain concerns.

The Kings will be confident of exploiting their home-court advantage, particularly against a New Zealand side facing a demanding schedule. Sydney's defensive pressure and rebounding strength could prove decisive, although Mennenga's interior scoring and Jackson-Cartwright's playmaking give the Breakers opportunities to remain competitive. The Kings deserve favouritism, but the final handicap will be important in determining whether there is genuine betting value.

Brisbane close Round 9 with a challenging home clash against Tasmania on Sunday afternoon, looking to build greater consistency after a mixed run of results. The Bullets have demonstrated their offensive potential with impressive victories over Adelaide and Perth, but their heavy defeat to Melbourne United highlighted the defensive problems that continue to undermine their performances. Raul Neto remains an important playmaker, while Tyrell Harrison, Nate Hinton and Jaylin Williams provide valuable scoring options.

Tasmania have been one of the competition's most resilient teams, continuing to produce important victories despite an extensive injury list. Scott Roth's side have relied heavily on their defensive structure, rebounding and the leadership of Will Magnay, with Taran Armstrong providing additional playmaking and offensive creativity. However, the absence of several regular rotation players has placed considerable pressure on the remaining squad members, and the JackJumpers face another demanding assignment after travelling to Perth earlier in the round.

The battle inside between Harrison and Magnay should be a major factor, with both teams looking to establish an advantage on the boards. Brisbane will aim to use their home-court advantage and offensive depth to challenge Tasmania's disciplined defence, while the JackJumpers will look to control the tempo and force the Bullets into difficult shots. With both sides facing injury concerns and playing their second game of the round, player availability and rotation depth could ultimately determine the outcome.

NBL27 Betting Tips

We'll continue updating this Round 9 guide as full previews and confirmed betting markets become available. For all our latest match analysis, visit our NBL betting tips section.