After a week off for a pair of thrilling Boomers vs Tall Blacks clashes, NBL26 returns with a jam-packed Round 11. The round includes eight games across five days, beginning with a game on Wednesday night between the Breakers and the Kings. We have you covered with free betting previews for all games below!
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NBL26 Round 11 Preview & Betting Tips
New Zealand Breakers vs Sydney Kings
Wednesday 5:30pm AEDT (Dec 3), Claudelands Arena
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Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne Phoenix
Thursday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 4), WIN Entertainment Centre
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Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United
Thursday 9:30pm AEDT (Dec 4), RAC Arena
Melbourne United head into this Round 11 clash sitting comfortably on top of the ladder at 13-2, and their form suggests they are well placed to continue their strong run. They have won seven of the past nine meetings against the Wildcats, including their matchup less than two weeks ago in Melbourne where they claimed an 11 point victory. United’s cohesion has been a major strength all season, executing at both ends with discipline and consistency. Their ball movement, spacing and defensive structure have made them a difficult unit to break down, and nothing suggests that rhythm is slowing as the season progresses.
Perth enter at 8-6 and holding fourth position, still searching for greater consistency to match the league’s elite sides. While their home floor at RAC Arena always provides an advantage, the Wildcats have encountered difficulties in recent weeks when facing the league’s top tier. Their challenge revolves around maintaining composure against United’s pressure and finding ways to generate efficient scoring stretches. Perth’s competitiveness will keep them in the contest, but they’ll need a significant lift to reverse the trend from recent meetings.
Given United’s superior record, recent win over Perth and overall polish, they should again have the upper hand and look well placed to cover the 2.5 point spread.
Melbourne United -2.5
$1.85 (2 Units)
Adelaide 36ers vs Brisbane Bullets
Friday 7:30pm AEDT (Dec 5), Adelaide Entertainment Centre
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New Zealand Breakers vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Saturday 5:30pm AEDT (Dec 6), Spark Arena
This Round 11 matchup sees two teams desperate to climb the ladder, with the New Zealand Breakers hosting the Tasmania JackJumpers. The Breakers, now 7th with a 6-10 record, are finally finding rhythm under coach Petteri Koponen. Their dramatic five-point win over the Sydney Kings in their first game of the round secured back-to-back victories for the first time this season and marked three wins from their last four outings.
However, the 6th-placed JackJumpers (6-9) are also riding high after snapping a challenging six-game losing streak by demolishing the Kings by 23 points. They have proven they can be an intimidating side when their defence is locked in.
Despite Tasmania's recent big win, the head-to-head record favours the home side, with the Breakers winning the last two encounters, including a dominant 17-point victory in New Zealand earlier in the NBL26 season. With their core players now clicking and their momentum building, the Breakers appear to have the stronger current form and should be confident of securing another crucial win to level their record with the JackJumpers. This game is pivotal in the race for a finals position.
New Zealand Breakers to Win
$1.81 (2 Units)
Illawarra Hawks vs Cairns Taipans
Saturday 8:00pm AEDT (Dec 6), WIN Entertainment Centre
The Illawarra Hawks (5 wins, 9 losses) come into this game with renewed confidence after securing a tough overtime victory against South East Melbourne. The team is finally showing consistency, driven by the inside dominance of JaVale McGee and the sensational playmaking of Will Hickey, who recorded a historic triple double when these teams last met. Playing at home, the Hawks are focused on securing a comfortable win to continue their push up the standings.
The Cairns Taipans (3 wins, 12 losses) face a massive uphill struggle. Plagued by injuries and sitting at the bottom of the ladder, their previous 17 point loss to Illawarra this season highlights the challenge they face. To compete, the Taipans desperately need huge scoring nights from their key players, Jack McVeigh and Andrew Andrews, and a vastly improved team defence to deal with McGee's power.
Illawarra are clear favourites and should win the game outright. However, their tendency for high turnovers and the potential for fatigue following an extended overtime battle might offer a small window for the underdog. I think the Snakes can do enough to cover the big spread, albeit with lowish confidence.
*Jack McVeigh has since been ruled out and the line has shifted to +15.5*
Cairns Taipans +13.5
$1.97 (1 Unit)
South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Melbourne United
Sunday 2:30pm AEDT (Dec 7), John Cain Arena
This Round 11 Throwdown clash sees Melbourne United, the league leaders, looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss against Perth, while the South East Melbourne Phoenix are desperate to halt a two game skid, most recently going down in overtime to the Hawks. United has historically dominated this local rivalry, winning nine of the last 11 meetings, and they will be highly motivated to quickly regain their winning form.
The Phoenix have shown they can be a legitimate threat this season, sitting third on the ladder behind an elite defensive identity and strong scoring from veteran Nathan Sobey, who is having one of the best years of his career. However, they are coming off a gruelling overtime battle where they set an NBL record for three point attempts, which could lead to tired legs and inconsistent shooting against the league's best team.
Melbourne United, despite their recent hiccup, boasts immense depth and star power in their backcourt, with Tyson Walker and Milton Doyle looking to rebound after a quieter scoring night in Perth. They have already defeated the Phoenix twice this season. Given United’s determination to correct their mistakes from their last outing, coupled with their superior record in this fixture, they are primed to exploit any fatigue in the Phoenix lineup and secure a clear victory.
Melbourne United -3.5
$1.91 (2 Units)
Perth Wildcats vs Adelaide 36ers
Sunday 4:30pm AEDT (Dec 7), RAC Arena
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