NBL27 Round 1 Predictions & Tips

The 2026/27 NBL season gets underway this weekend, with six games across four days as NBL27 tips off.

Round 1 begins with a big Saturday double-header as Melbourne United host the Adelaide 36ers at John Cain Arena before Perth Wildcats take on South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena.

We'll have full betting previews for four games across the opening round, while our analysis and best bets for Sunday's New Zealand Breakers v Illawarra Hawks and Sydney Kings v Cairns Taipans matchups can be found right here. This page will be updated throughout Round 1 as markets, team news and betting opportunities develop.

NBL27 Round 1 Predictions & Tips

Here's our game-by-game look at the opening round of NBL27. We'll publish separate betting previews for four games, while our Sunday selections and analysis will be available directly on this page.

NBL27 gets underway on Saturday night with a blockbuster at John Cain Arena as Melbourne United host last season's runners-up Adelaide 36ers.

Joe Ingles' return to the NBL adds another layer of interest to the season opener, while Adelaide will be looking to immediately establish themselves as championship contenders again after going close last season.

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Saturday's second game sends South East Melbourne west for a difficult opening assignment against Perth at RAC Arena.

Both sides featured deep into last season and should again have ambitions of challenging at the top end of the standings. It makes this one of the best early tests of where two of NBL27's leading teams sit.

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The New Zealand Breakers launch their NBL27 season at Spark Arena under the guidance of highly decorated head coach Gordon Herbert. Taking charge of a dynamic roster, Herbert will rely on the playmaking brilliance of Parker Jackson-Cartwright and the perimeter shooting of Dejan Vasiljevic to dictate terms offensively. The hosts face an Illawarra Hawks outfit looking to push a blistering pace under Justin Tatum. The Hawks arrive with a retooled backcourt, combining Tyler Harvey with marquee recruit Milton Doyle to provide lethal scoring firepower.

While Illawarra's transition offence is dangerous, executing that style across the Tasman remains one of the toughest early-season assignments. Herbert's disciplined tactical structure should establish immediate defensive accountability, allowing Jackson-Cartwright to control the tempo in the half-court. Back the hosts to hold firm and secure a gritty opening-round victory.

New Zealand Breakers to Win

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The defending champion Sydney Kings begin their NBL27 campaign on Sunday. Retaining reigning Championship Series MVP Kendric Davis alongside elite core pieces like Xavier Cooks and Torrey Craig ensures Sydney remains the competition benchmark. However, they face a revamped Cairns Taipans outfit carrying genuine offensive firepower. Adam Forde has constructed a versatile unit, securing prized recruit Keanu Pinder to play alongside Jack McVeigh in the front court, making for a strong one-two punch.

While Sydney rightfully start as home favourites, laying an 8.5-point spread in the season opener carries risk. Cairns traditionally relish the underdog tag in this matchup and possess the perimeter shooting required to punish early-season defensive lapses. Expect the Taipans to stay competitive throughout and cover the generous handicap.

Cairns Taipans +8.5

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Tasmania begin their NBL27 campaign at home on Monday night against a South East Melbourne side playing its second game of the opening round.

The schedule adds an interesting betting angle, with Phoenix travelling to Tasmania after opening their season in Perth on Saturday. By the time this game arrives we'll have already seen South East Melbourne in competitive action, giving us a much better indication of their rotations and early-season form.

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Round 1 concludes in Brisbane on Tuesday night as the Bullets host the New Zealand Breakers.

New Zealand will already have played Illawarra on Sunday, giving us our first proper look at the Breakers before they travel to Brisbane. That should provide significantly more useful information than trying to lock in a position several days before the game.

We'll publish our full Brisbane v New Zealand preview following Sunday's action, including the latest odds, matchup analysis and best bets.

READ FULL PREVIEW →

NBL27 Betting Tips

We'll continue updating our NBL27 Round 1 predictions and betting tips as markets move and team news becomes available. The two Sunday quick previews above will be updated with our final selections, while separate match previews will provide more detailed analysis for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday's feature games.

You can find our latest individual game previews, NBL betting analysis and best bets throughout the season in our NBL betting tips section.