The second game NBL27 game of the season will tip-off from 9:30pm AEST in Perth on Saturday night as the Wildcats play host to the Phoenix. Both clubs will be looking to go an extra couple of steps this year after solid 2025-26 campaigns, and both have assembled quality rosters to do just that. We take you through our full game preview and best bet below!
Perth Wildcats vs SE Melbourne Phoenix Prediction and Betting Tips: NBL27 Round 1
New Look Cats at RAC Arena
The Perth Wildcats open their NBL27 campaign at RAC Arena looking to make an immediate statement under head coach John Rillie. Despite a somewhat inconsistent pre-season showing at the Blitz, the Wildcats boast a formidable core featuring returning imports Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler, alongside elite local additions like Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Elijah Pepper. While highly touted import point guard Brandon Knight is yet to arrive in the country and Jaron Rillie remains unavailable, the physicality of championship winner Angus Brandt provides valuable depth. With the passionate Red Army behind them, Perth's system relies heavily on pushing the pace off defensive rebounds, meaning they will be hunting early transition looks right from the opening tip.
Phoenix Eyeing a Road Upset
The South East Melbourne Phoenix travel west carrying genuine optimism after a highly successful pre-season that saw them finish second at the Blitz. Head coach Josh King has overseen an aggressive overhaul, bringing in an entirely new import trio of Skylar Mays, Yannis Morin, and D'Shawn Schwartz to complement a strong local contingent. However, their opening night preparations have suffered a blow, with star guard Nathan Sobey ruled out due to back tightness, forcing King to adjust his backcourt rotation. Tactically, the Phoenix love to play full-court defence and push the pace at every opportunity. While this aggressive press creates turnovers and speeds up the game, it also ends up in some easy baskets at times if teams get through the press and find the open floor.
A History of High-Scoring Track Meets
The two franchises met five times last season, and after a couple of tighter defensive struggles early in the campaign, the pace accelerated dramatically in the new year. Perth claimed consecutive victories with 107-97 and 101-93 scorelines in January, before the Phoenix returned the favour by piling on 111 points in a 111-94 result at John Cain Arena in March. This aggressive shift in tempo meant that each of the last three encounters comfortably sailed past the 188.5-point threshold.
Where the Value Lies
While opening round fixtures can occasionally bring some offensive rust, the stylistic matchup between these two teams strongly favours a fast, high-scoring affair. Neither coaching staff is inclined to slow things down, and early in the season, transition offence typically clicks much quicker than locked-in half-court defensive rotations. With Perth hunting early shots and the Phoenix employing a high-risk full-court press that can leak transition buckets when beaten, there will be ample opportunities for quick scoring bursts. For these reasons, taking the over is the play here.
Over 188.5 Points
$1.91 (1 Unit)
Wildcats vs Phoenix Dabble Pick‘Em
We’ve put together a 3-Leg Dabble Pick’Em for the Wildcats vs Phoenix clash that you can follow via the link below! You can also learn more about Dabble’s Pick’Em feature here.
- Skylar Mays 18.5 Points (MORE)
- Elijah Pepper 12.5 Points (MORE)
- Angus Glover 14.5 Points (MORE)
Dabble Pick‘Em Odds Multiplier: 6.5x ($10 to win $65) - Click here to get involved!
Wildcats vs Phoenix Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Saturday, September 19th, 2026
Time: 9:30pm AEDT
Location: RAC Arena, Perth
Odds: Wildcats $1.63 vs Phoenix $2.28
Line: -3.5
Points: 188.5
Where to Watch Wildcats vs Phoenix
You can watch the Wildcats vs Phoenix live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
Back In our NBL27 Tips at Dabble!
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