Round 16 in the NBL continues on Saturday with a standalone fixture between the South East Melbourne Phoenix and the Perth Wildcats. A win for the Phoenix would move them to just two wins behind top spot, while a victory for the Wildcats keeps them in the hunt for a top two finish. Catch our full preview and betting tips for the game below!
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South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Perth Wildcats Prediction & Betting Tips: NBL26 Round 16
Phoenix Continue to Impress
South East Melbourne Phoenix come into this Round 16 clash with momentum and leadership at the forefront, led by a resurgent Nathan Sobey who continues to produce at an elite level at 35 years of age. Sobey is enjoying arguably the best form of his career and was outstanding in the Phoenix’s last outing, matching his career high with 37 points in a performance that underlined his importance to this group. His scoring punch, combined with his ability to control tempo in big moments, has been a major reason why South East Melbourne sit near the top of the ladder at 16–7. The Phoenix have been particularly effective in close games, and Sobey’s composure and shot-making have consistently lifted them when the pressure rises.
Wildcats Winning on Talent Alone
The Perth Wildcats arrive in Melbourne with a 13–10 record and remain firmly in the finals hunt, but they continue to navigate some clear roster challenges. The season-ending injury to David Duke Jr has left Perth short at the point guard position, forcing them to adjust their offensive structure and ball movement. While the Wildcats still have the ability to score in bursts and stay competitive against top teams, the lack of a natural floor general has shown at times. There is a strong expectation the club will look to bring in another import in the coming weeks to address that gap, but for now Perth will need to rely on collective execution and discipline to stay with the league’s pace-setters.
Recent H2H History
Recent head to head meetings between these sides have favoured South East Melbourne. The Phoenix have already taken both encounters this season, including a tight road win in Perth and a controlled performance on their home floor. Each game was decided late, highlighting how evenly matched the teams can be, but the ability of the Phoenix to close has been the difference. While Perth still holds the longer-term edge in the rivalry, momentum currently sits with South East Melbourne.
Over or Under? Here’s Our Tip!
With both teams comfortable playing fast and leaning into offence, this contest shapes as a high-scoring affair. South East Melbourne regularly pushes totals upward through tempo and shot volume, while Perth often looks to score in runs rather than slow games down. Given the pace, spacing and recent scoring trends, the total points line of 186.5 appears very achievable.
Over 186.5 Points
$1.91 (1.5 Units)
Phoenix vs Wildcats Dabble Pick‘Em
Popular sportsbook Dabble have launched Pick’Em - a new a simpler way to combine player markets from the same game for bigger odds. We’ve put together a 3-Leg Pick’Em for the Phoenix vs Wildcats clash that you can follow via the link below! You can also learn more about Dabble’s Pick’Em feature here.
- Owen Foxwell 13.5 Points (MORE)
- Jo Acuil 16 Points (MORE)
- Elijah Pepper 12 Points (MORE)
Dabble Pick‘Em Odds Multiplier: 6.5x ($10 to win $65) - Click here to get involved!
Phoenix vs Wildcats Betting Odds & Match Info
Date: Saturday, January 9th, 2026
Time: 8:00pm AEDT
Location: State Basketball Centre
Odds: Phoenix $1.50 vs Wildcats $2.60
Line: Phoenix -6.5
Points: 185.5
Where to Watch Phoenix vs Wildcats
You can watch the Phoenix vs Wildcats clash live and ad-free on Kayo Sports.
Back In our Phoenix vs Wildcats Tips at Dabble!
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