<p>As we tick over the nominal halfway point of the NBL competition, things are finally starting to get interesting.</p> <p>United are suddenly on a losing streak, the Taipans have remembered how to win, and the defending champs are more flaky and unpredictable than any titleholder we’ve seen in a long time.</p> <p>But one thing has remained the same: Bryce Cotton still runs this league, regardless of the colours he wears. The Perth faithful were reminded of just how good he still is last week.</p> <p>It sets up another mouth-watering set of games in Round 12, including a blockbuster 36ers v United showdown on Friday night. And there are certainly some teams in desperate need of wins to keep their seasons afloat.</p> <p>Let’s crack on.</p> <p>For the latest NBL news, analysis and odds, check out Sportsbet’s NBL Round 12 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>SE Melbourne Phoenix vs Tasmania JackJumpers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>After a brief tough period with back-to-back losses, the Nix roared back to life with a Throwdown win over United.</p> <p>It was a crucial result and should hold them in good stead against the JackJumpers, who have won only one of their past five games. Silly us for thinking they might be back after a couple of promising performances.</p> <p>They managed only 86 points against the Breakers and will need more than that to challenge the Phoenix here.</p> <p>It’s also the weekend the Nix spend out in the bush, so no doubt they will want to put on a show for the Gippsland locals.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/s-e-melbourne-phoenix-v-tasmania-jackjumpers-9927463">Phoenix</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets Prediction</h2> <p>Thursday, December 11, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - WIN Entertainment Centre</p> <p>At one point during the Hawks’ game against the Phoenix last Thursday night, they looked like the defending champs and a team hunting a top-four spot again.</p> <p>Then Jason Tatum’s side, holding a 20-point lead, conceded ten fourth-quarter turnovers and only narrowly escaped with an overtime win.</p> <p>Two days later, they were dominated at home from go to whoa by an undermanned Taipans outfit in one of the upsets of the season.</p> <p>The pressure is on both sides to start winning and stringing results together. The Hawks should be too talented for the Bullets, who have looked a shell of themselves since the unfortunate injury to Casey Prather.</p> <p>Expect JaVale McGee to dominate in the paint and provide the platform for Tyler Harvey to make shots from outside.</p> <p>Betting tip: <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/illawarra-hawks-v-brisbane-bullets-9927464">Hawks</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide 36ers vs Melbourne United Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, December 12, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - Adelaide Entertainment Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>What happened during United’s bye week?</p> <p>Two losses in a single weekend last week, and the longtime league leaders have surrendered their place at the top of the table.</p> <p>Now they head on the road to face the team that replaced them at the summit and can lock it in for a while with a win: the 36ers.</p> <p>King Bryce was as methodical as ever against his former side. Instead of a 50-point onslaught, it was more of a death-by-a-thousand-cuts performance as he inspired a 20-point turnaround and a big road win.</p> <p>Adelaide is trending in the right direction. United have the firepower to stop their slide, but we’re picking the home side to come out on top.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/adelaide-36ers-v-melbourne-united-9927465">36er</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Perth Wildcats vs Sydney Kings Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, December 12, 2025, 9:30 PM AEDT - RAC Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Wildcats are back in the battle.&nbsp;</p> <p>Two losses in their past three, they’re home again against the Kings, who haven’t been great themselves lately either.</p> <p>Heading into Sunday’s game against Adelaide, Perth were 77–0 when leading by double digits at the end of the third quarter at RAC Arena. The Wildcats were dominating Adelaide in every aspect and pushed the lead out to 20, until it all came undone.</p> <p>The Kings are coming off losses to Tassie and the Breakers, both near the bottom of the table, so it is tough to get a true read on their form.</p> <p>That uncertainty makes us lean towards the Wildcats.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/perth-wildcats-v-sydney-kings-9927466">Wildcats</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cairns Taipans vs Tasmania JackJumpers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, December 13, 2025, 5:30 PM AEDT - Cairns Convention Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sound the alarm - The Taipans won a game!!</p> <p>It’s been another truly awful season for the Far North Queenslanders to date, but a win like that, against the defending champions no less, could be a launching pad for some momentum in the back end this year and into next season.</p> <p>The JackJumpers are on the wraparound from Wednesday and will most likely be one win from their past six by the time they board the plane up to the tropics.&nbsp;</p> <p>Cairns are fresh, so they should be extending their winning ways here.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Taipans</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>SE Melbourne Phoenix vs NZ Breakers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, December 13, 2025, 8:00 PM AEDT - Gippsland Regional Sports Stadium</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Breakers are quietly climbing.</p> <p>While several have stepped up during their gradual build, it is Parker Jackson-Cartwright who has shown he is the key to this team. He took over in the second half against the Kings, including a dagger from deep.</p> <p>He followed that with another strong showing against the JackJumpers, giving the Breakers their third win on the bounce.</p> <p>They need to keep winning to continue their charge towards the NBL finals.</p> <p>The Phoenix are the better side on paper, but not playing at JCA could level things out.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Breakers</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, December 14, 2025, 2:30 PM AEDT - John Cain Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a massive week for both these sides, who desperately need two wins each from their two starts.&nbsp;</p> <p>There is a strong possibility too that one of these sides goes 0-2 for the weekend, but we can see United getting back to their best as they finally return home to JCA.&nbsp;</p> <p>Their past few games have been nowhere near their standard, but if Milton Doyle plays well on offence, they should be able to cover the defensive spread.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>United</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Bullets vs Perth Wildcats Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, December 14, 2025, 4:30 PM AEDT - Brisbane Entertainment Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Rounding out the weekend are the Bullets and the Wildcats live from Brisbane.</p> <p>Sadly for us hoops fans, we can’t see the Bullets firing a shot in this one, though, so we expect the Wildcats to take care of business on the road.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Wildcats</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>NBL 2025/26 Championship Odds:</h2>