<p>As the Christmas hoops fest dawns upon us, all hell has broken loose across the NBL.</p> <p>Melbourne United, the rusted-on, lock-them-away runaway favourites for the title at the halfway point of the season, have dropped four games in a row since the bye and are losing their grip on everything.</p> <p>The Bullets are losing more players and more games, while the Breakers and JackJumpers are suddenly right back in the finals hunt.</p> <p>It sets the scene for another huge round of games, kicking off with the Kings and 36ers live from Sydney, with the Phoenix forming the centrepiece event on Saturday night with their Open-Air extravaganza. It’s a shame the Bullets are struggling just to get a team on the park, though.</p> <p>On we go.</p> <p>For the latest NBL news, analysis and odds, check out Sportsbet’s NBL Round 13 tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - AIS Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Kings have done well over the past few weeks, either side of the bye, to find their footing in the competition. Three wins from their past five starts have them well placed to make a run over the Christmas period and into the new year.</p> <p>But they run into the hottest team in the league right now, the 36ers, who have won five in a row and rocketed to the top of the NBL standings. And you don’t need to be Einstein to work out who is leading the way.</p> <p>They will start as outsiders as the travelling team, but their form, both home and away, is too irresistible to overlook at the moment</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/sydney-kings-v-adelaide-36ers-9951564">36ers</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne United vs Illawarra Hawks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, December 18, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - John Cain Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>OK, seriously, what happened in United’s bye week?</p> <p>That’s four losses in a row now. Yes, two of them last week went to overtime, but it has seen them lose their grip on top spot.</p> <p>Milton Doyle had a rare off weekend and didn’t come up clutch so that you can expect a bounce-back from a big-game performer of his calibre. This is now a big game for United, at home against the reigning champions.</p> <p>The Hawks have been below their best for some time. If the United defence can limit JaVale McGee, they should find themselves back on the winners’ list.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip</strong>: <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/melbourne-united-v-illawarra-hawks-9951565">United</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Perth Wildcats vs SE Melbourne Phoenix Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, December 18, 2025, 9:30 PM AEDT - RAC Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Is the Phoenix rising again?</p> <p>They’ve won two of their past three, which is a nice response after dropping a few on the bounce. They didn’t have Nathan Sobey in those games, but he was back to his very best last week when they thrashed the Breakers.</p> <p>It’s never an easy task heading to Perth and beating the Wildcats at RAC Arena, but the Phoenix are building again and might fancy their chances.</p> <p>We might too.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/perth-wildcats-v-s-e-melbourne-phoenix-9951568">Phoenix</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cairns Taipans vs NZ Breakers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, December 19, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - Cairns Convention Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Breakers are like a Christmas advent calendar at the moment. You never quite know what you’re going to get.</p> <p>While they’ve endured an inconsistent season, they’ve at least been more reliable than the Taipans. Just one win from their past five, and it’s a shame there are still plenty of weeks left because the season already can’t end quickly enough for Cairns.</p> <p>A nice confidence booster is on offer here for the Breakers, who, with a win, will remain firmly in the finals hunt.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/cairns-taipans-v-new-zealand-breakers-9951569">Breakers</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, December 20, 2025, 5:30 PM AEDT - WIN Entertainment Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Two teams on the wraparound after midweek games, and Round 13 could be the week Adelaide locks themselves into top spot with a win over the Hawks.</p> <p>Our faith in the reigning champs is waning, and with Tyler Harvey struggling, confidence in this side isn’t particularly high at the moment.</p> <p>The 36ers should roll through them.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> 36ers</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>SE Melbourne Phoenix vs Brisbane Bullets Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, December 20, 2025, 8:00 PM AEDT - John Cain Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Bullets’ losing streak continues, and the injuries keep mounting.</p> <p>It’s not a good combination as they head to Melbourne to tackle the Phoenix in their open-air summer showcase.</p> <p>That’s only the start of the party for Josh King’s men, who are looking to go 2–0 this weekend and keep the pressure on their rivals up the road.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Phoenix</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Tasmania JackJumpers vs Perth Wildcats Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, December 21, 2025, 2:30 PM AEDT - MyState Bank Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Back-to-back wins for the JackJumpers and, all of a sudden, they’re right back in the hunt for a playoff spot.</p> <p>They host the travelling Wildcats, who have been busy trotting the country and now make the long trip from Perth to the Apple Isle. That could work against them here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>JackJumpers</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Kings vs Cairns Taipans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, December 21, 2025, 4:30 PM AEDT - Qudos Bank Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Here’s a chance for the Kings to run up the scoreboard.</p> <p>A big win over the Taipans would set them up beautifully for the second half of the season.</p> <p>It remains to be seen whether their winning streak is intact after they clash with Adelaide, but this is a golden opportunity to pile on more pain against Cairns.</p> <p>Keep an eye on Kendric Davis, who could be in for a big afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Kings</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>Brisbane Bullets vs NZ Breakers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Monday, December 22, 2025, 7:30 PM AEDT - Brisbane Entertainment Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One more stop for the Breakers before heading back across the ditch for Christmas, with a trip to Brisbane to face the struggling Bullets.</p> <p>Chasing a playoff spot, they’ll be fully locked in for this one. Despite the Bullets’ woes, this isn’t a game where they can afford to take the foot off the gas.</p> <p>They’re the better team on paper and should be far too good here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Breakers</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 8:00 PM AEDT - John Cain Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a big week for the former championship favourites, who need to get some wins back on the board to steady the ship.</p> <p>They host the JackJumpers, who find themselves on the quick turnaround at the back end, to close out the round in a game that looms as important for both sides.</p> <p>United should have too much scoring power, but when momentum isn’t on your side it can take a special individual performance to stop the slide. They should have the class edge, though.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> United</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NBL 2025/26 Championship Odds:</h2>