NBL Tips & Predictions – Round 16

<p>With just over a month of regular season NBL action remaining, it’s officially now or never for some teams if they want to make the playoffs.</p> <p>Teams like the Taipans and the Phoenix need to start making their move now if they are to crack the top six and take part in the postseason.</p> <p>Elsewhere, there is a mouthwatering top four matchup between Melbourne United and the Tasmania JackJumpers.</p> <p>For more on that match, as well as the latest NBL news, analysis, and odds for round 16, check out our NBL tips and predictions below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>SEM Phoenix vs Adelaide 36ers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, January 17, 7:30pm AEDT – John Cain Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A run of three straight losses has the Phoenix in danger of missing out on the playoffs.</p> <p>They’ve plummeted to eighth on the ladder and if they fail to beat bottom of the pile Adelaide here, we’re calling time on their season.</p> <p>Luckily for them, we don’t think that will be the case, particularly at home.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/s-e-melbourne-phoenix-at-adelaide-36ers-7932189">SEM Phoenix.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Illawarra Hawks vs Cairns Taipans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, January 18, 7:30pm AEDT – Win Sport &amp; Entertainment Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Hawks are in the interesting position of being in the playoff places and having up to three games in hand on some of the other teams in the NBL.</p> <p>Their opponents this week, the Taipans, are one of those teams. Never mind the games in hand, we’re predicting Illawarra to have more points in hand too after this one.</p> <p><strong>Tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/illawarra-hawks-v-cairns-taipans-7927106">Illawarra Hawks.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Tasmania JackJumpers vs Melbourne United Prediction</h2> <p><strong>Friday, January 19, 7:30pm AEDT – MyState Bank Arena</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The headline match of NBL round 16 sees the Tasmania JackJumpers welcome table toppers Melbourne United to MyState Bank Arena on Friday night.</p> <p>Both sides were on either side of a one-point result last week, with United beating the Breakers 82-81 and Tassie going down 108-107 to Illawarra in overtime.</p> <p>Could we see another nail biter here? We think so. We’re backing big dogs United to sneak home here in a thriller.</p> <p><strong>Tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/tasmania-jackjumpers-v-melbourne-united-7927104">Melbourne United.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Perth Wildcats vs Brisbane Bullets Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, January 19, 9:30pm AEDT – RAC Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Wildcats are purring and have won four in a row to keep their mathematical chances of catching Melbourne United at the top of the table alive.</p> <p>They’ll have to be pretty much perfect from here until season’s end if they want any chance of claiming top spot and we don’t see them slipping up at home here.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-aus-other/australian-nbl/perth-wildcats-v-brisbane-bullets-7927105">Perth Wildcats.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New Zealand Breakers vs SEM Phoenix Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, January 20, 5:30pm AEDT – Spark Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>New Zealand will be looking to bounce back from a one-point heartbreaker against United last week when they welcome the NBL’s other Melbourne franchise across the ditch.</p> <p>They may have just fallen short against United in dramatic scenes, but we think they’ll extract some revenge on Victoria as a whole with a win here against South-East Melbourne.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> New Zealand Breakers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, January 20, 8:00pm AEDT – Win Sport &amp; Entertainment Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This is one of the numerous games the Illawarra Hawks currently have in hand and it’s one they can use to increase their buffer between them and seventh place.</p> <p>Playing bottom of the table on your home court is as good as it gets in this league, and we expect the Hawks to take full advantage here.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Illawarra Hawks.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Kings vs Perth Wildcats Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, January 21, 2:00pm AEDT – Qudos Bank Arena</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The penultimate game of round 16 of the NBL is another blockbuster, with two top four sides in the Sydney Kings and the Perth Wildcats going head-to-head.</p> <p>Jaylen Adam’s continues to star for Sydney with 39 points in their last game, while Perth’s main man and one of the all-time NBL greats Bryce Cotton continues to get it done for the Wildcats.</p> <p>He’s posted over 30 points in his last two games and his battle with Adam’s is one not to be missed. A battle we’re backing him and the Wildcats to ultimately get the best of.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Perth Wildcats.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cairns Taipans vs Brisbane Bullets Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, January 21, 4:00pm AEDT – Cairns Convention Centre</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>A Queensland derby concludes round 16 of the NBL as the Taipans welcome the Brisbane Bullets to Cairns on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>This fixture is always a fan-favourite for basketball enthusiasts in the Sunshine State and we think it will be Brisbane’s fans who are a little more enthusiastic about the result of this one come full-time.</p> <p><strong>Tip: </strong>Brisbane Bullets.</p>

<h2>NBL 2023-24 Championship Odds</h2>