<p>It’s been an action-packed start to the season in the first three rounds. Between NBLxNBA games and the tournaments, teams are starting to find themselves and figure out how they want to play.&nbsp;</p> <p>Between Cotton’s demolition of the Taipans, Bannan’s sweet revenge against the Bullets and McGee getting Wilt Chamberlain comparisons, the NBL has been exciting so far.</p> <p>It is also the first round of the NBL Ignite Cup, which plays every Wednesday, with a double header to start the inaugural competition.&nbsp;</p> <p>All eyes will be on Kendric Davis this week as he heads to Adelaide this round, the first time since he left the club in the off-season and his matchup with Bryce Cotton.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the latest NBL news, analysis, and odds, check out Sportsbet’s NBL round 4 tips and predictions below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>NZ Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 5:30 PM AEST - Sparks Arena, New Zealand</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Round 4 of the NBL|26 season kicks off in New Zealand, as the inaugural NBL Ignite Cup gets underway with the New Zealand Breakers facing the Illawarra Hawks.</p> <p>The Breakers have struggled significantly to start the season, losing their first four games to start.&nbsp;</p> <p>They have lost three of their four games by double digits, and they go up against a wounded Illawarra Hawks with an opportunity where both sides need a win.</p> <p>For Illawarra, they have struggled without Trey Kell III and have lost their first two games to start the season.&nbsp;</p> <p>Their shining light has been Javale McGee, who has lit up the NBL with individually dominating performances and goes up against the Breakers without a big man to neutralise him.</p> <p>There’s a reason the Hawks are still the favourites to win this game, and the market looks justified.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Hawks</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 7:30 PM AEST - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Round 4 of the NBL|26 season goes all the way from New Zealand to Sydney, as the inaugural NBL Ignite Cup gets chaotic with a classic matchup between the Kings and United.</p> <p>The Kings have a 1-1 record, but have shown positive signs heading into a tough matchup. They had a 22-point victory against the New Zealand Breakers, headlined by Kendric Davis’ 28 points.</p> <p>It will also be the first time Matthew Dellavedova has played for Melbourne United since leaving the club in the off-season.</p> <p>Melbourne United have been undefeated so far in the domestic competition, having defeated the Tasmania JackJumpers, New Zealand Breakers and the South East Melbourne Phoenix.&nbsp;</p> <p>Their play was also tested against the New Orleans Pelicans, and although they did lose, they made it a competitive game, only losing by 10 points and Milton Doyle, as well as Dash Daniels, shone at Rod Laver Arena.</p> <p>Although the Kings are favourites, Melbourne United have better form, and their new nucleus has clicked much better than the home side.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>United</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide 36ers vs Tasmania JackJumpers Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7:30 PM AEST - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Taking his talents from Perth to Adelaide, Bryce has made the team his own with an impressive performance against the Cairns Taipans.</p> <p>Besides Melbourne United, Adelaide is the only other team to be undefeated so far, and the team has a lot of depth, with contributors like Flynn Cameron, who has made the best of his opportunity since leaving United and Zylan Cheatham has shown his all-around versatility in new NBL colours.</p> <p>Since opening night’s loss to United, Tasmania have not lost a game and will look to continue their form and find a way to stop Bryce Cotton.&nbsp;</p> <p>Josh Banna, against his former team, dominated and made the difference in a two-point defeat over the Bullets last round.</p> <p>Adelaide is expected to continue their winning ways, and with their depth and consistent performances, it’s hard to look past the 36ers.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>36ers</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Friday, October 10, 2025, 7:30 PM AEST - Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Taipans are looking to bounce back after a double-digit loss to Adelaide on their home court.&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite decent performances from Admiral Schofield and Marcus Lee, they never found rhythm and shot-making from their significant players in Andrew Andrews and Jack McVeigh, and the team collectively struggled defensively against the 36ers, particularly their effort in transition defence.</p> <p>Perth, on the other hand, found resilience in the second half against the Hawks, with key second-half performances coming from Dylan Windler and Kristian Doolittle.</p> <p>With Perth’s form to start the season being positive and wanting to continue their momentum from the Hawks game into this game, expect the Wildcats to continue their winning ways.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Wildcats</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, October 11, 2025, 5:30 PM AEST - WIN Entertainment Centre, Sydney&nbsp;</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Hawks want to build some form in this round, and this is the perfect week to start building wins, taking on the Breakers and the Bullets.&nbsp;</p> <p>Outside of McGee, the team has struggled with creativity in their shot selection, and if the Hawks can find a way to get Tyler Harvey going and get some offence from Jacquori McLaughlin, the Hawks can become a team hard to beat.</p> <p>The Bullets are depleted and have struggled with less shot creation outside of Jaylen Adams.&nbsp;</p> <p>Taine Murray was a key piece in how close the game was against Tasmania, but they still struggled defensively and were caught in mismatches against former Bullet Josh Bannan.</p> <p>Expect the Hawks to find a way to beat the Bullets, given their star-studded talent and having the home crowd to their advantage.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Wildcats</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Saturday, October 11, 2025, 7:30 PM AEST - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The most anticipated match of the round has to be the 36ers against the Kings.</p> <p>Despite one less party, the 36ers and Kendric Davis had drama building in the off-season, and with Bryce Cotton going from Perth to Adelaide, the matchup between Cotton and Davis on their new teams is highly anticipated.</p> <p>Cotton beat Davis for the NBL|25 MVP trophy and became his replacement after Davis took his talents to the Kings.</p> <p>The Kings are also looking for revenge after losing to the 36ers in the play-in tournament last season, so everyone has a reason to play.</p> <p>Expect a close competitive match, given the rivalry and off-court storylines, with the 36ers coming out on top.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>36ers</p> <p><br /> &nbsp;</p> <h2>NZ Breakers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, October 12, 2025, 2:30 PM AEST - Sparks Arena, New Zealand</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Breakers stay home for this round as they finish the week taking on the South East Melbourne Phoenix.&nbsp;</p> <p>Melbourne Phoenix struggled against the Pelicans in the NBLxNBA matchup, shooting 17.4 per cent from three and losing in every single major statistical category.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Phoenix are looking to build some confidence this week, and a win against the Breakers could help build their identity on both sides of the ball.&nbsp;</p> <p>Nathan Sobey, in the two NBL games he has played so far, has put up slightly shy of 20 points per game with almost six assists per game and going up against a poor defensive team could be a sign for the team to play quality basketball and get players like Owen Foxwell and Malique Lewis involved on the scoring end.</p> <p>Expect a Phoenix bounce back against a struggling Breakers team.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Phoenix</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Melbourne United vs Cairns Taipans Prediction</h2> <p><em><strong>Sunday, October 12, 2025, 4:30 PM AEST - John Cain Arena, Melbourne</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Melbourne United have struggled in the past going up against the Cairns Taipans, and with the form and confidence they have so far this season, they don’t want to lose against a team that has not found its spark yet.</p> <p>Milton Doyle has found confidence being the central focus on this United side, playing with a calm approach and against a Cairns team that couldn’t stop Bryce Cotton from scoring big, Doyle could put up a big number in front of the United home fans.</p> <p>The Taipans need McVeigh and their imports to be on their ‘A game’ as they look to compete against a red-hot Melbourne side.&nbsp;</p> <p>We’re expecting another Taipans loss on the road and to be winless this round.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> United</p>