Round 18 in NBL25 continues on Friday night with the usual double-header which kicks off at 5:30pm AEDT. Our focus here is on the second game of the night which is a high-quality matchup between the Sydney Kings and the Adelaide 36ers at Qudos Bank Arena. We bring you our thoughts and best bet for the game below!
Also, we’re providing previews and expert betting tips for every game of the NBL25 season, so make sure to head over to our NBL Tips page regularly to keep up to date with all of our content.
NBL25 Round 18 Preview & Betting Tips
Sydney Kings vs Adelaide 36ers
Friday 7:30pm AEDT (Jan 24), Qudos Bank Arena
The Sydney Kings take on the Adelaide 36ers in a crucial game that means plenty for both teams. The Kings, at 16-10, are sitting second on the ladder and are just two wins away from locking in a top-two finish. That spot would see them skip the play-in tournament and head straight to the semi-finals, so they’ll be desperate to get the job done. They’re in great form, having won three straight and five of their last six, with their defence leading the way. Kouat Noi has been electric off the bench, and Jaylen Adams has been steering the ship, dropping 20 points and 9 assists last game.
Adelaide, meanwhile, are fighting tooth and nail to make the play-in tournament. They’re currently one win behind the JackJumpers for sixth place but have a game in hand and a similar percentage. The 36ers are coming off a big win over the Taipans, which made it four wins from their last six games. Kendric Davis has been unstoppable, scoring 25+ points in six straight games, while Dejan Vasiljevic lit it up last game, hitting a record-breaking 7 threes in the first quarter and finishing with 10 for the night. Montrezl Harrell has been a beast in the paint, averaging 17+ points and 9+ rebounds over his last six games, including 15 rebounds and 17 points against Cairns.
These two teams know each other well, having already met three times this season. Adelaide holds the edge, winning two of the three matchups. The 36ers won the last two, including a dominant 111-96 victory in Sydney, so they’ll head into this clash full of confidence. With their balanced attack and solid form, they’ve proven they can handle the Kings, even on the road.
For Sydney, their defence will need to be at its best to contain Adelaide’s scoring threats. The Kings can’t afford to let Davis, Vasiljevic, or Harrell get hot, or they’ll risk another loss to their rivals. On the flip side, the 36ers know they can put up points against Sydney, and with so much riding on this game, they’ll be coming out swinging.
This one feels like it could go either way. Both teams are in good form, but Adelaide’s firepower and recent success against Sydney make them a real chance to pull off another upset. At $2.65 odds, the 36ers are great value in what’s shaping up as a genuine 50-50 contest.
36ers to Win
$2.65 (1 Unit)
