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Round 2 of NBL26 tips off on Saturday, September 27th, and while all eyes might be on a massive AFL clash, hoops fans still have plenty to get excited about. Two big games are on deck with the New Zealand Breakers hosting the Perth Wildcats at Spark Arena, and the Illawarra Hawks battling the Tasmania JackJumpers at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
The Breakers have stumbled out of the gate, dropping both of their opening games and most recently suffering a heavy 114-82 defeat to Melbourne United, where the contest was over early. Perth is also chasing redemption after a narrow 75-72 home loss to the JackJumpers last Saturday. Big man Jo Lual-Acuil looked in strong form and could be a real problem for a Breakers outfit light on interior presence.
Meanwhile, the Illawarra Hawks return from the Intercontinental Cup and will be hungry to kick off their NBL season with a win. Standing in their way are the JackJumpers, fresh off an impressive victory over Perth and riding that momentum.
Here’s a look at the New Zealand Breakers vs Perth Wildcats Prediction and the Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers Prediction for Saturday, September 27th, 2025.
Be sure to check back before each NBL26 Match for NBL Previews, NBL Head to Head Predictions, NBL Tips, NBL Picks and NBL Predictions for matches of NBL Season 26.
New Zealand Breakers vs Perth Wildcats
Venue – Spark Arena
Tip Off – 5.30pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Perth | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 88.5 | 109 | 197.5 |
| Perth | 72 | 75 | 147 |
Quick Game Facts
- Spark Arena sees plenty of action — games at the venue average 182 total points.
- Perth has the edge — the Wildcats have taken three of the last four meetings against the Breakers.
- Buckets galore recently — the past four games between these sides have averaged a combined 200 points.
Prediction
Prediction – Perth Wildcats (Win)
Prediction – Game Total Over 181.5
The Breakers haven’t looked sharp in their opening two games and now face a Perth side desperate for their first win. The Wildcats hold the interior advantage, while Breakers star guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright is dealing with an injury. The Breakers have already given up big scores this season, which plays right into Perth’s fast-paced style. Expect the Wildcats to get the job done, with the game total likely pushing over.
Illawarra Hawks vs Tasmania JackJumpers
Venue – WIN Entertainment Centre
Tip Off – 8pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illawarra | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Tasmania | 1-1 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illawarra | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tasmania | 79.5 | 80 | 159.5 |
Quick Game Facts
- Illawarra at home is tough to beat — they’ve won 8 of their last 10 home games.
- Illawarra’s home openers tend to fly over — 9 of their last 11 have gone OVER the total points line.
- Tasmania struggles as the underdog — they’ve failed to cover in 5 of their last 7 games when not favoured.
Prediction
Prediction – Illawarra Hawks (Win)
Prediction – Game Total Over 175.5
Both sides have injury concerns heading into this clash, with the JackJumpers missing import David Johnson and the Hawks without Will Hickey and Jonah Bolden. Illawarra are always tough to beat at home, and if they control the early pace, they could make life difficult for Tasmania. With the projected tempo, the game total looks on the lower side and it may go over.