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Round 5 of the NBL26 season continues on Friday, October 17, with a double-header of high-stakes NBL action. First up, the New Zealand Breakers host the Tasmania JackJumpers at Spark Arena. The Breakers will be looking to bounce back for a win, while the JackJumpers aim to continue their strong start and prove they can compete on the road.
Then the action moves to Brisbane, where the Brisbane Bullets face the undefeated Melbourne United at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. The Bullets will be desperate to make a statement against a powerhouse Melbourne side that has yet to taste defeat this season. Fans can expect a thrilling matchup packed with intensity, star performances, and high-octane basketball.
NBL Predictions for Round 5, Friday October 17th 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.
Australian Basketball Predictions, NBL Betting Tips and NBL Player Props and Insights.
New Zealand Breakers vs Tasmania JackJumpers Prediction
Venue – Spark Arena
Tip Off – 5.30pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 1-5 | 1-3 | 0-2 |
| Tasmania | 4-2 | 1-1 | 3-1 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | 88 | 96.5 | 184.5 |
| Tasmania | 84.8 | 82.7 | 167.5 |
Quick Game Facts
- Tasmania has won each of its last eight games when winning the rebound count.
- New Zealand has won five of its six previous games against Tasmania at Spark Arena
- Heading into Round 5, New Zealand ranks 2nd in the league for opponent three-point percentage this season (28.0%)
Quick Player Facts – New Zealand Breakers
- Sam Mennenga is off to a strong start, averaging 17 points and 9.2 rebounds across his first five games.
- Parker Jackson-Cartwright has been active defensively, recording 2+ steals in five consecutive matches against Tasmania.
- Parker Jackson-Cartwright has struggled from deep, hitting just 4 of 22 threes (18.2%) across his first six games, well below his career 32.6% three-point average.
- Isaiah Brockington has also had a slow start from long range, connecting on just 3 of 17 threes (17.6%) over six games.
- Karim Lopez has been sharp from deep, making 9 of 19 threes (47.4%), while averaging 11 points in 21.6 minutes across six games.
- Rob Loe has struggled out of the gate, averaging just 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds, down from 10 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with Melbourne last season.
Quick Player Facts – Tasmania JackJumpers
- Bryce Hamilton has averaged 13.7 points across his last three games.
- Josh Bannan has been dominant inside and out, posting 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds across his last three games.
- Tiger Campbell has been hot from deep, hitting 11 of 22 threes (50%) over his last four games.
- Will Magnay has been a force against the Breakers, averaging 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks across his last four matchups.
- Nick Marshall has been consistent on the boards, recording 4+ rebounds in five consecutive games.
Prediction
The New Zealand Breakers have had a rough start to the season but did manage to knock off the JackJumpers at home last year. The JackJumpers may be on a two-day break, but they have the defenders and size to make this a tough contest. However, with a few injury concerns and the short turnaround, things could get tricky for Tasmania. This game could open up late, and the Breakers are every chance to pull off the upset on their home floor.
Prediction – New Zealand Breakers (Win)
Prediction – Game Total Over 174.5 Points
Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United Prediction
Venue – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Tip Off – 7.30pm EST
Season Record
| Team | W-L | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 2-4 | 0-1 | 2-3 |
| Melbourne | 5-0 | 3-0 | 2-0 |
Season Scoring
| Team | PPG | Opp PPG | Game Total Ave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 91.2 | 93 | 184.2 |
| Melbourne | 101.4 | 80.4 | 181.8 |
Quick Game Facts
- Brisbane has lost each of its last four home games
- Brisbane has scored 80+ points in each of its last 29 games – longest streak of any team since Sydney in 2020-21
- Melbourne has won 13 of its last 14 games against Brisbane.
Quick Player Facts – Brisbane Bullets
- Casey Prather has been unstoppable lately, averaging 27.3 points and 7.7 rebounds across his last three games.
- Tyrell Harrison has been highly efficient against Melbourne, averaging 19 points and shooting 17 of 21 (81%) from the field in his last two matchups.
- Jaylen Adams didn’t record a shot in the win over the Wildcats and is currently nursing a back injury.
- Alex Ducas is coming off a strong performance, contributing 14 points and 4 steals in Brisbane’s win over the Wildcats on Wednesday night.
Quick Player Facts – Melbourne United
- Milton Doyle has been red-hot from deep against the Bullets, hitting 19 of 39 threes (48.7%) across his last five games while averaging 22.6 points
- Big man Jesse Edwards is making a huge impact in limited minutes, averaging 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds in just 20.3 minutes per game over the first five contests.
- Tyson Walker has been consistent, putting up 17.3 points across his last three games.
- Chris Goulding has been nearly automatic from three against the Bullets, connecting on 42 of 85 attempts (49.4%) over his last eight games and averaging 20 points in that span.
- Finn Delany has been reliable offensively versus the Bullets, scoring 11+ points in six of his last seven matchups.
- Dash Daniels has contributed steadily, averaging 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds across his last four games.
Prediction
Melbourne are cooking right now and welcome back star shooter Chris Goulding, who always seems to thrive against the Bullets. Brisbane are coming off a short turnaround after their Wednesday night win over the Wildcats and may struggle to back it up.
The combined game total average from the last four meetings between these sides is 222 points, so expect plenty of offense. Melbourne should get this done — and it could turn into a shootout.