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Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers NBL Betting Tips - Sixers to continue dominance of Hawks

ryan-tucker
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Last updated: Tue 03 Feb 2026 11:29
In an upcoming NBL clash, the Adelaide 36ers, currently leading the league with a record of 21-8, aim to continue their dominance over the Illawarra Hawks. Adelaide has won the last seven games against Illawarra and is poised to extend this streak with key players like Bryce Cotton contributing significantly. Illawarra, on the other hand, is struggling to stay in playoff contention and needs a strong performance in their remaining games. The game offers betting opportunities such as Adelaide covering the -3.5 line and Bryce Cotton exceeding 25 points.
Ryan Tucker 03 Feb 2026
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  • Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers expert predictions for Thursday’s Round 20 NBL matchup
  • Adelaide 36ers lead the NBL with 21-8 record and can win again
  • Hawks need to win remaining games to stay in playoff contention
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bryce cotton
Bryce Cotton to star for the 36ers (Getty Images)

Illawarra Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers Preview


Adelaide won seven in a row against the Hawks and lost just one of the last 12 in this fixtures. This year's league leaders should extend that run and cover the short -3.5 handicap.

  • Adelaide have won 7 straight and 11 of their last 12 against Illawarra. The average winning margin during the current streak is 6.5 pts. 
  • Illawarra are ranked 9th in opponent points, allowing 97.1 per game to opponents while playing at the 3rd highest pace over the past 3 rounds.
  • Bryce Cotton has averaged 24.8 pts per game in his last 5 vs Illawarra and is the NBL’s leading scorer this season. 
  • Froling took 13 rebounds in his most recent matchup v Adelaide and averages 9 rebounds over his last 4 games against the 36ers.

Illawarra Hawks Need To Win Out From Here


With five games left on the schedule, Illawarra need to essentially win out and hope that both Tasmania and New Zealand lose at least three of their remaining matchups to even have a chance at sneaking into the play-in.

The odds are not in their favour but all they can do is play the team in front of them. Last week it was Sydney and Perth and they suffered back to back losses, allowing their opponent to score 106+ pts in both matches. 

JaVale McGee was strong against the Wildcats with 18 pts, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks but both Will Hickey and Sam Froling failed to make large impacts in the loss.

Adelaide 36ers One Game Clear At Top


Adelaide sit one game ahead on top of the NBL ladder with a 21-8 record with 5 games remaining on the schedule. 

With their current 72.41 win percentage, they are on track to have their winning-most season since 1999-2000 when they finished first with a 78.6% rate (22-6). 

Even the 16-17 season when they finished first on the ladder resulted in only a 60.7% win rate which puts just how good this season has been, into perspective. 

Bryce Cotton has been the leading force behind the success and despite rumours around the team being unhappy with coaching staff, the results speak for themselves.

Adelaide are ranked 3rd in scoring and 4th in opposition points. They are the number 1 three point shooting team in the league on the season and are relatively good at not turning over the ball.

Verdict

The value plays in this game are Adelaide to cover the -3.5 line and go over their Team Total of 93.5 points. That can be helped in large part by Bryce Cotton, who is tipped to surpass 25+ points. Take Sam Froling to feature heavily on the boards with 7+ rebounds.
Best Bet1: Adelaide -3.5 Line @9/10 at Hollywood bets - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Adelaide over 93.5 Team Total @9/10 at bet365 - 2 Units
Best Bet3: B Cotton 25+ Points @7/8 at Star Sports - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: S Froling 7+ Rebounds @9/8 at Hollywood bets - 1 Unit
Adelaide -3.5
Line
@9/10 - 3 Units
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Adelaide over 93.5
Team Total
@9/10 - 2 Units
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Bet at bet365
B Cotton 25+
Points
@7/8 - 1 Unit
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Bet at Star Sports
S Froling 7+
Rebounds
@9/8 - 1 Unit
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