NBL26 Hoops Fest

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Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL26 Round 17 Tips - Cotton Show once again at RAC Arena

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Fri 16 Jan 2026 12:33

Jeremy Darke 16 Jan 2026

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Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix expert predictions for Sunday’s Round 17 NBL matchup
Tip-off is at 2:30 PM AEDT at RAC Arena
Bryce Cotton expected to shine with 25+ points & 4+ threes.
Adelaide excels in 3P% and defence, posing challenges for SEM.

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL26 Round 17 Tips

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL25 Round 17 Expert Tips

This is the perfect opportunity for Bryce Cotton to light up RAC Arena for the fans that had his back for so long, without putting a dagger in them for an opposing team. The 5-time MVP won’t disappoint and will lead Adelaide to victory.

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix NBL25 Round 17 Expert Tips
Head to Head
Adelaide 36ers Form & Team News
South East Melbourne Phoenix Form & Team News
Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix Frequently Asked Questions

No one in the history of the game enjoys playing in front of Wildcats fans and Cotton can repay them for their support for all of those years and put on a show in the finale of the 2026 Hoops Fest.

SEM games are all about three-point shooting, usually for them and their opposition. Hang with pace or get left behind, or have a bad night from the perimeter and take the loss. That is why this is a bad match up for the Phoenix with the 36ers the best at shooting threes, percentage wise, and also defending them, playing a big part in Adelaide’s two wins over SEM this season.

So first, back Cotton for 4+ threes and 25+ points with SEM the ninth-ranked team defending the perimeter and also get on Zylan Cheatham to once again perch under the rim and clean up the scraps the phoenix leave behind.

Adelaide have won both matches against SEM by 13 points or more this season.
Bryce Cotton has averaged 25+ points in his last 10 games against the Phoenix at RAC Arena
SEM ranks 9th in opposition 3P%, while Adelaide ranks 1st
Zylan Cheatham has had 14 + 16 rebounds in his 2 matches against the Phoenix this season.

Head to Head

Last 5 Match Results

Date	Home Team	Score	Line	Total Points
22/11/2025	SEM	ADE 94-81	ADE +2.0	U 186.5
16/10/2025	ADE	ADE 88-71	ADE -5.5	U 187.5
16/02/2025	SEM	SEM 85-75	SEM -3.0	U 195.0
02/02/2025	SEM	SEM 105-99	SEM -4.5	O 197.5
21/12/2024	SEM	SEM 106-86	SEM -4.5	U 193.5

Offensive & Defensive Rankings

ADE Off	Rank	Stat	Rank	SEM Def
91.8	4	PPG	7	91.3
42	5	RPG	10	43.1
45.8%	3	FG%	10	47.2%
35.7%	1	3P%	9	35.2%
10.1	2	TOV	1	17.4

ADE Def	Rank	Stat	Rank	SEM Off
85.2	2	PPG	1	98.8
40.3	1	RPG	8	41.6
44.1%	5	FG%	10	43.4%
29.6%	1	3P%	2	34.3%
10.5	8	TOV	2	10.1

Adelaide 36ers Form & Team News

The 36ers head to Hoops Fest after their lowest scoring game of the season, being held to just 72 points against the JackJumpers in an 8-point loss. Adelaide’s 19-5 record still has them on top of the ladder with a comfortable 3-win margin over the opponent south East Melbourne.

The 36ers have been a step above the rest this season and have been the only real consistent performer throughout the whole season. They are the complete package ranking third in offensive rating (119.0) and second in defensive rating (110.3). They give up nothing and can adjust their game to their opponents.

Bryce Cotton is on course for another MVP, leading the league in scoring with 25.3 points per game and also leading the assists with 7.7 per game. The five-time MVP has also made the most three and free-throws, nothing stands in his way.

South East Melbourne Phoenix Form & Team News

Not many had SEM at the top of the ladder in NBL26 but as we move to the final quarter of the season the Phoenix look like one of the only challenges to the 36ers at the top of the table.

South East Melbourne can beat anyone on their night, living dangerously by the three-ball. You can’t go past when looking at their stats, ranked first in scoring because they have made 45 more three-pointers than any other team in the NBL taking 133 more attempts from the perimeter.

Josh King's offensive tactic is pretty clear but where they need to clear it up is on the defensive side of the court, becoming the second-easiest team to shoot against, ranked 9th in both opposition FG% and 3P% giving up 91.3 points per game, the seventh.most in the NBL.

Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix start?

Tip-off between Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix is at 2:30 PM AEDT, Sunday, January 18

What channel is Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix on?

You can watch Adelaide 36ers vs South East Melbourne Phoenix on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.

Verdict

Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix

Bryce Cotton will hit 4+ threes and 25+ points while Zylan Cheatham will collect 10+ rebounds as Adelaide get their third win against the Phoenix.

Adelaide -2.5

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