• Home
  • Basketball
  • NBL

Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings NBL26 Round 15 Tips - 36ers get one back against the Kings

jeremy-darke
Editor
Last updated: Wed 31 Dec 2025 10:12

The Adelaide 36ers will take on the Sydney Kings at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in a highly anticipated NBL25 Round 15 clash. So far, the Kings have outperformed the 36ers this season, winning previous encounters with strategic plays and reliance on star players like Xavier Cooks. However, the 36ers are determined to change the narrative and secure their first win against Sydney in this season. With standout performances anticipated from Bryce Cotton and Dejan Vasiljevic, the match promises to be a nail-biter. Adelaide’s strong home performance record could be the edge they need.

Jeremy Darke 31 Dec 2025
Share this article
Or copy link
  • Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings expert predictions for Friday’s Round 15 NBL matchup
  • Tip-off is at 7:30 PM AEDT at Adelaide Entertainment Centre
  • Kings previously triumphed, relying on Cooks and Soares.
  • Key 36ers players Cotton and Vasiljevic set to perform.
Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings NBL26 Round 15 Tips

Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings NBL25 Round 15 Expert Tips


Battle of the NBL’s most in form teams will light up the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday night with the home team predicted to seek revenge and get their first win of the season against Sydney.

The 36ers and Kings have played twice in NBL26 and it is Sydney that has had the upper hand, even coming back from a double-digit deficit last time they met, forcing overtime and clinching victory. 

Both matches have been a tough tussle as the Kings have forced the ball into the paint and relied on Tim Soares and more so Xavier Cooks to use their power game to claim victory, while the 36ers have moved the ball around the outside leaving it up to their guards to do the work. 

Following those trends of the last couple of matches I’m taking Xavier Cooks to continue his return to his best form and score 15+ points while for the 36ers, Bryce Cotton will get his but also deliver 7+ assists, finding that unstoppable balance in his game. Dejan Vasiljevic has a hot touch at the moment and will continue his run of threes.

But in the end, Adelaide will get their first win against Sydney and delight their home fans, but it will go down to the wire as expected. 

  • Adelaide are 10-2 at home this season.
  • Dejan Vasiljevic has had three 3 pointers in 4 of his last 5 games.
  • Xavier Cooks has averaged 20.5 points in his last 4 matches.
  • Bryce Cotton has had 7+ assists in each of his last 6 games.

Head to Head 


Last 5 Match Results
DateHome TeamScoreLineTotal Points
17/12/2025SYDSYD 97-93SYD +2.5O 186.5
11/10/2025ADESYD 103-79SYD +4.5U 185.5
13/02/2025SYDADE 95-88ADE -4.0U 191.5
24/01/2025SYDADE 105-96ADE +4.0O 190.0
30/12/2024SYDADE 111-96ADE +8.0O 189.5

Offensive & Defensive Rankings
ADE OffRankStatRankSYD Def
92.94PPG185
42.45RPG742.7
45.9%2FG%243.4%
35.4%13P%532.0%
102TOV313.8

ADE DefRankStatRankSYD Off
85.73PPG294.7
41.13RPG642.3
43.9%5FG%146.1%
30.1%23P%333.7%
10.67TOV19

Adelaide 36ers Form & Team News


Bryce Cotton took over the contest against his former club the Perth Wildcats in Adelaide’s latest victory. The 36ers outscored the Cats 29-9 in the third quarter to runaway 95-84 victors with the 5-time MVP dropping 36 points along with 7 assists.

Cotton (6), Flynn Cameron (3) and Dejan Vasilijevic (3) combined for 12 three pointers which put the dagger in the Wildcats coffin after the main break with the guard rotation proving to be the difference against a younger Perth core.

The win was Adelaide’s tenth in 11 games as they are clearly the most consistent team in the NBL all season long and have a two-win lead at the top of the NBL ladder, also with a game in hand.

Sydney Kings Form & Team News


The Kings made history on Tuesday night as the first team ever to win 3 straight games by at least 24 points in the 40-minute format, when they notched their latest victory over Brisbane 95-70.

After a rocky start to the year where everything was pointing to a similar year as NBL25 in Sydney, the Kings are now arguably the most in-form team in the comp with six straight wins, including a 97-93 victory over the league leaders Adelaide 4 matches ago.

On this six game run the Kings offence has been shredding, averaging 103.16 points per game a smidge under 10 points more than their season average. Despite the increase in offence their defence has not taken a hit and is still the second best unit in the NBL. 

Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings start?

Tip-off between Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings is at 7:30 PM AEDT, Friday, January 2

What channel is Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings on?

You can watch Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel.

Verdict

Xavier Cooks 15+ points will not be enough for the Kings to win their third straight against Adelaide with Bryce Cotton recording 7+ assists and Dejan Vasiljevic dropping 3+ threes in the 36ers victory.
Best Bet1: Adelaide 36ers Money Line $2.05 at picklebet - 2 Units
Best Bet2: Bryce Cotton 7+ Assists $1.54 at Elitebet - 3 Units
Best Bet3: Dejan Vasiljevic 3+ Three Pointers $1.95 at betr - 2 Units
Best Bet4: Xavier Cooks 15+ Points $1.52 at Elitebet - 3 Units
Adelaide 36ers
Money Line
$2.05 - 2 Units
Same Game & Race Multis
Use affiliate code BETSAU

Exciting new betting app now live. Use code BETSAU on sign-up. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Imagine what you could be buying instead.

Bet at picklebet
Bryce Cotton
7+ Assists
$1.54 - 3 Units
Lightning fast betting
Join with code BETSAU

18+. T&Cs apply

Bet at Elitebet
Dejan Vasiljevic
3+ Three Pointers
$1.95 - 2 Units
The GOAT.
Ahead of the Game.

Join Australia's newest online bookmaker with code BETSAU and enjoy exciting new ways to bet. The app is among the fastest in the market. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

Bet at betr
Xavier Cooks
15+ Points
$1.52 - 3 Units
Lightning fast betting
Join with code BETSAU

18+. T&Cs apply

Bet at Elitebet

Top Betting Sites

Betting offers

Upcoming Events

Betting Slip | 02 Jan 2026

Adelaide 36ers v Sydney Kings

Hear more from bets.com.au