NBL27 Tips

Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets Tips - NBL27 Round 6

Ryan Tucker

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Last updated: Fri. 23 Oct. 2026 13:50

Ryan Tucker 47 minutes ago

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Illawarra Hawks are tipped to cover the -2.5 line against Brisbane Bullets, who have lost 13 consecutive away games.
Illawarra have won seven of their last eight matchups with Brisbane, despite their own recent poor run.
Max Mackinnon 5+ assists at 2.90 is a featured player prop, exploiting Illawarra's defensive weaknesses.

Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets NBL27 Expert Tips

I am backing the Illawarra Hawks to cover the -2.5 line against Brisbane Bullets at WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday evening, with both teams looking to bounce back from heavy midweek defeats.

The Hawks have lost six of their last seven games, but this is a favourable opportunity against a Brisbane side that has lost 13 consecutive away matches. Illawarra have also won seven of their last eight meetings with the Bullets.

Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets NBL27 Expert Tips
Key Stats
Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets Head to Head
Illawarra Hawks Form
Brisbane Bullets Form

Brisbane's rebounding and playmaking numbers suggest they can still find some offensive success against the NBL's worst defence, with the Hawks conceding 105.9 points and a league-high 23.1 assists per game.

Max Mackinnon 5+ assists at 2.90 is my main player prop, with the Brisbane guard recording five or more assists in two of his last three games before Wednesday's loss to Tasmania. Add to that, the Bullets lead the competition with 22.3 assists per game, and Illawarra's defensive struggles create opportunities for Mackinnon to improve on his season average.

Back Illawarra -2.5 against a Brisbane side that continues to struggle away from home, with Max Mackinnon 5+ assists offering a speculative player prop at 2.90.

Key Stats

Brisbane have lost 13 consecutive away games.
Illawarra have won seven of their last eight meetings against Brisbane.
Illawarra concede a league-high 23.1 assists per game.
Max Mackinnon has recorded 5+ assists in two of his last four games, including eight against South East Melbourne.

Illawarra Hawks vs Brisbane Bullets Head to Head

Brisbane lead the all-time series 62-49, but Illawarra have dominated recent meetings, winning seven of the last eight. The Hawks won seven consecutive matchups before Brisbane ended that streak with a 103-95 victory in September.

Illawarra Hawks Form

Illawarra suffered another disappointing defeat on Thursday, losing 108-82 at home to Sydney Kings.

The Hawks struggled offensively, shooting just 40% on two-point attempts, while Sydney dominated the rebounding battle 47-38. Makur Maker led Illawarra with 24 points and seven rebounds.

Illawarra are now 2-7 and sit bottom of the NBL ladder, having lost six of their last seven games. Their defence remains a major concern, conceding a league-high 105.9 points per game.

The Hawks have been competitive in patches but have struggled to put together complete performances, particularly against the competition's stronger teams.

Brisbane Bullets Form

Brisbane suffered their fourth defeat in five games on Wednesday, going down 106-85 to Tasmania JackJumpers in the Ignite Cup.

The Bullets fell behind early and never recovered, trailing by 12 points at quarter-time and 21 by the final buzzer. Max Mackinnon was Brisbane's leading scorer with 21 points.

Brisbane are now 3-4, with their biggest problems coming away from home. The Bullets have lost all three road games this season and 13 consecutive away matches overall.

Despite those results, Brisbane continue to lead the competition in rebounding and assists, averaging 46.7 boards and 22.3 assists per game. Those numbers provide some encouragement for their individual player markets against Illawarra's struggling defence.

Verdict

Illawarra Hawks v Brisbane Bullets

Back Illawarra -2.5 against a Brisbane side that continues to struggle away from home, with Max Mackinnon 5+ assists offering a speculative player prop at 2.90.