- 1 Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks: a four-game slide against the team that started it
- 2 Perth Wildcats Analysis
- 3 Illawarra Hawks Analysis
- 4 Free NBL Prediction: Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks
- 5 About our free predictions
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About visuals
Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks: a four-game slide against the team that started it 
Perth’s current four-game losing run began on 31 October, when Illawarra won 105-98 at RAC Arena. The same two teams meet at the same venue on Saturday 14 November, with tip-off at 11h30 Paris time.
This is a Round 9 fixture of NBL27 with direct consequences for the top six. Perth are seventh at 5-6, and Illawarra are eighth at 5-9 after their win on Wednesday.
Recent form separates the two clubs. Perth have lost four straight, while Illawarra have won three of their last four, all of them away from home.
The Round 7 meeting offers a clear statistical template. Illawarra out-rebounded Perth 45-31, grabbed 16 offensive boards and still won despite committing 17 turnovers to Perth’s 8.
The schedule adds a layer to the analysis. Perth host Tasmania on Thursday and turn around 48 hours later, while Illawarra close a five-game road trip with two full days of rest after Wednesday’s game in Melbourne.
Illawarra’s season record of 5-9 hides a sharper recent trend. Three of their five wins have come in the last four games, all of them on the road.
Perth Wildcats Analysis 
The Wildcats’ last win came on 23 October, 103-102 over Melbourne United. Since then the results read 99-91 to Sydney, 105-98 to Illawarra, 109-104 to Brisbane and 100-92 to Cairns.
All four losses came by eight points or fewer. Perth are competitive in most games but lack the closing efficiency to convert them, and the season numbers confirm the trend.
They score 94.1 points per game and concede 98.1, a differential of -4.0. Three of the four defeats came at RAC Arena, which removes the home-court argument that usually supports this club.
Elijah Pepper scored 26 points against Cairns on Sunday and Kristian Doolittle added 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. In the Round 7 loss to Illawarra, Anthony Dell’Orso led with 21 and Dylan Windler posted 19 points and 9 rebounds.
Brandon Knight (hamstring soreness) is due back on Thursday after missing two games, which helps the backcourt. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (calf) is out until around Round 11, Blake Nielsen (ACL) is out for the season and Jimmy Whitt is absent for personal reasons, which leaves the frontcourt thin against a team that hurt Perth on the glass.
Thursday’s game against Tasmania, who sit 8-3, comes first. A fifth straight loss there would leave Perth level on five wins with Illawarra heading into Saturday.
The Round 7 box score shows where the gap opened. Perth won the turnover battle 8 to 17 and still lost by seven, because Illawarra controlled the rebounds 45-31.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Illawarra Hawks Analysis 
Illawarra’s last five results are 98-81 to Brisbane, then wins of 105-98 in Perth and 107-95 in Cairns, a 106-78 loss in Adelaide and a 120-110 win over the Phoenix. Three wins from four on the road is the best stretch of their season.
The defence remains the weakness. The Hawks concede 103.8 points per game, the highest figure in the league, against 95.5 scored, for a differential of -8.3.
Their attack compensates when the shots fall. On Wednesday they shot 56% from the field and led 71-54 at half-time, with Kelan Martin scoring 27 points on 5 of 7 from three and Milton Doyle adding 22 on 6 of 7.
Makur Maker averages 15.7 points on 61.9% shooting and had 21 in the Round 7 win at RAC Arena, where Martin came off the bench for 23. The Hawks bench leads the NBL at 41.1 points per game, a strong asset against a Perth rotation short on bodies.
The one warning sign is fatigue. Coach Justin Tatum admitted his side “came out flat” in Adelaide two days after Cairns, and Mason Peatling (foot surgery) is out for the season.
Davo Hickey filled the stat sheet on Wednesday with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, and Maker added 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The production is spread across the roster, which makes the Hawks harder to plan for.
The 120-110 win in Melbourne was their highest score of the last five games. Martin and Doyle combined to shoot 11 of 14 from three that night.
Probable lineup Perth Wildcats: Not announced at time of publication
Probable lineup Illawarra Hawks: Not announced at time of publication
Free NBL Prediction: Perth Wildcats vs Illawarra Hawks
Our prediction: Illawarra Hawks win
Illawarra already won this exact fixture at RAC Arena two weeks ago, and they did it by dominating the boards 45-31. Perth’s frontcourt is still short, with Lual-Acuil out until around Round 11.
Perth’s best path runs through Knight’s return and the scoring of Pepper and Doolittle. A short turnaround after Tasmania and a rotation without Lual-Acuil, Nielsen and Whitt limit how far that can go.
Illawarra’s defence, at 103.8 points conceded per game, leaves room for Perth to score. The Hawks have shown on this road trip that they can outscore that weakness, winning three of four away games.
Rest favours the visitors, who get two clear days while Perth play Tasmania on Thursday night. Combine that with a 41.1-point bench and the form of Martin and Doyle, and the Hawks hold more ways to win this game.
Our pick is the Illawarra Hawks to win. The Wildcats’ four-game slide, three of those losses at home, makes this the right moment to side with the in-form road team.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
About our free predictions
- What we publish on MathOdds are analyses, nothing more. We share a view, a reading of the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport remains what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a last-minute basket, and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as a risk-free bet. Even when it looks “obvious”, nothing ever is. And yes, that means you can lose. It’s even inevitable at some point.
- The smartest approach is to stay reasonable. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Never use money you need to live on. And above all: don’t chase your losses, that rarely ends well.
- A bet should remain a game, not a job or a source of income. If it starts taking up too much space in your daily life, causes stress or frustration, take a break. And if needed, talk to a support organisation: that’s what they’re there for.
- Ultimately, responsibility lies with you. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and will never disappear, no matter how good the analysis.
- Essential reminder: gambling is prohibited for minors and must comply with the laws of your country. Need help? Visit begambleaware.org.
No commitment from us
Our predictions carry no contractual value. They have no legal standing. In short: you cannot rely on them to claim anything if a bet doesn’t come through.
Information changes
A prediction is always based on what we know at the time of writing. But between publication and tip-off, a lineup can change (like Perth Wildcats’s, for example), a player picks up an injury, and the analysis can quickly be outdated. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before placing a bet, simply check that gambling is legal in your country. If it isn’t, that’s your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling
We can’t say it enough: gamble responsibly. If you’re struggling to stay in control, don’t wait to seek help.
Legal age
MathOdds content is intended for adults only. By browsing here, you confirm you meet the legal age requirement for gambling in your jurisdiction.
About visuals
The images and logos of Perth Wildcats and Illawarra Hawks on MathOdds are used solely to illustrate our articles. They do not imply any official affiliation with the NBL or Basketball Australia, and we claim no rights over them. Those rights belong to their original owners. If any visual raises a concern, contact us and it will be removed without delay.
Leave a Reply