Phoenix lead, Kings charge, injuries rock Tasmania

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Was it a blip on the road or are the 36ers stalling at the wrong time down the stretch of the NBL26 season.

Adelaide lost to the Sydney on Sunday in a clash that showed former NBA player and NBL Defensive Player of theYear Torrey Craig is an X-Factor for the Kings in their pursuit of a championship.

The win is simply too hard to ignore and has displaced the 36ers in the basketball.com.au Power Rankings after Round 18.

Every round basketball.com.au will adjust the NBL26 Power Rankings. Look for ➡️ ⬆️ ⬇️ ➡️ ↘️ ↗️ next to each name to quickly see how teams are moving.

NBL26 Power Rankings — Round 18

➡️ 1. South East Melbourne Phoenix

Last week: 1 │ Movement: ➡️ hold

Record: 19–8
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,721 / 2,487 / +234
Averages: 100.8 / 92.1

• ‍Why They’re Here: SEM doubled down on their Round 17 statement. Two wins, two dominant offensive performances, and no regression. The Phoenix pushed pace, sustained spacing, and generated clean looks across multiple lineups. What’s most convincing is their ability to stack margin without relying on perfect shot-making — they’re creating advantages structurally. This is the most complete offensive profile in the league right now and the most physical defense.‍
• Trending: Up and stabilised at the top.‍
• Outlook: Clear power benchmark. Everyone else is reacting to them.

➡️ 2. Sydney Kings

Last week: 3 │ Movement: ⬆️ +1

Record: 18–9
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,595 / 2,340 / +255
Averages: 96.1 / 86.7

• ‍Why They’re Here: Sydney handled business twice, including a composed win against Adelaide. Their identity remains execution-first: lowest error rate among contenders, elite half-court defense, and late-game composure. They don’t chase margin — they close games and Kendric Davis made an MVP statement against five-time MVP Bryce Cotton in Pinks Hoops day in Qudos Bank Arena.‍
• Trending: Torrey Craig has played two games like he has never left. Craig is a big defensive wing with career NBA experience. He is the Kings' NBL26 title X-Factor. He did in the job on Cotton and got his own at the same time.
• Outlook: Brian Goorjian has this group believing. Still the hardest team to shake in a series.

➡️ 3. Adelaide 36ers

Last week: 2 │ Movement: ⬇️ –1

Record: 20–7
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,506 / 2,368 / +138
Averages: 92.8 / 87.7

• ‍Why They’re Here: Adelaide have lost three of their last four. The loss to Sydney was a warning sign heading into the playoffs and they’re not dominating the way South East Melbourne is.
• Trending: Flat but firm. They are still on top of the ladder but the mid-season run is now in the rear view.‍
• Outlook: Anytime you have Cotton on your team, the championship is on the table but Adelaide need to rediscover their mojo, quickly. How they integrate John Jenkins is crucial down the stretch.

➡️ 4. Melbourne United

Last week: 5 │ Movement: ⬆️ +1

Record: 18–10
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,595 / 2,445 / +150
Averages: 92.7 / 87.3

• ‍Why They’re Here: This was Melbourne’s corrective week. A blowout win over Brisbane reset confidence, and the one-point road win in Perth was their best performance in a month. United rediscovered defensive discipline and late-game clarity. They’re not humming yet — but the floor lifted noticeably.‍
• Trending: Up, with proof and Milton Doyle still absolutely clutch.‍
• Outlook: Back in the top-tier conversation if this holds.

➡️ 5. Perth Wildcats

Last week: 4 │ Movement: ⬇️ –1

Record: 16–11
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,427 / 2,313 / +114
Averages: 89.9 / 85.7

• ‍Why They’re Here: Perth split the round — a demolition of Cairns followed by a gut-punch loss to Melbourne at home. Their Power Rankings profile didn’t collapse, but the margin-for-error reality showed. Their defense and rebounding remain playoff-ready; their offense still runs thin when late shots don’t fall.‍
• Trending: Team harmony or a "nothing to see here" as Wildcats stars Kristian Doolittle and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr go into it after the final buzzer against United and had to be separated by teammates.‍
• Outlook: Still a nightmare matchup, but no longer climbing.

➡️ 6. Tasmania JackJumpers

Last week: 6 │ Movement: ➡️ hold

Record: 12–16
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,401 / 2,406 / –5
Averages: 85.8 / 86.0

• ‍Why They’re Here: Brutal seven days for the JackJumpers. They lost starting centre, Australian Boomer Will Magnay (toe) and import guard Bryce Hamilton (knee) for the season and Majok Deng out indefinitely with a concussion. The 2024 NBL champions have been without Sean Macdonald (knee) for the entirety of the season.
• Trending: Missing the playoffs because of the injuries. They are in sixth at 12-16 but have played twice more than the chasing Hawks.‍
• Outlook: Scott Roth's championship DNA.

➡️ 7. Illawarra Hawks

Last week: 8 │ Movement: ⬆️ +1

Record: 10–16
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,379 / 2,491 / –112
Averages: 91.5 / 95.8

• ‍Why They’re Here: Illawarra earned this rise. Two wins, including a strong road performance in a must-win against Tasmania, and their offense finally translated into separation. Head coach Justin Tatum has two elite bigs – JaVale McGee and Sam Froling – tag-teaming the five and they won the two games they needed in Round 18.
• Trending: Dan Grida sets the tone for the defending champions and their chase for the top 6 and it's a genuine chance now given the injuries to the JackJumpers.‍
• Outlook: Sixth is genuinely in play.

➡️ 8. New Zealand Breakers

Last week: 7 │ Movement: ⬇️ –1

Record: 10–17
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,443 / 2,487 / –44
Averages: 90.5 / 92.1

• ‍Why They’re Here: The Breakers competed hard, but split results keep them stuck. They can score with anyone, but defensive lapses arrive every game. Nothing collapsed — but nothing progressed either. That’s the issue at this stage of the season.‍
• Trending: Slight down via stagnation.‍
• Outlook: Still alive — but reliant on others slipping.

➡️ 9. Cairns Taipans

Last week: 9 │ Movement: ➡️ hold

Record: 7–20
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,232 / 2,621 / –389
Averages: 82.7 / 97.1

• ‍Why They’re Here: Two heavy losses confirmed the slide. Defensive coverage continues to break, and offensive creation can’t keep pace. The effort is there, but the roster constraints are biting harder each week.‍
• Trending: Flat, heavy.‍
• Outlook: Spoiler only.

➡️ 10. Brisbane Bullets

Last week: 10 │ Movement: ➡️ hold

Record: 6–22
Pts For / Against / Diff: 2,342 / 2,683 / –341
Averages: 83.6 / 95.8

• ‍Why They’re Here: Round 18 was brutal. The defensive structure collapsed early and never recovered. There’s no rhythm, no continuity, and too many games are effectively decided by halftime.‍
• Trending: Locked in place.‍
• Outlook: Avoiding the wooden spoon is the only remaining battle.

Round 19 Match-Ups

• Wednesday, 28 January 2026: Brisbane Bullets v Adelaide 36ers (TBC) at 6:30pm
• Wednesday, 28 January 2026: Perth Wildcats v South East Melbourne Phoenix (RAC Arena) at 6:30pm
• Thursday, 29 January 2026: Sydney Kings v Illawarra Hawks (Qudos Bank Arena) at 7:30pm
• Friday, 30 January 2026: New Zealand Breakers v Melbourne United (Spark Arena) at 7:30pm
• Friday, 30 January 2026: Cairns Taipans v Tasmania Jackjumpers (Cairns Convention Centre) at 6:30pm
• Saturday, 31 January 2026: Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix (Adelaide Entertainment Centre) at 5:00pm
• Saturday, 31 January 2026: Illawarra Hawks v Perth Wildcats (WIN Entertainment Centre) at 8:00pm
• Sunday, 1 February 2026: Tasmania Jackjumpers v New Zealand Breakers (MyState Bank Arena) at 2:30pm*
• Sunday, 1 February 2026: Cairns Taipans v Sydney Kings (Cairns Convention Centre) at 3:30pm*

NBL26 Power Rankings By Round