Every Game in Focus (Round 20, NBL25)

New Zealand vs Illawarra

When: Wednesday, February 5 - 5.30pm AEDT
Where: Spark Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo, TVNZ+ in NZ | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: The Hawks are one win away from locking in history and finishing top for the first ever time. They have been arguably the best team all season long and will be in the box seat to win it all, as long as they take care of business against the Breakers.

New Zealand managed to score a big win over Cairns and give their fans a positive memory to finish the season and now they get another chance to do just that. What makes this game an interesting watch is that the Hawks have shown to be complacent at times against lower opposition, which could be their undoing here. 

Players to watch: It has been Matt Mooney who has really stood up in the absence of their star point guard and has been doing it in a variety of ways. Whether it’s scoring the ball or assisting, Mooney has been a dominant force in the back half of this season. The other shining light has been the play of Mojave King who has put together his best season of play in the last five years.

For the Hawks, they have weapons throughout their entire roster and will be calling on everyone to step up and try and send a message early. While Trey Kell III and Tyler Harvey have been the backcourt leaders, it’s their interior presence that is led by Sam Froling that really sets the tone offensively.

The stat: Illawarra is the first in the league for scoring (101.9 points per game).

Missing in action: Darius Days is out (hamstring). Parker Jackson-Cartwright is out (rib).

Cairns vs Brisbane

When: Thursday, February 6 - 7.30pm AEDT
Where: Cairns Convention Centre
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: While both teams will be missing out on finals, they still get a chance to finish the season on the right note here. Any opportunity you get to get a win over your state rival always leaves your fans feeling good, no matter how poor the season may have been overall.

It is also a chance to some of the young talent to get an extra opportunity and showcase their talents for next season and beyond. Between both the Taipans and the Bullets, there have been many positive signs sprinkled throughout a season that has been tainted due to injuries.

Players to watch: Casey Prather and Keandre Cook have been the two shining lights on a Bullets team that has been finding it hard to have enough offensive talent to put up good scores. With the team again decimated by injuries, the Bullets went into Adelaide and stunned the 36ers with some exceptional play on both ends.

With the announcement that Rob Edwards has departed for another opportunity, the final two games of the season will see Adam Forde extended minutes to some of the bench players. Look for Kyrin Galloway to be one in particular who relishes with the chance to see more court time.

The stat: Brisbane is the best three pointing team (37.4).

Missing in action: Sam McDaniel is out for the season (shoulder). James Batemon is out for season (hamstring). Tyrell Harrison is out (concussion). Josh Bannon is out (concussion). Rob Edwards is out.

Illawarra vs Sydney

When: Friday, February 7 - 7.30pm AEDT
Where: WIN Entertainment Centre
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: The final instalment of the Freeway Series will be more of a chess game than a heated rivalry. With the Hawks likely having locked away top spot, there is a chance Justin Tatum wont risk doing any harm to his star players. However, there is also the stronger chance that he won’t want to mess with form and would love nothing more than sweeping the Kings on the season.

The Kings on the other hand will have everything to play for in this game, as they look to avoid finishing fifth and facing an elimination game. They haven’t managed to beat the Hawks all season, but maybe a strong showing in this game is all they need to get rolling into the finals.

Players to watch: When these two teams have gone head-to-head it’s all come down to the battle between Jaylen Adams and Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk. The Kings play their best basketball when Adams is controlling the game from the point and also making big games down the stretch. However, he has struggled to get the better of the Hawks’ defensive stopper thus far, hence the Hawks winning all three games.

Another key battle will be Cam Oliver against Sam Froling, two of the best big men in the competition. Whoever can get an advantage here will put their team in the best chance of winning the game.

The stat: Sydney is the best defensive team in the league (4.8 blocks per game, 7.5 steals per game).

Missing in action: Darius Days is out (hamstring). Jaylin Galloway is out (shoulder). Keli Leaupepe is out (hamstring).

Perth vs Adelaide

When: Friday, February 7 - 9.30pm AEDT
Where: RAC Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: What has been a fun matchup to follow all season, especially with the two leading MVP candidates going at it, has come down to be the most exciting game all year. The Wildcats simply must take care of business in this game if they want to have any chance at finishing second on the standings. However, if they don’t get a win, they can fall as low as fifth and end up facing Adelaide once again in an elimination Play-In Game.

The 36ers have unfortunately limped towards the finish line, which is not the way any team would want to enter the post-season. Their best basketball is good enough to beat any team in the league, but the flip side of that is perhaps an even bigger concern for their fans.

Players to watch: All eyes will be understandably on Kendric Davis and Bryce Cotton, as the two superstar guards have one last regular season duel. Both have been phenomenal throughout this entire season, putting their name in the history books with their stellar play.

However, it’s perhaps the supporting cast for both teams which holds the keys to victory in this game. If the 36ers can get DJ Vasiljevic rolling, it creates another weapon for this team to use offensively and opens up space for everyone else to operate. For the Wildcats, it has been Kristian Doolittle who has stepped up offensively and become a consistent threat for John Rillie on that end.

The stat: Adelaide are the lowest rebounding team in the league (38.8). 

Missing in action: N/A

Tasmania vs Cairns

When: Saturday, February 8 - 5.30pm AEDT
Where: MyState Bank Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: If Adelaide lose by a considerable margin on Friday against Perth, then the JackJumpers still have a small window of opportunity to take sixth spot from them. If everything pans out the way they are hoping, it would still take a big win over Cairns for them to make up the required percentage boost.

With how unlikely all of that is, Scott Roth will be hoping his team finishes a tough season on a high and gives the fans something to cheer about one last time. They have been decimated by injuries to key players, but still continue to fight and battle, which is the epitome of this culture.

Players to watch: With Majok Deng back from injury, the JackJumpers have more than enough offensive weapons to put up a big score on their home floor one last time. With some key players out of contract at season’s end, this is again another chance for some players to show the organization that they have enough to get another deal.

For the Taipans, they will be relying on Sam Waardenburg and Pedro Bradshaw to fill it up in their final game of the season. Both have stood up at different moments throughout the season and have shown to do enough to get the job done.

Shea Ili, who is a leading candidate for Best Defensive Player once again, will have his eyes locked into Jordon Crawford on the other side. It was Crawford who won that battle in Game 5 last season, which Ili will be enough motivation for Ili to use.

The stat: Heading into Round 20, Cairns ranks 2nd in the league for blocks per game this season (4.4). 

Missing in action: Sean MacDonald is out (foot). Will Magnay is out (toe). Majok Deng is a game time decision (ankle). Rob Edwards is out (departed).

Melbourne vs South East Melbourne

When: Saturday, February 8 - 8.00pm AEDT
Where: John Cain Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: The final game of the penultimate round and what has been an incredible regular season, ends with a Throwdown that could have everything riding on the result. Melbourne United may have to win to finish second and avoid the Play-In, whereas the Phoenix may have to win to secure a double chance final.

There is so much at stake between these two teams who many believe are right in the hunt for a title this season. The Phoenix have won the last two Throwdowns and have never won three straight since entering the competition.

Players to watch: When these two clubs meet, nothing else matters between the white lines as the emotions boil over between the city rivals. Chris Goulding loves to stand above the contest and step up when it matters most, which poses a unique threat to Josh King and his elite defensive team.

For the Phoenix, their last two wins over United have been led by Matt Hurt, who has been simply outstanding all season long. The former Duke Blue Devil has put himself in All-NBL contention with how well he has played in his first season in the league. The 24-year-old has been virtually un-guardable and will be a big reason if his team is to go deep into the finals.

The stat: SE Melbourne has won each of the last nine quarters at John Cain Arena.  

Missing in action: Derrick Walton Jr is out (hamstring).