Every Game In Focus (Round 5, NBL25)

Every week of the Hungry Jack's NBL25 Season, we'll be previewing the big games, the big names and all the key talking points.

Check out the Round 5 Preview below.

Don't forget, every game of the NBL25 season is live on ESPN via Kayo.

Brisbane vs New Zealand

When: Thursday, October 17 - 7.30pm AEDT
Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | NZ: ESPN and TVNZ | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: The Breakers have returned from their NBLxNBA tour and are straight into the action, taking on a Bullets team fresh off their first win of the season. All eyes will be on New Zealand and how they begin this game after travelling all over the world in the last few weeks. 

Brisbane on the other hand will be feeling confident, after they chalked up a much needed win against the Phoenix in Round 4. These two teams tipped off the season against each other in round one, and it was the Breakers who dominated 95 percent of that game, before Brisbane clawed back to make a game of it late.

Players to watch: Tyrell Harrison was an absolute monster last weekend, pulling down 17 rebounds, 12 of which were offensive. There was simply no stopping Brisbane’s big man, who did everything he could to drag his team to a win. Harrison gets the matchup with Freddie Gillespie, who showed glimpses of his defensive identity in the USA last week.

Brisbane also got a major contribution from James Batemon, who was moved to the benched last weekend and flourished scoring 20 points. It doesn’t get much easier for Batemon, as he will have a direct matchup with an MVP contender in Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

The stat: Parker Jackson-Cartwrigh has scored 15+ in 11 straight games.

Missing in action: Dane Pineau faces a test on his calf as he looks to prove his fitness, while no timeline has been set on the return of Karim Lopez, sidelined with a forearm injury. 

Tasmania vs Sydney

When: Friday, October 18 - 7.30pm AEDT
Where: MyState Bank Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | NZ: ESPN | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: The Sydney Kings had an up and down Round 4, after they lost to Adelaide on the road, before bouncing back to dominate Cairns. Right now, all eyes are on how the Kings find a consistency to be the championship favourite that many believe they are. With question marks around their rotations and play style, the pressure never comes off for Brian Goorjian’s men.

For Tasmania, they are simply desperate to find some offensive production. Through the first four rounds, they’re the lowest offensively rated team in the league, which is pushing their exceptional defensive to the brink. This match-up sees a grind it out playing style from the JackJumpers, go up against a fast paced, high-flying Kings.

Players to watch: For Tasmania, their offensive production usually relies on Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford. Doyle is coming into this game off the back of one of the toughest games of his NBL career, where he committed seven turnovers and scored just four points. 

For the Kings, it’s been Xavier Cooks who is quietly putting together another dominant season. He’s the barometer of this star studded Sydney roster and they’re at their best when he is leading from the front. Cam Oliver has also proved to be pivotal in their bench production and would be the current favourite to win the Best Sixth Man award.  

The stat: Heading into Round 5, Sydney ranks first for bench points per game (32.8) this season.

Missing in action: Jaylen Adams (back) is subject to a fitness test after missing Sydney’s last game with a back complaint. Sean Macdonald (ankle) remains on the sidelines for the near future.

New Zealand vs Perth Wildcats

When: Saturday, October 19 - 5.30pm AEDT
Where: Spark Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | NZ: ESPN | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: Perth will be arriving in New Zealand at 1am on game day, ready to build on their big win in Cairns last Thursday. It was the Bryce Cotton show during that game, as the four time MVP took over and score 35 points, including seven threes. The matchup with the Breakers will be a big one, considering New Zealand played just two days prior and could have shaken off the cobwebs from their international trip.

It's been a busy start to the season for the Wildcats, who travelled to Tasmania in Round 3, then straight up to Cairns for the week and will now head over to New Zealand. 

Players to watch: Two of last season’s finalists for the MVP in Cotton and Parker Jackson-Cartwright will be ready to light it up for their respective teams. Outside of those two superstar guards, it’s been Kristian Doolittle who has taken on more of offensive responsibility for Perth this season and could be a match-up problem for the Breakers. 

Including the Breakers first two games and their NBA tour, it’s been Mojave King who has stood out as a key member of their rotation. The former Next Star and second round draft pick has more NBA eyes on him than ever, as he looks to get another opportunity in the states. 

The stat: By tip-off, it will have been 21 days since the Breakers' last NBL game against the Phoenix.

Missing in action: Keanu Pinder is on track to return to the lineup, after missing their last game with concussion. 

Cairns vs Illawarra

When: Saturday, October 19 - 8pm AEDT
Where: MyState Bank Arena
Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo | NZ: ESPN | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: Illawarra is currently top of the ladder and look to be the team to beat in NBL25. They bounced back from their loss in Round 3 to Adelaide by giving Tasmania its biggest loss in the club’s history. Illawarra are perhaps the most balanced team in the league with their offensive weapons and defensive stopper, Wani Swaka-Lo-Buluk an early favourite to win the Best Defensive Player.

Cairns dropped both games last weekend and Adam Forde didn’t want to hear any excuses about his team not being at full strength. With Taran Armstrong and Tanner Groves both expected to miss this game again, it puts even more pressure on the young Taipans to find another level and take it up to the ladder leaders. 

Players to watch: There is really only one matchup that matters in this game and that is Swaka-Lo-Buluk going to Rob Edwards. Edwards was made to work for every one of his 24 points against Perth last week, before being well held against the Kings. Without Armstrong, Cairns is looking for other players to step off and help Edwards find space to get to his spots and pile up the points 

The stat: Seven different Illawarra players have scored 15+ points in a game this season - the most in the league

Missing in action: Armstrong (ankle) and Groves (calf) are both expected to miss this game for Cairns. 

Melbourne vs South East Melbourne

When: Sunday, October 20 - 2.30pm AEDT
Where: John Cain Arena
Watch: Live & free on ESPN via Kayo | 10 Bold & 10 Play | NZ: ESPN | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: The winless Phoenix made the decision to part ways with Mike Kelly and go in a different direction to complete the season. With Sam Mackinnon stepping in as interim coach, how does his team respond against their inner city rival?

If history tells us anything, teams that make a coaching change mid-season usually respond in an emotional and emphatic fashion. Last season it was the Hawks who were 2-7, before they made a coaching change and charged all the way to a Playoff appearance.

Standing in the Phoenix way is Melbourne United who currently hold the best defensive rating of any team, and it’s not close. One can expect that they’d enjoy nothing more than to drive more pain into their rival.  

Players to watch: If Mackinnon is to keep a similar rotation than we saw last weekend, then it’s yet another chance for Nathan Sobey to find his groove off the bench. Sobey has struggled to get going up until this point and it’s no coincidence that his team has failed to fire also. It won’t be an easy task for Sobey, with Shea Ili ready to nullify any of those efforts.

One bright spot for the Phoenix has been the play of new import forward, Matt Hurt, who heads into the round as the league’s leading scorer. Had it not been for his team’s poor start, he would be firmly in the mix for the MVP at this point of the season. 

The stat: Melbourne allows a league-low 82 points per game to the opposition.

Adelaide vs Tasmania

When: Sunday, October 20 - 4.30pm AEDT
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Watch: Live & free on ESPN via Kayo | 10 Bold & 10 Play | NZ: ESPN | International
Scores: Download the free NBL App

Watch for: Adelaide came out on its home floor last Friday night and put on a show by dominating the Sydney Kings from the first quarter. Disappointingly, the 36ers couldn’t continue that form when they travelled to Melbourne two days later and were compressively beat by United. Right now they’re building something special, especially at the Entertainment Centre, and will be looking to make their home court a fortress.

While Tasmania has struggled to score the ball thus far, Adelaide has no such issue, currently second in points per game at 92.3. For the JackJumpers to go into enemy territory and pull out a win, they simply must find a way to match the offensive firepower of this 36ers team.

Players to watch: An aerial matchup worthy of the price of admission alone in this one. Will Magnay and Montrezl Harrell will go toe-to-toe as two of the most athletic big men in the competition. On one side, there’s Harrell who is trying to overpower every opponent, whether that’s in the post or in the air. Waiting for him is Magnay, who is widely regarded as the best defensive big man in the entire NBL. 

Cue the fireworks.

The stat: Adelaide is first in the league for three-point percentage at 42.3.

Missing in action: Jarell Martin (foot) has been cleared to begin some light activity but will not make his debut in this game.