Starting 5: Champ's challenge, Snakes striking & crucial clashes

28 Oct 2026

Pete Hooley breaks down Round 7’s key storylines, from Sydney’s road test to the rising Taipans and Adelaide’s need for a response.

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NBL.com.au

This bumper nine-game slate features one massive Ignite Cup clash in Perth, three double-headers and an all-Queensland clash.

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All the action tips off on Wednesday night with Perth hosting Sydney in a heavyweight Ignite Cup clash at RAC Arena from 9.30pm AEDT.

Pete Hooley takes a look at some of the key storylines ahead of Round 7.

>> Ignite Cup, NBL27: Schedule, tickets, rules & more

The full schedule

Perth Wildcats v Sydney Kings - Wednesday, October 28, 9.30pm AEDT - RAC Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Brisbane Bullets v Cairns Taipans - Thursday, October 29, 8pm AEDT - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

New Zealand Breakers v Adelaide 36ers - Friday, October 30, 5.30pm AEDT - Spark Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Tasmania JackJumpers v Sydney Kings - Friday, October 30, 7.30pm AEDT - Silverdome
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Cairns Taipans v Melbourne United - Saturday, October 31, 7.30pm AEDT - Cairns Convention Centre
Watch: ESPN, 9Go! and 9Now | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Perth Wildcats v Illawarra Hawks - Saturday, October 31, 9.30pm AEDT - RAC Arena
Watch: ESPN, 9Go! and 9Now | Scores and stats: Game Centre

South East Melbourne Phoenix v Tasmania JackJumpers - Sunday, November 1, 3pm AEDT - John Cain Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Adelaide 36ers v Brisbane Bullets - Sunday, November 1, 5pm AEDT - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Melbourne United v New Zealand Breakers - Monday, November 2, 7.30pm AEDT - John Cain Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Talking points

1 – Kings’ next test

After a favourable schedule to begin the season, the Sydney Kings face their toughest test yet, with a road trip over to Perth and then down to Tasmania.

The Kings will be trying to bounce back after a disappointing defeat in Melbourne on Sunday, where their superstar guard Kendric Davis had one of his slowest games to date.

The Wildcats are full of momentum right now, after Brandon Knight’s game winner last weekend and will look to get some revenge over a Sydney team that demolished them two weeks ago.

2 – Cairns flying

After a slow start to NBL27, the Cairns Taipans currently sit inside the top four and might just be the most exciting team to watch now that they’re healthy.

With Jaylin Galloway back, this Taipans team is full of star power and has a unique playing style that becomes must-watch TV.

This is the vision that Adam Forde had for some time and now the task for Cairns is to keep stacking together wins.

3 – Crucial opportunity

Go back a few weeks and I’m not sure many people would have predicted a Round 7 matchup between the New Zealand Breakers and Adelaide 36ers to be so crucial to each of their seasons, yet here we are.

While the whole ladder is closely contested, with just one win separating over half the teams, the 36ers are currently sitting ninth and looking to get back to their best.

Trevor Gleeson said following their loss to the Phoenix that they are struggling with their depth and now face a Breakers team who just welcomed back Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

Concerns will grow for whichever team can’t get the job done here.

4 – Any rust?

After playing three games in six days, we haven’t seen the Tasmania JackJumpers since last Wednesday’s Ignite Cup win.

Scott Roth’s team are sitting pretty on top of the standings and have been the benchmark of the competition through six rounds, but how will they look after this much rest?

Taran Armstrong and Will Magnay have been exceptional to begin the season and perhaps a chance to rest their bodies right now will only strengthen their results on the floor.