THE third round of the 2022/23 National Basketball League (NBL) season kicked off on Thursday night, with another weekend of action set to deliver for experts and fans alike.

While there are many intriguing factors of the round to come, there is arguably none more so than the individual battle between SEM Phoenix star Mitch Creek and New Zealand Breakers skipper Jarrell Brantley, both of whom are coming off eye-catching performances.

The two sides will go head to head at John Cain Arena on Saturday night, in a tough match for pundits to tip. Expect both players to find the offence flow through them for much of the contest, in what should be a high-scoring battle from an individual perspective.

Averages

Mitch Creek – 20.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Jarrell Brantley – 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2 assists

While it may seem like the averages are vastly in favour of the Phoenix superstar, both are coming off high-impact performances on the offensive end, and it should prove to be an enthralling matchup.

We know how good Creek is by this point, now in his 13th season in the NBL and not showing any signs of slowing down. One of the best in the competition at finding the bottom of the net, Creek forces his opponent to work hard by running his backside off without the ball, and often gets passed the rock in a high-percentage scoring position. An inside and outside threat, he can hurt the opposition defence in a number of ways.

Against the Taipans on Saturday night, Creek kept his side in the match with a 27-point outing. He did most of his work inside the arc, where he can pull up for a mid-range shot or drive into the hoop with strength and either score or draw contact. Brantley will need to be on his toes to keep Creek’s efficiency down, which currently sits at 50 percent on the season.

One of New Zealand’s newest imports, Brantley has made an immediate impact with the side across the Tasman. While he had a quiet outing against United in Round 1, he torched the JackJumpers with an extremely efficient performance from the field.

Seven of his eight field goal attempts found the bottom of the net, including nailing both of his shots from behind the arc. A strong operator, Brantley can bully his way inside for an easy shot, a factor that may make life difficult for Creek, who is strong with momentum behind him but may struggle in stationary strength.

With game styles that contrast in a considerable way, Creek and Brantley will each try and get the game on their terms. There can only be one winner on the scoreboard, and this matchup within the matchup may be the deciding factor.