THE National Basketball League (NBL) commenced its 2023/24 season over the weekend, with some interesting results and performances coming from the opening few days of play.

There were upsets, breakout efforts and big wins as the off-season ended and the real action finally got underway after some significant build up.

Despite speculation around which sides would get off to good starts, there were still plenty of surprises as proceedings got underway in emphatic fashion.

In the first article of this weekly series, we bring you all the key info of how each match went down, and the ladder as it stands after each round.

AS IT STANDS: ROUND ONE

Melbourne United (82) def. SEM Phoenix (69)

In the latest instalment of the Throwdown series between the two Melbourne-based sides, United got the better of their crosstown rivals with a 14-point win at John Cain Arena on Thursday night. The defining period of the match proved to be the second quarter, with South East Melbourne held to just nine points as United broke out to a match-winning lead.

Young gun Luke Travers was ultra impressive in his debut for Melbourne, delivering a game-high 20 points to go with eight rebounds in a promising performance. For the Phoenix, it was Ben Ayre that led the way with 17 points, standing up on a quiet night for the bigger names on the team.

Brisbane Bullets (86) def. Adelaide 36ers (71)

The Brisbane Bullets overcame a red-hot start from the 36ers to cruise home to a 15-point win in front of their fans at Nissan Arena on Friday night. Despite plenty of question marks around Adelaide’s ability to score coming into the season, it registered the first 15 points of the game to storm out to a commanding lead. However, Brisbane steadily took control of the match as its class came to the fore in a strong start to the fixture.

Veteran guard Nathan Sobey played a crucial role in getting his side over the top in the end, pouring in 18 points in a vintage performance from one of Australia’s best backcourt players of the modern era. Despite the loss, Adelaide would be pleased with the performance from Jacob Wiley, who poured in 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists, producing a promising season opener.

Perth Wildcats (101) def. Tasmania JackJumpers (95)

An offensive masterclass from one of Perth’s recruits led the Wildcats past the JackJumpers to the tune of six points at RAC Arena on Friday night. In a highly anticipated battle given the expected level of performance from these two sides this season, the Wildcats took control of the match in the second and third quarters to take a significant lead into the final period. Although Tasmania rallied in typical JackJumpers fashion, Perth delivered down the stretch to get its season started with a win.

The biggest positive for the Wildcats in the win was the performance of Jordan Usher, who was simply superb with ball in hand during the win. He poured in a game-winning 35 points on 13/20 shooting from the field in a magnificent debut match with the team. Jack McVeigh fought valiantly for the JackJumpers en route to 22 points, five rebounds and five assists but his side fell short of pulling off the comeback win.

New Zealand Breakers (98) def. Cairns Taipans (87)

Fresh off a grand final defeat last season, the Breakers kicked off their quest for redemption with an 11-point victory over the Taipans at Spark Arena on Saturday. Although Cairns started the game well offensively, the second and third periods saw Breakers basketball at its best, as New Zealand held a 16-point lead heading into the final quarter and never looked back.

Point guard recruit Parker Jackson-Cartwright was outstanding in his regular season debut for the Breakers, doing a bit of everything with 25 points, four rebounds and eight assists in a leader’s performance. Cairns guard Patrick Miller was his side’s best with 15 points, five rebounds and six assists in the loss.

Illawarra Hawks (81) def. by Sydney Kings (96)

In another Freeway series battle, the Kings started their title defence in fine fashion with a convincing 15-point win over the Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday night. Sydney held off a strong challenge from Illawarra in the first quarter, took control of the contest heading into half time and kept the opposition at bay for the remainder of the match.

Forward Kouat Noi came off the bench to provide a match-winning spark for the Kings, producing 23 points in just 17 minutes of play. He shot 6/8 from behind the arc to prove the difference in Sydney’s first win of the season. Star Illawarra guard Tyler Harvey provided some much-needed offence for his team with 19 points in a solid showing.

Adelaide 36ers (74) def. by Melbourne United (82)

Melbourne United made it two from two in the opening weekend of play after travelling to Adelaide Entertainment Centre to hand the 36ers an eight-point loss. In what was a tense contest for much of the match, United were simply too good down the stretch, going on a run in the fourth quarter that proved defining in the context of the game.

Melbourne veterans Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova were crucial for United, each pouring in 19 points and delivering some big plays for the winning side when it mattered most, showcasing the star power of the team. For Adelaide, experienced guard Jason Cadee had 18 points of his own as he continues to find his feet with the 36ers.

SEM Phoenix (110) def. Perth Wildcats (99)

A monstrous dunk from Phoenix forward Tyler Cook was the spark that guided his side to an 11-point win at John Cain Arena in the final game of the round on Sunday afternoon. With the Phoenix in danger of letting the game slip away, Cook produced a posterizing dunk on NBL Next Star Alexandre Sarr, prompting a push and shove between the two sides. Following the play, South East Melbourne went on an offensive tear, storming out to an offensive lead and holding off a late Perth fightback.

Cook was the star of the show for the Phoenix, producing 23 points and 10 rebounds in an immense double-double, while veteran Mitch Creek did his thing with 23 points of his own. For Perth, Ben Henshall did his thing with a game-high 24 points, proving a bright light on a tough day for the Wildcats.

Ladder

1. Brisbane Bullets (1-0)
2. Sydney Kings (1-0)
3. Melbourne United (2-0)
4. New Zealand Breakers (1-0)
5. South East Melbourne Phoenix (1-1)
6. Perth Wildcats (1-1)
7. Tasmania JackJumpers (0-1)
8. Cairns Taipans (0-1)
9. Adelaide 36ers (0-2)
10. Illawarra Hawks (0-1)