THE National Basketball League (NBL) continued its 2023/24 season over the weekend, with another batch of entertaining games taking place from Thursday to Sunday.

With the fixture now two rounds in, the state of play is becoming much clearer, although the amount of unbeaten teams was completely erased over the weekend, with the standings much closer given every side has lost at least one game.

There was drama aplenty, whether it be comeback wins, upsets or altercations in the tunnel at halftime. Undoubtedly, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the second round, as the NBL continues to firm on the global stage as one of the best.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be continuing our weekly series, where we take a look at how it all panned out and what the ladder looks like.

As It Stands

New Zealand Breakers (84) def. by Brisbane Bullets (89)

In a round that had upsets aplenty, the first came in the opening match of the round, as the Bullets produced a stunning road win over the Breakers on Thursday night. New Zealand has made Spark Arena a fortress of sorts over the past season, but the Bullets were unfazed, scraping home for a five-point win, with Chris Smith banking in a deep two-pointer to seal the result.

Veteran guard and NBL1 North Men’s MVP Nathan Sobey was the man of the moment for the Bullets, producing an impressive statline of 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his team’s win. The experienced campaigner has had an excellent start to the season and continued that against the Breakers. For New Zealand, import guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright kept his hot streak going with another 20-point performance

Cairns Taipans (87) def. SEM Phoenix (80)

The Taipans defended their home court tremendously, defeating the Phoenix by seven points at Cairns Convention Centre in the second of Thursday’s matches. Despite South East Melbourne coming into the game off the back of a strong win to close out Round 1, Cairns got the better of the visitors, slowly edging ahead as the game went on to claim a tense victory.

Import guard Patrick Miller was immense in Cairns’ win, posting a game-high 23 points in a crucial performance. Also catching the eye was NBL Next Star Bobi Klintman, who came off the bench to post the first double-double of his career. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds in a mature display that proved vital in the context of the match. Mitch Creek was the Phoenix’s best with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Tasmania JackJumpers (80) def. Sydney Kings (72)

In another slight upset to continue the unpredictable nature of the round, the JackJumpers lived up to their slogan and defended the Island to defeat the reigning champions by eight points at MyState Bank Arena on Friday night. A 30-21 second quarter was the difference as the home side exploded out to a double-digit lead, before locking things down in the final term to hold on for their first win of the 2023/24 fixture.

Star guard Milton Doyle was again at the forefront for Tasmania, delivering 21 points and three assists in a performance fans have come to expect from the understated import. For the Kings, Jaylen Adams was again the leader on the offensive end, posting 21 points and four assists as he looked to drag his side back into the contest.

Perth Wildcats (82) def. Adelaide 36ers (75)

Despite a late charge from its underdog opponent, Perth held on to claim a thrilling seven-point win at RAC Arena on Friday. The Wildcats seemingly had the game locked up, before Adelaide drew within one point late in the match. However, a pair of triples to NBL Next Star Alexandre Sarr sealed the game for the home side, who were driven to victory by a clutch showing from their young gun.

Three-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton top-scored for Perth with 19 points and five assists, as he looks to get back to his best after an inaccurate start to the season, while Sarr was not far behind with 16 and six rebounds in an exciting performance. Big man Isaac Humphries was Adelaide’s best with 18 points, producing an excellent post outing.

Illawarra Hawks (113) def. SEM Phoenix (106)

Another day, another upset as the Hawks got the better of the Phoenix at WIN Entertainment Centre to kick off Saturday’s action. The Hawks looked as dynamic as any side in the competition on the offensive end, and South East Melbourne simply could not get the defensive stops needed to hit the front late in the match, eventually falling by seven points in a high-scoring affair.

After missing basically all of last season through injury, Justin Robinson exploded back onto the scene with a statement performance against the Phoenix. He posted 26 points and seven assists, finally giving the Hawks an offensive option alongside Tyler Harvey, which has been a lingering issue for quite some time. New Phoenix recruit Will Cummings delivered his best performance since joining the team with a whopping 28 points.

Brisbane Bullets (86) def. by Cairns Taipans (89)

In the most heated clash of the season, the Taipans held on for a three-point triumph as the two Queensland sides locked horns on Saturday night. Cairns recorded its second win in a row, but the biggest story came at halftime, as an on-court altercation spilled into the tunnel at halftime, with star Brisbane big man Aron Baynes facing suspension. Despite the extracurricular activity, the Taipans will be thrilled to take home the chocolates in the Sunshine State.

Miller (21 points, five assists) and Klintman (19 points, six rebounds) were again the best for Cairns, and loom as crucial to the success of the team in 2023/24 after consecutive match-winning performances. Although his side fell short, Sobey was spectacular with 31 points in an elite display of shooting from the veteran.

Melbourne United (75) def. by Tasmania JackJumpers (80)

The playing field got a lot more even after United were handed their first loss of the season, falling to a determined JackJumpers side by five points. At John Cain Arena, Melbourne led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but Tasmania went on an 8-0 run to drag itself back into the contest, before Doyle willed his side over the line with a seriously clutch performance, as the JackJumpers finished the round unbeaten.

Doyle was the match-winner for Tassie, with 14 of his 25 points coming in the final term as Melbourne found itself overrun. A pair of clutch three-pointers not only got Tasmania back into contention, but also sunk United late in the fourth when the game was on the line. NBL Next Star Ariel Hukporti was Melbourne’s best with 15 points and seven rebounds in a promising outing.

Sydney Kings (109) def. Adelaide 36ers (100)

In the final game of the round, the 36ers’ late push fell short again as Sydney held on for a nine-point win at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. For the second game in a row, Adelaide left things too late as the Kings produced a terrific team performance to get back on the winners’ list after sustaining a loss earlier in the round. On the other hand, the 36ers are still searching for their first win despite some promising showings against quality opposition.

Despite flying under the radar at times, Jordan Hunter stole the show for the Kings in their second win of the season. He delivered a team-high 22 points to go with eight rebounds in an eye-catching performance from the 26-year-old. For the 36ers, Trey Kell III showed what he can do as a scorer, leading all-comers with 28 points in a losing effort. Adelaide has been yearning for offence and if he can become a number-one option, it will go a long way in solving this issue.

Ladder

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