ROUND 10 of the National Basketball League (NBL) commences on Friday night as Melbourne United search for their first win in three games and Perth look to steal top spot. The excitement does not stop there as New Zealand Breakers and Brisbane Bullets go head-to-head after the exit of Lamar Patterson.

Sydney Kings vs. Melbourne United
Friday, March 19 @ 7:30pm

Still clinging to top spot, United will be hoping to get back on the winners list after a disappointing couple of outings. Currently on a three game losing streak Melbourne are in desperate need of a win if they are to retain the mantle and create ladder separation between them and Perth, with the Wildcats quickly closing in. First they will have to overcome Sydney who have a checkered history heading into the clash, winning two of their past five games. Both sides have a lot to play for as the Kings look to make a challenge for top four and United look to solidify their standings.

Melbourne United will be looking to ever-reliable Chris Goulding to lead from the front with the captain able to hit the scoreboard with relative ease and rack up the assists. His average of 17.5 points a game alongside the output of Jock Landale (16.8 points) will be an area the Kings look to stop. Landale is also a force to behold off the boards with 7.93 as teammates Mitch McCarron and Yudai Baba have also effectively chimed in throughout the season and will once again need to have an influence to get their side over the line.

For the Kings it is hard to go past livewire Casper Ware who is a steady stream of points averaging 20.47 per game along with 3.53 rebounds and 4.27 assists. Although Ware is the main facilitator he gets a wealth of support from the likes of Dejan Vasilijevic (17.87 points, 3.47 rebounds and 1.87 assists) and Jarell Martin (17.44 points, 6.33 rebounds and 1.11 assists). The trio will need to be at their damaging best if they are to upset United.

Perth Wildcats vs. Cairns Taipans
Friday, March 19 @ 9:30pm

The Wildcats have enjoyed a recent run of hot form and up against the last placed Cairns Taipans could extend their winning streak to four games straight. Hot on the heels of Melbourne, a win here could see the reigning premiers overtake United and steal top spot if everything falls into place. Perth are playing with a renewed sense of confidence and belief while the Taipans are struggling to build any form of offensive pressure an area the Wildcats will be looking to exploit in their clash.

Led by Bryce Cotton, the Wildcats will look to attack the rim and post a commanding score with the guard averaging a competition high of a 25.23 points. It does not stop there for Cotton with the star accumulating 2.92 rebounds and 6.38 assists a game. John Mooney has had a season to remember boasting averages of 17.54 points, 11.77 rebounds and a steal while captain Todd Blanchfield is a reliable avenue for the side. others to keep an eye out for throughout the clash include Jesse Wagstaff and Mitchell Norton.

The damaging duo of Cameron Oliver and Scott Machado will be the ones the Wildcats will need to stop if they are to topple Cairns. The pair are able to inflict scoreboard pain averaging 17 and 17.88 points respectively while Oliver is strong off the boards with 9.19 rebounds and Machado a menace with ball in hand registering 8.13 assists. Majok Deng and Kouat Noi are also not to be underestimated for the Taipans.

South East Melbourne Phoenix vs. Adelaide 36ers
Saturday, March 20 @ 5:30pm

The battle between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Adelaide 36ers is set to be a tantalising one as they look to keep their respective seasons alive. The Phoenix are currently secure in fourth spot having won three consecutive games while the 36ers have dropped down the ladder since the absence of Isaac Humphries. However the Phoenix are not without injury concerns of their own as a number of key cogs will be missing, meaning Adelaide could be in with a shot to overrun their opponents and kickstart the back-half of their season.

Captain Mitch Creek will not take the court this round meaning South East Melbourne will have to look to others to pave the way in this challenge – cue NBA recruit Ryan Broekhoff who despite only playing limited minutes in his first outing is more than capable of taking the reins and leading the charge. Kyle Adnam has made a name for himself throughout the 2021 season and will need to step up to the plate in this contest averaging 14.5 points, two rebounds and four assists. The influence of Cam Gliddon and Yannik Wetzell will be crucial for the Phoenix to get the win.

Daniel Johnson has been a reliable figure for Adelaide managing 20.35 points, 6.94 rebounds and 3.06 assists a game. Rookie, Josh Giddey has been a revelation, yet to skip a beat and will be a likely candidate to impress given his 10.69 point average which accompanies his 6.44 rebounds and team-high 6.56 assists. Tony Crocker is another one to watch out for thanks to his 10.76 points a game.

Brisbane Bullets vs. New Zealand Breakers
Saturday, March 20 @ 8:00pm

There will be no love lost between these two sides with personnel changes aplenty as Lamar Patterson departed the club and subsequently joined the old firm, Brisbane Bullets for the remainder of the season. That aside, and it has been a challenging season for the Breakers given they only have four wins to their name while Brisbane have doubled their record with eight. Teetering on a top four position the Bullets will be eager to put a stop to the fast starting New Zealand side and claim some early ascendancy to mount a chance to pressure the top four.

The combination of Nathan Sobey and Victor Law will be the one the Breakers will be concerned about with the pair able to shoot with ease and cause all sorts of scoreboard trouble. Sobey leads the team for points scored with 24.33 to his name alongside 3.47 rebounds and 4.33 assists while Law is also prolific thanks to his 19.6 points and 8.27 rebounds. Matthew Hodgson has been a key contributor throughout the season as has Anthony Drmic and Jason Cadee all of which will be aiming to get on the scoreboard again.

Unfortunately Corey Webster will be missing for the Breakers leaving a big hole to fill for the New Zealand outfit with brother Tai Webster likely to further shoulder the load. Tai Webster tops the side for points with 20.08 to his name while also collecting 5.31 rebounds and 5.62 assists. Finn Delany is another focal point for the Breakers producing 13.62 points and 6.32 rebounds.

Other games:

Melbourne United vs. Illawarra Hawks
Sunday, March 21 @ 3:00pm

Sydney Kings vs. Cairns Taipans
Sunday, March 21 @ 5:00pm

Perth Wildcats vs. Adelaide 36ers
Monday, March 22 @ 9:30pm

The Hawks will play their first and only game against Melbourne United in what is set to be a scintillating matchup given the standings of the two sides. An extended break could do Illawarra a wealth of good while United will have to back up having played Friday night. The Hawks will look to Tyler Harvey and Justinian Jessup to lead the charge once again with the star duo proving too hot to handle averaging 20.6 and 14.53 points respectively a game. other contributors such as Cameron Bairstow and Sam Froling will have to bring their a-game if they are to overcome the higher ranked United.

Perth could knock Melbourne off their perch if they register two wins and United do not while the Kings will be eager to assert themselves on the lowly Taipans.