11 ROUNDS into the 2024/25 National Basketball League (NBL) season the remainder of the finals race remains as intriguing as ever after another exciting batch of games.

Over the weekend, there were some vital results that shook up the standings and made the battle for a top-six spot much more interesting. Several games resulted in upsets and further demonstrated how even the competition is and no win is guaranteed.

As is the case every week, Rookie Me Central will be providing a game-by-game rundown of the weekend’s action and how it has affected the race for the finals.

New Zealand Breakers (70) def. by Melbourne United (97)

United got some revenge for a heavy loss earlier in the season, defeating the Breakers by 27 points at Wolfbrook Arena on Thursday evening. First it was New Zealand getting a big win over United in Melbourne a month ago, but this time, the ladder-leaders came far more prepared, and snagged an important result without star guard Chris Goulding. The win was built on the back of a 24-7 third term that gave United an unassailable lead to send a statement to the rest of the NBL.

Big man Robert Loe celebrated his return to New Zealand with an emphatic performance, posting 25 points on 10/16 shooting from the field, backing up his 30-point outing earlier this season. The veteran threw down a big dunk in the fourth term to cap off another excellent showing in Dean Vickerman‘s system. Also performing strongly was Jack White, who furthered his case for the MVP award with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

NZL	24	19	7	20	70
MEL	28	18	24	27	97

Top performers:
Rob Loe (MEL) – 25 points, three rebounds, three assists
Jack White (MEL) – 16 points, 10 rebounds, two assists

Tasmania JackJumpers (99) def. Cairns Taipans (90)

The JackJumpers continued their surge up the standings, this time defeating the Taipans by nine points at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night. A battle between two of the lowest scoring teams this season ended up being a high-scoring affair, and it was Tassie that emerged victorious on the back of some big shots down the stretch. The Taipans certainly fought hard to stay in the contest, but the JackJumpers were clinical in the final minutes of the match.

The difference between the two teams was ultimately the performance of Will Magnay, who dominated the paint and stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 13 rebounds (nine offensive), two assists, two steals and two blocks as the Olympian showed the impact of his presence in the low block. His teammate in Milton Doyle was also solid, posting 21 points and eight assists, looking to fire from behind the three-point line wherever possible.

TAS	31	21	23	24	99
CNS	30	24	19	17	90

Top performers:
Will Magnay (TAS) – 18 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks
Milton Doyle (TAS) – 21 points, eight assists

Brisbane Bullets (102) def. Adelaide 36ers (83)

The Bullets secured a much-needed win at home, besting an undermanned Sixers team to the tune of 19 points at Nissan Arena on Friday night. Adelaide was missing three of its best players in Montrezl Harrell, Kendric Davis (both suspended) and Dejan Vasiljevic (hamstring), allowing Brisbane to get the upper hand on the offensive end. The Bullets posted 34 points in the first quarter to snatch a double-digit lead and the hosts never looked back from there.

Returning to the lineup, big man Tyrell Harrison was immense, posting a huge double-double of 19 points and 18 rebounds on 8/10 shooting from the field. He was at his best on the rebounding front, and returned to his form from the Blitz tournament in September. Also catching the eye was Casey Prather, who had a whopping 33 points on a ridiculously accurate 14/17 shooting in a tremendous offensive display.

BRI	34	19	22	27	102
ADL	24	23	17	19	83

Top performers:
Tyrell Harrison (BRI) – 19 points, 18 rebounds
Casey Prather (BRI) – 33 points, five rebounds

Perth Wildcats (111) def. by Illawarra Hawks (121)

Despite a 40-piece from Bryce Cotton, the Hawks managed to break the Wildcats’ winning streak with a 10-point triumph at RAC Arena on Friday night. In Perth’s last game at RAC Arena until January 17, it was the visitors who stood tall late to outscore the Wildcats by 13 in the final term and record a gutsy road win. Illawarra’s potent offence was at its best on Friday, and the Wildcats ended up falling in an extremely high-scoring clash.

For the Hawks, Trey Kell III stood tall and did a bit of everything with 26 points, four rebounds and five assists to lead a balanced performance from Illawarra. Fresh off a 59-point performance five days earlier, Cotton was again outstanding, posting 40 points, four rebounds and four assists to storm to favouritism in the MVP award.

PER	30	23	38	20	111
ILL	29	26	33	33	121

Top performers:
Trey Kell III (ILL) – 26 points, four rebounds, five assists
Bryce Cotton (PER) – 40 points, four rebounds, four assists

New Zealand Breakers (83) def. by Sydney Kings (98)

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Breakers of late, sustaining yet another loss, this time at the hands of the Kings at TSB Arena on Saturday evening. The Kings were exceptional on the road with a 15-point win, finally playing to their potential and looking every bit the championship contender many expected them to be after a busy offseason. It was yet another double-digit loss for the Breakers, who have been seriously out of form since the international break and are desperate to get back on the winners’ list.

It was the former NBL MVPs that got the job done for the Kings, with Jaylen Adams and Xavier Cooks both delivering standout performances for the Kings. Adams delivered 20 points and eight assists while Cooks posted 20 points of his own as the duo tormented New Zealand’s defence and showed how difficult Sydney is to stop when this duo is fit and firing.

NZL	14	26	15	28	83
SYD	25	27	25	21	98

Top performers:
Jaylen Adams (SYD) – 20 points, eight assists
Xavier Cooks (SYD) – 20 points, three assists

SEM Phoenix (99) def. Cairns Taipans (94)

In a game of ebbs and flows, it was the Phoenix who got the last little bit of momentum, storming home in the fourth to defeat the Taipans by five points at John Cain Arena on Saturday night. Both teams had scoring runs throughout the match, and South East Melbourne actually trailed by seven points in the fourth quarter, but stepped up when it mattered most to overrun the Taipans and secure an impressive home victory against a gutsy opponent.

Veteran guard Nathan Sobey top-scored for the match with 26 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals as he looked to keep South East Melbourne in the contest by putting up plenty of shots. Also playing a key role for the Phoenix was Matt Hurt, who posted a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Rob Edwards was the Taipans’ best with another high-scoring performance of 24 points.

SEM	39	24	12	24	99
CNS	28	22	32	12	94

Top performers:
Nathan Sobey (SEM) – 26 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals
Matt Hurt (SEM) – 19 points, 14 rebounds

Melbourne United (114) def. by Brisbane Bullets (122)

In one of the upsets of the season, the Bullets managed to pull off a remarkable result, defeating United by eight points at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon. In yet another high-scoring clash, the Bullets produced their best offensive showing of the season, matching it with Melbourne over the first three quarters before breaking away in the final minutes of the match to make it two from two over the course of the round.

Brisbane’s win was set up on the back of a magnificent showing from its starters, with four of those five players scoring 25 points or more to carry the team to victory. Prather (27 points), Keandre Cook (27 points), Harrison (25 points) and James Batemon (25 points) were all superb and all four players shot over 60 per cent from the field in a tremendous offensive performance from the team’s big names.

MEL	28	29	30	27	114
BRI	28	29	31	34	122

Top performers:
Casey Prather (BRI) – 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists
Keandre Cook (BRI) – 27 points, six rebounds, five assists

Adelaide 36ers (105) def. by Perth Wildcats (115)

Cotton’s historic run continued in the final game of the round, breaking away for clear MVP favoritism to lead his Wildcats to a 10-point win over the Sixers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday afternoon. Adelaide got Davis back in a huge boost to the team’s chances, and also hosted a venue they had won every game at for two years until a streak-breaking loss last weekend. Now, the Sixers have lost two home games in a row, but put up a brave fight against a seriously in-form Wildcats outfit that boasts a superstar at the top of his game.

After dropping 59 and 40 points in his last two games, Cotton ensured his unstoppable offensive run resumed against Adelaide, posting another 49 points to show he is unmatched on the scoring front despite copping as much defensive attention as ever. He shot 14/21 from the field and a perfect 16/16 from the free throw line, putting himself in the conversation as the best import the NBL has ever seen. Cotton’s performance may have overshadowed Davis’ showing of 37 points, five rebounds and 11 assists, but it was still vital in keeping Adelaide in the match.

ADL	32	28	22	23	105
PER	29	25	25	36	115

Top performers:
Bryce Cotton (PER) – 49 points, five rebounds, four assists
Kendric Davis (ADL) – 37 points, five rebounds, 11 assists