THE TOP six sides of the National Basketball League (NBL) have locked in a postseason appearance after the 2024/25 regular season came to an end over the weekend.
The 20th and final round of play saw some crucial results shape the ladder heading into the finals, with the action coming down to the last match of the season.
It all started on Friday night, with the Illawarra Hawks defeating the Sydney Kings to prevent the latter from moving up to fourth spot and getting a double-chance in the play-in tournament. Despite top spot already being locked in by the Hawks, Illawarra was simply too good at WIN Entertainment Centre, denying what would have been a crucial result for Sydney given how other results panned out.
Also on Friday was a cracking contest between the Perth Wildcats and the Adelaide 36ers, which saw a Bryce Cotton masterclass lead the home side to a vital victory at RAC Arena. Cotton just about cemented a fifth MVP award with 49 points against the Sixers, keeping the door open for a move into the top two by Saturday night.
That did not eventuate however, with Melbourne United securing a win in the Throwdown against the SEM Phoenix to cement second spot. The final game of the regular season was arguably the most important for United, with the Wildcats looking to take their top-two spot. However, Melbourne got the job done, storming home in the final term to snag a 10-point win and earn a spot in the semi-final.
The postseason begins on Tuesday night, when the Wildcats and the Phoenix face off for a spot in the semi-finals, with the loser to face the winner of Thursday night’s elimination clash between the Kings and the Sixers. With every side making their case when it comes to championship hopes, the NBL25 postseason is set to be as close as we have ever seen.
NBL25 Ladder
1. Illawarra Hawks (20-9)
2. Melbourne United (19-10)
3. Perth Wildcats (18-11)
4. South East Melbourne Phoenix (16-13)
5. Sydney Kings (16-13)
6. Adelaide 36ers (13-16)
7. Tasmania JackJumpers (13-16)
8. Brisbane Bullets (12-17)
9. New Zealand Breakers (10-19)
10. Cairns Taipans (8-21)
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