A weekly stats update from around the iiNet NBL Championship.
Player season stats – click here
League stats leaders – click here
Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne Tigers
Thursday 21 February – 7:00PM (local time)
Perth Arena, Perth
Tickets: Click here
TV: NBL.TV
Twitter: #NBLPERMEL
Head-to-Head Record
All-time record: 95 games played overall, Tigers 39 wins, Wildcats 56 wins
At Perth: 47 games played, Tigers 15 wins, Wildcats 32 wins
This season: Perth defeated Melbourne 74-65 at Melbourne in Round 3
Perth defeated Melbourne 73-58 at Perth in Round 14
Perth defeated Melbourne 83-79 at Melbourne in Round 19
Perth
- This will be the second consecutive round the Wildcats will play two games in a week, facing Melbourne and Sydney in Round 20.
- Perth shot 13-of-24 from beyond the arc in the win over Melbourne in Round 19, with Rhys Carter draining 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
- The Wildcats were comprehensively beaten by the Tigers on the glass 36-21, one of the rare occasions they have been outrebounded this season.
Melbourne
- The Tigers have won four of their past five games, with Jonny Flynn on court architect, averaging 20.6 points and 6.6 assists.
- Turnovers have been a problem for the Tigers throughout the season, averaging 14.2 – second only to Cairns.
- Melbourne will be looking to avoid the season sweep against Perth after losing their three previous encounters by an average margin of 9.3 points.
Key Stat
The Wildcats are 8-1 at the Perth Arena, with an average winning margin of 16.2 points.
Cairns Taipans vs Townsville Crocodiles
Friday 15 February – 7:30PM (local time)
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns
Tickets: Click here
TV: NBL.TV
Twitter: #NBLCNSTSV
Head-to-Head Record
All-time record: 49 games played overall, Crocs 30 wins, Taipans 19 wins
At Cairns: 23 games played, Crocs 8 wins, Taipans 15 wins
This season: Cairns defeated Townsville 84-72 at Cairns in Round 1
Cairns defeated Townsville 92-80 at Townsville in Round 5
Townsville defeated Cairns 111-108 at Townsville in Round 18
Cairns
- Cairns shot the ball at 48.1% from the field and 44.1% from beyond the arc in their double-overtime loss to Townsville in Round 18, well above their season marks of 43% and 39% respectively.
- The Taipans had 14 fewer shots (77 to 91) in the defeat, but still pushed the game to two extra periods.
- Cairns have the worst home record in the NBL, winning just three of their 10 home games.
Townsville
- The Crocs lost both their Round 19 games to Wollongong and Perth by a combined total 52 points.
- The shooting stocks plummeted in the two defeats, hitting 40-of-116 at 34.5%
- Townsville are a league-worst 2-8 away from the Townsville Entertainment Centre.
Key Stat
The 111-108 double overtime clash between the Taipans and Crocs was the highest scoring game of the NBL season.
Wollongong Hawks vs Adelaide 36ers
Friday 15 February - 7:30PM (local time)
WIN Entertainment Centre, New Zealand
Tickets: Click here
TV: ONE & NBL.TV
Twitter: #NBLWOLADE
Head-to-Head Record
All-time record: 89 games played overall, Hawks 35 wins, 36ers 54 wins
At Wollongong: 45 games played, 36ers 20 wins, Hawks 25 wins
This season: Wollongong defeated Adelaide 77-63 at Adelaide in Round 4
Wollongong defeated Adelaide 86-76 at Adelaide in Round 17
Wollongong
- The Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a crushing win over Townsville in Round 19, outscoring the Crocs 59-41 after the first quarter.
- Oscar Forman was automatic from beyond the arc, hitting 6-of-7 on his way to 22 points.
- Adris “2Hard 2Guard” Deleon had a round to remember, dumping 61 points in the two games – loss to New Zealand and win over Townsville.
Adelaide
- Adelaide ended a five-game winless run thanks to a gutsy 71-68 road win over Cairns, just their third road win of the season.
- Despite a poor 3-of-13 from the field, Daniel Johnson still finished with 17 points thanks to 11-of-12 shooting from the free throw line.
- The 36ers perimeter defence restricted the Taipans to just 1-of-20 from the three-point line.
Key Stat
In their two meetings, Wollongong have claimed two road wins on the back of 48.8% shooting - above their season mark of 43%.
Sydney Kings vs Perth Wildcats
Sunday 24 February – 2:00PM (local time)
Kingdome, Sydney
Tickets: Click here
TV: TEN & NBL.TV
Twitter: #NBLSYDPER
Head-to-Head Record
All-time record: 64 games played overall, Kings 30 wins, Wildcats 34 wins
At Sydney: 29 games played, Kings 9 wins, Wildcats 20 wins
This season: Perth defeated Sydney 75-56 at Perth in Round 9
Perth defeated Sydney 95-61 at Sydney in Round 12
Sydney
- The Kings have struggled in their two meetings with Perth, going down by an average margin of 22.5 points.
- Ian Crosswhite was back to his best against Cairns in Round 19, putting up 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 10 rebounds.
- Sydney hasn’t won since January 5 back in Round 13.
Perth
- Only New Zealand (1623) have attempted more shots than the Wildcats (1570) in the NBL this season.
- While Perth are getting shots up, they are only of only three teams who have not reached the 400 free throw mark (393).
- Perth have a 76-63 advantage on the boards over Sydney in their two games this season.
Key Stat
Sydney have committed 41 turnovers in their two blow-out losses to the Wildcats this season.