How to watch & talking points: New Zealand v Cairns

New Zealand Breakers v Cairns Taipans
Wednesday, September 30, 5.30pm AEST
Spark Arena

>> Play Mega Rewards NBL Tipping for your chance to win cash

What is the Ignite Cup?

The in-season tournament is played across 20 Wednesday night games, with every result counting towards the regular season ladder. A unique quarter-by-quarter scoring system decides a separate Ignite Cup ladder.

For NBL27, the tournament evolves into a four-team Ignite Cup Finals Series at AIS Arena in Canberra. The teams will battle it out for a share of $550,000 in prize money, the largest in League history and up from last season's $400,000.

>> Ignite Cup, NBL27: Schedule, tickets, rules & more

How to watch

Watch every NBL27 game live on ESPN.

>> How to watch ESPN

Tickets

>> Ticketing information

How to follow & live scores

Live scores, stats, breaking news and game highlights are available via the free NBL App.

>> Visit Game Centre | Download the free NBL App

Rosters

New Zealand

Expected depth chart:
PG: Jackson-Cartwright (IP) / Le Gassick / Evans Jr. (DP)
SG: Vasiljevic / Le'Afa / Cooper (DP) / King (NRP)
SF: James (IP) (out) / Davison / Te Rangi / Chunga (DP)
PF: Mennenga / Noi / Robinson (DP)
C: Bediako (IP) / Rissetto

Cairns

Expected depth chart:
PG: J.Brown (IP) / Paul (NS) (test) / Bruce / Nunn (DP)
SG: J.Galloway (out) / Smith / L.McVeigh (DP)
SF: Lewis (IP) / Dech / W.Brown
PF: J.McVeigh / K.Galloway / Williamson (NRP)
C: Pinder / Bolden / Yates (DP)

Read more >> Ignite Cup, NBL27: Schedule, tickets, rules & more

Missing in action

New Zealand

Josiah-Jordan James - Hamstring - Round 5-7

Cairns

Jaylin Galloway - Shoulder - Round 6
Luke Paul - Ankle - Test

>> View full injury list

Talking points

Title defence starts now

The New Zealand Breakers created history last season by claiming their first-ever Ignite Cup title, defeating Adelaide in the Final on the Gold Coast.

Now, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Sam Mennenga and co. start the defence of their crown, as the Breakers attempt to get their Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season rolling.

In front of their Spark Arena faithful, expect a much-improved Breakers outfit, as they look to become the first team to successfully win two straight in-season tournaments.

Searching for offence

With two of their creators, Jaylin Galloway and Luke Paul, sidelined, the Taipans have struggled to score the ball in NBL27.

Adam Forde's side currently ranks equal-last in points per game (84), with a big part of that due to their inability to get to the free-throw line (10th at 11 attempts per game) and points in the paint (10th at 33.3).

So it's on the likes of Jack McVeigh, Keanu Pinder and Jaylon Brown to get their feet in the paint and not settle for jump shots, as the Taipans try to spark their offence.

h