How to watch & talking points: Sydney v New Zealand

Sydney Kings v New Zealand Breakers
Wednesday, October 14, 7:30pm AEDT
AIS Arena, Canberra

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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

Sydney

Expected depth chart:
PG: Davis (IP) / Johnston / Hanson (DP)
SG: Maluach / Robertson / Stone / Dellavedova (out)
SF: Craig (IP) / Bofinger (NRP)
PF: Cooks / Machar (DP)
C: Carr (IP/NRP) / Wessels / Spurgin / Leaupepe (out)

New Zealand

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

Missing in action

Sydney

Matthew Dellavedova - Calf - Round 7
Keli Leaupepe - ACL - Season

New Zealand

Parker Jackson-Cartwright - Lower Leg - TBC
Josiah-Jordan James - Hamstring - Round 5-7
Preston Le Gassick - Neck - TBC
Nelson Weidemann - Unavailable - TBC

>> View full injury list

Talking points

Davis looks to bounce back

Kendric Davis had scored 20 or more points in 21 straight games before that run came to an end against Adelaide.

He was held to 16 points on 6/19 shooting, including 1/8 from three-point range, as Sydney suffered its first loss of NBL27.

Now the Kings are also without Matthew Dellavedova, who dished out 6 assists in just 20 minutes, with the veteran guard sidelined until Round 7 with a calf injury.

That leaves even more of the ball-handling and playmaking load on Davis, with Will Johnston set to step up behind him.

After an emotional week that started with a late flare-up with Bryce Cotton on Sunday and spilled onto social media, the reigning champions’ superstar is sure to respond strongly.

Mennenga can’t do it alone

Sam Mennenga said in August that “the best version of me is the MVP”, and in Round 4 he looked every bit of it.

With Parker Jackson-Cartwright sidelined, the Breakers big scored 40 points, to go with 18 rebounds and 5 assists against Perth, becoming the first player in Breakers history to post 40 and 18 in a game.

But it ultimately wasn't enough. With Jackson-Cartwright, Preston Le Gassick and Josiah-Jordan James all out, and new signing Nelson Weidemann yet to join the group, New Zealand needs more than one man against the defending champions.

The likes of Dejan Vasiljevic and Kouat Noi will have to carry more of thescoring load if Gordon Herbert’s side is to be any chance on Wednesday night.