Ignite Cup standings: Can anyone catch the Breakers?

The New Zealand Breakers are sitting pretty at the top of the Ignite Cup standings, claiming their third straight win in the NBL’s in-season tournament.

With every quarter counting towards the standings, the Breakers have won nine quarters in all across their three victories, taking their tally to 18 points.

They’re five clear of the Perth Wildcats, albeit with John Rillie’s side having a game in hand.

The Brisbane Bullets sit in third place, with eight points from their two games, while the Illawarra Hawks (eight points, two games), Tasmania JackJumpers (seven points, two games) and Melbourne United (seven points, two games) all have some work to do in their remaining games.

It’s a wide-open race to be part of the final on the Gold Coast on Sunday, February 22, with Adelaide and Cairns having only played one game, and the Phoenix yet to open their account.

The Sydney Kings are the only team out of the race for the $400,000 in cash, having lost all three of their games so far, making it mathematically impossible for them to advance.

South East Melbourne hosts its first Ignite Cup fixture next Wednesday against the JackJumpers in Gippsland, with tip-off from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.