NBL Ignite Cup: Where it stands

The Hungry Jack's NBL26 Season will restart on Wednesday night, when the New Zealand Breakers host the Sydney Kings in Hamilton.

This is the first of just 11 remaining Wednesday night fixtures in the first ever Hungry Jack's NBL Ignite Cup, presented by Disney+, the NBL's in-season tournament, where all teams compete for the competition's largest ever prize pool ($400,000).

Four of those fixtures belong to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, who are yet to take part in the competition.

But the remaining nine teams have all had a taste of the historic competition, which will culminate with the Final on Sunday, February 22 on the Gold Coast.

Before the action tips off, we've decided to examine where the Ignite Cup stands at the end of the FIBA Break.

How the scoring system works:

• Three (3) points is awarded to the Club that wins the game.
• One (1) point is awarded to the Club who scores the most points in each quarter.
• Half (0.5) a point is awarded to both Clubs if both Clubs score the same number of points in a quarter.
• Zero (0) points are awarded if a Club scores the least points in a quarter or loses the game.
• The maximum number of points available to a Club who wins the game is seven (7) - four (4) points for winning each quarter and three (3) points for winning the game.
• The maximum number of points available to a Club who loses a game is three (3) points - three (3) points for winning three (3) quarters.
• If a game goes to overtime, no further points are awarded other than the three (3) points for winning the game.

Ladder as it stands

Remaining Games (team by team)

Adelaide 36ers: Sydney Kings at AIS Arena (December 17), Cairns Taipans at Adelaide Entertainment Centre (December 24) and Brisbane Bullets at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre (January 28).

Brisbane Bullets: Melbourne United at Red Energy Arena (January 7) and Adelaide 36ers at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre (January 28).

Cairns Taipans: Adelaide 36ers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre (December 24), South East Melbourne Phoenix at Cairns Convention Centre (December 31) and Melbourne United at Red Energy Arena (January 7).

Illawarra Hawks: Tasmania JackJumpers at WIN Entertainment Centre (December 31).

Melbourne United: Cairns Taipans at Red Energy Arena (January 7) and Brisbane Bullets at Red Energy Arena (January 21).

New Zealand Breakers: Sydney Kings at Claudelands Arena (December 3) and South East Melbourne Phoenix at State Basketball Centre (January 21).

Perth Wildcats: South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena (January 28).

South East Melbourne Phoenix: Tasmania JackJumpers at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (December 10), Cairns Taipans at Cairns Convention Centre (December 31), New Zealand Breakers at State Basketball Centre (January 21) and Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena (January 28).

Sydney Kings: New Zealand Breakers at Claudelands Arena (December 3) and Adelaide 36ers at AIS Arena (December 17).

Tasmania JackJumpers: South East Melbourne Phoenix at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium (December 10) and Illawarra Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre (December 31).

Outlook

Sitting on top of the table, with two wins and 13 points to their names, are the New Zealand Breakers. Mix in the fact that they have won seven quarters and positive points differential (+58), the Breakers could all but secure a spot in the inaugural decider with victory over Sydney on Wednesday. Having already won the CODE Sports NBL Blitz trophy, could Petteri Koponen's side secure the first two pieces of silverware on offer this season?

On the flip-side of Wednesday's clash in Hamilton, Brian Goorjian's Kings are desperate for a win, after dropping their opening two fixtures to Melbourne and Tasmania. Another defeat would eliminate them from contention in this year's in-season tournament.

The other team that's in a precarious position is Illawarra, who are only on eight points after playing three games. The reigning champions would need a massive win against Tasmania in their final game, plus a lot of results to go their way, for them to even have a chance in qualifying for the final.

While they have already played three games, the Wildcats are in a solid position to date, with 13 points to their name. Even though they don't hit the Ignite Cup floor again until the final game of the tournament (January 28 vs Phoenix), John Rillie's team are well and truly in grand final mix.

Joining them are Brisbane, Tasmania and Melbourne (who have all split their two matches) and the 1-0 36ers, while the Phoenix have all four of their fixtures up their sleeves.

Finally, the Taipans may be 0-1 thus far in the competition but if they win all three of their remaining games, they'll catapult themselves into the conversation for the decider.