Surprise road wins. One-point heartbreakers. A perfect shooting night that swung a heavyweight clash. Round Six gave us everything, and we’re walking you through the decisive quarters, the tactical wrinkles, and the players who shaped the scoreboard when it mattered most.
We kick off with Cairns’ mounting problems against a ruthless Perth side that turned defensive rebounds into runway offence. From there, the scene shifts to Auckland where New Zealand blitzed early only to watch Brisbane recalibrate after half-time and close with poise. Phoenix then showed why they belong near the top, spacing Sydney apart while Nathan Selby steered the pace and punished soft closeouts. Melbourne United kept their rhythm against Cairns with disciplined possessions and smart shot selection—proof that tidy basketball travels.
The weekend flipped again as Phoenix poured in another 100-plus on Brisbane, and Illawarra silenced Perth’s jungle with a gutsy one-point win built on interior presence and late-game execution. Sunday tightened further: Adelaide nicked United thanks to Jesse Edwards’ 10-of-10 masterclass, and the JackJumpers edged Sydney behind relentless defence and superior shot quality down the stretch. Across these games, a pattern emerges—win the glass, protect third quarters, and have two clean counters ready for late-clock pressure. The teams that did those three things banked points and belief.
If you’re tracking form lines, Phoenix’s depth looks real, United’s habits remain elite, and Tasmania’s composure is no accident. Brisbane showed resilience on the road, Perth’s ceiling is high but vulnerable to strong interiors, and Cairns need leadership at guard and an anchor inside. We’ve got the key stats, quarter-by-quarter momentum shifts, and our player-of-the-game picks for every matchup. Hit play, ride the swings, and then tell us who sits on your contender line this week. If you enjoyed the breakdown, follow, share with a mate, and leave a quick review—your support helps us bring more NBL stories to your feed.
