Top two teams lose in NBL

The top two teams have lost to the bottom two in a round of NBL upsets that has left New Zealand struggling to defend their title.

What is going on in the NBL?

The top two teams lost to the bottom two over the weekend, while New Zealand's prospects of a fourth straight title, and even making the finals, have dipped after a narrow loss to one of their major rivals for a top-four place.

The oft-used, but rarely accurate, sporting cliche about any team beating any other on any given day really does stand up in the NBL.

Ladder leaders Perth (16-6) stumbled for the third time in four games, losing 88-75 at Townsville (7-13) on Friday, despite a game-high 24 points from Jesse Wagstaff.

Perth led by nine in the third quarter, but were steamrolled 26-9 in the final term.

Guard Steve Markovic scored 24 points in the Crocs 90-82 away win over Cairns (9-13) on Saturday.

The Crocs hit 11 three-pointers to four as they stretched their winning run to three.

The upsets continued on Sunday, as second-placed Adelaide (13-7) crashed 102-80 at Wollongong (7-13).

The 36ers had the two highest scorers in Adam Gibson and Daniel Johnson, with 21 and 19 points respectively, but were buried by an avalanche of 15 three-pointers from the Hawks, with seven different players hitting long bombs.

The Breakers (8-12) are stuck in sixth place after losing 98-96 away to the Kings on Saturday, despite a round-high 33 points from Gary Wilkinson.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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