Starting 5: Critical clashes, Silverdome hoodoo & rising pressures

This exciting seven-game slate features one massive Ignite Cup clash in Brisbane, a blockbuster clash in Sydney and a huge milestone for a Wildcat.

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All the action tips off on Wednesday night with Brisbane hosting Perth at Nissan Arena from 8pm AEDT, live on ESPN.

Pete Hooley takes a look at some of the key storylines ahead of Round 8.

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The full schedule

Brisbane Bullets v Perth Wildcats - Wednesday, November 4, 8pm AEDT - Nissan Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Cairns Taipans v Illawarra Hawks - Thursday, November 5, 7.30pm AEDT - Cairns Convention Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers - Friday, November 6, 7.30pm AEDT - Silverdome
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Adelaide 36ers v Illawarra Hawks - Saturday, November 7, 5.30pm AEDT - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN, 9Go! and 9Now | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Melbourne United v Brisbane Bullets - Saturday, November 7, 7.30pm AEDT - John Cain Arena
Watch: ESPN, 9Go! and 9Now | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Sydney Kings v South East Melbourne Phoenix - Sunday, November 8, 3pm AEDT - Afterpay Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Perth Wildcats v Cairns Taipans - Sunday, November 8, 5pm AEDT - RAC Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Talking points

1 – Big opportunity

Wednesday night’s Ignite Cup game between the Brisbane Bullets and Perth Wildcats is a big opportunity for both teams and for very different reasons.

The Bullets went down to Adelaide last round and came away with a fairly convincing win, even without some key pieces available thanks to injury.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, stumbled at home, dropping two straight and are left looking for answers.

Can Perth get back on track for the rare away game in the first half of the season? Or will Brisbane keep building steadily?

2 – Don’t look back

For Illawarra Hawks fans, last weekend’s win in Perth was not only much needed, it was a display of the good basketball that this team can play and that should give them plenty of confidence going forward.

However, we have seen this already this season when the team went into Melbourne and beat United a few weeks back and couldn’t follow it up the following round.

The Hawks have a big road double, starting in Cairns and then finishing in Adelaide and it’s a huge opportunity for them to get their season back on track.

3 – Silverdome watch

There’s no sugar-coating it, the Tasmania JackJumpers just can’t seem to get a win at the Silverdome for whatever reason you can think of.

Scott Roth isn’t buying into any of the excuses in terms of shooting efficiency or the team coming out slow in games, but the JackJumpers face a wary New Zealand team who is looking to stop their four-game losing skid.

As the Breakers look for consistency in their play, perhaps this matchup for Tasmania in Launceston has come at the perfect time to fix their 2-9 record in the Silverdome.

4 – Pressure gauge, high

There’s no such thing as a must-win game this early in the season, but if there was, then Adelaide’s home game against the Illawarra Hawks is as close as you’ll get.

For a team that many predicted to win it all this season, they are still looking to find their identity under Trevor Gleeson and their loss on Sunday to an injury-riddled Brisbane was far from ideal.

The 36ers are still waiting for some stars to return in Flynn Cameron and Bul Kuol, but for now they have to figure it out with what they have and get back on track.

5 – Flying under the radar… again

It’s not often that you would say a reigning champion is flying under the radar, but the Sydney Kings seem to be doing just that once again.

It is very similar to what happened last season for Brian Goorjian’s team, who just kept slowly building after a slow start to NBL26 and then finished with a flurry and ended up holding the trophy.

While Kendric Davis has been exceptional, it’s their versatile and athletic forwards in Torrey Craig and Xavier Cooks who have been a difference maker on both ends of the floor.