The Run Home: Can your team play Finals?

There are only five rounds remaining in the NBL26 regular season and the race to the Hungry Jack’s NBL Finals has reached fever pitch.

It’s going to be a hectic run home as we play 40 games across the schedule’s final five weekends, and the big question is: who will make the top six?

While all 10 of the league’s teams remain ‘mathematical’ chances, anything can happen. But there's no denying the teams currently in the top six are very much in the box seat.

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As we enter the final phase of the regular season, here’s a look at where each team currently stands in the race for the post-season.

LAST UPDATED: Wednesday, January 21 (before Round 18)

1^st  – ADELAIDE 36ERS

Record: 19-6 (finals spot clinched)

Percentage: 106.55

Remaining games: @ New Zealand, @ Sydney, @Brisbane, vs South East Melbourne, @ Illawarra, @ Melbourne, vs New Zealand and @ Perth.

State of play: League-leaders the 36ers are currently is the midst of their worst stretch of NBL26, having lost back-to-back games against Tasmania and South East Melbourne. But with a two-game cushion on the second-placed Phoenix, Adelaide is still favourite to finish the regular season as minor premiers.

Key game/s: Seven of the 36ers' final nine games are on the road, with clashes against fellow heavyweights Sydney, Melbourne and Perth looming as pivotal, as well as January 31's home clash with South East Melbourne.

2^nd – SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX

Record: 17-8

Percentage: 108.77

Remaining games: vs New Zealand, vs Cairns, @ Perth, @Adelaide, @ New Zealand, vs Sydney, vs Tasmania and @ Melbourne.

State of play: South East Melbourne is one of the hottest teams in the league, fresh off a big HoopsFest win over Adelaide. Josh King's side seem to building nicely and appear set for a deep Finals run.

Key game/s: The Phoenix only leave Melbourne three time in their final eight games, presenting a strong opportunity to lock in an all-important top-two spot. Two of those road games loom crucial though, being in Perth and in Adelaide.

3^rd – SYDNEY KINGS

Record: 16-9

Percentage: 111.14

Remaining games: vs Tasmania, vs Adelaide, vs Illawarra, @ Cairns, @ South East Melbourne, @ Illawarra, vs Perth and @ Brisbane.

State of play: Sydney has won nine of its past 11 games, despite missing the likes of Xavier Cooks (ankle) and Matthew Dellavedova (concussion). Now with Torrey Craig set to debut on Thursday, the Kings are firming as one of the competition's true contenders.

Key game/s: Of their final eight games, the two that stand out are Round 20 at South East Melbourne, which could determine who finishes second, and Round 21 against Perth, which will have massive Finals ramifications for both clubs.

4^th – MELBOURNE UNITED

Record: 16-10

Percentage: 105.07

Remaining games: vs Brisbane, @ Perth, @ New Zealand, vs Adelaide, @ Cairns ,vs Illawarra and vs South East Melbourne.

State of play: While United returned to the winners' circle on Saturday, they still have only tasted victory in three of their past 11 contests. Once pegged as the championship favourites, United have to regain their momentum soon or face the danger of falling outside the top four.

Key game/s: United is still a few weeks away from a home game at John Cain Arena, so it's imperative they try to record as many road wins as they can. In particular, Round 18's blockbuster at RAC Arena against Perth, with the winner of that clash edging closer to a top four spot.

‍5^th – PERTH WILDCATS

Record: 15-10

Percentage: 103.59

Remaining games: vs Cairns, vs Melbourne, vs South East Melbourne, @ Illawarra, vs Cairns, vs Brisbane, @ Sydney and vs Adelaide.

State of play: With six of their final eight games at RAC Arena, the Wildcats have one of the more favourable schedules into the Finals. Combine that with the fact they have won four games on the bounce and the Wildcats appear set to make a strong push over the final five rounds.

Key game/s: Anytime Bryce Cotton and the 36ers play in Perth, it's now a must-watch. They other keys games to keep an eye are home fixtures against the two Melbourne sides and a Round 21 road trip to Qudos Bank Arena to face the Kings.

6^th – TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS

Record: 12-14

Percentage: 100.73

Remaining games: @ Sydney, vs Illawarra, @ Cairns, vs New Zealand, vs Brisbane, @ South East Melbourne and vs Illawarra.

State of play: Following Thursday's game in Sydney, Scott Roth's side only play one team (South East Melbourne) that currently sits higher than them on the ladder, meaning they are in the driver's seat to claim a Play-In spot. The challenge will be doing so without star big man Will Magnay, who will miss the remainder of the season with a toe fracture.

Key game/s: Round 19's home fixture against New Zealand is massive. The Breakers have won the matchup on the past four occasions and a win by Tasmania, in what is essentially a double-points game, would go a long way to securing the post-season spot of Scott Roth's side.

7^th – NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS

Record: 10-15

Percentage: 98.45

Remaining games: @ South East Melbourne, vs Adelaide, vs Melbourne, @ Tasmania, vs South East Melbourne, vs Illawarra, @ Adelaide and vs Cairns.

State of play: Despite the season-ending injury to Rob Baker II, the Breakers are continuing to push for a spot in the post-season. Although they nearly have to win every game moving forward, you can't disregard any team led by Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Sam Mennenga.

Key game/s: As mentioned in the JackJumpers' section, the Round 19 fixture at MyState Bank Arena looms as crucial for Petteri Koponen's side, as does all five of their home games, which are absolute must-wins.

8^th – ILLAWARRA HAWKS

Record: 8-16

Percentage: 93.12

Remaining games: @ Tasmania, @ Brisbane, @ Sydney, vs Perth, vs Adelaide, @ New Zealand, vs Sydney, @ Melbourne and @ Tasmania.

State of play: The reigning champion's Finals chances are on life support, after losing their past thee games. With six of their final nine games away from Wollongong, the Hawks' road the post-season is tough, essentially having to win every game, but not impossible.

Key game/s: The two away games in Tasmania are huge, with them being double-points fixtures, against the team currently sitting in the sixth and final post-season spot.

9^th – CAIRNS TAIPANS

Record: 7-18

Percentage: 86.44

Remaining games: @ Perth, vs South East Melbourne, vs Tasmania, vs Sydney, @ Perth, @ Brisbane, vs Melbourne and @ New Zealand.

State of play: Winners of two of their past three games, Cairns has found some last-season form. To make the Finals though, Adam Forde's side are going to win essentially every game, against primarily teams above them, and without star Sam Waardenburg.

Key game/s: All of them are crucial but the fixtures against Perth and Tasmania, who they are chasing for a post-season spot, are the ones that hold the most weight.

10^th – BRISBANE BULLETS

Record: 6-20

Percentage: 89.04

Remaining games: @ Melbourne, vs Illawarra, vs Adelaide, @ Tasmania, vs Cairns, @ Perth and vs Sydney.

State of play: The injury-plagued Bullets have lost 13 of their past 14 games and need to win all seven of their games to have any chance of playing post-season hoops.

Key game/s: Same as Cairns, all of them. But particularly, Illawarra, Tasmania and Cairns, who they will have tho leapfrog on the ladder to qualify for the Finals.

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