The NBL 2023-24 tail-end is crazy! Just how close is Melbourne United to the coveted crown? We’ll find this out as we bring you the latest developments and updates, including how the NBL24 league standings look like as we end into the final round. 

To put it into the right perspective, the 20th round is the final clutch into this year’s competition. With the conclusion of round 19 on Sunday, February 11 afternoon, our eyes are set on the penultimate round set to take place between Thursday, February 15 and Sunday, Feb 18.

Keep your Australian basketball news tabs open, because, as it is our tradition, we’ll bring you a 360-degree coverage of every moment as it happens right from the stands. 

How League Standings Look So Far

The NBL round 19 fixtures are now behind us. Local fans, coaches, pundits and NBL enthusiasts around the globe are keeping their fingers crossed concerning how things might turn up for their favourite teams. 

Nevertheless, the round’s results presented yet another crucial window of opportunity to figure out which top six teams will likely contest in this year’s edition campaign grand finale play-offs and the play-in tournament. 

Thus, as at the NBL24 19th round, we have 9 teams contending for the coveted finals slot. Of course, South East Melbourne’s defeat by Tasmania JackJumpers (94-67) on Saturday evening means they are now mathematically out of contention for the finals place. 

Among the 9 remaining teams, Melbourne United and Perth Wildcats have clearly marked the top two positions a ‘no-go zone’. They have pretty much locked the top two positions, implying they will automatically progress into the final four slots in the Play-Offs. 

Tasmania, Illawarra, Brisbane Bullets, and New Zealand Breakers follow in that order. They’ll likely feature in the NBL Play-In Tournament if things remain unchanged in the ultimate 20th round. 

This means, we now have 7 teams competing in a race for three positions. The aforementioned Tasmania’s win over SE Melbourne Phoenix couldn’t have come at a better time. They now have locked the third position, meaning that, as things stand, one of these teams_ Brisbane Bullets, Sydney Kings, Illawarra Hawks, or New Zealand Breakers will miss out on the post-season competition. 

However, in as much as the mid-table contest is tight, Illawarra and NZ Breakers have the upper hand to turn the tide to their favours. In the ultimate 20th round, the two teams have an extra fixture, meaning they stand better chances if they win two-in-two. In case you are unaware, here are the fixtures we are talking about. 

• Thursday, Feb 15: Illawarra Hawks Vs Perth Wildcats, Wollongong, NSW – WIN Entertainment Centre, 7:30 PM, AEDT. 
• Friday, Feb 16: New Zealand Breakers Vs Brisbane Bullets, Spark Arena, 5:30 PM, AEDT. 
• Sunday, Feb 18: Melbourne United Vs Illawarra Hawks, John Cain Arena, 2:00 PM, AEDT. 
• Sunday, Feb 18: Adelaide 36ers vs New Zealand Breakers, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, 4:00 PM, AEDT. 

From these fixtures, if the NZ Breakers manage to defeat the Bullets on Friday evening, they will likely strike a line through Justin Schueller’s seemingly resurgent Bullets. On the flip side, if the Brisbane Bullets win, The NZ Breakers’ fate will depend on their next match on the road against the Adelaide 36ers. 

Illawarra’s Tricky Make-or-Break-It Fixtures

Justin Tatum’s men are hoping the two remaining fixtures will flip the race in their favour. Their dramatic matches include the home fixture against Perths and then an away match on Sunday against league leaders, Melbourne United, at John Cain Arena starting at 5:30 PM. 

Illawarra Hawks head coach, Justin Tatum gestures during the round 19 NBL match between Sydney Kings and Illawarra Hawks at Qudos Bank Arena, on February 11, 2024, in Sydney.

The good news for the Illawarra fans is that they have had a better run against Perth Wildcats all season long, and they’ll be seeking to extend their exemplary form. Equally, they need only one win from the two to confirm their qualification into the next exciting chapter of the NBL 2023-34 season. 

From Grace to Grass: How Sydney Tumbled in The NBL24 Final Fixtures 

Even as mid-table teams struggle to make it to the post-season Play-In tournaments, Sydney Kings fans, coach and players have not had an easy time following a streak of poor results that now leaves them in the bottom tier of the NBL24 standings after round 19. 

Coming into the competition as back-to-back champions, Mahmoud Abdelfattah’s was the team of the moment. However, their latest loss, on Sunday, Feb 11 leaves a lot to be desired as they went down with a hope-debilitating margin of 106-95. 

Following the defeat, they’re now sitting at position seven. Nevertheless, their hopes hang on the fact they face bottom-placed South East Melbourne Phoenix. On Saturday, Feb 17, 5:30 PM at John Cain Arena. Should they defeat SEM, they stand better chances of qualifying for the finals courtesy of their superior winning percentage stat compared to Hawks, Bullets, and Breakers. 

From the recent rounds, it is increasingly becoming clear that NBL24 has been a highly competitive tournament. There have been no certainties with relatively better teams being pushed to the edge like is the case with Sydney Kings, last season’s winners. 

For the NBL24r every match, and moment matters. Luckily, your leading Australian and NBL news source is prepared to go beyond the bounds of comfort to bring you all the perspectives of the game and tournament as they happen. Stay tuned, for the next 20th round of updates, including the play-offs and the intense Play-In updates.