NBL Playoff Series takes centre stage on ESPN as final four shoot for Championship crown – ESPN is the only place to see every game of the NBL Playoff Series live as the Perth Wildcats, Melbourne United, Illawarra Hawks and South East Melbourne Phoenix compete to be crowned champion.
The final four teams will shoot for a place in the NBL Championship Series as the NBL Playoff Series resumes Thursday February 27 on ESPN, providing hoops fans will wall to wall basketball across the network.
Tipping off at 7.30pm AEDT, Melbourne United will host the Perth Wildcats in game one of their three game series.
Melbourne United take home court advantage in against the Wildcats, having finished in second place on the table.
United have held the advantage all season against Perth, winning all three meetings throughout the regular season.
Perth, led by NBL MVP Bryce Cotton, will carry plenty of finals experience with them.
Cotton hopes to add another NBL Championship to his increasing personal accolades. The Wildcats legend has already claimed a fifth Andrew Gaze trophy and an unprecedented seventh Gordon Ellis Medal, as the Wildcats’ best player this season.
Melbourne is driven by redemption, having lost to the Tasmania JackJumpers in the NBL Championship Series last season.
Following on Friday February 28 at 7.30pm AEDT, Illawarra Hawks and South East Melbourne Phoenix open the NBL Playoff Series in Wollongong.
The Hawks finished the regular season at the top of the National Basketball League ladder – the first time since their inception in 1979.
Illawarra are set to be boosted for the NBL Playoff Series as imports Trey Kel III and Darius Days are both expected to return from injury to battle the Phoenix.
After a horror 0-5 start to the campaign, South East Melbourne have turned their fortunes around.
The Phoenix secured their spot in the NBL Playoff Series after beating the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL Play-In game.
Matt Hurt shone in the Play-In eliminator, shooting 25 points in an impressive display.
Refreshed following the FIBA International Break, South East Melbourne could yet be buoyed by the return of point guard Derrick Walton Jr.
A previous NBL Championship series MVP, Walton Jr is racing the clock to return from injury and help spark another run to an NBL crown.
ESPN ‘Your Home for Hoops’ will also broadcast every game of the WNBL Final Series live, also beginning Thursday February 27.
The WNBL Semi Final series between Sydney Flames-Bendigo Spirit and Perth Lynx and Townsville Fire will also air live across ESPN.
ESPN is the only place to see every game of the NBL Playoff Series and NBL Championship Series LIVE
NBL Playoff Series and WNBL Finals on ESPN
Thursday February 27
7pm AEDT, Sydney Flames vs Bendigo Spirit, Game 2, ESPN2
7.30pm AEDT, Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats, Game 1, ESPN
Friday February 28
7.30pm AEDT, Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne Phoenix, Game 1, ESPN
Saturday March 1
8pm AEDT, Perth Lynx vs Townsville Fire, ESPN2
8pm AEDT, Perth Wildcats vs Melbourne United, Game 2, ESPN
Sunday March 2
2.30pm AEDT, South East Melbourne Phoenix vs Illawarra Hawks, Game 2, ESPN
2.30pm AEDT, Bendigo Spirit vs Sydney Flames, Game 3*, ESPN2
Tuesday March 4
7.30pm AEDT, Melbourne United vs Perth Wildcats, Game 3*, ESPN
Wednesday March 5
7.30pm AEDT, Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne Phoenix, Game 3*, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 is available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.
Media Release – ESPN
Link to ESPN HERE
TV Central ESPN content HERE
NBL Playoff Series takes centre stage on ESPN as final four shoot for Championship crown
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