NBLxNBA
{{Short description|Annual basketball series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
NBLxNBA is a series involving clubs from the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia and New Zealand and the National Basketball Association (NBA) of the United States and Canada. The series started in 2017 for each league's 2017–18 season, and each season includes between two and seven games. The games have always been held in the U.S. and Canada, and typically are held during September and early October.
Seasons
=2017–18 season=
In 2017 the NBL announced that the Brisbane Bullets, Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings would compete in games against three NBA teams in the inaugural NBLxNBA series.{{cite web |title=What We Learned from NBL x NBA |url=http://www.aussiehoopla.com/what-we-learned-from-nbl-x-nba/ |website=Aussie Hoopla |language=en-AU |date=23 October 2017}}
Despite losing all three games (including a one-point thriller), the series was marked as a success for the NBL as it brought in much higher television ratings than the teams were used to, and it showed how competitive the league is. The series also drew the attention of multiple high-profile NBA players, including Australian Ben Simmons who expressed his interest in competing in a future NBLxNBA game.{{cite web |title=Simmons wants a piece of NBL action |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/basketball/philadelphia-76ers-star-ben-simmons-wants-a-piece-of-nbl-action/news-story/ca96cde05a7d05199d691955a3c08638 |website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au |language=en |date=20 October 2017}}
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=2 October 2017|place=Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City|TV=ESPN2|attendance=15,692|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20171002/SYDUTA boxscore]
|teamA= Sydney Kings|scoreA=83
|teamB= Utah Jazz|scoreB=108
|Q1=16–35
|Q2=31–23
|Q3=13–19
|Q4=23–31
|points1=Ellis 19
|rebounds1=Blanchfield 9
|assist1=Leslie 3
|points2=Hood 18
|rebounds2=Gobert 10
|assist2=Ingles 5
|referee=Marc Davis, Kevin Scott, Randy Richardson}}
{{Basketballbox|time=14:00|date=8 October 2017|place=Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City|TV=ESPN|attendance=n/a|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20171008/MELOKC boxscore]
|teamA= Melbourne United|scoreA=85
|teamB= Oklahoma City Thunder|scoreB=86
|Q1=30–27
|Q2=14–22
|Q3=22–21
|Q4=19–16
|points1=Ware 20
|rebounds1=Prather 10
|assist1=Wesley 5
|points2=George 22
|rebounds2=Adams 10
|assist2=Westbrook 7
|referee=James Capers, Eric Dalen, Lauren Holtkamp}}
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=13 October 2017|place=Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix|TV=ESPN|attendance=8,297|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20171013/BNEPHX boxscore]
|teamA= Brisbane Bullets|scoreA=93
|teamB= Phoenix Suns|scoreB=114
|Q1=12–38
|Q2=33–33
|Q3=23–20
|Q4=25–23
|points1=Trice 20
|rebounds1=Kickert 10
|assist1=Trice 5
|points2=Booker 31
|assist2=Booker 6
|referee=Derek Richardson, Mark Ayotte, Ron Garretson}}
=2018–19 season=
The NBL announced a second series on 27 June 2018, with five of their eight clubs travelling to the United States of America to complete in seven games.{{cite web |title=NBLxNBA is back, and it's bigger than ever |url=https://pickandroll.com.au/nblxnba-back-bigger-better-than-ever/ |website=pickandroll.com.au}} The clubs which didn't complete were the Brisbane Bullets, Cairns Taipans and Illawarra Hawks.
The Adelaide 36ers reached the highest score by the NBL teams and fell one point short of the elusive 100 points milestone, but the NBL teams failed to record a victory for a second year in a row.
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=28 September 2018|place=Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia|TV=ESPN|attendance=n/a|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20180928/MELPHI boxscore]
|teamA= Melbourne United|scoreA=84
|teamB= Philadelphia 76ers|scoreB=104
|Q1=21–34
|Q2=21–22
|Q3=22–25
|Q4=20–23
|rebounds1=Pledger 13
|assist1=Ware 5
|points2=Embiid 20
|rebounds2=Embiid 10
|assist2=Simmons 14
|referee=Ed Malloy, Mark Lindsay, Aaron Smith}}
{{basketballbox|time=19:00|date=29 September 2018|place=Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City|TV=ESPN2|attendance=17,685|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20180929/PERUTA boxscore]
|teamA= Perth Wildcats|scoreA=72
|teamB= Utah Jazz|scoreB=130
|Q1=13–44
|Q2=21–31
|Q3=11–25
|Q4=27–30
|points1=Cotton 14
|rebounds1=Vague 7
|assist1=Kay 3
|points2=Allen 19
|assist2=Exum 6
|referee=Rodney Mott, Tre Maddox, Brett Nansel}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=15:30|date=30 September 2018|place=Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu|TV=ESPN2|attendance=6,911|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20180930/SYDLAC boxscore]
|teamA= Sydney Kings|scoreA=91
|teamB= Los Angeles Clippers|scoreB=110
|Q1=17–28
|Q2=37–31
|Q3=18–23
|Q4=19–28
|points1=Randle 25
|rebounds1=Lisch 9
|assist1=Lisch 6
|points2=Harris 20
|rebounds2=Harris 11
|assist2=three players 5
|referee=James Capers, Gary Zielinski, Karl Lane}}
{{Basketballbox|time=19:00|date=3 October 2018|place=Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix|TV=ESPN2|attendance=7,183|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20181003/NZBPHX boxscore]
|teamA= New Zealand Breakers|scoreA=86
|teamB= Phoenix Suns|scoreB=91
|Q1=20–28
|Q2=22–24
|Q3=20–25
|Q4=24–14
|points1=Webster 27
|rebounds1=Long 10
|assist1=Webster 7
|points2=Ayton 21
|rebounds2=Ayton 16
|assist2=Ariza 6
|referee=Bill Kennedy, CJ Washington, Scott Twardoski}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=5 October 2018|place=Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City|TV=9Go!|attendance=18,074|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20181005/ADLUTA boxscore]
|teamA= Adelaide 36ers|scoreA=99
|teamB= Utah Jazz|scoreB=129
|Q1=31–28
|Q2=23–38
|Q3=32–28
|Q4=13–35
|points1=Sobey 23
|rebounds1=Drmic 9
|assist1=three players 4
|points2=Mitchell 18
|rebounds2=Udoh 10
|assist2=Ingles 7
|referee=Mark Ayotte, Gary Zielinski, CJ Washington}}
{{basketballbox|time=19:00|date=5 October 2018|place=Scotiabank Arena, Toronto|TV=ESPN2|attendance=15,781|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20181005/MELTOR boxscore]
|teamA= Melbourne United|scoreA=82
|teamB= Toronto Raptors|scoreB=120
|Q1=17–23
|Q2=22–34
|Q3=19–44
|Q4=24–19
|rebounds1=Boone 11
|assist1=Ware 5
|points2=Powell 21
|rebounds2=Ibaka 12
|assist2=Wright 5
|referee=Matt Boland, Eric Dalen, Sean Corbin}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=5 October 2018|place=Pepsi Center, Denver|TV=ESPN2|attendance=9,812|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20181005/PERDEN boxscore]
|teamA= Perth Wildcats|scoreA=88
|teamB= Denver Nuggets|scoreB=96
|Q1=16–27
|Q2=25–24
|Q3=29–24
|Q4=18–21
|points1=Cotton 33
|rebounds1=Kay 8
|assist1=Norton 4
|points2=Morris 15
|rebounds2=Millsap 9
|assist2=Morris 9
|referee=Josh Tiven, Jason Goldenberg, Nick Buchert}}
=2019–20 season=
On July 4, 2019, it was announced that the Adelaide 36ers, Melbourne United and the New Zealand Breakers would play the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings in the 2019 edition of NBLxNBA.{{cite web |title=NBL news: NBLxNBA NBA preseason games, NBA preseason, Los Angeles Clippers, schedule |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nbl/nbl-teams-to-feature-in-five-nba-preseason-games-in-october/news-story/ea3c73545e23c07a9ad1b9a61dc5ec4e |website=Fox Sports |language=en-AU |date=3 July 2019}} The series was pushed closer towards the start of the NBA season, which meant the Adelaide 36ers and New Zealand Breakers missed the beginning of the NBL season, and Melbourne United missed a fortnight of the early rounds of the season.
Despite the NBL losing streak continuing, this series marked the first time an NBL team reached the 100 point mark against an NBA team. This happened in both Melbourne United games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=5 October 2019|place=Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City|TV=SBS on Demand|attendance=18,306|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20191005/ADLUTA boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/sixers-take-heart-despite-jazz-nblxnba-scoreline report]
|teamA= Adelaide 36ers|scoreA=81
|teamB= Utah Jazz|scoreB=133
|Q1=18–28
|Q2=21–32
|Q3=24–44
|Q4=18–29
|points1=Randle 18
|rebounds1=Froling 11
|assist1=Dillon 4
|points2=Bradley 18
|rebounds2=Bradley 10
|referee=Derek Richardson, Ken Mauer, Phenizee Ransom}}
{{Basketballbox|time=19:00|date=8 October 2019|place=FedExForum, Memphis|TV=SBS on Demand|attendance=10,259|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20191008/NZBMEM boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/breakers-impress-in-memphis-against-grizzlies report]
|teamA= New Zealand Breakers|scoreA=94
|teamB= Memphis Grizzlies|scoreB=108
|Q1=14–27
|Q2=22–28
|Q3=29–22
|Q4=29–31
|points1=Webster 19
|rebounds1=Hopson 8
|assist1=Webster 8
|points2=Jackson Jr., Allen 18
|rebounds2=Clarke 12
|assist2=Morant 10
|referee=Derrick Collins, Michael Smith, CJ Washington }}
{{Basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=10 October 2019|place=Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City|TV=SBS on Demand|attendance=n/a|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20191010/NZBOKC boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/adams-dominates-as-breakers-fall-to-thunder report]
|teamA= New Zealand Breakers|scoreA=84
|teamB= Oklahoma City Thunder|scoreB=110
|Q1=15–29
|Q2=20–33
|Q3=22–28
|Q4=27–20
|points1=Loe 19
|points2=Adams 19
|rebounds2=Adams 10
|assist2=Schroder 6
|referee=Derrick Collins, Brett Nansel, Michael Smith }}
{{basketballbox|time=12:30|date=13 October 2019|place=STAPLES Center, Los Angeles|TV=SBS on Demand|attendance=10,181|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20191013/MELLAC boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/melbourne-push-clippers-in-la-sunday-matinee report]
|teamA= Melbourne United|scoreA=100
|teamB= Los Angeles Clippers|scoreB=118
|Q1=24–18
|Q2=27–29
|Q3=20–43
|Q4=29–28
|points1=Trimble 22
|rebounds1=Long 9
|assist1=Trimble 6
|points2=Harrell 22
|rebounds2=Zubac 8
|assist2=Williams 7
|referee=Brandon Adair, Tre Maddox, Bill Spooner }}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=19:00|date=16 October 2019|place=Golden 1 Center, Sacramento|TV=SBS on Demand|attendance=10,534|report=[https://watch.nba.com/game/20191016/MELSAC boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/goulding-lights-it-up-for-melbourne-in-sacramento report]
|teamA= Melbourne United|scoreA=110
|teamB= Sacramento Kings|scoreB=124
|Q1=28–31
|Q2=21–29
|Q3=23–39
|Q4=38–25
|points1=Goulding 25
|rebounds1=Long 15
|assist1=Trimble 6
|points2=Bagley III 30
|rebounds2=Bagley III 14
|referee= J.T. Orr, CJ Washington, Sean Wright
}}
=2022–23 season=
After a 3-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced that the Adelaide 36ers would take on the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder in October 2022.{{cite web |title=Adelaide 36ers take on Suns, Thunder in preseason fixtures |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id/34457115/adelaide-36ers-take-phoenix-suns-oklahoma-city-thunder-preseason-fixtures |website=ESPN |language=en-AU |date=26 August 2022}} The series saw the first NBL win over an NBA team, with the 36ers beating the Suns 134–124 in Arizona on 3 October 2022.{{cite web |title='Never seen this': Aussie hoops history as NBL side Adelaide stuns NBA powerhouse Phoenix |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/basketball/nbl/nba-news-2022-adelaide-36ers-def-phoenix-suns-highlights-stats-score-australian-nbl-team-def-nba-team/news-story/9737f1b0b234999161a0ab99ad08d4a1 |website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU |date=3 October 2022}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee|time=21:00|date=2 October 2022|place=Footprint Center, Phoenix|TV=|attendance=15,152|report=[https://www.nba.com/game/adl-vs-phx-0012200008/box-score boxscore]
|teamA= Adelaide 36ers|scoreA=134
|teamB= Phoenix Suns|scoreB=124
|Q1=33–28
|Q2=38–31
|Q3=25–31
|Q4=38–34
|points1=Randall II 35
|rebounds1=McCarron 9
|assist1=McCarron 16
|points2=Payne 23
|rebounds2=Bridges 7
|assist2=Paul 12
|referee=Bill Kennedy, Justin Van Duyne, Dannica Mosher}}
{{Basketballbox|time=20:00|date=6 October 2022|place=Paycom Center, Oklahoma City|TV=|attendance=n/a|report=[https://www.nba.com/game/adl-vs-okc-0012200025/box-score boxscore]
|teamA= Adelaide 36ers|scoreA=98
|teamB= Oklahoma City Thunder|scoreB=131
|Q1=16–35
|Q2=27–38
|Q3=27–35
|Q4=28–23
|points1=Randall II 27
|rebounds1=Franks 7
|assist1=Randall II 8
|points2=Mann 26
|rebounds2=Williams 12
|assist2=Giddey, Williams 6
|referee=Pat Fraher, Derrick Collins, Jenna Schroeder }}
=2023–24 season=
In August 2023, it was announced that the Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers will compete in the series in October 2023. The Taipans took on the Washington Wizards and the Toronto Raptors in their NBLxNBA series debut, while the Breakers played the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.{{cite web |title=Taipans, Breakers set for NBA preseason games in U.S. |url=https://www.espn.com/nbl/story/_/id/38293902/nbl-cairns-taipans-new-zealand-breakers-heading-us-nblxnba-preseason |website=ESPN |language=en-AU |date=30 August 2023}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee
| date = 10 October 2023
| time = 19:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/cns-vs-was-0012300014 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/taipans-fall-to-wizards-in-nblxnba-opener report]
| teamA = Cairns Taipans
| scoreA = 82
| scoreB = 145
| teamB = Washington Wizards
| Q1 = 23–44
| Q2 = 23–38
| Q3 = 22–34
| Q4 = 14–29
| points1 = Gak 17
| rebounds1 = Roberts 10
| assist1 = Armstrong 8
| points2 = Kuzma 22
| rebounds2 = Gafford 8
| assist2 = Wright 6
| place = Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
| attendance = 6,856
| TV = Kayo Freebies
| referee = Bill Kennedy, Marat Kogut, Tyler Mirkovich
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = 10 October 2023
| time = 19:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/nzb-vs-por-0012300022 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/trail-blazers-defeat-breakers report]
| teamA = New Zealand Breakers
| scoreA = 66
| scoreB = 106
| teamB = Portland Trail Blazers
| Q1 = 23–23
| Q2 = 16–25
| Q3 = 11–20
| Q4 = 16–38
| points1 = Jackson-Cartwright 19
| rebounds1 = Cheatham 10
| assist1 = Cheatham 4
| points2 = Simons 14
| rebounds2 = Brown 8
| assist2 = Henderson 6
| place = Moda Center, Portland
| attendance = 12,694
| TV = NBA League Pass
| referee = Justin Van Duyne, Mousa Dagher, John Butler
}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee
| date = 15 October 2023
| time = 18:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/cns-vs-tor-0012300040 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/taipans-fall-to-raptors-in-nblxnba-clash report]
| teamA = Cairns Taipans
| scoreA = 93
| scoreB = 134
| teamB = Toronto Raptors
| Q1 = 17–38
| Q2 = 27–33
| Q3 = 39–33
| Q4 = 10–30
| points1 = Miller 22
| rebounds1 = Roberts 9
| assist1 = Payton 7
| points2 = Freeman-Liberty 15
| rebounds2 = Boucher 8
| assist2 = Siakam 5
| place = Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
| attendance = 18,141
| TV = Kayo Freebies
| referee = Courtney Kirkland, Eric Dalen, Robert Hussey
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = 16 October 2023
| time = 19:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/nzb-vs-uta-0012300048 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/breakers-fight-and-fall-to-jazz report]
| teamA = New Zealand Breakers
| scoreA = 94
| scoreB = 114
| teamB = Utah Jazz
| Q1 = 11–31
| Q2 = 32–28
| Q3 = 22–25
| Q4 = 29–30
| points1 = Lamb 23
| rebounds1 = Lamb 7
| assist1 = Jackson-Cartwright 6
| points2 = Markkanen 15
| rebounds2 = Markkanen 7
| assist2 = Juzang 4
| place = Delta Center, Salt Lake City
| attendance = 14,190
| TV = Kayo Freebies
| referee = J.T. Orr, Gediminas Petraitis, Jenna Reneau
}}
=2024–25 season=
On 10 July 2024, the New Zealand Breakers announced their series of NBLxNBA games against the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder. A third game against the Philadelphia 76ers was later added on 23 September.
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee
| date = 4 October 2024
| time = 19:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/nzb-vs-uta-0012400002 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/breakers-take-fight-to-jazz-in-nblxnba report]
| teamA = New Zealand Breakers
| scoreA = 87
| scoreB = 116
| teamB = Utah Jazz
| Q1 = 29–29
| Q2 = 18–34
| Q3 = 23–27
| Q4 = 17–26
| points1 = Jackson-Cartwright 16
| rebounds1 = López 7
| assist1 = Jackson-Cartwright 9
| points2 = Juzang 19
| rebounds2 = Kessler 9
| assist2 = Collier 6
| place = Delta Center, Salt Lake City
| attendance = 14,121
| TV = NBA League Pass
| referee = Tony Brothers, Karl Lane, Chelisa Painter
}}
{{basketballbox
| date = 7 October 2024
| time = 19:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/nzb-vs-phi-0012400011 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/pjc-puts-up-26-for-breakers-v-76ers report]
| teamA = New Zealand Breakers
| scoreA = 84
| scoreB = 139
| teamB = Philadelphia 76ers
| Q1 = 19–40
| Q2 = 26–42
| Q3 = 23–31
| Q4 = 16–26
| points1 = Jackson-Cartwright 26
| rebounds1 = Gillespie 6
| assist1 = McCarron 3
| points2 = four players 15
| rebounds2 = Drummond, McCain 9 each
| assist2 = Dowtin 6
| place = Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
| attendance = 19,767
| TV = NBA League Pass
| referee = Scott Twardoski, Gediminas Petraitis, Pat O'Connell
}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee
| date = 10 October 2024
| time = 20:00
| report = [https://www.nba.com/game/0012400029 boxscore]
[https://nbl.com.au/news/mooney-king-light-it-up-v-okc-thunder report]
| teamA = New Zealand Breakers
| scoreA = 89
| scoreB = 117
| teamB = Oklahoma City Thunder
| Q1 = 36–34
| Q2 = 24–26
| Q3 = 16–24
| Q4 = 13–33
| points1 = Mooney 19
| rebounds1 = Gillespie 8
| assist1 = Jackson-Cartwright 8
| points2 = Flagler 25
| rebounds2 = Jones 13
| assist2 = Dieng 9
| place = BOK Center, Tulsa
| attendance = n/a
| TV = NBA League Pass
| referee = Mark Lindsay, Brandon Adair, Ashley Moyer-Gleich
}}
=2025–26 season=
{{Main|NBA x NBL: Melbourne Series}}
On 11 March 2025, the National Basketball Association, National Basketball League and the Victoria State Government announced that the New Orleans Pelicans would play two exhibition games at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia against Melbourne United and the South East Melbourne Phoenix as part of the NBA x NBL: Melbourne Series.{{cite web |title=Pelicans to play NBL teams in Australia |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/pelicans-to-play-nbl-teams-in-australia |website=NBL |language=en |date=11 March 2025}} This will mark the first time an NBA team has played in Australia, and the first time that the South East Melbourne Phoenix have played against an NBA team.
{{basketballbox
| date = 3 October 2025
| time =
| report =
| teamA = New Orleans Pelicans
| scoreA =
| scoreB =
| teamB = Melbourne United
| Q1 =
| Q2 =
| Q3 =
| Q4 =
| points1 =
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| points2 =
| rebounds2 =
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| place = Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
| attendance =
| TV =
| referee =
}}
{{basketballbox|bg=#eee
| date = 5 October 2025
| time =
| report =
| teamA = New Orleans Pelicans
| scoreA =
| scoreB =
| teamB = South East Melbourne Phoenix
| Q1 =
| Q2 =
| Q3 =
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| points1 =
| rebounds1 =
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| place = Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
| attendance =
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| referee =
}}
See also
{{Portal|Australia|Basketball}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nbl.com.au/ Official NBL website]
{{NBA vs FIBA}}
{{National Basketball League (Australia)}}
Category:National Basketball Association
Category:National Basketball League (Australia)