NBL Playoffs 2025: South East Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne United Fight for Championship Series Spot
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The National Basketball League (NBL) playoffs have reached a crucial stage, with the South East Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne United fighting for a spot in the Championship Series. The Phoenix will face the Illawarra Hawks in game three of their semi-final series, while United will take on the Perth Wildcats. The winners of these two series will advance to the Championship Series, with the losers being eliminated from the competition. The Phoenix, led by coach Josh King, will be looking to address their rebounding issues, which have been a major concern throughout the series. In game two, the Phoenix were outrebounded by the Hawks, but managed to secure a 101-94 win. King has emphasized the importance of crashing the boards with ferocity in the series decider.
The Illawarra Hawks, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their game two loss and secure their first Championship Series appearance since 2017. The Hawks have been led by players such as Todd Blanchfield and Will Hickey, who have been instrumental in their team's success. The series decider will be played at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, with the Hawks looking to use their home-court advantage to their benefit. The Phoenix, however, will be confident after their game two win, with star Matt Hurt leading the charge with 30 points.
In the other semi-final series, Melbourne United will face the Perth Wildcats in game three. The Wildcats, led by coach John Rillie, will be looking to secure their first Championship Series appearance since 2020. The series has been closely contested, with the Wildcats winning game two 96-89 to level the series. United, however, will be confident after their game one win, with players such as Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova leading the charge. The series decider will be played at the Melbourne Arena, with the winner advancing to the Championship Series.
Here are the match scores for the two series:
- Game 1: Hawks 101 def Phoenix 94
- Game 2: Phoenix 101 def Hawks 94
- Game 1: United 105 def Wildcats 93
- Game 2: Wildcats 96 def United 89
The NBL playoffs are a great opportunity for teams to showcase their skills and compete for the championship. The competition has been fierce, with several teams still in contention for the title. The Phoenix and United will be looking to secure their spot in the Championship Series, while the Hawks and Wildcats will be looking to cause an upset and advance to the next round. The series deciders will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with the winners advancing to the Championship Series.
melbourne nbl phoenix east illawarra unit championship perth wildcat playoff
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