Big Barrel Hawks (7-8, 5th) v Wheeler Motor Company Canterbury Rams (11-2, 1st)
Seven straight wins for the Rams has them eyeing the finals and the top seed they are hoping to wrap up but the Hawks will be desperate for a win as well. Can the Hawks protect the nest and end a 2 game slide or will the Rams take their seventh in a row while firming their grip on the top rung of the ladder.
When: Saturday 7th June, Rapid League 3pm, Sal's NBL 4pm
Where: Rodney Green Arenas, Napier
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 2 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube |
Last Time Out:
The Hawks arrived in Nelson looking to settle the score after a narrow home loss to the Giants just a few weeks earlier. Early signs were promising, with Dan Grida (22pts, 5rbs) and Brandon Alston (24pts, 5ast) helping the visitors set the tone and hold a slim lead midway through the second quarter. From there, the momentum shifted dramatically, with the Giants erupted offensively, flipping a 35-34 deficit into a dominant 117-81 win, closing the game on an 83-46 run. Despite the Hawks’ strong start, they couldn’t keep pace as Nelson found rhythm and confidence in front of their home crowd—snapping a 410-day drought without a win at the Trafalgar Centre. Six Giants players hit double figures, led by Jeremy Combs with 26 points, as the home side pulled down 18 more rebounds and handed out 10 more assists while shooting a scorching 58% from the field.
The Rams hosted the Hawks in Christchurch and had to weather a strong second-quarter surge from the visitors, who built a 7-point lead midway through the term. But the Rams responded with grit, clawing back to level the score at 54 heading into halftime. Coming out of the break, the Rams seized momentum and pushed ahead by 9 points in the third, only for the Hawks to rally once more—briefly taking the lead on a Jackson Ball triple during his 25-point outing. But when it mattered most, the Rams' depth came to the fore. Walter Brown (22pts, 6rbs, 4ast) and Taylor Britt (22pts, 3ast) stepped up down the stretch, guiding the home side to a hard-fought 105-101 win in front of a passionate Christchurch crowd.
What to Expect:
The Hawks will rue the opportunity that slipped through their fingers last week in Christchurch, when they had the champs on the ropes on the road leading in the second quarter. They played with good efficiency while competing on the glass, but gave up 50 points in the paint and 16 second chance points as the size of the Rams eventually wore them down. Luca Yates will still be key in the middle on the glass and defensively, but this will be a game won on offense, as the Hawks will need to score at a high rate. Dan Grida and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk will need to run the lanes with pace while Jackson Ball and Brandon Alston will need to find effciency, especially from deep. And if everything goes according to plan they will find themselves in the game down the stretch on their home floor.
The Rams enter this clash as the league leaders, riding a wave of momentum thanks to one of the most well-rounded and physically imposing lineups in the Sal’s NBL. Defensively, they’ve been elite—anchored by the high-motor efforts of CJ Penha Jr., who’s fresh off a season-best performance on the glass, and a dynamic backcourt duo in Taylor Britt and Sean MacDonald. Canterbury thrives on turning stops into fast breaks, using their floor-spacing and shooting depth to strike quickly in transition and keep pressure on in the halfcourt. Expect them to set the tone early by attacking the boards with intent and applying constant pressure to the Nuggets’ ball handlers. With the frontcourt trio of Walter Brown, Tohi Smith-Milner, and Max Darling bringing defensive grit and physicality, the Rams are well equipped to grind down Otago over four quarters. And it will likely take all four quarters to take down this Hawks team, where the final minutes will come into play again.
Matchup to Watch: Dan Grida v Walter Brown - Both players were hugely influential for their sides in the last matchup, and it will be no different today. Both can get lose in transition, and will need to find success with pace, but their defense will be just as key. Especially Brown on Grida, as if he is able to take that matchup the Hawks chances drop considerably.
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Hawks | Rams |
| Scoring Offense | 90.13 (5th) | 100.69 (1st) |
| Scoring Defense | 95.13 (10th) | 86.69 (3rd) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 54% (3rd) | 55% (1st) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 47% (8th) | 45% (5th) |
| Free Throw Rate | 34% (1st) | 25% (9th) |
| Free Throw % | 77% (1st) | 68% (9th) |
| Three Point Rate | 39% (7th) | 42% (5th) |
| Three Point % | 35% (2nd) | 31% (8th) |
| Turnover Rate | 14% (9th) | 11% (1st) |
| Assist Rate | 53% (last) | 59% (4th) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 20% (last) | 32% (1st) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 72% (10th) | 76% (3rd) |
| Block Rate | 5% (11th) | 9% (5th) |
| Steal Rate | 7% (last) | 10% (5th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
