Big Barrel Hawks (7-12, 11th) v Jadcup Auckland Tuatara (9-10, 5th)
Auckland knows the job get- a win and book their place in the Final 6. But while Hawke's Bay has missed the postseason, they can relish playing spoiler in their last home game of the season. Will the Tuatara get the result they need, or will the Hawks fire up and finish on a high?
When: Saturday 5th July, Rapid League 6:30pm, Sal's NBL 7:30pm
Where: Rodney Green Arenas, Taradale Napier
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 5 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube | : FIBA YouTube |
Last Time Out:
The Hawks hosted the Saints but were forced to chase the game early, falling behind by 10 at the first break as the visitors combined balanced offense with stifling defense. Despite spirited efforts from Campbell Scott (19pts, 4rbs, 4ast) and Brandon Alston (20pts, 4rbs, 5ast), who kept the pressure on offensively, the Hawks struggled to claw back. Nick Marshall (23pts, 7rbs, 4ast) and Izayah Le'afa (23pts, 8rbs, 5ast, 4stls) proved tough to contain, and with all five Saints starters reaching double figures, the Hawks couldn’t overcome the deficit, ultimately falling 99-81.
The Tuatara hosted the Jets in what would be a hard-fought contest. After an early scoring burst, Auckland finished the first quarter level despite the Jets leaning on the playmaking of Dontae Russo-Nance (20 pts, 7 ast, 5 stl). The Tuatara’s relentless work on the boards, pulling down 20 offensive rebounds and finishing +19 overall—gradually wore the visitors down, and they edged ahead by three at the half. Luther Muhammad (36 pts, 5 rbs, 5 ast) caught fire in the third, sparking a run that pushed the Tuatara lead out to 14. While Miles Gibson (37 pts, 4 rbs) led a late Jets rally, the Tuatara’s early hustle and rebounding proved decisive as they held on for a gritty 99-96 victory.
What to Expect:
Hawks play with plenty of energy and aren’t afraid to push the pace in transition, often looking to catch teams off guard early. Offensively, with Swaka Lo Buluk out with injury, they will rely on the shot-making of Brandon Alston, the steady all-around contributions of Campbell Scott and the infectious energy of Dan Grida to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Expect them to attack the paint aggressively to create inside-out opportunities and, if things are going well, to get to the free-throw line. Defensively, the Hawks bring hustle and active hands, trying to force turnovers to spark fast breaks, though they can sometimes give up second-chance points if Luca Yates isn't able to control the boards. If the Hawks get into rhythm and control the tempo, they’re capable of hanging tough with anyone in the league.
The Tuatara will need to be at their best as a win puts them into the final 6, and at their best they play a physical, disciplined brand of basketball built around dominance on the glass and second-chance scoring opportunities. Expect Dan Fotu and Tom Vodanovich to crash the boards relentlessly, particularly on the offensive end, where their hustle can tilt the game in their favour. With Rob Loe unavailable, the Tuatara will lean on the scoring punch of Luther Muhammad, whose ability to create his own shot makes him a constant threat. If the transition game isn't working they can work out of the half court when needed, but will need Charles Pride and Buay Tuach to find their form from behind the arc. Defensively, Auckland are gritty and tough to break down, with active hands and a commitment to contesting shots. When they get rolling, their mix of rebounding, patience, and timely shot-making makes them a challenging teams in the league to put away.
Matchup to Watch: Brandon Alston v Luther Muhammad -
lston has shouldered more of the offensive load lately and will need to be at his best to keep pace with the Tuatara. Muhammad is a dominant scorer, especially in the half-court, and Auckland will need another big game from him to lock down a Final 6 spot.
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Hawks | Tuatara |
| Scoring Offense | 87.32 (8th) | 87.89 (7th) |
| Scoring Defense | 95.37 (9th) | 91.00 (8th) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 53% (4th) | 51% (8th) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 47% (9th) | 46% (7th) |
| Free Throw Rate | 31% (2nd) | 29% (5th) |
| Free Throw % | 75% (1st) | 71% (7th) |
| Three Point Rate | 40% (7th) | 43% (3rd) |
| Three Point % | 31% (11th) | 32% (5th) |
| Turnover Rate | 14% (9th) | 13% (8th) |
| Assist Rate | 53% (9th) | 58% (6th) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 20% (10th) | 25% (10th) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 70% (10th) | 77% (2nd) |
| Block Rate | 5% (10th) | 6% (8th) |
| Steal Rate | 7% (last) | 8% (10th) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
