2021 NBL Cup

The 2021 NBL Cup was the first edition of the NBL Cup, organised by the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). The cup was played from 20 February 2021 until 14 March 2021. All 36 games were played at John Cain Arena and the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne, Victoria.

2021 NBL Cup
League	National Basketball League
Season	2020–21
Duration	20 February – 14 March 2021
Games played	36
Teams	9
TV partner(s)	Australia: SBS Viceland ESPN New Zealand: Sky Sport Online: SBS On Demand NBL TV Twitch
Finals
Champions	Perth Wildcats (1st title)
Runners-up	S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
Third place	Brisbane Bullets
Statistical leaders
Points Bryce Cotton (Perth) 26.9 Rebounds John Mooney (Perth) 12.3 Assists Josh Giddey (Adelaide) 7.4 Efficiency Jack Purchase (Adelaide) 100%
Records
Highest scoring	227 points Bullets 108–119 Kings
Winning streak	4 games Melbourne United (22 February – 5 March 2021) Perth Wildcats (20 February – 3 March 2021)
Losing streak	3 games Adelaide 36ers (25 February – 4 March 2021) Cairns Taipans (22 – 28 February 2021) (6 – 12 March 2021) Melbourne United (7 – 13 March 2021)
Highest attendance	4,206 – Day 7 36ers vs Breakers United vs Kings
Lowest attendance	809 – Day 5 Bullets vs Hawks Taipans vs Wildcats
Attendance	49,659
Average attendance	2,759
All statistics correct as of 19 March 2021.

Perth Wildcats won the inaugural NBL Cup trophy with a 7–1 record.

Venues

The tournament was played at two venues in Melbourne.

Melbourne		Melbourne
John Cain Arena	State Basketball Centre
Capacity: 10,300	Capacity: 3,200

Teams

Personnel and sponsorship

Team	Coach	Captain	Main sponsor	Kit manufacturer
Adelaide 36ers	Conner Henry	Daniel Dillon Daniel Johnson Brendan Teys	Scouts Australia	Champion
Brisbane Bullets	Andrej Lemanis	Jason Cadee	St. Genevieve
Cairns Taipans	Mike Kelly	Scott Machado	CQUniversity
Illawarra Hawks	Brian Goorjian	Andrew Ogilvy	Pepper Money
Melbourne United	Dean Vickerman	Chris Goulding Mitch McCarron	SodaStream
New Zealand Breakers	Dan Shamir	Thomas Abercrombie	Sky Sport
Perth Wildcats	Trevor Gleeson	Jesse Wagstaff	Pentanet
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix	Simon Mitchell	Kyle Adnam Mitch Creek Adam Gibson	Mountain Goat Beer
Sydney Kings	Adam Forde	Daniel Kickert Casper Ware	Brydens Lawyers

Games

Round 1

Day 1

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

20 February 2021	Cairns Taipans	101–95	Illawarra Hawks	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
15:00	Scoring by quarter: 19–18, 21–27, 28–26, 33–24
ESPN	Pts: Machado 31 Rebs: Machado, Oliver 8 Asts: Machado 6	boxscore report	Pts: Harvey 24 Rebs: Froling 12 Asts: Harvey 6	Attendance: 3,711 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Mitch Hare, Ruben Woolcock

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

20 February 2021	Melbourne United	85–89	Perth Wildcats	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 17–21, 27–24, 21–24
SBS Viceland	Pts: Landale 20 Rebs: Landale 10 Asts: Hopson, Landale 4	boxscore report	Pts: Cotton 29 Rebs: Mooney 9 Asts: Cotton 7	Attendance: 3,711 Referees: Michael Aylen, Nathan Durant, James Griguol

Day 2

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

21 February 2021	South East Melbourne Phoenix	99–83	Brisbane Bullets	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
15:00	Scoring by quarter: 16–27, 28–17, 24–22, 31–17
SBS Viceland	Pts: Creek 29 Rebs: Sykes 10 Asts: Sykes 11	boxscore report	Pts: Hodgson 20 Rebs: Hodgson 9 Asts: Sobey 4	Attendance: 2,566 Referees: Chris Reid, Scott Beker, Travis Stewart

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

21 February 2021	Sydney Kings	94–77	Adelaide 36ers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 30–22, 18–19, 23–8, 23–18
SBS Viceland	Pts: Ware 23 Rebs: Hunter 9 Asts: Newley 4	boxscore report	Pts: Crocker 15 Rebs: Giddey 7 Asts: Giddey 7	Attendance: 2,566 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Damian Lyons, Hugh Starkey

Day 3

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

22 February 2021	Illawarra Hawks	102–88	New Zealand Breakers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 21–21, 33–19, 27–24, 21–24
ESPN	Pts: Harvey 22 Rebs: Froling, Simon 6 Asts: Harvey 4	boxscore report	Pts: C. Webster 22 Rebs: Iverson 17 Asts: C. Webster 7	Attendance: 2,313 Referees: Michael Aylen, Mitch Hare, Daniel Battye

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

22 February 2021	Melbourne United	88–81	Cairns Taipans	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 17–25, 18–17, 23–20, 30–19
ESPN	Pts: Landale 18 Rebs: Landale 11 Asts: McCarron 8	boxscore report	Pts: Noi 27 Rebs: Krslovic 7 Asts: Machado 9	Attendance: 2,313 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Damian Lyons, Elliot Green

Day 4

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

23 February 2021	Sydney Kings	106–113	Perth Wildcats	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 30–24, 26–30, 17–32, 33–27
ESPN	Pts: Ware 34 Rebs: Ware 5 Asts: Ware 4	boxscore report	Pts: Cotton, Mooney 30 Rebs: Mooney 16 Asts: Cotton 9	Attendance: 1,079 Referees: Simon Beker, Chris Reid, Alex McEwan

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

23 February 2021	Adelaide 36ers	99–94	South East Melbourne Phoenix	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 19–19, 30–29, 30–18, 20–28
ESPN	Pts: Johnson 27 Rebs: Humphries 11 Asts: Giddey 9	boxscore report	Pts: Creek 23 Rebs: Creek 12 Asts: Creek 8	Attendance: 1,079 Referees: Michael Aylen, James Griguol, Ruben Woolcock

Round 2

Day 5

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

25 February 2021	Sydney Kings	96–78	New Zealand Breakers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 20–30, 26–6, 22–19, 28–23
ESPN	Pts: Hunter 24 Rebs: Vasiljevic 10 Asts: Ware 5	boxscore report	Pts: C. Webster 24 Rebs: Iverson 6 Asts: T. Webster 5	Attendance: 1,991 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, James Griguol, Ruben Woolcock

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

25 February 2021	Adelaide 36ers	73–82	Melbourne United	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 8–31, 26–16, 18–17, 21–18
ESPN	Pts: Johnson 14 Rebs: Giddey, Humphries, Johnson 8 Asts: Dech 4	boxscore report	Pts: McCarron 18 Rebs: McCarron 11 Asts: Hopson 4	Attendance: 1,991 Referees: Chris Reid, Damian Lyons, Mitch Hare

Day 6

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

26 February 2021	Brisbane Bullets	97–91	Illawarra Hawks	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 27–25, 22–26, 28–20, 20–20
ESPN	Pts: Law 29 Rebs: Law 9 Asts: Cadee, Sobey 6	boxscore report	Pts: Jessup 26 Rebs: Bairstow 8 Asts: Simon 4	Attendance: 809 Referees: Michael Aylen, James Griguol, Travis Stewart

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

26 February 2021	Cairns Taipans	69–89	Perth Wildcats	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 17–25, 24–18, 9–18, 19–28
ESPN	Pts: Oliver 19 Rebs: Oliver 14 Asts: Machado 8	boxscore report	Pts: Cotton 23 Rebs: Mooney 12 Asts: Cotton 8	Attendance: 809 Referees: Scott Beker, Nathan Durant, Daniel Battye

Day 7

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

27 February 2021	Adelaide 36ers	62–106	New Zealand Breakers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 6–32, 24–38, 21–22, 11–24
SBS Viceland	Pts: McVeigh 20 Rebs: Johnson 8 Asts: Johnson 4	boxscore report	Pts: C. Webster, T. Webster 29 Rebs: Iverson 8 Asts: T. Webster 11	Attendance: 4,206 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Daniel Battye, Mitch Hare

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

27 February 2021	Melbourne United	83–80	Sydney Kings	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 16–28, 18–15, 24–17, 25–20
ESPN	Pts: Landale 20 Rebs: Lual-Acuil 10 Asts: McCarron 6	boxscore report	Pts: Vasiljevic 22 Rebs: Newley 8 Asts: Ware 5	Attendance: 4,206 Referees: Michael Aylen, Nathan Durant, James Griguol

Day 8

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

28 February 2021	South East Melbourne Phoenix	93–76	Illawarra Hawks	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
14:00	Scoring by quarter: 25–13, 20–24, 28–18, 20–21
SBS Viceland	Pts: Creek 25 Rebs: Creek 6 Asts: Adnam 11	boxscore report	Pts: Harvey 14 Rebs: Adel 7 Asts: Jessup 4	Attendance: 3,195 Referees: Chris Reid, Damian Lyons, Alex McEwan

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

28 February 2021	Brisbane Bullets	115–99	Cairns Taipans	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
16:30	Scoring by quarter: 25–28, 35–23, 26–22, 29–22
SBS Viceland	Pts: Sobey 30 Rebs: Froling 11 Asts: Cadee 6	boxscore report	Pts: Machado 26 Rebs: Oliver 6 Asts: Scott Machado 6	Attendance: 3,195 Referees: Scott Beker, Mitch Hare, Elliot Green

Round 3

Day 9

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

3 March 2021	New Zealand Breakers	97–92	Brisbane Bullets	State Basketball Centre, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 27–12, 20–23, 24–31, 26–26
ESPN	Pts: C. Webster 21 Rebs: T. Webster 9 Asts: C. Webster, T. Webster 4	boxscore report	Pts: Law 19 Rebs: Law 10 Asts: Cadee 6	Attendance: 2,257 Referees: Michael Aylen, Mitch Hare, Ruben Woolcock

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

3 March 2021	Perth Wildcats	93–92	South East Melbourne Phoenix	State Basketball Centre, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 26–16, 28–22, 20–29, 19–25
ESPN	Pts: Cotton 28 Rebs: Mooney 11 Asts: Norton 8	boxscore report	Pts: Adnam 28 Rebs: Creek 8 Asts: Creek 8	Attendance: 2,257 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, James Griguol, Hugh Starkey

Day 10

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

4 March 2021	Cairns Taipans	96–92	Sydney Kings	State Basketball Centre, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 26–28, 25–13, 22–26, 23–25
ESPN	Pts: Machado 24 Rebs: Krslovic 10 Asts: Machado 4	boxscore report	Pts: Vasiljevic 32 Rebs: Hunter 6 Asts: Moller, Ware 4	Attendance: 1,355 Referees: Chris Reid, Damian Lyon, Alex McEwan

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

4 March 2021	Illawarra Hawks	98–89	Adelaide 36ers	State Basketball Centre, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 21–27, 25–21, 26–24, 26–17
ESPN	Pts: Harvey 24 Rebs: Simon 9 Asts: Harvey 6	boxscore report	Pts: Crocker 23 Rebs: Johnson 8 Asts: Giddey 9	Attendance: 1,355 Referees: Simon Beker, Nathan Durant, Daniel Battye

Day 11

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

5 March 2021	Perth Wildcats	92–95	Brisbane Bullets	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 22–29, 26–23, 20–21, 24–22
ESPN	Pts: Cotton 29 Rebs: Mooney 9 Asts: Cotton, Jervis, Mooney 4	boxscore report	Pts: Sobey 31 Rebs: Hodgson 9 Asts: Sobey 4	Attendance: 3,421 Referees: Michael Aylen, James Griguol, Elliot Green

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

5 March 2021	New Zealand Breakers	84–87	Melbourne United	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 20–23, 19–16, 19–20, 26–28
ESPN	Pts: T. Webster 32 Rebs: Delany 9 Asts: Delany, C. Webster, T. Webster, Weeks 2	boxscore report	Pts: Landale 23 Rebs: McCarron 7 Asts: McCarron 7	Attendance: 3,421 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Nathan Durant, Mitch Hare

Day 12

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

6 March 2021	Adelaide 36ers	81–71	Cairns Taipans	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 19–21, 22–17, 18–18, 22–15
SBS Viceland	Pts: Johnson 30 Rebs: Johnson 9 Asts: Giddey 8	boxscore report	Pts: Krslovic 12 Rebs: Machado, Oliver 6 Asts: Machado 7	Attendance: 3,708 Referees: Chris Reid, Ruben Woolcock, Alex McEwan

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

6 March 2021	South East Melbourne Phoenix	85–91	Sydney Kings	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 14–19, 33–24, 18–30, 20–18
ESPN	Pts: Creek 22 Rebs: Creek 9 Asts: Adnam 4	boxscore report	Pts: Vasiljevic 19 Rebs: Ware 10 Asts: Ware 6	Attendance: 3,708 Referees: Simon Beker, James Griguol, Daniel Battye

Day 13

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

7 March 2021	Melbourne United	88–96	Brisbane Bullets	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
14:00	Scoring by quarter: 16–25, 22–22, 29–24, 21–25
SBS Viceland	Pts: Goulding 21 Rebs: Landale 12 Asts: Baba 4	boxscore report	Pts: Hodgson 24 Rebs: Law 15 Asts: Sobey 5	Attendance: 3,696 Referees: Michael Aylen, Damian Lyons, Elliot Green

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

7 March 2021	Illawarra Hawks	70–87	Perth Wildcats	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
16:30	Scoring by quarter: 17–28, 14–25, 15–21, 24–13
SBS Viceland	Pts: Harvey 17 Rebs: Simon 7 Asts: Simon 3	boxscore report	Pts: Cotton 18 Rebs: Mooney 10 Asts: Norton 6	Attendance: 3,696 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Mitch Hare, Daniel Troy

Round 4

Day 14

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

10 March 2021	New Zealand Breakers	86–83	Cairns Taipans	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 24–11, 22–21, 14–20, 16–21
ESPN	Pts: Abercrombie 20 Rebs: Iverson 11 Asts: T. Webster 4	boxscore report	Pts: Oliver 19 Rebs: Oliver 7 Asts: Machado 4	Attendance: 3,675 Referees: Michael Aylen, Nathan Durant, Travis Stewart

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

10 March 2021	South East Melbourne Phoenix	97–920(OT)	Melbourne United	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 29–24, 21–18, 20–21, 14–21, Overtime: 13–8
ESPN	Pts: Creek 31 Rebs: Creek 10 Asts: Adnam 8	boxscore report	Pts: Goulding, Landale 9 Rebs: Lual-Acuil 9 Asts: Ili, McCarron 5	Attendance: 3,675 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Damian Lyons, Daniel Troy

Day 15

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

11 March 2021	Brisbane Bullets	109–104	Adelaide 36ers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 25–29, 31–33, 27–21, 26–21
ESPN	Pts: Sobey 30 Rebs: Hodgson 7 Asts: Law 5	boxscore report	Pts: Johnson 29 Rebs: Johnson 9 Asts: Giddey 11	Attendance: 997 Referees: Scott Beker, James Griguol, Ruben Woolcock

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

11 March 2021	Sydney Kings	69–89	Illawarra Hawks	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 24–24, 20–21, 8–25, 17–19
ESPN	Pts: Vasiljevic 12 Rebs: Moller 6 Asts: Bruce, Moller 4	boxscore report	Pts: Froling 20 Rebs: Bairstow, Froling 6 Asts: Harvey 4	Attendance: 997 Referees: Chris Reid, Nathan Durant, Elliot Green

Day 16

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

12 March 2021	Perth Wildcats	85–75	New Zealand Breakers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:00	Scoring by quarter: 12–19, 23–17, 33–17, 17–22
ESPN	Pts: Cotton 24 Rebs: Mooney 12 Asts: Cotton 7	boxscore report	Pts: Delany 30 Rebs: Iverson 8 Asts: T. Webster 7	Attendance: 2,478 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Daniel Battye, James Griguol

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

12 March 2021	Cairns Taipans	81–85	South East Melbourne Phoenix	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
19:30	Scoring by quarter: 14–20, 22–27, 19–18, 26–20
ESPN	Pts: Machado 24 Rebs: Krslovic 8 Asts: Djeric, Machado 3	boxscore report	Pts: Creek 21 Rebs: Gliddon, Wetzell 8 Asts: Gliddon 5	Attendance: 2,478 Referees: Michael Aylen, Hugh Starkey, Daniel Troy

Day 17

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

13 March 2021	Brisbane Bullets	108–119	Sydney Kings	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 24–23, 32–25, 24–38, 28–33
SBS Viceland	Pts: Sobey 35 Rebs: Hodgson, Law 9 Asts: Cadee, Sobey 6	boxscore report	Pts: Ware 25 Rebs: Hunter 8 Asts: Ware 10	Attendance: 4,183 Referees: Scott Beker, Damian Lyons, Ruben Woolcock

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

13 March 2021	Illawarra Hawks	77–69	Melbourne United	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 20–21, 18–22, 18–17, 21–9
ESPN	Pts: Harvey 23 Rebs: Adel, Harvey, Jessup 6 Asts: Harvey 4	boxscore report	Pts: McCarron 16 Rebs: Landale 8 Asts: McCarron 4	Attendance: 4,183 Referees: Chris Reid, Mitch Hare, James Griguol

Day 18

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

14 March 2021	New Zealand Breakers	89–103	South East Melbourne Phoenix	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
14:00	Scoring by quarter: 23–29, 23–24, 19–25, 24–25
ESPN	Pts: Delany 24 Rebs: Iverson 8 Asts: T. Webster 5	boxscore report	Pts: Adnam, Creek 21 Rebs: Moore 5 Asts: Adnam 7	Attendance: 4,019 Referees: Vaughan Mayberry, Damian Lyons, Elliot Green

{{{teamA}}} v {{{teamB}}}

14 March 2021	Perth Wildcats	97–88	Adelaide 36ers	John Cain Arena, Melbourne
16:30	Scoring by quarter: 15–28, 24–32, 25–8, 33–20
SBS Viceland	Pts: Cotton 34 Rebs: Mooney 16 Asts: Cotton 7	boxscore report	Pts: Paul 25 Rebs: Giddey 8 Asts: Giddey 13	Attendance: 4,019 Referees: Michael Aylen, Daniel Battye, Ruben Woolcock

Ladder

Pos	2021 NBL Cup
	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT	Last 5	Streak	Home	Away	PF	PA	PP	QW	Pts
1	Perth Wildcats	8	7	1	87.50%	4–1	W3	3–1	4–0	745	680	109.56%	18.5	39.5
2	S.E. Melbourne Phoenix	8	5	3	62.50%	3–2	W3	3–1	2–2	748	704	106.25%	18.5	33.5
3	Brisbane Bullets	8	5	3	62.50%	3–2	L1	5–3	2–2	795	785	101.27%	17.5	32.5
4	Melbourne United	8	4	4	50.00%	2–3	L3	2–2	2–2	674	677	99.56%	17	29
5	Sydney Kings	8	4	4	50.00%	2–3	W1	2–2	2–2	747	729	102.47%	16.5	28.5
6	Illawarra Hawks	8	4	4	50.00%	3–2	W2	3–1	1–3	698	693	100.72%	16.5	28.5
7	New Zealand Breakers	8	3	5	37.50%	2–3	L2	2–2	1–3	703	710	99.01%	13	22
8	Adelaide 36ers	8	2	6	25.00%	1–4	L2	2–2	0–4	673	751	89.61%	14	20
9	Cairns Taipans	8	2	6	25.00%	1–4	L3	2–2	0–4	677	731	92.61%	12.5	18.5

Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2021. Source: nblcup.com.au

External links

• Official website