Only four teams remain in the hunt for an NBL championship, with the road to the Grand Final now clear. Watch every second of the 2020-21 NBL finals live, free and in HD on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand.
Due to the rise of coronavirus cases in metropolitan Melbourne, the Throwdown series will now take place in Sydney, with game one scheduled to tip-off on Friday, June 11.
Illawarra Hawks and Perth Wildcats played the first final on June 10th. The game was tight, but ultimately the Hawks took down the Wildcats 74-72, despite the Wildcats leading by 12 points during the second quarter.
“It’s pretty tough when for 36 minutes you are in front and you can’t put the game away,” said Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson.
“We had nine turnovers in the second half. If you turn the ball over it kills you.
“That’s the second time now against the Hawks where we were loose with the ball. We weren’t strong with the ball. Our passing was not up to scratch.”
The SBS schedule for the 2021 NBL Finals is as follows.
PERTH WILDCATS V ILLAWARRA HAWKS
Game 1: Thursday 10 June
Hawks win 74-72
Game 2: Saturday 12 June
Illawarra Hawks v Perth Wildcats, WIN Entertainment Centre, 5:30pm AEST
Live on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
Game 3 (if required): Monday 14 June
Perth Wildcats v Illawarra Hawks, RAC Arena, 9:30pm AEST / 7:30pm local
Live on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
MELBOURNE UNITED v SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX
Game 1: Friday 11 June
Melbourne United v South East Melbourne Phoenix, Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEST
Live on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
Game 2: Sunday 13 June
South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United, Qudos Bank Arena, 3:00pm AEST
Live on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand
Game 3 (if required): Tuesday 15 June
Melbourne United v South East Melbourne Phoenix, Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEST
Live on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand