Breaking down the NBL's finals contenders and the run home

As eight teams fight for six postseason berths, the NBL regular season is set to go down to the wire.

Credit: May Bailey Photography

With just three rounds left in the NBL regular season, the race for the finals is still well and truly alive. Of course, things aren’t as simple as they used to be — with the all new play-in games introduced by the league, the top six will qualify for postseason play. For a reminder of how the play-in works, click here.

Remarkably, there are still eight teams in the running for those spots in the top six. While the Illawarra Hawks and Brisbane Bullets have fallen out of contention, every other team is alive and kicking. With only a handful of games left for each team to make their run, now is the perfect time to break down every contender and their run home.

1. Sydney Kings

Remaining schedule: @ Perth, vs NZ, @ Tasmania, vs SEM, @ Adelaide, @ Perth

The Sydney Kings won’t be missing the finals this season, with the defending champions storming towards the postseason in impressive fashion. A six game win streak has seen them soar clear of their rivals, and the dominant fashion in which they’ve done so makes them the comfortable championship favourites. The Kings are currently at full strength, and with six games over the final three rounds, it would be no surprise to see them manage their stars down the stretch.

Key game: January 22 vs New Zealand

Prior to round 15, this loomed as a decisive game in the battle for top spot.