Games of the Week Preview: April 4-6

Feature image via: Picture it Sports 

Heading into the second week of the season, the NBL1 West will start on Friday night while the South, Central and East will continue into Round 2. 

With Grand Final rematches, superstars going head-to-head and more, make sure to check out the Games of the Week this weekend live and free via Kayo Freebies.

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Friday, Round 1: Mandurah Magic vs Willetton Tigers

Women’s live from 6:30pm AWST | Men’s live from 8:30pm AWST

To kick off the NBL1 West season, we’ll have a Grand Final rematch between the men’s Mandurah Magic and Willetton Tigers. 

As the Magic raise their first championship banner in club history, the Tigers will be ready to spoil the parade. With a returning core, Willetton are set for another productive season. But can Mandurah recapture the magic of 2024? We’ll find out on Friday night. 

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Friday, Round 2: Mount Gambier Pioneers vs Casey Cavaliers

Women’s live from 6:00pm ACDT | Men’s live from 8:00pm ACDT

Hosting their first game of the season at home, the men’s Mount Gambier Pioneers are looking to extend their 2-0 start off the back of Joe Palmer’s brilliant debut. 

The American guard was spectacular in his first games down under, averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds and three assists against Geelong and Keilor – being named the Foot Locker Player of the Week for Round 1. 

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The Pioneers group have retooled well with reigning MVP Nick Marshall departing, bringing in 53-game NBL veteran Alex Mudronja, Palmer and re-signing Titus Robinson, Austin Shelley and Akech Aliir. 

They’ll be going up against the Casey Cavaliers, who are coming off a seven-point win against Dandenong.  With 21 points each from Sydney King, Tyler Robertson and import Trendon Hankerson, the team is only expected to improve with the return of Dillon Stith – who missed his season debut after representing Australia in a gold medal finish at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup. 

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With star talent on both sides, this will be a must-watch clash, live on Kayo Freebies. 

Saturday, Round 2: Woodville Warriors vs North Adelaide Rockets

Women’s live from 6:30pm ACDT | Men’s live from 8:30pm ACDT

Saturday will be a battle of two superstar guards, Woodville’s Jasmin Fejo and North Adelaide’s Lauren Mansfield.

Fejo had a massive debut for the Warriors, scoring a game-high 28 points and four assists in the three-point loss. She’ll be going up against Mansfield, who is coming off the WNBL Grand Final and has over 200 games of experience.

Rockets’ Brooke Basham, who made the All-Star Five and is coming off a 22-point and 11 rebound performance against the Norwood Flames, will be Woodville’s primary focus on the defensive end, throwing everything they can to slow down the superstar.

After getting the rust off in her return, all eyes will be on Erin Phillips to see if she can have a breakout game and truly make her mark on the NBL1 competition. 

Saturday, Round 2: Maitland Mustangs vs Albury-Wodonga Bandits

Women’s live from 5:00pm AEDT | Men’s live from 7:00pm AEDT

The women’s clash between Maitland and Albury-Wodonga will have two diametrically different scorers on display on Saturday. 

Riley Lupfer, who won the NBL1 East’s Player of the Week, is coming off a 30-point performance for the Bandits, making over 10 triples against the Canberra Nationals. She’s the definition of a sniper, making over 40 per cent of her threes in her last NBL1 season with Launceston back in 2023.

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On the other side, Maitland’s Sydney Hunter had 28 in their win over Illawarra and did so by dominating under the basket. 

After a shocking straight set of losses in the Finals after a 20-0 regular season in 2024, this new-look Bandits squad will head up the freeway for their first road challenge of the season. Can the Mustangs protect home court? We’ll see on Saturday night.

While on the men's side, Albury-Wodonga recuirt Matthew Gray will face his old side for the first time. Gray made three straight Grand Final appearances with the club and made the unexpected move in the offseason, so there may be some bitter feelings coming into this clash. 

Hear more from Gray on NEXT QUESTION below,