# 1997 NBL season

The 1997 NBL season was the 19th season of competition since its establishment in 1979. A total of 11 teams contest the league. The Hobart Devils, Geelong Supercats and Gold Coast Rollers did not return this season. The Melbourne Tigers were the champions.

## Regular season

The 1997 regular season took place over 24 rounds between 11 April 1997 and 29 September 1997.

### Round 1

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 11/04/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 85–81 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/04/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 84–104 | South East Melbourne Magic | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/04/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 111–105 | Melbourne Tigers | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/04/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 83–97 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/04/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 96–112 | Newcastle Falcons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/04/1997 | Townsville Suns | 113–115 | Melbourne Tigers | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/04/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 83–85 | South East Melbourne Magic | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 2

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 18/04/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 101–109 | North Melbourne Giants | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/04/1997 | Sydney Kings | 92–94 | North Melbourne Giants | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/04/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 97–85 | Adelaide 36ers | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/04/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 101–108 | Perth Wildcats | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/04/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 77–99 | South East Melbourne Magic | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/04/1997 | Townsville Suns | 104–86 | South East Melbourne Magic | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/04/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 100–103 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 3

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 25/04/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 69–89 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/04/1997 | Sydney Kings | 97–92 | Perth Wildcats | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/04/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 96–104 | Townsville Suns | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/04/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 96–97 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/04/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 101–122 | Perth Wildcats | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/04/1997 | Townsville Suns | 97–91 | Sydney Kings | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/04/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 98–117 | Canberra Cannons | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 4

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 2/05/1997 | Sydney Kings | 112–108 | Townsville Suns | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/05/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 121–103 | Melbourne Tigers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/05/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 98–81 | Brisbane Bullets | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/05/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 92–99 | North Melbourne Giants | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/05/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 123–106 | Illawarra Hawks | Whitlam Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/05/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 85–108 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 3/05/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 82–71 | Sydney Kings | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/05/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 110–104 | Townsville Suns | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 5

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 7/05/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 78–89 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/05/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 102–84 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/05/1997 | Townsville Suns | 109–97 | Illawarra Hawks | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/05/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 77–88 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 10/05/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 106–93 | Canberra Cannons | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/05/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 109–104 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 6

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 16/05/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 82–86 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/05/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 105–88 | Illawarra Hawks | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/05/1997 | Townsville Suns | 119–95 | Melbourne Tigers | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/05/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 96–92 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/05/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 111–98 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/05/1997 | Sydney Kings | 104–78 | Canberra Cannons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/05/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 85–78 | Brisbane Bullets | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/05/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 95–126 | Illawarra Hawks | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 7

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 23/05/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 122–114 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/05/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 93–81 | Newcastle Falcons | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/05/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 107–119 | Adelaide 36ers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/05/1997 | Sydney Kings | 96–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/05/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 96–83 | North Melbourne Giants | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/05/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 85–117 | South East Melbourne Magic | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 24/05/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 110–92 | Illawarra Hawks | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/05/1997 | Townsville Suns | 100–89 | Canberra Cannons | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 8

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 29/05/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 113–99 | Melbourne Tigers | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 30/05/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 98–103 | Sydney Kings | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/05/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 97–102 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/05/1997 | Sydney Kings | 106–101 | Canberra Cannons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/05/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 97–126 | Townsville Suns | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/05/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 108–100 | Adelaide 36ers | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 9

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 5/06/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 104–90 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/06/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 78–82 | Brisbane Bullets | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/06/1997 | Townsville Suns | 102–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/06/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 106–98 | Brisbane Bullets | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/06/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 109–89 | Illawarra Hawks | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/06/1997 | Sydney Kings | 124–117 | Melbourne Tigers | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 10

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 11/06/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 80–55 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/06/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 96–106 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/06/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 104–111 | North Melbourne Giants | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/06/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 99–114 | Sydney Kings | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/06/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 87–83 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/06/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 109–90 | Townsville Suns | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 14/06/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 104–91 | Newcastle Falcons | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/06/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 116–108 | Newcastle Falcons | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/06/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 99–96 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 11

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 20/06/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 107–123 | Sydney Kings | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/06/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 100–91 | North Melbourne Giants | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/06/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 115–104 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/06/1997 | Sydney Kings | 88–89 | South East Melbourne Magic | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 21/06/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 90–102 | Newcastle Falcons | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/06/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 141–99 | Newcastle Falcons | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 12

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 27/06/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 99–114 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/06/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 92–86 | Perth Wildcats | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/06/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 127–100 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/06/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 105–92 | Adelaide 36ers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/06/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 87–98 | Melbourne Tigers | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/06/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 82–92 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/06/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 112–92 | Sydney Kings | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/06/1997 | Townsville Suns | 98–94 | North Melbourne Giants | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 13

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 4/07/1997 | Townsville Suns | 81–84 | South East Melbourne Magic | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/07/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 97–71 | Canberra Cannons | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/07/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 112–100 | North Melbourne Giants | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/07/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 93–102 | Melbourne Tigers | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/07/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 97–86 | Sydney Kings | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/07/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 106–101 | Newcastle Falcons | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/07/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 86–94 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 14

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 9/07/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 113–105 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/07/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 107–112 | Perth Wildcats | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 11/07/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 84–102 | North Melbourne Giants | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/07/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 96–89 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/07/1997 | Sydney Kings | 109–85 | Brisbane Bullets | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/07/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 106–86 | Illawarra Hawks | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/07/1997 | Townsville Suns | 97–95 | Canberra Cannons | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/07/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 87–62 | Canberra Cannons | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 15

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 18/07/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 94–93 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/07/1997 | Sydney Kings | 92–109 | Newcastle Falcons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/07/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 97–105 | South East Melbourne Magic | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/07/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 91–88 | Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/07/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 90–92 | Newcastle Falcons | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/07/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 99–86 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/07/1997 | Townsville Suns | 102–90 | Perth Wildcats | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 16

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 1/08/1997 | Townsville Suns | 101–104 | Brisbane Bullets | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/08/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 112–82 | Illawarra Hawks | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 17

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 8/08/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 79–84 | Townsville Suns | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 9/08/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 91–94 | Melbourne Tigers | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 18

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 15/08/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 86–97 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/08/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 119–107 | Canberra Cannons | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/08/1997 | Townsville Suns | 124–103 | Illawarra Hawks | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/08/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 97–92 | Sydney Kings | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/08/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 97–93 | South East Melbourne Magic | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 16/08/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 99–102 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/08/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 80–81 | Illawarra Hawks | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 19

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 20/08/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 120–90 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/08/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 98–73 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/08/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 94–83 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/08/1997 | Sydney Kings | 100–112 | Adelaide 36ers | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/08/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 114–130 | Townsville Suns | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 23/08/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 93–96 | Illawarra Hawks | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 25/08/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 128–107 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 20

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 29/08/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 103–86 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/08/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 74–77 | Brisbane Bullets | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 30/08/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 92–67 | South East Melbourne Magic | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 30/08/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 85–97 | North Melbourne Giants | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 30/08/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 98–95 | Perth Wildcats | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 30/08/1997 | Sydney Kings | 93–112 | Townsville Suns | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 31/08/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 128–98 | Illawarra Hawks | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 2/09/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 94–78 | Newcastle Falcons | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 21

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 5/09/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 71–82 | South East Melbourne Magic | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/09/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 88–82 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/09/1997 | Sydney Kings | 95–77 | Illawarra Hawks | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/09/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 101–107 | Adelaide 36ers | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/09/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 112–120 | Melbourne Tigers | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 6/09/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 101–98 | Townsville Suns | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/09/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 124–106 | Townsville Suns | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/09/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 117–96 | Sydney Kings | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 22

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 10/09/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 97–74 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 12/09/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 99–96 | Townsville Suns | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/09/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 88–87 | Canberra Cannons | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/09/1997 | Newcastle Falcons | 110–97 | Illawarra Hawks | Newcastle Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/09/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 82–76 | Townsville Suns | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 13/09/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 103–90 | Adelaide 36ers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/09/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 92–94 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/09/1997 | Sydney Kings | 90–85 | Newcastle Falcons | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 23

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 19/09/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 101–88 | Sydney Kings | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 19/09/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 86–85 | Adelaide 36ers | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/09/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 92–90 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/09/1997 | Sydney Kings | 98–103 | South East Melbourne Magic | Sydney Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/09/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 98–107 | Melbourne Tigers | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/09/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 120–97 | Adelaide 36ers | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 20/09/1997 | Townsville Suns | 103–106 | Newcastle Falcons | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 22/09/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 70–102 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Round 24

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 24/09/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 102–106 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 26/09/1997 | Townsville Suns | 100–102 | Perth Wildcats | Townsville Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/09/1997 | Adelaide 36ers | 104–110 | Melbourne Tigers | Adelaide Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/09/1997 | Illawarra Hawks | 115–90 | Brisbane Bullets | Beaton Park Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 27/09/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 98–95 | Sydney Kings | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 28/09/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 108–99 | Newcastle Falcons | Dandenong Basketball Stadium | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/09/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 116–107 | Brisbane Bullets | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

## Ladder

This is the ladder at the end of season, before the finals. The top 6 teams qualified for the finals series.
| Pos | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte | 1997 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 30 | 22 | 8 | 73.33% | 4–1 | W1 | 12–3 | 10–5 | 2850 | 2662 | 107.06% |
| 2 | Melbourne Tigers | 30 | 19 | 11 | 63.33% | 5–0 | W13 | 9–6 | 10–5 | 3092 | 3028 | 102.11% |
| 3 | North Melbourne Giants | 30 | 18 | 12 | 60.00% | 3–2 | L1 | 9–6 | 9–6 | 2943 | 2881 | 102.15% |
| 4 | Perth Wildcats | 30 | 17 | 13 | 56.67% | 3–2 | W2 | 10–5 | 7–8 | 2933 | 2825 | 103.82% |
| 5 | Brisbane Bullets$^1$ | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50.00% | 2–3 | L3 | 10–5 | 5–10 | 2731 | 2786 | 98.03% |
| 6 | Canberra Cannons$^1$ | 30 | 15 | 15 | 50.00% | 4–1 | W3 | 11–4 | 4–11 | 2789 | 2773 | 100.58% |
| 7 | Adelaide 36ers$^2$ | 30 | 14 | 16 | 46.67% | 1–4 | L4 | 7–8 | 7–8 | 2973 | 2922 | 101.75% |
| 8 | Townsville Suns$^2$ | 30 | 14 | 16 | 46.67% | 0–5 | L6 | 9–6 | 5–10 | 3084 | 3015 | 102.29% |
| 9 | Newcastle Falcons$^3$ | 30 | 12 | 18 | 40.00% | 2–3 | L1 | 7–8 | 5–10 | 2995 | 3173 | 94.39% |
| 10 | Sydney Kings$^3$ | 30 | 12 | 18 | 40.00% | 1–4 | L3 | 8–7 | 4–11 | 2938 | 2991 | 98.23% |
| 11 | Illawarra Hawks | 30 | 7 | 23 | 23.33% | 2–3 | W2 | 4–11 | 3–12 | 2906 | 3178 | 91.44% |
Updated to match(es) played on 29 September 1997. Source: NBL.com.au
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.
$^1$Brisbane Bullets won Head-to-Head (2-1).
$^2$Adelaide 36ers won Head-to-Head (2-1).
$^3$Newcastle Falcons won Head-to-Head (2-1).

## Finals
### Playoff bracket

| Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Elimination Finals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| | | | | | 1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 92 | 96 | X | | | | | |
| 4 | Perth Wildcats | 81 | 88 | X | 4 | Perth Wildcats | 82 | 69 | X | | | | | |
| 5 | Brisbane Bullets | 79 | 71 | X | | | | | | 1 | S.E. Melbourne Magic | 74 | 84 | 83 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Melbourne Tigers | 111 | 78 | 93 |
| | | | | | 2 | Melbourne Tigers | 107 | 112 | X | | | | | |
| 3 | North Melbourne Giants | 93 | 108 | 102 | 3 | North Melbourne Giants | 99 | 105 | X | | | | | |
| 6 | Canberra Cannons | 104 | 98 | 75 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Elimination Finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 3/10/1997 | Canberra Cannons | 104–93 | North Melbourne Giants | AIS Arena | N/A | boxscore |
| 4/10/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 81–79 | Brisbane Bullets | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 5/10/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 108–98 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/10/1997 | Brisbane Bullets | 71–88 | Perth Wildcats | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 7/10/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 102–75 | Canberra Cannons | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |

### Semi-finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 13/10/1997 | Perth Wildcats | 82–92 | South East Melbourne Magic | Perth Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 15/10/1997 | North Melbourne Giants | 99–107 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre | N/A | boxscore |
| 17/10/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 96–69 | Perth Wildcats | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 18/10/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 112–105 | North Melbourne Giants | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

### Grand Final

| Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Crowd | Boxscore |
| 25/10/1997 | Melbourne Tigers | 111–74 | South East Melbourne Magic | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 29/10/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 84–78 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |
| 1/11/1997 | South East Melbourne Magic | 83–93 | Melbourne Tigers | Melbourne Park | N/A | boxscore |

## 1997 NBL statistics leaders

| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
| Points per game | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers | 30.9 |
| Rebounds per game | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns | 13.7 |
| Assists per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 8.9 |
| Steals per game | Darryl McDonald | North Melbourne Giants | 3.3 |
| Blocks per game | Simon Dwight | Canberra Cannons | 4.3 |
| Free throw percentage | Dylan Rigdon | Illawarra Hawks | 88.2% |

## NBL awards

* Most Valuable Player: Andrew Gaze, Melbourne Tigers
* Most Valuable Player Grand Final: Lanard Copeland, Melbourne Tigers
* Best Defensive Player: Mike Kelly, South East Melbourne Magic
* Most Improved Player: Ben Pepper, Newcastle Falcons
* Rookie of the Year: Matthew Nielsen, Sydney Kings
* Coach of the Year: Lindsay Gaze, Melbourne Tigers & Brian Goorjian, South East Melbourne Magic

## All NBL Team

| # | Player | Team |
| PG | Derek Rucker | Townsville Suns |
| SG | Robert Rose | Canberra Cannons |
| SF | Andrew Gaze | Melbourne Tigers |
| PF | Clarence Tyson | Townsville Suns |
| C | Mark Bradtke | Melbourne Tigers |