# 2023 NBL Finals

The 2023 NBL Finals was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball League's 2022–23 season.

## Format

The finals will be played in February and March 2023 between the top six teams of the regular season, consisting of three play-in games, two best-of-three semifinal series and the best-of-five Grand Final series, where the higher seed hosts the first, third and fifth games.
The top two seeds in the regular season will automatically qualify to the semifinals. Teams ranked three to six will compete in the play-in tournament. The third seed will play the fourth seed for third spot and the loser will play the winner of fifth or sixth for the fourth seed. This will be the first season the league will introduce play-in games.

## Qualification
### Qualified teams

| Team | Date of qualification | Round of qualification | Finals appearance | Previous appearance | Previous best performance |
| Sydney Kings | 16 January 2023 | 15 | 17th | 2022 | Champions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2022) |
| New Zealand Breakers | 28 January 2023 | 17 | 9th | 2018 | Champions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) |
| Cairns Taipans | 28 January 2023 | 17 | 9th | 2020 | Runners-up (2011, 2015) |
| Tasmania JackJumpers | 4 February 2023 | 18 | 2nd | 2022 | Runners-up (2022) |
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 5 February 2023 | 18 | 2nd | 2021 | Semifinalist (2021) |
| Perth Wildcats | 5 February 2023 | 18 | 36th | 2021 | Champions (1990, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) |

### Ladder

| Pos | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte | 2022–23 NBL season vte |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP |
| 1 | Sydney Kings | 28 | 19 | 9 | 67.86% | 2–3 | L2 | 10–4 | 9–5 | 2679 | 2468 | 108.55% |
| 2 | New Zealand Breakers | 28 | 18 | 10 | 64.29% | 5–0 | W5 | 7–7 | 11–3 | 2423 | 2246 | 107.88% |
| 3 | Cairns Taipans | 28 | 18 | 10 | 64.29% | 2–3 | W1 | 8–6 | 10–4 | 2455 | 2376 | 103.32% |
| 4 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 28 | 16 | 12 | 57.14% | 3–2 | W2 | 7–7 | 9–5 | 2385 | 2305 | 103.47% |
| 5 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 28 | 15 | 13 | 53.57% | 3–2 | L1 | 11–3 | 4–10 | 2553 | 2512 | 101.63% |
| 6 | Perth Wildcats | 28 | 15 | 13 | 53.57% | 2–3 | W1 | 9–5 | 6–8 | 2580 | 2568 | 100.47% |
| 7 | Melbourne United | 28 | 15 | 13 | 53.57% | 4–1 | W1 | 8–6 | 7–7 | 2434 | 2424 | 100.41% |
| 8 | Adelaide 36ers | 28 | 13 | 15 | 46.43% | 2–3 | L1 | 8–6 | 5–9 | 2546 | 2597 | 98.04% |
| 9 | Brisbane Bullets | 28 | 8 | 20 | 28.57% | 2–3 | L3 | 4–10 | 4–10 | 2365 | 2600 | 90.96% |
| 10 | Illawarra Hawks | 28 | 3 | 25 | 10.71% | 1–4 | L4 | 2–12 | 1–13 | 2261 | 2585 | 87.47% |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 February 2023. Source: NBL.com.au

### Ladder progression

* Leader and qualification to semifinals
* Qualification to semifinals
* Qualification to play-in games
* Last place
2022–23 NBL season :
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Adelaide 36ers | — | — | 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Brisbane Bullets | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Cairns Taipans | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Illawarra Hawks | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Melbourne United | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| New Zealand Breakers | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Perth Wildcats | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Sydney Kings | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tasmania JackJumpers | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |

### Seedings

* Sydney Kings
* New Zealand Breakers
* Cairns Taipans
* Tasmania JackJumpers
* S.E. Melbourne Phoenix
* Perth Wildcats
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 overall points percentage will determine order of seeding.

#### Playoff Bracket

| Play-in / Seeding qualifier | Play-in / Seeding qualifier | Play-in / Seeding qualifier | Play-in game | Play-in game | Play-in game | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final | Grand Final |
| 5 | S.E. Melbourne Phoenix | 99 | | | | 1 | Sydney Kings | 95 | 82 | 79 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Perth Wildcats | 106 | | | | 3 | Cairns Taipans | 87 | 93 | 64 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Cairns Taipans | 91 | | | | | | 1 | Sydney Kings | 87 | 81 | 91 | 70 | 77 |
| | | | 6 | Perth Wildcats | 78 | | | | | | 2 | New Zealand Breakers | 95 | 74 | 68 | 80 | 69 |
| 3 | Cairns Taipans | 79 | | | | 2 | New Zealand Breakers | 88 | 78 | 92 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 87 | | | | 4 | Tasmania JackJumpers | 68 | 89 | 77 | | | | | | | |

## Play-in tournament
### (5) S.E. Melbourne Phoenix vs. (6) Perth Wildcats

S.E. Melbourne won 2–1 in the regular season series :
28 October 2022
boxscore
Perth Wildcats 90, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 91
RAC Arena, Perth
17 November 2022
boxscore
Perth Wildcats 103, S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 96
RAC Arena, Perth
22 January 2023
boxscore
S.E. Melbourne Phoenix 112, Perth Wildcats 91
State Basketball Centre, Melbourne :

### (3) Cairns Taipans vs. (4) Tasmania JackJumpers

Cairns won 2–1 in the regular season series :
3 October 2022
boxscore
Tasmania JackJumpers 84, Cairns Taipans 106
MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
17 December 2022
boxscore
Tasmania JackJumpers 82, Cairns Taipans 91
MyState Bank Arena, Hobart
20 January 2023
boxscore
Cairns Taipans 77, Tasmania JackJumpers 85
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns :

### (3) Cairns Taipans vs. (6) Perth Wildcats

Perth won 2–1 in the regular season series :
10 October 2022
boxscore
Cairns Taipans 76, Perth Wildcats 105
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns
20 December 2022
boxscore
Cairns Taipans 83, Perth Wildcats 105
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns
3 February 2023
boxscore
Perth Wildcats 71, Cairns Taipans 84
RAC Arena, Perth :

## Semifinals series
### (2) New Zealand Breakers vs. (4) Tasmania JackJumpers

New Zealand won 3–1 in the regular season series :
7 October 2022
boxscore
New Zealand Breakers 71, Tasmania JackJumpers 65
Spark Arena, Auckland
30 October 2022
boxscore
New Zealand Breakers 94, Tasmania JackJumpers 62
Spark Arena, Auckland
18 November 2022
boxscore
Tasmania JackJumpers 76, New Zealand Breakers 84
Silverdome, Launceston
26 December 2022
boxscore
Tasmania JackJumpers 93, New Zealand Breakers 82
MyState Bank Arena, Hobart :

### (1) Sydney Kings vs. (3) Cairns Taipans

Cairns won 2–1 in the regular season series :
14 October 2022
boxscore
Sydney Kings 78, Cairns Taipans 83
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
29 October 2022
boxscore
Sydney Kings 106, Cairns Taipans 103
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
28 November 2022
boxscore
Cairns Taipans 94, Sydney Kings 88 (OT)
Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns :

## Grand Final series
### (1) Sydney Kings vs. (2) New Zealand Breakers

Sydney won 2–1 in the regular season series :
6 November 2022
boxscore
New Zealand Breakers 77, Sydney Kings 81
Spark Arena, Auckland
8 December 2022
boxscore
New Zealand Breakers 81, Sydney Kings 88
Spark Arena, Auckland
22 January 2023
boxscore
Sydney Kings 88, New Zealand Breakers 93
Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney :

## Media coverage
### Television

Australian broadcast rights to the season are held by ESPN. All games are available live on ESPN and the streaming platform Kayo Freebies. Network 10 will broadcast Sunday afternoon games on 10 Peach and 10 Play.