2 Cheap Supercity Rangers (2-10) v SIT Zerofees Sharks (8-3) When: Thursday, 5th July, 7pm (Live Streamed) Where: Trusts Arena, Auckland Referees: Sean Cronin, Ryan Jones, Sam Pan Notes: The Rangers have won two of their last three and will be playing the Sharks who have not played on the road since May 5th. This will the first of four straight road games for the Sharks who are 2-2 so far this season. The two teams last met in Round 5, the Sharks winning 108-87. Sharks forward, Orlando Coleman, had a season high 29 points. Southland have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams. Last week the Sharks ended the Saints 10 game winning streak, and they will be pleased with the performance from Reuben Te Rangi who scored 19 points. Te Rangi has been quiet this season averaging a career low 7.6 points per game, which puts him ninth in is team in scoring. It also reflects the depth they have this season as they lead the league in scoring at 101 per game. The Rangers allow exactly 101 points per game which is a league worst.
Mike Pero Nelson Giants (10-2) v SIT Zerofees Sharks (8-3) When: Friday, 6th July, 7pm (Live Streamed) Where: At Trafalgar Centre, Nelson Referees: Dallas Pickering, Yalla Edwards, Hayden Pipe Notes: The Giants currently have the longest active winning streak at seven, but they will have the tough task of hosting the Sharks who have won seven of their last eight. The two teams met back in Round Two, and it was the Giants who edged the Sharks 103-100. The Sharks had no answer for point guard, Kyle Adnam, who tallied 32 points and 14 assists which were both season highs. Adnam will go head to head with Jarrad Weeks who leads the Sharks in scoring at 18.1 points per game which includes shooting the ball at 52% from the field and 43.6% from three. Weeks is currently third in the league in three point percentage, the leader is Giants forward, Tohi Smith-Milner, at 47.2%. A win to the Giants will mean they hold the tie break which could be the difference on final placings for the regular season.
Go Media Jets (2-11) v Cigna Saints (11-2) When: Saturday, 7th July, 7pm Where: Springvale Stadium, Whanganui Referees: Ryan Jones, Sean Cronin, Marty Davison Notes: The Jets are coming off their best performance of the season with a upset win over the fourth placed Rams. They will try to do the same against the Saints who had a tough two point win to the Rams on Tuesday. The Jets have lost both meetings to the Saints, but did have a good chance to get a win in the second meeting when the Saints were without both of their leading scorers Shea Ili and LJ Peak. The Saints managed to win 79-70 thanks to 25 points from Jordan Ngatai. This will be the second time the Jets have hosted a game in Whanganui, the other was a 90-71 loss to the Gi-ants in Round Nine. Match up of the game will be between point guards Daishon Knight and Shea Ili. Knight currently leads the league in scoring at 26.5 per game, while Ili is second at 24.8. One more win for the Saints will most likely se-cure a playoff spot as they currently hold the tiebreak over both the Hawks and Rams.
The Wheeler Motor Canterbury Rams (7-6) v Mike Pero Nelson Giants (10-2) When: Saturday, 7th July, 7pm Where: Cowles Stadium, Christchurch Referees: Matt Bathurst, Tayla Ammunson, Sherhon Martin Notes: The Rams are on a two game losing streak and will have the tough task of playing the Giants who have won seven straight and possibly eight if they beat the Sharks. The two teams have played twice in Nelson, both splitting the wins. In the last meeting it was the Giants that won 96-92. Kyle Adnam scored 22, and Mika Vukona made all seven field goal attempts to score 15 points and add 11 rebounds. The Rams have had mixed results at home, going 3-3. Giants are 4-1 on the road, the only loss was to the Hawks. Match up of the game will be between the point guards, Adnam, and Xavier Thames. Thames is averaging 24 points in the two games against the Giants, while Adam is averaging 21.5. This will be the second to last home game for the Giants, who will have a tough finish to the regular season which includes playing the Saints twice, and Sharks in Invercargill.
2 Cheap Supercity Rangers (2-10) v Taylor Hawks (6-6) When: Saturday, 7th July, 7pm Where: Trusts Arena, Auckland Referees: Melony Wealleans, Matt Bathurst, Gavin Zimmerman Notes: The Rangers will host the Hawks who won the last meeting 93-84. The Hawks front court of Jamie Skeen (25 points) and Angus Brandt (22 points and 17 rebounds) were the difference. In his last three games for the Rangers, Marcel Jones, is averaging 26 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. The Rangers have won seven of the last nine meetings. Lindsay Tait continues to lead the league in assists averaging 8.3 while his opponent Jarrod Kenny is currently fifth at 5.7 per game. After this game, the Rangers will play one more game at home before they play their last three on the road. The Hawks meanwhile will play four of their next five at home which should bolster their playoff chances. Hawks playoff chances will probably be determined by the two games against the Rams who are currently in the fourth spot but only by half a game.
Augusta Mountainairs (3-9) v Cigna Saints (11-2) When: Sunday, 8th July, 7pm (Live Streamed) Where: TSB Stadium, New Plymouth Referees: Matt Bathurst, Gavin Zimmerman, Marty Davison Notes: The Airs will host the Saints, and will try and end a ten game losing streak against them, their last win was June 6, 2014, 76-74 at TSB Stadium. In the first meeting between the two teams, the Saints won 98-89, Shea Ili scored 28 for the Saints and Javonte Douglas had 25 points for the Airs. Douglas will go head to head with LJ Peak, who returned to the Saints line-up after missing their last three games which included the Airs. Centre, Xavier Smith, did not face the Saints last time, and should provide a good cover against Majok Majok, who is leading the league in rebounds at 11.7 per game. Smith is currently second equal in blocks at 1.7 per game.