NBL1 preview: 12/13 April 2025 - live streams, stats and more

The road to Manchester starts here, with four opening-round D1M playoff games on tap.

Eight teams are now just a pair of wins from punching their ticket to the National Basketball Performance Centre, and a shot at immortality in the NBL's history books.

We take a look at all the weekend's match-ups below, with links to live stats at the bottom of the page. 

#1 Hemel Storm vs #8 Bristol Hurricanes

Hemel Storm's quest to appear in a fifth-consecutive D1M Playoff Final begins with a home tie against #8 seeds Bristol Hurricanes.

The contest marks a remarkable rise for the Hurricanes, who are making their first trip to the top flight's post-season after promotion from D2M a year ago.

With their inexperience at this level presenting somewhat of a free swing at their more seasoned opponents, Bristol will be hoping third time's the charm after a pair of regular season defeats.

Hemel took their home clash 88-78 back in October, before a more evenly-matched 91-87 return leg in Bristol last month, suggesting a third straight success isn't a dead cert this weekend.

After starting the season with a 16-0 streak, Hemel have been 3-5 since and enter the playoffs in stuttering form. Can D1M rebounding champ Daniel Edozie (11.7RPG) help his side to a road upset or will it be regular season assist king Sam Newman (8.4APG) progressing instead?

#2 Derby Trailblazers vs #7 London Cavaliers

Derby enter the playoffs on a high after going into the final weekend of the regular season looking like the #3 seeds, only to pip Reading and sneak into the top two once results fell their way.

Likewise, London are also on a roll. Looking set to miss out on the post-season entirely, a two win double-header to finish their schedule was enough to push the Cavs into seventh, above Bristol via a tiebreaker, and towards Derby for this weekend's contest.

Derby easily won their home game when these sides met in October, coming through as 111-78 winners.

Gone is the Trailblazers' top scorer from that game, David Simental, who's stint with the club was cut short due to a season-ending injury, but in truth both these teams have undergone changes since that Autumn matchup.

Derby are getting solid production from reigning D1M Player of the Week Mo Walker, with the forward leading the likes of Malcolm Smith, Kyle Jimenez and a returning Raheem May-Thompson.

The Cavs have retained their core of Justin Robinson, a Team of the Week pick alongside Walker to end the regular season, plus the likes of A.J Roberts and Juan Manning, with Matthew Bryan-Amaning and fellow forward Troy McIndoe joining mid-season to give the Londoners a push.

Those changes were evidenced by a hard-fought second match up between these sides a few weeks ago (a narrow 88-84 Derby win) that suggests these teams are more well matched for a third instalment this weekend.

#3 Reading Rockets vs #6 Essex Rebels

Reading enter this weekend after winning just one of their last four, including a home defeat to Sunday's rivals Essex, just a few weeks ago.

The Rebels took that tie 89-81 to end the Rockets' fleeting hopes of catching eventual champs Hemel, but the result serves as a recent reminder from the #6 seeds of the quality that this year's playoff field possesses.

The hosts shouldn't be discounted due to their recent struggles. Winners of both pieces of silverware up for grabs this year, January's NBL National Cup and last month's KitKing Trophy, this Rockets' side contains match winners and depth, especially at the guard spot, with the likes of Mitch Clarke, Zain Poorman and Victor Olarerin all shining this season.

That said, both MVP honours have gone to forwards in their big games, with Justin Hopkins (National Cup) and Ty Nsangu (KitKing) putting together standout performances when needed.

Big performances are something Essex's Luke Busumbru knows a thing or two about. Dropping 35 points to go with eight assists last time he went to Loddon Valley, the former playoff winner with Solent leads a strong Rebels' outfit, who have claimed wins against each of D1M's top three sides since March began.

The only road team this weekend with a win against their opponents in the regular season, this game promises to be an exciting third clash in their season series.

#4 Milton Keynes Breakers vs #5 Loughborough Riders

Milton Keynes join Bristol to make it two from two for newly promoted sides heading to the playoffs in their debut campaigns.

MK locked up the #4 seed with late wins over Essex and this weekend's opponents Loughborough, coming through 89-81 against the Riders at the start of the month.

That victory formed part of a four game win streak for the Breakers to end their schedule, and MK have been in fine form since the turn of the year, going 11-4 following December's mid-season break.

That stretch also contained another victory over Loughborough, coming out on top 90-82 in the Midlands in mid-February.

Adrian Scarborough was a standout in both meetings, with the MK man recording a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double on the road and a 28-point, 8-rebound effort at Bletchley,  so slowing the American down will be high on Loughborough's to do list for round three.

The Riders can look to Victor Ndoukou in reply. He finished third behind efficiency leader Scarborough in the regular season, and his 20.0PPG and 8.1RPG splits were a solid contribution across the campaign.

Loughborough's Victor Ndoukou (Nathan Green)

This weekend's fixtures:

Saturday 12 April

5pm - Milton Keynes Breakers vs Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS / TICKETS

7pm - Hemel Storm vs Bristol Hurricanes - LIVE STATS / TICKETS / LIVE STREAM

Sunday 13 April

4pm - Derby Trailblazers vs London Cavaliers - LIVE STATS / TICKETS

4pm - Reading Rockets vs Essex Rebels - LIVE STATS / TICKETS 

Live stream details will be added as they become available

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