NBL Ignite Cup 2026–27

How the NBL Ignite Cup Works

The Ignite Cup gives selected NBL regular-season games a second competition to play for. A designated league game can count towards the regular-season ladder and the Cup table, but the two tables reward different things. The ladder records the league result. The Cup also rewards teams for winning individual quarters. Use the Cup fixture above to identify the designated games; an ordinary NBL fixture does not automatically earn Cup points.

League games and Cup Finals are different stages

The official NBL27 Ignite Cup guide describes twenty designated Wednesday league games and a four-team Cup Finals. The semi-finals are scheduled for 19 February 2027, followed by the final on 21 February at AIS Arena in Canberra. Those Cup Finals games are additional knockout fixtures. Their results do not add regular-season ladder wins, and they are excluded from the league-stage quarter-points table on this page.

Three points for a win, four points for quarters

A game win earns three Cup points. Each regulation quarter offers one more point: its winner takes the point, or both teams receive half a point when that quarter is tied. There are seven points available across the two teams in a completed game. A club can lose the match and still earn quarter points. Equally, winning the match does not necessarily mean taking all seven points.

Overtime settles the game result when required, but does not create an extra quarter bonus. The eventual winner receives the three game-win points, while the quarter allocation still comes from Q1 to Q4. Read each quarter's individual score when checking the allocation. A running total after the second quarter is not the score for that quarter alone.

Following the Cup Race

Start with results and remaining opponents

The team breakdown connects earned points to the games behind them. Expand a club to inspect its completed matches and the opponents still on its published Cup schedule. This is useful when comparing teams that have played different numbers of designated games. A team with more points may also have had more opportunities to earn them, so consider the played column alongside the total.

The calculated points table explains the available match results. It does not declare a team qualified, apply an unverified tiebreaker or replace the league's official qualification announcement. Teams tied on points should not be treated as separated by their display order here. The published NBL27 format sends four teams to the Cup Finals; check the official standings and confirmation when the qualifying places are settled.

Check the completeness of a points total

A final score alone cannot tell you which team won each quarter. The breakdown therefore shows how many completed games have complete quarter scores. If a result is missing that detail, the team total is withheld rather than treating missing quarters as zero points. You can still open the match centre to see the result and any available player statistics or highlights.

Try a Single-game Cup Scenario

The calculator lets you choose a winner for each of the four quarters and for the game itself. It then separates the three win points from the quarter points. For example, a team that wins the game and two quarters, with no tied quarters, earns five points; its opponent earns two. This helps explain why the final margin and the Cup points can tell different stories.

Your calculation is an illustration. It does not change the real results or team totals. When all four quarters are tied, choose the eventual overtime winner to see a five-to-two allocation. A selection in which a team loses quarters, wins none and still wins the game cannot describe a valid result; the calculator asks you to change those selections.

Planning Your Next Cup Game

Use the team, stage and date filters to find the fixture you want. The upcoming and completed shortcuts make it easy to move between the next game and recent results. Tip-off times follow your selected time zone, while the venue identifies where the game is played. Open the match centre for available viewing options and official ticket links. The Australian TV schedule provides a wider view of coverage, and season dates places the Cup alongside other NBL milestones.

Ignite Cup FAQs

Does every NBL game count towards the Ignite Cup?

No. Only designated Cup fixtures count. Use the Cup schedule rather than assuming every regular-season matchup contributes quarter points.

Can the losing team earn Cup points?

Yes. Winning or tying regulation quarters earns points even when a team loses the overall game. The winner separately receives three game-win points.

Do overtime periods award extra Cup points?

No. Overtime determines the game winner when needed. Quarter bonuses apply only to the four regulation quarters.

Do Cup Finals results count in the regular-season ladder?

No. The NBL27 Cup Finals are a separate knockout stage. Designated league-stage games count in both competitions, but the Cup Finals do not add league wins.