NBL1, KitKing & National Cup preview: 16/17 November - live streams, stats and more

It is a busy weekend for NBL fans with three separate competitions vying for attention.

Six games fill the D1M slate on Saturday with 12 of the league's 13 teams all in action, before the National Cup moves to the fore on Sunday with 14 ties set to play out.

If that wasn't enough, Reading and Derby will go head-to-head on Sunday for a spot in the KitKing Trophy Final, with the NBL Live cameras set to catch all the action in that one.

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

Reading Rockets (5-2) vs Hemel Storm (5-0)

The NBL Live cameras will be in for a treat this weekend as they head to Loddon Valley for a top-four contest between Reading Rockets and Hemel Storm.

Reading will be disappointed to have dropped last weekend's game in Loughborough, going down 70-58 in an uncharacteristically low-scoring contest against the Riders.

Reading are hitting 40.6 FG% on the year and their 27% last weekend was a far cry from their usual output, with 58 points also being a season low. Loughborough's defensive game plan could certainly be of use to Hemel as they try to find a way to slow down an offence that averaged 80.3PPG before last weekend.

Storm have had no such problems so far in their schedule, winning all five of their contests and scoring 91.4PPG, second-highest in the division.

Tra'Michael Moton's 19.4PPG put him inside D1M's top 10, with both the American and team-mate Darien Nelson-Henry earning a spot in the most recent Team of the Week after their exploits against Milton Keynes.

Hemel enter tomorrow's clash as favourites given their spotless record to date, but Reading's home advantage and what is sure to be a raucous crowd will certainly help even things up.

You can join John Hobbs and the rest of the NBL Live crew from 7:30pm over on the Basketball England YouTube channel.

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Elsewhere this weekend

The weekend begins in the Midlands for a local derby between Loughborough Riders (2-2) and Nottingham Hoods (2-4).

Just an hour along the A60 separates the two sides who are both set on four points and looking for a way to move up the table.

Last season's league runners up Essex Rebels (3-3) had a slow start to the new campaign but have since won two in a row and will look to make that three as they visit Thames Valley Cavaliers (2-3).

Derby Trailblazers (5-1) were shorthanded last weekend but still managed to win on the road against Newcastle. They'll head home and hope for better news on the likes of Malcolm Smith, Leighton Elliott-Sewell and David Simental, with Bristol Hurricanes (3-2) up next.

City of Birmingham's Orlan Jackman sits fourth in the D1M efficiency charts and his overall production last weekend earning him a spot in the league's Team of the Week. The Commonwealth Games gold medalist and the rest of the Rockets (4-2) are at home tomorrow and ready to welcome Newcastle Knights (2-4) and Ronald Blain, who is currently D1M's top scorer on 24.5PPG.

The weekend's league action draws to a close on the South coast with the bottom two going head-to-head as Worthing Thunder (1-5) entertain the only winless side left in the top flight, Bradford Dragons (0-5).

KitKing Trophy Semi-Final

Reading Rockets vs Derby Trailblazers

The second of this season's KitKing semi-finals plays out on Sunday as holders Derby travel to Reading as both teams battle for the right to take on Milton Keynes Breakers.

With both teams doing well in the league, sitting on 10 points and earning spots in the top four, this one should be a great contest between two evenly-matched sides.

Much could depend on the availability of Malcolm Smith, Leighton Elliott-Sewell and David Simental, with that trio supplying a combined 57.5PPG for the Trailblazers so far this season.

If any of the three can't suit up it'd be big blow to the defending champs, with Reading no doubt fancying their chances of improving on last season's semi-final exit, and avenging that result against Derby in the process.

NBL National Cup

Sunday is also home to round four of the NBL National Cup, giving fans even more basketball to enjoy.

Holders Milton Keynes Breakers have an away tie against D2's Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, with fellow D1M outfit Hemel Storm taking a trip to last season's relegated top flight side Barking Abbey.

There are home ties for D1M's Newcastle Knights, Thames Valley Cavaliers and Loughborough Riders as they all take on lower league opposition in the form of West Yorkshire Hawks, Portsmouth Force and Oxford Hoops respectively.

Bristol Academy Flyers II are currently top of D2 North and will be hoping for an upset as they head to City of Birmingham Rockets, as will Manchester Giants II as they take on D1M's basement side Bradford Dragons.

There are also some tasty local clashes to look forward to, with CoLA Southwark Pride vs London Elite, Worthing Thunder vs Team Solent Kestrels and Essex Rebels vs Essex Charge.

That just leaves Nottingham Hoods against Encon Derbyshire Arrows, St Helens Saints and Manchester Magic, Cardiff Met Archers hosting Bristol Hurricanes and Surrey Rams vs Westminster Warriors to round out Sunday's ties.

This weekend's fixtures:

Saturday 16 November

D1M

1:30pm - Loughborough Riders vs Nottingham Hoods - LIVE STATS / TICKETS / LIVE STREAM

6:30pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers vs Essex Rebels - LIVE STATS / TICKETS

7:30pm - Reading Rockets vs Hemel Storm - LIVE STATS / TICKETS / LIVE STREAM

7:30pm - Derby Trailblazers vs Bristol Hurricanes - LIVE STATS / TICKETS

7:30pm - City of Birmingham Rockets vs Newcastle Knights - LIVE STATS / TICKETS

7:30pm - Worthing Thunder vs Bradford Dragons - LIVE STATS / TICKETS

Sunday 17 November

KitKing Trophy

4pm - Reading Rockets vs Derby Trailblazers - LIVE STATS / TICKETS / LIVE STREAM

NBL National Cup

1pm - Nottingham Hoods vs Encon Derbyshire Arrows - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

2pm - Newcastle Knights vs West Yorkshire Hawks - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

2:30pm - Barking Abbey vs Hemel Storm

3pm - Manchester Giants II vs Bradford Dragons

3pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball vs Milton Keynes Breakers

3pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers vs Portsmouth Force - LIVE STATS

3:30pm - Loughborough Riders vs Oxford Hoops - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM

4pm - St Helens Saints vs Manchester Magic

4pm - Cardiff Met Archers vs Bristol Hurricanes

5pm - City of Birmingham Rockets vs Bristol Academy Flyers II - LIVE STATS

5pm - CoLA Southwark Pride vs London Elite

5pm - Surrey Rams vs Westminster Warriors

5pm - Worthing Thunder vs Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS

6:30pm - Essex Rebels vs Essex Charge - LIVE STATS

Live stream details will be added as they become available

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Main image credit - Charlie Dodd