For the first time in four years the Milwaukee Bucks are set to advance to the NBA playoffs, and Australian centre Andrew Bogut is leading the charge.

Gold Coast Blaze chief executive Dave Claxton says he is confident the club will meet the criteria for inclusion in the next NBL season.

Perth's hierarchy will move quickly to re-sign Kevin Lisch after the US import starred in the Wildcats' 96-72 title-winning NBL triumph over Wollongong Hawks on Friday night.

Perth became the most successful franchise in NBL history on Friday night as Kevin Lisch shot the Wildcats to a 96-72 game three victory over Wollongong.

Lauren Jackson will lead 11 of Australia's Beijing silver medallists into the women's basketball world championships in the Czech Republic later this year.

The National Basketball League (NBL) has postponed an announcement on the make-up of teams in next year's competition.

Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod admits his team will falter if it relies too heavily on scoring machine Cameron Tragardh in the deciding game of the NBL grand final series against the Wildcats in Perth on Friday night.

Disgraced athletics star Marion Jones, stripped of five medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has signed to play for the Tulsa Shock of the Women's NBA, the club announced overnight.

Perth Wildcats coach Rob Beveridge says his side is still well placed to win a record fifth NBL championship despite losing game two of the grand final series to Wollongong.

Wollongong has ensured the NBL championship will go to a decider, levelling the series with a 75-63 victory over Perth in Wollongong.

Perth coach Rob Beveridge has dared Wollongong's home crowd to come up with some new sledges, as the Wildcats attempt to clinch the NBL title in enemy territory on Tuesday night.

Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod says his team's awesome home record will count for little if his big-time players again fail to fire as Perth eyes off a fifth NBL Championship.

The Canberra Capitals defeated the Bulleen Boomers in an WNBL grand final thriller to claim a record seventh championship.

Perth coach Rob Beveridge has challenged his side to overcome Wollongong's home-court advantage on Tuesday to wrap up the NBL grand final series in two matches.

Perth used its physical presence and dominance down low to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three NBL Finals series, beating Wollongong 75-64 at Challenge Stadium on Friday night.

Bulleen Boomers coach Tom Maher admits his side would be raging favourites to win the WNBL title on Saturday over Canberra but for one factor - Lauren Jackson.

Despite already boasting four NBL titles, the Perth Wildcats will be largely entering uncharted territory when they clash with Wollongong in the best-of-three grand final series starting in Perth on Friday night.

Canberra Capitals coach Carrie Graf expects superstar Lauren Jackson to get the better of Bulleen young gun Liz Cambage in the WNBL grand final on Saturday.

Cleveland centre Shaquille O'Neal has had surgery on his injured right thumb and will likely miss the remainder of the NBA regular season, the Cavaliers said.

The Hawks will meet the Wildcats in the NBL grand final after defeating Townsville 88-76 in the third and deciding tie of their semi-final series in Wollongong on Saturday.

Defending champions Canberra qualified for next weekend's WNBL season decider against Bulleen with a 61-56 preliminary final away win over Sydney Uni Flames at Homebush.

Sydney coach Karen Dalton says her undersized squad are determined to produce a fighting performance against a Lauren Jackson-inspired Canberra Capitals in Saturday's WNBL preliminary final.

The Townsville Crocodiles have forced a deciding game three in the NBL semi-final series against Wollongong, thrashing the Hawks 82-53 at the Townsville Entertainment Centre.

Adelaide's favourite basketball son Brett Maher will come out of retirement to play for the Fleet in the new Elite Classic in Adelaide, on the court that has been named in his honour.