AAP
Results meant little in the WNBL regular season finale with play-off spots already locked up - but someone forgot to tell title contenders Dandenong and Adelaide.
In what the WNBL hopes will be a taste of finals action to come, a Suzy Batkovic-inspired Adelaide Lightning went toe-to-toe with the Rangers before delivering the knockout blow in the dying moments to clinch a thrilling 71-69 away win on Saturday night.
And minor premiers Bendigo Spirit sent a not-so-subtle reminder that they would be the team to beat by downing fellow finalist Townsville 66-57 at home on Saturday night.
Next weekend's semi-final draw had been released before the WNBL regular season was complete with third-placed Adelaide hosting No.4 seed Townsville on Saturday in a knockout clash.
And second-ranked Rangers travel to Bendigo on Sunday, with the winner booking a grand final berth.
However, it looked like the playoffs had started early when the Lightning struck at Dandenong.
Backing up from Friday night's 88-73 away win at Bulleen, Adelaide (18-6 record) held out a desperate Dandenong to seal their seventh straight win in a stirring effort that may wrestle title favouritism away from ladder leaders Bendigo.
Dandenong (19-5) held a 59-53 lead before a see-sawing final quarter in which scores were locked up 69-69 with 0:16 seconds left on the clock.
Enter Adelaide's reigning MVP Batkovic.
The 193cm Opals centre stood tall, somehow defying a sea of defenders to nail a clutch basket before Dandenong failed to get off a buzzer beater.
Batkovic finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds and looms as the dominant force that may decide the upcoming WNBL finals.
"We've been playing a nice style of game," Adelaide coach Peter Buckle said.
"The offence is flowing well, we've had multiple players stepping up and contributing."
Townsville Fire (13-11) began the regular season finale by torching sixth-placed Logan 63-38 on Friday night despite giving away 15 points in turnovers.
But they received a reality check on Saturday night when they went down to perennial leaders Bendigo by nine points after the Spirit's Kelsey Griffin grabbed 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, seven-time champions Canberra's season to forget ended with a heart-breaking 62-60 home loss to dead-last West Coast - snapping their seven-game losing run - on Friday night.
Canberra (8th; 7-17) will be sweating on 12-year coach Carrie Graf re-signing as they look to rebuild.
Normal service resumed on Saturday night when West Coast (4-20) were downed 76-60 away to Sydney University (7th; 8-16).
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