How Sydney matches up with Championship Series rivals New Zealand

Championship Grand Final Series opponents, the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers could play each other as many as five times over the next month, in an attempt to claim the NBL23 title.

Before the exciting series tips off on Friday, March 3 at Qudos Bank Arena, let's look back at the previous three meetings during the NBL23 regular season meetings - two of which were won by the Hoops Capital side.

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Sydney Kings (19-9 record) vs New Zealand Breakers (18-10)

November 6 at Spark Arena: Sydney Kings 81-77 New Zealand Breakers.

December 8 at Spark Arena: Sydney Kings 88-81 New Zealand Breakers.

January 22 at Qudos Bank Arena: Sydney Kings 88-93 New Zealand Breakers.

In all three of the fixtures between the NBL's top-two sides, the road team has won - with all matches being decided by seven points or less, highlighting how tight the games were.

The first saw the Kings jump out to a big lead of 18 points by half-time but with Xavier Cooks being forced from the court due to an ankle injury, the Breakers stormed back into the contest - behind a 31-17 final quarter. But late free-throws by All-NBL First Teamer Derrick Walton Jr down the stretch sealed the harbour city's win.

Tickets for the general public for Grand Final games 1 and 3 go on sale on Tuesday at 4pm; members, check your emails for pre-sale information. Let's PACK THE Q ?

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— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) February 19, 2023

More than a month later, the Kings travelled back to Spark Arena and achieved the same result, winning by seven points thanks to newly crowned MVP Cooks tallying 18 points, 11 boards and five dimes for Chase Buford's side.

The final regular season meeting was in Sydney during the NBL's Heritage Round and despite playing in front of the biggest crowd of the 2022-23 campaign, the Kings went down by five points

In Sydney's two wins, they averaged 42 rebounds per contest, compared to 31 in the defeat, while also shooting 48.03 per cent from the field in those two triumphs - compared to just 40 per cent in the round 16 loss.

From an overall perspective, the Kings are the top offensive team in the competition, averaging 94.7 points per game - 2.6 more than the second-placed Wildcats.

The reigning champions, through their 31 games so far, lead the league in field goal percentage (49.1) and rebounds (41.8) and finished second in three-point percentage (36.3) and assists (19.1).

Comparatively, Mody Moar's side led the competition in steals (eight), while committing more personal fouls (20.5) than any other side.

Diving even deeper into the analytics, the Kings lead the league in pace (80.9) compared to last-placed New Zealand (75.4), as well as be first in effective field-goal percentage (55.5) and true shooting percentage (58.8) and second in free-throw rate (33.3 per cent), defensive rebound rate (75.3 per cent) and overall offensive rating (115.6

While the Breakers are equal-first in steal percentage (10.6) alongside Tasmania and outright first in defensive rating (105.1).

As the stats suggest, the Championship Series will pit the top offensive side against the competition's leaguing defensive unit, which is backed up by Sydney and New Zealand finishing first and second in overall net rating, with 8.8 and 8.5, in NBL23 - way ahead of the third-placed JackJumpers (2.6).

General public tickets to game one are live at 4pm on Tuesday, February 21 via here.