Kings fall to Snakes in a nail-biter in season opener

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media

Result: Cairns Taipans 87 Sydney Kings 86

Stats that matter: Kings 14 offensive rebounds; Rebound count Taipans 54 Kings 45; Kings 7/33 three pointers; Taipans 13 three pointers

Kings MVP: Dejan Vasiljevic had a fine rookie debut, giving the Kings much-needed offensive punch off the bench.

Turning Point: Casper Ware was fouled by Scott Machado with three seconds left in what appeared to be the act of shooting, but the officials disagreed.

The game was over when: Ware missed what would have been a game-winning triple at the buzzer.

Trending in the right direction: Jordan Hunter got the start and showed he could be in line for Most Improved honours this season.

A dramatically undermanned Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings have given a heroic effort in their opening game of the 2020/21 NBL season, going down to the Cairns Taipans 87-86 in a Saturday night thriller at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena.

In front of a typically hostile Taipan crowd, the purple and gold showed great resolve throughout the 40 minutes and were unlucky not to come away with the win after going toe to toe with a ballclub expected to be a championship contender in NBL21.

In a game that featured no less than 11 lead changes, Sydney led by five after a massive triple from Brad Newley (14 points, six rebounds, two assists) with just over three minutes left, and had their chances to close out the game.

However, three pointers from Taipan forward Kouat Noi (12 points, four rebounds) and floor leader Scott Machado (17 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) gave Cairns the lead, before Jordan Hunter (nine points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots), who was tremendous for the Kings, got inside for the deuce to make it 86-85 to the purple and gold and explosive Taipan pivot Cam Oliver (12 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocked shots) made a pair of free throws with just under two minutes left that, ironically, were the final scores of the game.

Neither team could find the basket the rest of the way, and it came down to the final play with Sydney in possession. Cairns had a foul to give, and Machado tried to foul Casper Ware (18 points) with three seconds remaining. Casper looked like he had smartly risen up in his shooting motion to earn a trip to the charity stripe, but the officials were having none of it, leaving the Kings with very little time to attempt the game winner.

Ware received the ball on the inbounds and launched a tough contested shot that was just off the mark, and the Taipans escaped.

But Sydney lost no friends with a tough, committed display all 40 minutes, and right from the start looked like a determined unit at both ends of the floor, despite playing without Daniel Kickert, whose sprained ankle forced him to be a scratch for the game, and introducing an import in Jarell Martin (11 points, eight rebounds), who played just 15 minutes off the bench and will be much better for his first run in purple and gold.

The Kings were in control for much of the battle, getting off to a bright start in an opening quarter that saw them tally 30 points thanks mainly to an aggressive Ware, who was taking it hard right into the teeth of the Cairns D.

The ball movement, the flow and the confidence that Sydney’s offence showed was all top notch in the initial frame, but it was keyed by the stellar work from Hunter at both ends of the floor, who earned his first NBL start and proved he was more than up to the challenge.

Martin also made an immediate impact with five quick points and showed his NBA quality game, and the Kings led 30-24 after one.

The second period was more of the same from the visitors. The offensive execution was polished and the Taipans were being made to work hard against a resolute Sydney defensive wall. Only three triples from Mirko Djeric (15 points, four rebounds) kept the home team in touch before Majok Deng (13 points, six rebounds) came to life in the latter stages of the quarter to help the Taipans slice the margin to just one, with the Kings taking a 51-50 lead into the main break.

It was a defensive grind for most of the third period, with the Taipans getting more physical in an attempt to wrest control of the tempo away from Sydney. But the purple and gold held firm, with a triple from Shaun Bruce (four assists) and back-to-back buckets from Martin helping the Kings hold Cairns at bay.

And when Ware and Dejan Vasiljevic (15 points, four rebounds), keyed a late 10-2 run in the final five minutes of the period, the Kings took a 70-64 lead into the last change and an upset looked on the cards.

Thanks to a pair of baskets from Vasiljevic, who showed he can’t be forgotten when it comes to Rookie of the Year consideration this season, and a spectacular Hunter alley-oop jam off a beautiful feed from Bruce, Sydney kept their noses in front midway through the final quarter. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t close the deal, but Adam Forde’s men should come away from that game with a great deal of confidence based on the way they played and competed against a powerful opponent.

Importantly, they get a chance at quick redemption. The two teams resume hostilities next Saturday night in Cairns before the NBL releases the next rounds of their rolling schedule.

Rise With Us Sydney.

CAIRNS TAIPANS 87 (Machado 17, Djeric 15, Deng 13)
SYDNEY KINGS 86 (Ware 18, Vasiljevic 15, Newley 14) at Cairns Pop-Up Arena

BOXSCORE