Kings solidify top spot with gutsy win against Breakers

The Sydney Kings have held on to win their 10th game of the season, downing the New Zealand Breakers 88-81 at Spark Arena on Thursday. 

The Indigenous Round victory solidifies the reigning champion’s spot at the top of the NBL23 ladder. 

Match summary 

The hosts opened the game with three consecutive triples which were cancelled out by Derrick Walton Jr scoring or assisting on seven straight Kings points – sparking a 7-0 run for the visitors. Additional strong play by Tim Soares saw the Kings move out to as many as nine with two and a half minutes left to play. The offensive onslaught by the visitors continued (shooting 73 per cent during quarter one), ending the term on a 10-9 run, to lead by nine after one. 

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Jarrell Brantley tried to put the hosts on his back, helping them close to within three early on – which was aided by the work inside by Breakers’ Dererk Pardon. Chase Buford’s side made some adjustments defensively and slowed down New Zealand’s damage from downtown, which allowed them to get back out and run offensively – to extend their advantage back out to double digits. The catalyst for that was forward Xavier Cooks, who finished the half with 13 points, five boards and two dimes, as the Kings led 54-42 at the main break. 

Left us all SPEECHLESS ?

Catch all the action on @ESPNAusNZ via @kayosports @Foxtel #WeTheKings pic.twitter.com/OKvrZsloXA

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) December 8, 2022

Determined defence by the Kings was on show early in the third as Dejan Vasiljevic and Cooks took back-to-back charges, to strangle the hosts’ offence. Walton Jr’s hot shooting continued and was complimented by an emphatic Justin Simon jam, as Sydney’s lead grew to 16. A late triple as time expired by Jaylin Galloway ensured the visitors held the ascendancy going into the final change, leading by 15 (79-64). 

Five quick points by Mody Maor’s side saw the lead reduced to 10, which was trimmed ever further to six thanks to extra defensive pressure by the hosts. Just when it appeared they were going to close it even further, Simon hit a clutch corner three off a sharp pass from Walton. But crucial turnovers (eight in the fourth alone) by Sydney down the stretch kept the Breakers in the contest, allowing them to make it a four-point game. Up stepped Walton though, whose fourth triple for the game with 1.16 to play, gave the Kings a lead they never relinquished – running out winners 88-81. 

Walking ?#WeTheKings | @DerrickWalton10 pic.twitter.com/sYu3cg1Z4Z

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) December 8, 2022

Where the match was decided 

The purple chalked up their second win of the season in New Zealand thanks to dominating the categories of field goal percentage (53-46), rebounds (41-27), points in the paint (44-32), bench points (18-10) and fast-break points (13-9) - not to mention committing 12 fewer fouls. 

Key moment 

The Breakers opened the fourth quarter on a 17-6 run, to close within four points but a clutch three-pointer by United States point guard, with just over a minute to play, stemmed the momentum and secured the Kings their 10th win of NBL23. 

Player of the game 

The two standouts in Thursday's triumph were Cooks and Walton. 

The former tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal, while the Detroit native contributed 21 points (including four threes), three dimes, two boards and a steal – not to mention numerous clutch plays down the stretch. 

What’s next 

The harbour city side, who are now 10-3 and sit in first place, return home to Qudos Bank Arena for their annual NBL Indigenous Round clash on Sunday. 

During the round 10 fixture, they will be pitted against NBL22 grand final opponents Tasmania for the first time since game three in Sydney and wear the Stewart James-designed Indigenous EORA jerseys. 

Ticket for the clash at 4pm AEDT are available here.