Kings triumphant after epic battle with Wildcats

By Matt McQuade

 

Result: Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings 98 Perth Wildcats 95

Stats that matter: Kings 50.7% FG; Kings 17 assists; Wildcats 17 three-pointers; Kings 46 points in the paint.

Kings MVP: In a point guard duel for the ages, Jaylen Adams was simply magnificent.

Turning Point: Sydney’s 29-16 third quarter turned the game in their favour.

The game was over when: Wani Swaka Lo Buluk found Xavier Cooks for a two-hand slam with less than two seconds remaining.

Trending in the right direction: Ian Clark’s first game in purple and gold was a taste of what’s to come from Sydney’s new import.

 

Thrilling. Epic. Classic.

It was all that and more at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night as the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings outlasted the Perth Wildcats 98-95 in front of 7,143 delirious fans, who witnessed one of the all-time great battles between these two powerhouse teams.

Sydney won their second consecutive game against Perth and ran their winning streak to a season-high four straight after an amazing confrontation that saw just about everything, including a remarkable point guard duel between Jaylen Adams (31 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals) and Bryce Cotton (33 points, four assists).

Those two brilliant floor leaders made one incredible play after the other in an individual matchup that was more than worth the price of admission on its own.

But the game was so much more than just two MVP candidates going at each other.

It was an extraordinary back and forth thriller that saw no fewer than 11 lead changes, constant momentum shifts, heroic plays on both sides and clutch shot-making from start to finish.

“It was a heck of a ballgame,” Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings Head Coach Chase Buford said.

“They played well, we played well, they made shots, we had some answers at the rim.”

“It was just a really back and forth game from two good teams, and I’m proud that our guys were able to make enough plays when it mattered to get it over the line.”

“It was a big win for us.”

Sydney’s new import Ian Clark made his NBL debut, and the 2017 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors immediately demonstrated why the Kings were so excited to obtain his services, despite Clark not playing a game for 18 months prior to this contest.

The talented shooting guard nailed a triple with his first shot attempt, hit another two from downtown in his 13-point performance, and made some key defensive plays down the stretch to earn plaudits from his head coach.

“Ian stepping in here in his first game back made some huge plays,” Coach Buford said.

“I don’t think we win that game without some of the shots he made and the defence he played.”

And the man himself was thrilled to get a victory in his first game for his new club.

“It was a big win for us,” Ian said.

“The first couple of minutes I was just anxious trying to get the feel of the game, but once we got competing it felt great.”

“My coaches and teammates helped me so much and it’s just great to get back out there competing.”

The game was an intense battle right from the start.

Sydney’s high-powered transition offence was in overdrive in the opening quarter, led by nine points from the mercurial Adams and seven points on a perfect three of three from the field by Dejan Vasiljevic.

The purple and gold led by as much as 11 points with ninety seconds left, before a jumper from Perth forward Vic Law (14 points, three rebounds) sliced the margin to seven at the first break, with the Kings holding sway 31-24.

The second quarter was a different story.

Perth had been dominated on the glass early but rectified that in a dominant second period, going on a 13-3 run to tie the game midway through the frame, with Wildcat guard Mitch Norton (14 points, six rebounds, four assists) particularly influential.

Luke Travers (16 points, five rebounds) then took over for the ’Cats with a key six points as the visitors outscored the home team 27-14 to take a 51-45 lead into intermission.

Known as great frontrunners, the Wildcats had all the momentum and with Cotton in ominous form, things looked dicey for the purple and gold.

But not so fast.

The Kings came out with a purpose to start the second half, and that purpose was to get superstar forwards Xavier Cooks (18 points, nine rebounds) and Jarell Martin (21 points, seven rebounds, three steals) more involved offensively.

And that, they did.

Martin opened the scoring with a hook shot in the paint, Cooks nailed a beautiful floater, and Sydney quickly pulled the margin back as momentum shifted back to the team from the Hoops Capital.

Adams once again imposed himself on the Wildcats, hitting a pretty step-back jumper and a pair of free throws to make it a one-point ballgame, before Clark buried a long-range bomb to give the home team a slender lead, one they were able to extend to seven points, 74-67, to set the stage for what would be yet another thrilling finish at the Q.

Of course, the fourth quarter was going to feature something special from Bryce Cotton. We’ve seen it from the reigning league MVP so many times as he’s carried his team to win upon win.

And he didn’t disappoint, blasting 12 points to try and will Perth home.

But this time, the Kings would not fold.

And it was Martin and Cooks who were immense for their team in crunch time.

Martin had 11 points in the final ten minutes, kicking things off with a three-point play to make it 81-70 with seven minutes remaining, and then hitting a nerveless triple from the wing after Perth had closed the gap with an 8-0 run fuelled by Cotton and Travers.

And Cooks was unstoppable down the stretch with six huge points and stellar defence to deny the Wildcats any easy entries to the basket.

“I might have shut them (Cooks and Martin) down in the first half more than Perth did,” Coach Buford joked.

“I’ve got to do a better job getting them the ball at times.”

“I was pleading with the guards to throw the ball to the roller every time but there’s more creative plays I can help them with to get them more looks.”

“But gosh, what an efficient night. The two of them combined are 15 of 22 for 39 points and 16 rebounds.”

“I run out of superlatives when I come up here to say about those two every game. They give us so much at both ends. Jarell with some huge threes, X with some great drives and finishes; just really big from both those guys.”

As befit an epic confrontation, it was edge of your seat stuff down the stretch. Sydney led by seven points with eighty seconds left but the Wildcats kept coming with a 6-0 run, including a three from veteran forward Jesse Wagstaff (12 points), to cut the lead to one.

And Perth had two opportunities to take the lead but couldn’t convert, with both Law and Cotton missing perimeter shots.

Law had one final attempt to win the game with just 11 seconds remaining, but he was off the mark with an attempt from deep, Martin rebounded, the ball went through hands before Wani Swaka Lo Buluk found Cooks all alone down the court, and Xavier’s game-sealing slam dunk blew the roof off the building with the Kings getting their best win of the NBL22 campaign.

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The Kings shot the ball at an efficient 51% from the field, were 10 of 29 from three-point range and 14 of 17 from the free throw line in their incredible triumph. They gave up 15 offensive boards to the Wildcats but pounded them on the inside with 46 points in the paint.

The Kings now have a well-earned eight-day break before heading out on the road for a single game in Round 13, with the purple and gold taking on the Adelaide 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Sunday, February 27. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00pm AEST and the game will be televised on ESPN, Kayo Sports and 10 Peach.

Sydney’s next home game is on Sunday March 6 against the Cairns Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena. Tipoff for that one is scheduled for 3:00pm AEST and tickets are on sale now via Ticketek.

That one was something special.

The Pride of Sydney is well and truly on the march.

#WeTheKings

 

BRYDENS LAWYERS SYDNEY KINGS 98 (Adams 31, Martin 21, Cooks 18)
PERTH WILDCATS 95 (Cotton 33, Travers 16, Law 14) at Qudos Bank Arena.

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