Kings win it over United in double overtime thriller

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media

Result: Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings 100 Melbourne United 98 in double overtime

Stats That Matter: Kings 54 points in the paint; Kings 19 offensive rebounds; Kings 32 bench points; Kings 17/19 FT (89%)

Kings MVP: Craig Moller’s performance was one for the ages.

Turning Point: Jock Landale missed two of three free throws with 29 seconds remaining.

The game was over when: Chris Goulding missed a desperation heave for three at the end of the second overtime.

Trending in the right direction: Tom Vodanovich had eight massive points in the fourth quarter to pull the Kings ahead.

Guts. Heart. Determination. The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings had all of that in spades on Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena when they outlasted league leaders Melbourne United in a 100-98 Indigenous Round double overtime epic that will be talked about for a very long time.

Missing Xavier Cooks through injury for most of the second half and seeing import forward Jarell Martin foul out with more than six minutes remaining in the fourth period, a horrifically undermanned Kings outfit showed enormous character to hang in there and respond to everything Melbourne threw at them, sending the crowd of 6,238 into raptures and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

It was the first double overtime game for Sydney since they lost 126-123 to the Townsville Crocodiles on the road in Round 19 of the 2015/2016 NBL season, but this time, the Kings were on the right side of the ledger in a win that takes them to 17-17 in NBL21.

Featuring unbelievable intensity, the game featured ebbs and flows, multiple lead changes and explosive runs, and will go down as one of the most thrilling contests ever seen on Sydney’s home floor. Both teams had chances to win in regulation and in each of the extra sessions, but ultimately it was the grit and belief of the Kings that got them over the line.

“It’s the appreciation of basketball,” an emotional Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings Head Coach Adam Forde said about the classic battle.

“In the second overtime, I thought that if you weren’t a fan of basketball, you’ll be a fan now.”

“Just the way we went about it at the defensive end; it’s not like we particularly shot the ball well, but the second chance points and defensive stops was what won us the game, clamping down at the defensive end.”

“It’s guys just digging deep; playing for each other, and really wanting this one.”

Remarkably, it was the so-called ‘lesser lights’ for the purple and gold who were in large part responsible for what was an incredible win.

With Casper Ware stymied for most of the night by some physical Melbourne defence and Martin fouled out late, the Kings needed other guys to step up, and to a man, they answered the challenge.

After going 0 for 6 in the first half, Shaun Bruce stepped up with an incredible third period, dropping 10 of his 13 points in the quarter during a stunning run of 16 straight points for Sydney, that saw the purple and gold charge to a 64-51 lead.

And when Melbourne responded with a run of their own, taking a 73-67 lead early in the fourth quarter on the back of a 14-0 spurt, it was Tom Vodanovich coming through with a sensational eight-point burst to pull the Kings back in front.

Then there was the man who would be voted the inaugural winner of the Claude Williams Most Valuable Player award for Indigenous Round, one Craig Moller, who, quite simply, played the game of his life.

When the Kings were struggling with Melbourne’s size and talent in the first half, Moller came off the bench and provided instant energy, impacting the game at both ends but particularly on the offensive glass.

That turned the game, and while Melbourne led 46-41 at the half after shooting 56% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, Moller’s impact was profound.

And he kept it going, finishing with a whopping seven offensive rebounds and playing exceptional defence on a variety of United stars. Craig has had bigger statistical nights – he would end up with eight points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals – but his remarkable energy and effort at both ends were not to be denied.

“There was that stretch when we had good looks that just weren’t dropping, then Craig comes in, scoops up a couple of those misses and either puts it back or moves it to Jarell for the finish,” Coach Forde said.

“You can create your own opportunities, and that’s exactly what Craig did.”

He had seven O-boards and I felt like he probably had 17 the way he was playing tonight.”

“I’m super-happy for him, and I’m glad he’s on our team and we don’t have to play against him.”

What was even more special about the win for the Sydney Kings was that it came in Indigenous Round, with the entire night both a celebration of Indigenous culture and a great tribute to all First Nations people.

“It means a lot,” Shaun Bruce said.

“It goes back to November or December when we were on a camp, and part of the RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) was getting out and meeting and learning about Indigenous people.”

“We’re definitely still learning, and we want to learn more about what’s going on.”

“The show that went on outside the game was really special and it’s something we’re really proud of.”

Sydney shot the ball at 37% from the field, were 9 of 39 from three-point range and went 17 of 19 from the charity stripe in their thrilling win.

Five players scored in double figures, led by Bruce, who contributed 21 points, four rebounds and seven assists, while Casper Ware shot just 5 of 20 for his 16 points and five assists, Tom Vodanovich had 13 points, Jarell Martin finished with 12 points and six rebounds and Xavier Cooks had 10 points including a second-quarter highlight-reel play when he took a lob pass from Ware and slammed it home with a vicious one-hand tomahawk jam.

After shooting the lights out in the first half, Melbourne shot 45% from the field from the game, were 11 of 35 from beyond the arc and 11 of 17 from the charity stripe in a loss that drops them to 25-8 on the season.

Jock Landale led the way for United with 23 points and 12 rebounds although he missed two crucial free throws in the second overtime period, Chris Goulding had 16 points but he was shut down after halftime and Mason Peatling, Scott Hopson and Shae Ili all had 11 points. Mitch McCarron had a near triple double with nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but like Landale he missed two big free throws down the stretch.

So, for the Kings, it all comes down to the final weekend to secure a place in the NBL Finals.

Sydney closes out the regular season with a road/home double in Round 21. On Thursday June 3, Sydney heads down the Princes Motorway for a game against arch rivals the Illawarra Hawks, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30pm. And on Saturday June 5, the purple and gold will take on the Brisbane Bullets in their final game of the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00pm.

Rise With Us Sydney.

BRYDENS LAWYERS SYDNEY KINGS 100 (Bruce 21, Ware 16, Vodanovich 13)
MELBOURNE UNITED 98 (Landale 23, Goulding 16, Peatling 11, Hopson 11, Ili 11) in double overtime at Qudos Bank Arena.

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