Noi's game-winner secures Kings dramatic win against Taipans

A three-pointer after the buzzer by birthday by Kouat Noi has given the Sydney Kings a dramatic 106-103 win against the Cairns Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena. 

Match summary 

Despite some early triples from Dejan Vasiljevic, Tim Soares and birthday boy Kouat Noi, it was the Taipans who started the stronger to lead 12-10. Both teams traded baskets to end the opening term, primarily through Xavier Cooks and DJ Hogg, before two late bombs by Majok Deng ensured the Snakes held the lead (35-30) at quarter-time – marking the highest scoring terms in NBL23 by both sides. It also represented the highest scoring combined quarter total (65) this season, not to mention Cairns’ best against Sydney (eclipsing the 2003 mark of 34) and the highest against any Chase Buford Kings side in 161 quarters. 

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That deficit was quickly erased as Derrick Walton Jr started to weave his magic for the Hoops Capital side, to put them up 49-44 with four to play in the term. But that momentum was short-lived, as eight straight by Sam Waardenburg sparked the visitors onto an 18-4 run – to give Adam Forde’s troops a seven-point advantage (62-55) at the main break. The offensive firepower by Cairns in the first half was highlighted by the fact that 62 is their highest-ever half-time score in a 40-minute game (394th game played). 

In the third, Shaun Bruce, Jaylin Galloway and Angus Glover all made solid contributions, to help the harbour city side hit the front (despite being down by nine with 4.30 to play), following two consecutive and-ones by Cooks. Despite three late free-throws by Bul Kuol, a full-court pass from Jordi Hunter to Cooks for a buzzer-beater gave the Kings the 84-82 lead going into the last – representing the highest three-quarter output in NBL23. 

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Scoring dried up at the start of the fourth, with the pair combining for just six through the opening four minutes. Seconds after Shannon Scott gave the Snakes back the lead (89-88), star big man Keanu Pinder fouled out. That’s when Hogg stepped up and continued to keep the Snakes’ score ticking over, which is just what Bruce did for the Kings – including a huge go-ahead triple with less than a minute to go. Just when a huge Cooks dunk looked to have sealed the game, a clutch three, again by Hogg, levelled the scored 103-all with five seconds left – setting the stage for Noi to hit a three as time expired to give the Kings the 106-103 win. 

Where the match was decided 

 Apart from a huge performance off the bench by the Kings (57 points to 19), Sydney rebounded their opponents (41-38), handed out more dimes (27-24), scored more points in the paint (46-30) and second-chance points (20-9).

Key moment 

Hard to go past Noi’s 25th birthday buzzer-beater after the siren against his former side – which highlighted just how he and fellow bench players like Shaun Bruce, Jaylin Galloway and Jordi Hunter were, outscoring their rivals 57-19 in that domain. 

Player of the game 

All the aforementioned bench players were exceptional, with Bruce (17 points – season high,) Noi (13 – season high) and Galloway (10 – career high) all scoring in double digits – just as player of the game Xavier Cooks. 

The NBL22 Finals MVP tallied 18 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one block in the win. 

What’s next 

Buford’s troops, who are now 6-2 on the season, next travel to New Zealand to face the second-placed Breakers (4-2) at Spark Arena. 

The round six clash, which will see the Kings chase their 17th straight road win, tips off at 2pm AEDT on Sunday, November 6 and will be broadcast live on 10 Peach and ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel.