Simon inspires Kings to game two victory against Breakers

The Sydney Kings tied up the NBL23 Championship Grand Final Series 1-all on Sunday, thanks to an 81-74 road win against the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena. 

Without either All-NBL first teamers Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr for the majority of the contest, Justin Simon stepped up and produced one of the all-time great defensive playoff performances. 

Match summary 

Neither team could find the bottom of the net early on, combining to miss the match’s first 10 shots before Kouat Noi ended the drought with a free-throw after 2.39 minutes played. Dejan Vasiljevic made it 3-0 to the visitors when he hit the game’s first field goal, 3.47 into the contest. The Kings’ tough defence allowed their lead to grow to six (9-3) midway through the period – with it taking nearly five minutes for the hosts to score through Jarrell Brantley. The Breakers’ mounting foul count handed the Kings numerous chances to extend their lead at the charity stripe, which Noi, Jaylin Galloway and Xavier Cooks made the most of. Late triples by Noi and Vasiljevic (as time expired) ensured the Hoops Capital side held a 21-9 lead at the first change (marking the lowest-ever first quarter by New Zealand against Sydney in a fixture). 

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Turnovers early in the second allowed the Breakers to reduce the margin but five quick points by Australian Boomer Vasiljevic kept the lead in double-figures. But sloppy ball-handling and decision-making by the harbour city side saw the hosts claw back to within four with 3.56 to play. Dererk Pardon made it a one-possession game soon after (capping an 11-0 run) but the Kings didn’t take a backwards step, with two quick scores by Noi moving them up by five. Late free-throws by Shaun Bruce gave the Kings a 34-30 lead at half-time. 

Despite Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr starting on the bench (after being ruled out at the break), the Kings started the stronger thanks to back-to-back steals and dunks by Justin Simon on Will McDowell-White. A phenomenal effort on both ends of the floor by Simon, including a buzzer-beating triple, saw Chase Buford’s side move out to a 10-point lead (48-38) with just over three to play. More aggressive plays by Noi and Angus Glover kept the scoreboard ticking over, as Sydney led 57-41 at three-quarter-time. 

The hard slog continued in the fourth, with the Kings’ defence and clutch shots by Glover and Vasiljevic keeping the lead beyond 10. Five quick points by Mody Maor’s troops forced Buford into a time-out before a timely and-one by Tim Soares ended a 7-0 New Zealand run. Izayah Le'afa tried to single-handedly drag his Breakers into the contest with a pair of threes and a charge, reducing it to a 10-point game. Brown Jr and Bruce then traded threes before the latter found Jordi Hunter on a dive – putting the reigning champs up 74-63 with 1.41 on the clock. Although Brown Jr kept hitting shots for New Zealand, clutch baskets by Hunter and Vasiljevic, followed by free-throws from Glover sealed the courageous seven-point game-two victory. 

Where the match was decided 

Sydney’s defensive win was set up by holding New Zealand to just 36 per cent from the field while shooting 43 per cent themselves. Other statistical wins came in rebounds (44-41), steals (12-10), points in the paint (32-28), bench points (46-38) and fast break points (17-9) - all while getting the line on 34 occasions (hitting 22) compared to New Zealand’s 11/19. 

Key moment  

At half-time, with it being a four-point game, the game was well and truly in the balance. But an inspirational defensive display by Simon in the third quarter (in which Sydney won 23-11) set the tone for the huge road triumph. 

Player of the game 

Simon was superb, setting the tone on defence – highlighted by his four steals in the third quarter alone (a franchise playoff record), all part of a career-best six (which is one shy of the all-time NBL playoff record). Those six give him the Kings' record in a Championship Game fixture and move him to third-most all-time in the club's playoff history behind Greg Hubbard and Dwayne McClain.

Along with those six steals, the St. Johns alum had 12 points and nine rebounds. 

The other standout in the win was forward Noi, who had season-high 20 points, five rebounds, two dimes and two steals off the bench. 

What’s next 

The Kings, who are now all tied up 1-1 in the NBL23 Grand Final, return to Sydney for game three of the Championship Series on Friday, March 10. 

Tickets for the Qudos Bank Arena fixture, which tips off at 7.15pm AEDT, are still available here.