Breakers outmuscle Kings in NBL grand final series to force deciding match in Sydney
The Sydney Kings will play for a second straight title in a grand final series decider at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night after a rugged 80-70 home victory by the New Zealand Breakers levelled the NBL grand final series at 2-2 on Sunday.
“We’ve gotta weather the storm, and it was a hell of a storm in the second half,” said Kings coach Chase Buford. “We’ll watch the film, we’ll move on, and we’ll get ready to win game five.”
Xavier Cooks of the Kings attacks during game four of the NBL Grand Final series.Credit:Getty
The Kings took to the court on the front foot after restricting the Breakers to just 21 points in the second half of game three – the lowest total in a championship series half.
But a combination of the Breakers’ signature physicality and a series of crucial turnovers from the Kings dashed the reigning champions’ hopes of lifting the trophy in Auckland. NBA-bound Xavier Cooks’s input was affected by his foul count and star import Derrick Walton jr was effectively harried by the hosts’ defence.
The Kings had nothing to show for their first six possessions as the Breakers made their presence felt from the opening whistle. But the Kings also put up some tight defence in the paint. Only 15 points were scored within the first seven minutes between both sides.
With the Breakers continually forcing the Kings into shooting late in the shot clock, the visitors managed just 12 points over the opening 10 minutes.
Early in the second quarter, a defensive lapse from the Kings saw Barry Brown recoup his own rebound and score. He then added to the Breakers’ lead with a successful free throw and back-to-back three-pointers. All of a sudden, a handy 32-30 lead was favouring Mody Maor’s team.
Amid the drama, an obviously frustrated Cooks unleashed an ill-advised shoulder charge on Jarrell Brantley, who harassed the Kings star with great success at both ends of the court, and Cooks was benched with his third personal foul. The Breakers leapt on the opportunity and finished the first half ahead 39-27.
“We got to stick to the plan, we’ve got to stay together, we’re going off-script,” said Kings’ defensive ace Justin Simon at half-time. “It’s uncharacteristic, we’re kind of lax. We’ve gotta come out in these last 20 minutes and make sure we’re not going to game five.”
The reigning champions out-gunned the Breakers in every third quarter of the series and game four was no exception, as the Kings clocked 25 points to the hosts’ 15. The Kings fended New Zealand off the paint and a 28-foot three-pointer from Angus Glover severed the Breakers’ lead to a point.
Despite long-range heroics from Angus Glover and Dejan Vasiljevic in the final quarter, a 26-point burst by the Breakers has the Kings heading back to Qudos Bank Arena for a decider.
Brantley was the New Zealand side’s hero with 23 points, five rebounds and a block. The series’ top scorer Barry Brown jr finished with 20 to set the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the season.
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