The Sydney Kings are back in the winner’s circle after another win against last year’s grand final foes. Catch up with all the round 16 NBL23 action.
The Sydney Kings overcame a slow start to end their losing streak.
The New Zealand Breakers scored a big win against Brisbane, while the Phoenix edged out the Taipans.
Catch up with all the round 16 NBL action.
– Ryan Rosendale
The Tasmania JackJumpers playoff ambitions are hanging by a thread following a 14-point loss to the Sydney Kings at MyState Bank Arena on Friday.
Returning to Hobart for the first time since last year’s grand final series, the Kings responded from a rather uncharacteristic first quarter to dominate the final three stanzas and end its two-game losing streak with a 91-77 victory.
Superstar Dejan Vasilijevic couldn’t be contained after a scoreless first term with the Kings sharp shooter finishing with 24 points much to the dismay of the loud and proud Tasmanian crowd.
Coming off a seven-day break after defeating the Cairns Taipans last Friday, the JackJumpers controlled play from the outset with Kings star Xavier Cooks drawing two early personal fouls as the Jackies work on the defensive end of the court stifled the visitors every time they went inside the paint.
Kings coach Chase Burford was his usual animated self-early as his side failed to respond to the JackJumpers pressure on both ends of the court.
After the home side scored 12 of its first 25 first quarter points from turnovers to take an 11-point lead into the break, the switch flicked in the second for the Kings who dominated from the outset.
Guard Derrick Walton Jr and Cooks combined for 12-points while Vasilijevic put up 10 of his own in a dominating display.
The Jackies had no answers throughout and ended the half at just 13/41 from the field following a 37-14 quarter.
Quarter three was a much tighter affair despite Vasilijevic taking control with another 11 points including a long-range triple that sucked the air out of the home crowd.
Facing a 20-point deficit at the final change, the JackJumpers were able to drag the margin back and win the quarter 23-17 but it was too little too late with the Kings eventually winning their 18th game of the season.
Issac White top scored in a relatively low night of individual performances at the rim with 11 points while big-man Fabijan Krslovic was strong on both ends of the court and finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals.
The JackJumpers won’t have long to lick their wounds with an important clash against the Perth Wildcats on Sunday at home before their final game of the regular season against the Illawarra Hawks next Saturday at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
– Marco Monteverde
The Brisbane Bullets’ late-season revival came to a crushing end at Nissan Arena on Thursday night.
Aiming for a fourth successive win in a bid to add some respectability to their otherwise ordinary campaign, the Bullets were smashed 99-71 by the impressive New Zealand Breakers.
It might have been Australia Day, but it was only the Kiwis who were celebrating as the third-placed Breakers maintained their push for a top-two finish with their 15th win of the season.
The Breakers’ American forward Jarrell Brantley hit a game-high 22 points, and was well supported by Dererk Pardon, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds
For Brisbane, guard Tyler Johnson hit 20 points, while Aron Baynes and Nathan Sobey each had 13 points on a tough night for the hosts. And it won’t get any easier for the Bullets – who have now lost 18 of their 26 matches this season – when they travel to Cairns for a clash against the second-placed Taipans on Saturday night.
The Bullets started well enough against the Breakers, leading 14-7 with 5:29 remaining in the first quarter when the Breakers called a time-out,
However, from then on it was one-way traffic, with the visitors taking total control of what ended up being a one-sided contest.
The Breakers fought back to lead 22-20 at quarter time, before showing their class with an imposing second-quarter display that ensured the Bullets weren’t going to stretch their winning run to four matches
At one stage, the Kiwi outfit led by 17 points leading into half-time as Brisbane went to sleep defensively.
While the hosts temporarily stemmed the bleeding, the Breakers were still in total control at the main break, leading 55-40.
Brantley had 17 points at half-time, while teammate had 10 points and five rebounds.
For Brisbane, Sobey had 11 points after two quarters, with DJ Mitchell and Baynes chipping in with 10 and nine respectively in the same period.
Star Brisbane centre Baynes’ frustrations with Brisbane’s plight led to him having a push and shove with Brantley early in the third quarter as the Breakers increased their lead.
By three-quarter time, the Beakers led 74-54 in what had become a procession.
The Bullets were without experienced guard Jason Cadee, who had concussion symptoms.
Also missing from Brisbane’s line-up was Tanner Krebs (ankle) and Harry Froling, who is recovering after being assaulted in Wollongong last weekend following Brisbane’s 103-86 win over the Illawarra Hawks.
-Lance Jenkinson
South East Melbourne Phoenix has produced a huge fourth quarter to overcome a gutsy Cairns Taipans in an 85-80 win in an NBL blockbuster at the State Basketball Centre on Wednesday night.
The Phoenix took full advantage as the Taipans were forced to play without MVP candidate Keanu Pinder in the final period after he checked out of the game bruised and bloodied after copping an errant elbow from Phoenix back up big Dane Pineau.
Blood was streaming out of Pinder‘s right eye, also from his mouth and a cut on his forehead.
After their third win in a row, the Phoenix have moved up to fifth.
DJ Hogg, arguably the best player on the night with 24 points, came out breathing fire for the Taipans.
He raced to 10 points in the first six minutes as part of 14-point half.
The Taipans held a 24-14 lead with young centre Sam Waardenburg making an impact as Phoenix big Alan Williams was benched with foul issues
. Just when it appeared as though the Taipans were taking control, the Phoenix showed some grit to work their way back into the contest.
Point guard Gary Browne was influential, taking on a leadership role from the point guard position.
Browne was the Phoenix‘s answer to Hogg, doing it all at both ends in a huge first half.
Despite a high turnover rate, 10 in the first half, and a heavy foul count, the Phoenix dug deep to take an unlikely 44-43 lead into half time.
Williams was still able to make an impact in limited first half minutes with 11 points and six rebounds in the first half.
With a slender lead, the Phoenix came out of the gates in the third period on a 7-0 run and stretched their lead to 10 at one point.
Taipans MVP candidate Keanu Pinder showed why he is a star of the league, helping the Taipans on a 7-0 run of their own and giving the visitors hope.
The Taipans capitulated in the fourth.
When Mitch Creek, who had 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists, hit a huge three, the Phoenix was on a 9-0 run and were well on their way to victory.
Browne super aggressive
A big question heading into the game was which Phoenix starter would take on extra scoring responsibility with Ryan Broekhoff missing with a groin injury and the point guard was the most proactive.
The Puerto Rican struck the right balance between facilitating for his teammates and getting a taste of the scoring action of his own.
The 29-year-old was involved in everything in the first half, particularly when Williams was off the court with foul trouble, finishing with 15 points and five assists.
Trey steps up
With Broekhoff out, there is no better time for Trey Kell to step up.
His night was a slow burn, but Kell quietly built a big game.
His shooting was crucial with 17 points and six rebounds.
Williams was a game changer with a double double 17 points and 13 boards.
Pride Jersey
The Taipans took a collective decision to opt out of wearing the special Pride Round jerseys, announcing their decision pre-game.
Creek, however, donned rainbow coloured sneakers in his support for the LGBTQ community and his teammates wore a rainbow-themed jersey.
“This is special for us,” he said pre-game about the chance to play his part in the NBL‘s Pride Round, which celebrates inclusivity and diversity in sport.
Scoreboard
South East Melbourne Phoenix 85 (Cfreek 21 Williams 17 Kell 17) d Cairns Taipans 80 (Hogg 24 Waardenburg 14 Pinder 11)
Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world.
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