Sydney Kings

In their first appearance in the NBL grand final since 2016, the Kiwi side stole game one of their best-of-five series against the Sydney Kings – winning 95-87 ...

It was Breakers import Barry Brown Jr who stepped up for the visitors in their quest to steal game one on their opponent’s court. The Breakers were successful on 48 per cent of their shot attempts in the first half, including six of their 13 three-point shots. It was more of the same in the second period.

Sydney lost the opening game of the Championship Series against New Zealand and two of their star players left the floor grimacing in pain.

In the final term, Jordan Hunter rallied Sydney’s sinking spirits by draining two straight threes. Jaylin Galloway hit four free throws to hack the Breakers’ lead to two. A Cam Gliddon three-pointer and a last-second shot in the paint from Derek Pardon put the visitors ahead 30-23.

Behind 19 points apiece from Barry Brown Jr and their Aussie point guard the Breakers drew first blood in the Aussie hoops league's showpiece series.

The Kings had a lot to thank Simon’s 13 first-half points for as they battled to stay in the contest. “To hold them to 87 when they average close to 100, it was good defence by the boys.” Most importantly the league-best Breakers defence kept league MVP Xavier Cooks to just 8 points on 2-of-10 shooting, while all-NBL point guard Derrick Walton Jr managed just 12 points and 6 assists. They also stuck to their scout superbly to shackle most of the home threats. But there’s a reason his home-town Brisbane Bullets, the deep-pocketed Perth Wildcats and well-resourced South East Melbourne Phoenix are all in the market for free-agent-to-be McDowell-White. And where there’s a Will McDowell-White there is a 1-0 lead in the Australian NBL’s championship series.

The New Zealand Breakers have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-game Australian NBL finals series after beating the Sydney Kings 95-87 at Qudos Bank Arena on ...

With a 1-0 lead in the series, the Breakers will head back to New Zealand with plenty of confidence as they host the Kings for Game 2 on Sunday at Spark Arena, Auckland. Will McDowell-White led the way for the Breakers with 19 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to give the Breakers a healthy advantage as they take the series back home to New Zealand for Game 2 on Sunday night. A lead of 54-43 at half-time carried through to the final buzzer as the Breakers dominated the court to beat their opponents on their home turf.

Defending NBL champs stunned as Kings sweat on multiple injuries in championship series.

The Kings also need a fast start in New Zealand, otherwise they could be facing a 2-0 series deficit. Breakers: More of the same. DJ averages double-digit scoring against every team in the NBL this season – except the Breakers. The NBL’s best offensive team failed to fire while they couldn’t contain the Breakers’ offensive fire. Soares only had two points in the opening half, and despite improving his play in the second half, he was outpointed in the physicality stakes. He had six points in the first half before finishing the game with a game-high equalling 19 points, including a host of clutch buckets down the stretch. For New Zealand, Brown started the game off the bench in a surprise pre-game move for the Breakers. Vasiljevic attempted to aggressively attack the game in the opening quarter, with four quick points from determined drives to the basket. In a major blow for the Kings, Walton Jr limped off with a leg injury with four minutes remaining in the match to place him in doubt for Game 2 in Auckland on Sunday. Of greater concern for the Kings, Cooks looked to be hampered after copping a knock to the leg early in the game. Series begins March 3. The Sydney Kings’ championship defence is on shaky ground after the New Zealand Breakers – the NBL’s road warriors – produced a defensive masterclass to edge out the Kings 95-87 in a Game 1 boilover.