The New Zealand Breakers stunned the Sydney Kings on their home court Sunday, rallying from a 12-point deficit to hand the Kings their second straight NBL loss. American guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright led the way with 21 points as the Breakers emerged with a 93-89 victory in a thrilling see-saw affair at Qudos Bank Arena.
Kings Jump Out to Early Lead
Looking to bounce back from a shocking loss to an undermanned Perth squad, the star-studded Kings came out firing. They built a lead as large as 12 points in the second quarter behind their home crowd’s energy. But the Breakers refused to fold.
Jackson-Cartwright, Mooney Lead Breakers Rally
The diminutive Jackson-Cartwright, who torched the Kings for 34 points in last season’s playoffs, once again relished the hostile reception. Along with sharpshooting guard Matt Mooney, who poured in 24 points, Jackson-Cartwright sparked the Breakers’ comeback. The duo took advantage of some sloppy play by Sydney to give New Zealand a 49-45 halftime lead.
“We knew they would come out strong on their home floor,” said Jackson-Cartwright. “But we stayed composed, stuck to our game plan, and made some big shots. This is a huge win for us.”
Kings Battle Back, But Can’t Overcome Shooting Woes
To their credit, the Kings didn’t go down without a fight. New Zealand native Izayah Le’afa kept Sydney within striking distance, pouring in a team-high 23 points. But the Kings were undone by woeful shooting, connecting on just 39% of their attempts from the field. Foul trouble also plagued the home team down the stretch.
The Breakers weathered the storm, clinging to a 72-69 lead heading into the final quarter. Jackson-Cartwright and company made just enough plays to keep the Kings at bay and secure the hard-fought four-point win. The victory was especially sweet for a New Zealand squad coming off a surprising loss to the struggling South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Breakers Gain Ground, Kings Slip in Standings
With the win, the Breakers improved to 6-4 on the season and gained valuable ground in the competitive NBL standings. The Kings, meanwhile, slipped to 5-5 and will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind the league’s top contenders.
- Key Stat: The Breakers shot a blistering 52% from the field compared to just 39% for the Kings
- Turning Point: Mooney’s back-to-back threes late in the 2nd quarter gave NZ its first lead and shifted momentum
- What’s Next: The Kings will try to snap their skid on Friday against Cairns, while NZ hosts Adelaide on Thursday
As the NBL season approaches its midway point, both the Breakers and Kings find themselves in the thick of the playoff race. Sunday’s result proves once again that on any given night, any team in this league can rise up and knock off even the mightiest of opponents. The road to the NBL championship is wide open.
