Things are getting desperate in the NBL as the season reaches crunch time, and one of the more important matches during Round 17 will see the Sydney Kings hosting the New Zealand Breakers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 3pm (AEDT).
The Kings managed to snap their monstrous losing streak to kick off Round 17, when they took on the undermanned and out of contention Brisbane Bullets away from home.
Even though they should have blown the Bullets away, the match was still alive down to the last seconds, with the Kings eventually taking victory by just three points.
It was a match that told the story of the second half of the season for the Kings, as they struggled to land a blow offensively that would knock the Bullets out, or hold them off at the defensive end.
The Kings only shot 41 per cent from the field for the match while allowing the Bullets to shoot 47 per cent and penetrate the paint far too easily. The Kings defence was weak inside and without Kevin Lisch rediscovering his touch and dropping 23, they probably would have lost.
The win puts the Kings back inside the top four, but they will easily drop out of it with a loss today.
For the Breakers, it’s been a picture of inconsistency all season long. One night they look like the best defensive team, the next the best on attack and the next, the worst team in the competition who can’t compete – unfortunately, that has happened far too often for them.
Despite all that, the Auckland-based club still sit in contention for the playoffs with the exact same record as the Kings, currently sitting in fifth place.
They took on the Cairns Taipans earlier in the week, and were in the match until they lost Akil Mitchell to a sickening eye injury, the club falling away after that.
In the season series, which looks like it could well come into play to decide ladder positions with the two clubs records currently tied, it’s the one point differential advantage.
That means, if the Breakers win by two points, they would take the season series, while if the Kings win – even by a point, they would move ahead 3-1 and take the higher ladder position if the records of the clubs were to remain locked at the end of the season.
Prediction
The Kings brand of basketball for the last few months has been something bordering on hopeless. They beat Brisbane earlier this week, and with the Breakers missing Akil Mitchell, their non-existent consistency could slump even further.
Expect the Breakers to have a few hot runs throughout the match, but to not be able to string 40 minutes together and the Kings, on their home floor to pick up an extremely important victory to take the season series and hold their place in the top four.
Kings by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this match from 3pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, the blowout is complete. Thanks for joining me here on The Roar this afternoon for our live coverage of the 2016/17 NBL Season. Be sure to join me this evening for the Australian Open final from 7:30pm (AEDT) as Roger Federer takes on Rafael Nadal. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, very little drama in the last 60 seconds but the Kings have smashed the Breakers at Homebush, winning the season series and keeping the finals hopes well and truly alive - giving them a boost in fact. The Kings now look ahead to taking on Melbourne United next week. Greg Whittington led the way with 16 and the Breakers, who made a stack of turnovers have a heap of work to do. Sydney Kings - 84 New Zealand Breakers - 57
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Abercrombie fouled out now as he commits a cheap one. Kings back to the other end and Liu has his shot blocked by Liu. Kings - 82 Breakers - 56
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' And Abercrombie completes the four-point play. Kings - 82 Breakers - 56
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Abercrombie makes a three and draws the foul now. Kings - 82 Breakers - 55
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Hill adds the extra. Kings - 82 Breakers - 52
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Liu! He gets his first points in the NBL with a baseline jumper on a pass from Whittington before he gets a rebound from a missed shot. Kings now working it around and Hill goes to the hoop, laying it in and drawing the foul. Kings - 81 Breakers - 52
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Kings with a miss, Abercrombie a dunk and Gaze calls timeout. Kings - 77 Breakers - 52
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' A turnover now for the Kings before Abercrombie goes to the hoop, misses and Ngatai dumps it back in on the put back. Kings - 77 Breakers - 50
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Abercrombie makes all three. Kings - 77 Breakers - 48
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' The Breakers with a quick miss before Whittington pulls the trigger on a three but it's no good. At the other end Abercrombie misses a three but it fouled. Bo Liu checks in to the ball game now. Kings - 77 Breakers - 45
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Buckets at both ends here, a lovely pass across the lane from Cadee to Powell and he lays it in. Kings - 77 Breakers - 45
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Abercombie makes both at the strike. Kings - 75 Breakers - 43
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Powell now gets stopped in his tracks before Abercrombie flies down the floor and misses, but draws the foul. Kings - 75 Breakers - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Timeout on the floor. Kings - 75 Breakers - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Another turnover for the Breakers as Penney works it up the wing. Kings - 75 Breakers - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Prewster makes one. Kings - 75 Breakers - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Kings race into the paint now and Prewster, who has come on the floor for the first time tonight draws the foul on the shot from Penney. Kings - 74 Breakers - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Kings with a miss now before the Breakers go to Abercrombie who misses. Kings - 74 Breakers - 41
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Hill misses on a mid-range jumper now before the Breakers go into Loe and he misses, but Hill loses it out of play. From the inbound they look for a play but it's a shot clock violation. Kings - 74 Breakers - 41