The New Zealand Breakers have crushed the Sydney Kings' NBL "three-peat" dream with an 83-76 upset win that ends the reigning champions' hot-and-cold season in the first week of finals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Star import Parker Jackson-Cartwright had a season-high 34 points on Wednesday as the Breakers came back from as many as 13 points down to silence the Sydney crowd.
The Breakers, who snuck into the finals, staged the upset without injured star Anthony Lamb and despite Will McDowell-White and Zylan Cheatham needing to overcome fitness issues of their own.
Bouncing back against the odds has been the story of the season for the injury-hit Breakers, who continue their finals tilt against the Illawarra Hawks on Monday.
"These guys are so tough," coach Mody Maor said.
"They're battle-tested because this season has been tough. We've seen everything.
"Once I walked into the locker room at half-time, I knew we were winning the game because there was no sign of anything but determination and being focused on the task.
"I'm really proud."
The Kings, meanwhile, will be left to do some serious soul-searching after imploding following a 7-3 start to the season.
Despite boasting one of the most offensively talented rosters in the league, Sydney won only six of their final 19 games under new coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah.
On Wednesday night, they turned the ball over 19 times - 10 more than New Zealand.
"It's a tough way to go out," Abdelfattah said of the loss.
"It was a tough one, ups and downs. It's just a summary of our season."
Neither side could find its stride to begin the game, finding it difficult to break down the other's zone defence.
The Breakers looked good on transition during a 13-3 run to begin the third quarter, during which they took the lead for the first time.
On a miraculous comeback from a shoulder injury, Will McDowell-White (11 points, five assists) put the Breakers in front with a floater.
When both teams were struggling to find routes to the basket early on, Jackson-Cartwright (34 points, six assists, five rebounds) was the only Breaker capable of regularly scoring.
After the Breakers had struggled from deep, he hit two triples in quick succession just before the half to keep the Kings' lead to single digits at the main change.
Isayah Le'Afa did the same in the final quarter to push the Breakers six points ahead.
The Kings kept coming but when Jackson-Cartwright hit a triple with 40 seconds to play, the lead was seven points and the Breakers were all but home.
"Every team bar one has to feel this at some point," Kings centre Jordan Hunter said of his side's elimination.
"I had the utmost confidence in this group. From the jump it was a team that was capable of going all the way. But it doesn't always go that way."
Breakers import Cheatham appeared to injure his ankle in a collision with Sydney's Jaylen Adams (18 points, seven turnovers) just before half-time.
He appeared impaired in his movement when he returned in the second half but is likely to face Illawarra.
Angus Glover, a starter for the Kings only a month ago, was overlooked for any game time.
Australian Associated Press
