NBL round 13: Gary Browne ejected after sucker punch in Bullets win, Sydney Kings defeat Cairns Taipans 101-82
Gary Browne was ejected after a sucker punch on Aron Baynes - and now the NBL has charged the Puerto Rican star with striking.
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South East Melbourne guard Gary Browne has avoided suspension for punching Brisbane centre Aron Baynes.
The NBL charged the Puerto Rican with striking following the unsightly incident, which happened during the fourth quarter of the Saturday night 95-83 loss to the Bullets.
The 30-year-old was ejected and the NBL’s Game Review Panel subsequently hit with a one-game ban. But the Phoenix were quick to accept an early guilty plea, reducing the sanction to a $1550 fine.
The GRP determined the incident, described by Phoenix coach Mike Kelly as “bonehead” “selfish” and “out-of-character”, was intentional, medium impact and low contact.
The panel, under NBL rules, did not take into account a similar November incident, where Browne was fined for striking Adelaide big man Tohi Smith-Milner.
It means Browne will be free to suit up for the slumping Phoenix in their next outing against Illawarra on January 5.
HOT STREAK CONTINUES FOR BREAKERS
New Zealand’s mid-season hot streak has continued in the first NBL clash of 2024, with the Breakers win over Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena doubling as their fourth straight.
In a clash full of twists and turns, it was the visitors who rebounded from a slow start to win 98-93 and put a horror run of form at the venue behind them.
Heading into the matchup with a 1-11 record in Tasmania, the win was New Zealand’s first over the JackJumpers on their home floor after previously defeating Illawarra at MyState Bank Arena during the Covid season.
Imports Parker Jackson-Cartwright (27 points, six rebounds, three assists) and Anthony Lamb (18 points, six rebounds, three assists) were both major factors in a win that came against an undermanned JackJumpers outfit.
Already missing Majok Deng, big man Will Magnay was also ruled out pre-match but this didn’t stop the home side from starting the game exactly how coach Scott Roth would have liked.
They went on a 20-8 run before a massive spray directed at Lamb from coach Mody Maor during a time-out saw the exact response he was after.
New Zealand pegged back the deficit to go in down by six at the first break before tying up the ball-game at halftime.
They would then take the first lead of the game early in the third which ended with a season-high 30 for the quarter – thanks in part to a 14-point term from Jackson-Cartwright.
Heading into the last with a six-point advantage, the Breakers were challenged throughout by the JackJumpers with six lead changes.
Confusion reigned midway through the quarter on a Marcus Lee foul – his potential fifth of the game – that was eventually overturned.
It didn’t matter though, as the American was eventually fouled out down the stretch.
That gave the Breakers the lead they needed with two missed threes from both Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford down the stretch ruling out any chance of a JackJumpers win.
Both faced tough nights on the floor with Doyle (12 points) going at just 5-16 and Crawford (six points) a season low 2-13.
With both imports failing to fire, it left development player Sean McDonald to give Tasmania a pulse throughout.
He put in a career-best game with 23 points and an impressive 7-9 from three point range while vice-captain Jack McVeigh (17 points) and Lee (14 points) were also influential throughout.
The loss was the JackJumpers second in a row at home with Tasmania (10-9) now slipping to fourth on the table ahead of a clash with Cairns on Saturday night.
The Breakers (8-9) now sit in sixth and will face Perth at home on Sunday.
TAIPANS FINISH OFF UNITED ON HOME DECK
The Taipans have made a statement to the rest of the NBL after a dominant 95-78 win against the championship favourites Melbourne United in Cairns.
A loss could have put their pre-season hopes in serious jeopardy but the Taipans proved there’s plenty of life in their campaign yet as led Melbourne United for almost the entire 40 minutes on their way to a second win against the league leaders.
A breakout performance from Sam Mennenga sent the Snakepit into raptures, hitting six threes at 54 per cent on his way to 22 points for the night.
Add in Patrick Miller’s 27 points and Tahjere McCall’s 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and it was a huge night for the home side.
Cairns have proved championship favourites Melbourne United are beatable with a xx-xx win in a rocking Snakepit on New Year’s Eve.
Just as it appeared the Taipans were on a slide they produced a brilliant all-round performance to prove they can not only hang with the big boys, but be a credible threat.
Cairns is the only team in the NBL to beat Melbourne United in both previous meetings this season – both at home and on the road.
For Melbourne United, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr led the way with 15 points, while Chris Goulding and Ian Clark both had 14 points.
GOULDING FIRED UP
The Taipans defence did an outstanding job in containing the Boomers star, but Goulding found himself in hot water after exploding at a contentious call in the third.
With Cairns up 57-49, Goulding went to ground after contact from Kuol, who had possession, but was called for a foul.
An incensed Goulding pleaded his case, believing he copped Kuol’s elbow to his face, and his reaction earned him a behavior warning.
He went on with it after replays, having his upgraded to a technical as he continued to mouth off at the officials.
The sleeping beast which is a fired-up Goulding awoke, as he hit two threes in quick succession, but the Orange Army had the last laugh as he finished with 14 points – and, more well-received for the Cairns fans, four fouls, and his exit from the game with 90 seconds to go.
SAM’S THE MAN
Sam Mennenga has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and he was again one of the go-to men as the Snakes led the league leaders at halftime.
Mennenga was on double-double watch by halftime with 11 points and eight rebounds, and finished with 22 points – including six long-range hits at 54 per cent.
The secret to his success was simple.
“Confidence,” said Mennenga in a pre-grame interview on the broadcast.
“Fordey having trust in me and giving me confidence to go out and do what I do, putting the work in day-in and day-out.”
NBL legend Derek Rucker said that while Mennenga had a good first half and was showing promise, he could be become more potent with some more tweaks to his game.
“The only thing he needs to add to his game is a bit more back to basket work, be able to get in the switches, get the ball down on the block against the smaller opposition,” Rucker said.
“He’s three of six from outside the three, which is fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but he can’t rely on that to be his primary diet.”
MILESTONE MEN
If the traditional New Year’s Eve game wasn’t already big for Cairns, two milestones took it to another level.
Sam Waardenburg suited up for his 50th game in the NBL, all with the Taipans, while Tahjere McCall reached 1000 NBL points.
HAWKS DOMINATE HAPLESS 36ers IN THIRD QUARTER SQUALL
— Matt Cleary
Illawarra Hawks dominated Adelaide 36ers in Wollongong on Sunday night in front of 5,101 fans who appeared almost subdued in the second half, so much of a procession did they witness from the half-time break.
Adelaide scored 29 points in the second quarter to lead by one at half-time but could only muster 12 points in the third quarter while the Hawks poured in the baskets to the tune of 31 points.
The Hawks went to the last break leading by 17 points and scored 20 in the last quarter to cruise to a 91-84 victory.
Illawarra were bottom of the ladder after round seven but have now won five of their last seven games to place just outside the top-6 in NBL standings.
PLAYED, GARY
The Hawks’ best was former Houston Rockets power forward Gary Clark who finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Post-match Clark told Fox Sports that he was very proud of his team’s “resilience”.
“We’ve come from the bottom,” Clark said. “It’s been a long time for us. To get this win … you always want to play better ... it’s about being a selfless player”.
On his own performance Clark said he’s trying to be the best team man he can be.
“With my pedigree I could try and score 30 points every game but I’m better as a team man and bringing guys into the game,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can score.”
The Hawks had 10 scorers. Justin Robinson had 19 points and three assists, while Wani Swaka Lo Buluk notched 12 points.
Asked could the Hawks make a run into the play-offs, Clark said: “Absolutely. It’s a new year and we’re going to continue to keep these wins going.
“If you don’t watch us, don’t speak on us.”
DAD’S WORD IS LAW
The Hawks are now 5/2 under new coach Justin Tatum. Clark said his coaching style is like a father figure’s.
“He’s easy to get behind. He’s like having a dad. And dad’s word is law. We listened to him and got the job done. We’re ready to run through walls for him.”
Told of Clark’s appraisal, Tatum said: “That’s everything. It means I’m getting through to them. And they want to win. It speaks volumes.”
KELL: BEST
While his team was beaten up in most facets, Trey Kell’s 16 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists marked him as the game’s most effective player.
His assists were the second most of any player this season.
BROWNE EJECTED AFTER SUCKER PUNCH ON BAYNES
South East Melbourne star Gary Browne faces a potential suspension after he thumped Brisbane big man Aron Baynes in a brain fade that compounded the Phoenix’s 95-83 loss.
Down seven with a tick under seven minutes to go in the game, Browne was hammered by a typically physical Baynes’ screen that walked the line of legality before lashing out in frustration, his blow connecting with the big man’s midsection.
As Baynes hit the deck, Browne appeared to immediately grasp the seriousness of his action, throwing his hands up.
Browne was then ejected from the game.
Exasperated Phoenix coach Mike Kelly was surprised by Browne’s “selfish”, “bonehead” play and said it was “out of character”.
“We handled the situation poorly. And that was Gary in that situation,” Kelly said.
“I’m always surprised when someone does something out of character and that goes to the detriment of their team.
“So, from a guy like Gary, who’s a great guy and loves his teammates, yeah, [I’m] really surprised.”
The Phoenix's Gary Browne was ejected from tonight's NBL game in Brisbane following this incident.
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) December 30, 2023
Read more from @MickRandallHS here: https://t.co/pfBNQmEXkypic.twitter.com/jOtooJiEDt
The 30-year-old Puerto Rican is a popular figure in The Heartland and a genuine nice guy but It’s the second time this season he has lashed out on the court.
Browne was involved in a near-identical incident earlier this season when he gave Adelaide’s big Kiwi Tohi Smith-Milner some knuckle.
Browne was charged with striking and fined $1100, with an early guilty plea reducing that to $700.
Following Saturday night’s clash, the league’s game review panel will assess the incident and make a determination on whether any action is required.
The GRP does not take prior incidents into consideration but does have the power to clear, fine or suspend Browne in a similar vein to the AFL’s match review officer.
The GRP uses a scale to assess the severity of the player’s conduct but, unlike the AFL where there are multiple weekly instances, there is less precedent in the NBL, given physical incidents are far less frequent.
The GRP deemed Browne’s November strike against the Sixers as intentional and low impact.
Interestingly, if he’s referred to the tribunal, it would make its own determination on whether or not Browne’s earlier indiscretion will be taken into account.
It's the second time Browne has been cited this season, after this incident involving Adelaide's Tohi Smith-Milner. pic.twitter.com/CFSfqBoKkd
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) December 30, 2023
In what looms as a further blow for the Phoenix, star big man Alan Williams knocked knees in the second quarter and played with a visible limp before he was shut down in the fourth.
He will have scans back in Melbourne on Sunday but it’s understood there’s a confidence the injury is not a major one – Williams had surgery on his PCL and missed time earlier in the season.
It’s a fourth loss in five games for the slumping Phoenix, who hold onto fifth spot with a 9-10 record.
BULLETS KEEP DREAM ALIVE
The Brisbane Bullets kept their playoff dreams alive on Saturday after an enthralling 95-83 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Bullets, encouraged by a passionate Nissan Arena crowd, led the entire game after a first half lead of 15 points proved too large for the visitors to come back from.
The Phoenix came back to trail by five heading into the final quarter, however the brilliance of Nathan Sobey, who scored 35 points, and the harassing defence of Shannon Scott ensured Brisbane fans entered the new year with the hopes of a playoff berth still intact.
Sobey spearheaded the Bullets from start to finish after beginning the game with a two-handed-jam, but a crucial steal from Scott midway through the final frame changed the game.
After a much-needed Sobey three, Scott stole the ball and earned another possession. On that possession, Phoenix guard Gary Browne was ejected for an unsportsmanlike foul where he looked to have swung a hand hard into the stomach of a screen-setting Baynes.
Scott, one of the competition’s best on-ball-defenders, earning a match-defining seven-point-swing for Brisbane after two Baynes free throws and a lay-up from Sobey took the life out of a Browne-less Phoenix.
Prior to his ejection Browne was crafty scoring 13 points while Mitch Creek (11 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals) returned from a knee injury in strong fashion.
Owen Foxwell (11 points), Alan Williams (13 points) Abdel Nader (13 points) and Matt Kenyon (14 points) reached double figures for the visitors in the clash but it was not enough to distinguish a scorching-hot-Sobey who had help in Josh Bannan (17 points), among others.
SOBEY ON A MISSION
Nathan Sobey took it upon himself to get Brisbane off to a flying start on Saturday night, the Boomer slamming home an emphatic dunk off the tip and splashing countless jump shots to finish the first quarter with 13 points.
Sobey, who scored as many first quarter points as he did in four during Wed
nesday’s loss, said with the season on the line he was looking to stamp his mark early.
“My intent was to come out aggressive and get good looks for myself and my teammates,” Sobey said in an interview at the end of the first frame.
In bright pink shoes and on a night where his jump shot looked crisp as ever, the Boomer gave Brisbane exactly what they wanted, and needed – a good start.
Brisbane led 32-23 after the first frame and then 57-42 at the main break after Sobey’s spectacular first half captain’s knock.
SCHUELLER SHOWS PATIENCE WITH PRATHER
On a night where three-time NBL champion Casey Prather was expected to be the difference maker, it was Brisbane’s Boomer Sobey who turned the tide.
Chasing their first win after four straight losses, many would have expected Prather to have entered the game by the half.
Browne ejected
— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) December 30, 2023
Nader fouled out
Sauce hurt
Couldn’t have ended much worse for the Phoenix.
Bullets hang tough and stay alive.
Lots going on tonight.
But Brisbane head coach Justin Schueller opted against it, his team playing too well for the exciting injury replacement to be injected into the clash.
In the first half, with the likes of Josh Bannan, Aron Baynes, Mitch Norton and Sam McDaniel chipping in, Schueller’s squad shot 54.5 per cent from the field.
Meanwhile the Melbourne Phoenix shot it at 37.8 per cent, Brisbane’s suffocating defence and loud home crowd creating an edge.
BULLETS’ THIRD QUARTER WOES
If the Bullets want to make a push for the playoffs, their third quarter output must get better.
Coach Justin Schueller and Josh Bannan admitted after Wednesday’s loss that the way they came out of the main break had everything to do with their disappointing 81-71 loss at the hands of the BNZ Breakers.
After a strong first half where they posted 57 points, the Bullets lost the third by 10 points and had their lead shrunk to five when beginning the final frame ahead 72-67.
With an eight-point-run in the third, the visitors had found their groove and Brisbane had lost their comfortable 15-point-buffer.
KINGS COACH STATEMENT SPURS DENZEL-LED VICTORY OVER TAIPANS
– Matt Cleary
Sydney Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah lit a fire at the tip-off at Qudos Bank Arena on Friday night when his team began the game against Cairns Taipans with two guards, Shaun Bruce and Jaylen Adams, in the starting five.
It was a statement heard loud and clear by Denzel Valentine, who had five years with Chicago Bulls and may have expected to start the game.
Valentine was visibly fired up – in the last quarter he incurred a foul for ‘taunting’ his opponent – and finished with a game-high 29 points and eight rebounds.
Valentine’s steal and dunk at the death delighted the big crowd of 12,788 and put a punctuation mark on his team’s important 101-82 win.
LOVE FOR GLOVER
Following Angus Glover’s unsuccessful three-point attempt at the end of the first quarter, Bruce, in game 150, went off the court mouthing off to Sam Mennenga. Glover stepped between he and Patrick Miller who pushed Glover away.
Glover then gesticulated to match officials that Miller had caught him with a forearm to the face. Officials studied video during the break – and hit Glover and Miller with technical fouls.
Glover, who’s played spare minutes this season, made a pair of threes in the first quarter and drew an offensive foul. Glover then didn’t play any further part in the half.
He finished the game with six points and Y assists in 9:47 minutes on court, down from his season average 14:45 minutes.
COACHES CHALLENGED
“C’mon Mike!” Abdelfattah exclaimed to referee Michael Aylen when the Kings were penalised for a defensive foul.
Aylen replied: “You know, you’re on a warning here. Please do not continue. You don’t like it? Challenge it.”
At the other end Taipans big man Sam Wardenburg was penalised for a blocking foul and immediately ran off the court to tell his coach not to challenge.
Taipans coaching staff disagreed and the challenge was burned. Wardenburg’s four fouls stuck – not ideal mid-way through the third quarter.
Kouat Noi was fouled for slapping at the arm of Bobi Klintman and Abdelfattah challenged successfully.
KINGS DEFEND
If there’s been a knock on the Kings this year it’s been around a lack of urgency in defence. No lead has been safe.
Early doors, Sudanese-born, Cairns-raised Bul Kuol tore out of the blocks with three three-pointers, a bucket and two rebounds. Kuol, however, didn’t score again in the half and finished with only another four points for the match.
With 40 seconds to play in the first half Jaylen Adams made a scything run for the basket that resulted in a crowd-pleasing lay-up.
When he drew a three-point foul the Kings went to the break ahead by nine. Adams, the league MVP in 2021/22, finished with 15 points and three assists. Jordy Hunter was imperious for Sydney with 16 rebounds and 13 points.
It was the third quarter that won it for Sydney. They kept Cairns to 12 points and went to the last break leading by 12 courtesy of a bustling Valentine basket.
WILDCATS’ COTTON ON AS HOT STREAK CONTINUES AT EXPENSE OF 36ERS
The Perth Wildcats’ stunning resurgence continued at the Adelaide 36ers’ expense on Thursday night, superstar Bryce Cotton lighting up the Sixers in a devastating third-quarter blitz to set up a comprehensive 18-point win.
The clash was the third game of a taxing six-day road trip for Perth, with stops in Melbourne, Cairns and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, while the Sixers had four days to recover from their drought-breaking Christmas Eve win over the Bullets.
But John Rillie’s charges showed no signs of fatigue, leading by as much as 30 points as they blew Adelaide out of the water with a stunning 28-9 third quarter to make it nine wins from their past 11 matches.
Cotton was the catalyst, strengthening his case for MVP honours with an equal game-high 24 points, including four triples.
The Wildcats improved to 11-7 to tighten their grip on second spot, while the Sixers remain anchored on the bottom of the ladder with a 5-12 record.
Adelaide trailed by six points at halftime before being bulldozed in the third, Isaac Humphries with a team-high 24 points, DJ Vasiljevic quiet with nine points in his 100th NBL game.
GUNS BLAZING
The Wildcats opened with all guns blazing, the visitors nailing their first five shots from the floor as well as their first two free throws, with Kristian Doolittle leading the charge with 12 first-quarter points on 5-from-6 shooting.
A shootout didn’t suit the 36ers, who sat bottom of the ladder in scoring heading into the contest, with an average of just over 85 points per game.
But the scoring outlook has been brighter under Scott Ninnis, Adelaide averaging 12 more points per game in the caretaker coach’s first three matches in charge.
That upward trend continued early, the home side registering its highest first-quarter score of the season to trail by five points at the first break.
BRYCE GOES BANG!
Cotton had a relatively quiet first half by his lofty standards, with seven points at the main break, but the MVP contender blew the game wide open with a devastating burst to open the third quarter.
He had 11 points in the first five minutes, including back-to-back triples, and had 20 points by three-quarter time.
The Wildcats drained six three-pointers in the third-quarter blitz, to be shooting 10-from-18 from long range at the last break compared to Adelaide’s 3-from-18 at just 16 per cent from outside the arc.
After showing promising signs in the first half, the Sixers just couldn’t buy a bucket, registering just nine points for the term to trail by 25 points going into the last quarter.
Cotton had a scary moment in the final minute when he tumbled to the floor in a tangle with Alex Starling, but he jumped up to see out the game on the bench.
SARR SLIPS UP
Hearts were in mouths when exciting Next Star Alex Sarr slipped on an advertising decal in the first quarter and immediately clutched at his left knee in clear pain.
The French teen quickly allayed fears he had sustained a serious injury, staying on the floor after being helped to his feet.
The top-end NBA draft prospect had nine points on perfect 4-from-4 shooting at halftime and finished with 12.
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