‘This is a joke’: NBL game descends into ‘farce’ with wild 51-minute delay

An NBL clash has descended into farcical scenes with a wild delay sparking serious concerns about the integrity of the game.

The NBL game between the Sydney Kings and Cairns Taipans was marred by an embarrassing delay that caused play to be stopped for nearly an hour.

The Kings were leading 48-37 at halftime but when both teams were ready to resume play at the start of the third quarter, they couldn’t because the shot clock wasn’t working.

Watch every game of the NBL season LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

It’s unclear what exactly caused the technical problem at the Cairns Convention Centre, but players and spectators had to twiddle their thumbs for 51 minutes before play resumed.

In farcical scenes, the shot clock still wasn’t working and both teams agreed to play out the game without a shot clock and no risk of a 24-second violation.

The Kings held on for a 86-83 victory. In a wild finish, Jonah Antonio nailed a deep three-pointer off the backboard and thought he had tied the game for Cairns at the death.

Ironically, a shotclock would have been helpful in that moment and replays showed Antonio put up his shot after the final buzzer went.

The teams were ready to go for the second half but couldn't play. Photo: ESPN.

The shot clock wasn't working. Photo: ESPN.

The shot clock malfunction was an embarrassing look for Australia’s premier basketball league and created all sorts of issues about the integrity of the contest between the Kings and Taipans.

On multiple occasions, Kings star Jaylen Adams appeared to take advantage of the absence of a shot clock by dribbling away in the back court and milking the clock before finally attacking the hoop.

The halftime break tonight really said pic.twitter.com/NZjRCMKRxU

— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) December 7, 2023

Shot clock issues is Peak NBL! 😂💀#NBL#NBL24

— Jackson MacDonald (@JMacDonald91) December 7, 2023

The integrity of this game is now so compromised with no shot clock. It's not funny.#NBL24#NBL

— Jordan Janssen (@JJordy1210) December 7, 2023

No shot clock you say?
“Point guard, passes to centre, back to small forward, back to centre, centre holds it! Holds it! Holds it! HOLDS IT!!!!” #NBL24https://t.co/5FeGvGEnPCpic.twitter.com/I8NmtbNOGM

— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) December 7, 2023

This is a complete farce ... #NBL24

— Julian O'Brien (@Julian_OBrien) December 7, 2023

Absolute chaos in Cairns! The Shot Clock goes out, now the Air Conditioning gives up the ghost. I cannot believe the scenes we're witnessing in FNQ. #NBL24

— Trystan Spooner (@TrystanSpooner) December 7, 2023

NO SHOT CLOCK!!! WTF. This is a joke ... #NBL24

— Julian O'Brien (@Julian_OBrien) December 7, 2023

ESPN basketball reporter Olgun Uluc tweeted: “This Sydney Kings vs Cairns Taipans game has now been delayed more than 30 minutes due to what NBL CEO David Stevenson has called “power challenges”.

“Among other things, the shot clock doesn’t work in the Cairns Convention Centre. Kings lead 48-37 at the half.

“After a 51-minute delay, the 2nd half of this game is now underway. They’ve agreed to play without a shot clock. The NBL is Australia’s premier professional basketball league, apparently.”

Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah said during the delay: “I’ve never been a part of anything like this so we just need to go with the flow.

“No explanation for it. But hopefully both teams will be ready and hopefully nobody gets hurt.”