NBL round 8 news and results: Sydney Kings pull off comeback victory over South East Melbourne
The Sydney Kings may have found the trigger to turn their season around after former MVP Jaylen Adams produced a stirring performance to spearhead a comeback win over the Phoenix.
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Former MVP Jaylen Adams produced his best quarter of the season as the Kings overcame a horrible start to storm home to defeat the Phoenix 74-69 on Friday night.
The home side only managed 49 points in the first three quarters but piled on 25 when it mattered most thanks to Adams who has struggled with a back injury but returned to his brilliant best at Qudos Bank Arena.
Adams led all scorers with 20 points to go with seven assists and five rebounds, with the star import adding 12 points in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.
The Kings never looked like winning as they struggled from the floor, but they found their groove in the fourth with Kouat Noi chipping in with 16 points and a big block on Angus Glover, while Xavier Cooks was as reliable as ever with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Friday’s win was their second in a row following their thumping victory over the JackJumpers last week, and they now have a bit of time to recover before their showdown with the Hawks.
RETURN OF THE KINGS
Glover would have had this game circled after his frustrating finish with the Kings last season, and his return home didn’t disappoint with the sharpshooter leading the Phoenix with 17 points.
Glover set the tone early with two threes in the opening four minutes before things got a bit heated as he and Bul Kuol picked up technical fouls deep in the first half.
Former Kings big man Jordan Hunter didn’t have as good a homecoming as he was held to eight points and two rebounds while playing the fourth quarter with four fouls.
South East Melbourne’s turnaround from their 0-5 start this season has been admirable, but the visitors imploded shooting just 34 per cent from the floor, with star import Matt Hurt knocking down just three of his 16 shots.
Their defensive resolve under new coach Josh King frustrated the Kings and had them up by double digits in the fourth quarter, but they managed just 13 points in the final 10 minutes before they opted against fouling with 20 seconds to go.
BROADCAST OUTAGE CHAOS IN BRISBANE STOPS FANS SEEING UNITED WIN
The 4,101 inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre were the only people in the country able to watch the last 3.37 of Melbourne United’s blowout 120-103 win over the Bullets after the broadcast went dark.
With United leading 103-89, a broadcast outage inside the stadium shorted out the broadcast cameras, forcing play to be stopped.
WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE 😂😂😂
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) November 7, 2024
We've got a power outage in Brisbane and so the entire game has been stopped!
The boys on the #NBL broadcast couldn't have handled that any better! pic.twitter.com/ygphoiKpuh
The lights remained on in the stadium but efforts to get the cameras back online in quick time proved fruitless, forcing the dying minutes to be played without live footage.
The NBL confirmed a “significant power failure with the broadcast truck” was believed to be the culprit.
Coaches Dean Vickerman and Justin Schueller agreed to play the last 3.37 without stats and coach’s challenges. The final moments of United’s bounce-back win were hindered by the broadcast outage that caused a 15-minute disruption three minutes from full time.
The game is restarting - no broadcast. No stats, no challenges. Game will be recorded and stats done later. https://t.co/3O43YyUpTw
— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) November 7, 2024
The game is currently paused due to a power outage in Brisbane and will resume shortly.
— NBL (@NBL) November 7, 2024
“The NBL will seek to obtain footage of the final minutes and post as soon as available,” a league statement read.
United bounced back with a vengeance from it’s horror 34-point loss to New Zealand on Monday, belting the Bullets 120-103.
The final minutes of the Brisbane Bullets vs Melbourne United game. pic.twitter.com/e0qs87Z8tb
— NBL (@NBL) November 7, 2024
Big Kiwi Rob Loe stunned with a career-high 30 points in his 193rd game, aged 33, making six of his eight tries from deep.
Chris Goulding drained five threes on the way to 21, while Ian Clark had 18 and Jack White completed a double-double with his 17 points.
For Brisbane, import guard Keandre Cook shone with 23, while triple NBL champion Casey Prather wound back the clock with 21.
LOE SETS A NEW PB
For the first time ever in his 193 game NBL career, Loe erupted in a telling 30-point explosion. It came on an efficient 11-19 shooting and it hurt Brisbane in more ways than one.
The Bullets have now won just one from four in their new BEC fortress. The loss also followed a frantic win over Cairns that gave them short-lived confidence.
On the other side of the fence, United offered a stirring response to their 34-point blowout loss against the Breakers at home on Monday.
United did not fire a shot in that match played just 72 hours prior to their comprehensive thwarting of an underdone Bullets outfit that has played just eight games in eight rounds.
Entering the match, only twice had Loe landed four threes in a match.
He drained six, which complimented his deft interior masterclass that proved the peanut butter to Goulding’s jelly.
Together, the pair spearheaded United to their eighth win and second place on the ladder.
Melbourne literally shot the lights out (64 per cent 2P, 44 per cent 3P), with all five starters reaching double digit scores. All five of Brisbane’s starters also posted 10 or more points but they could not match it with their efficient opponents who always had a silencing response whenever Brisbane threatened to move into striking distance.
GOULDING ON A HEATER
New year, same Goulding.
Melbourne’s three-point-specialist Chris Goulding was at his brilliant best in front of a vocal Brisbane crowd, quelling any mini-run from Brisbane with his deep shooting prowess.
After the Bullets had blitzed United out of the Gates to lead 10-2, sharp shooter Goulding and 211cm monster Loe clicked the visitors into gear and moved them ahead in a flash.
Goulding scorched early, and then again in the second quarter on his way to 16 first half points and Lee the same with his interior play on song.
Five threes from Goulding and a handful of oohs and aarhs later and United led 52-45 at half time.
NORTON A NUISANCE, STILL
He is 350 games into an accomplished NBL career and yet veteran point guard Mitch Norton is showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, since joining the Bullets at the start of last season, Norton has brought new life into his 13-year professional career which started at 18 years of age when he was the youngest ever captain of the Townsville Crocodiles.
The team captain, Norton sets a high standard for his teammates with the hustle plays. Jumping on a loose ball, taking a charge, deflecting passes and everything in between.
That is his bread and butter. He also adds value with his scoring ability, Norton one of Brisbane’s most efficient and influential.
By halftime, the speedy 31-year-old had nine points and was in part responsible for Brisbane’s hot start.
It was quickly distinguished by United flamethrower Goulding.
STATS THAT MATTERED
Brisbane coach Justin Schueller is a firm believer that defence wins games.
On Thursday night, it was on that end of the court where his Bullets were their worst enemy.
The home side had conceded 85 points after three quarters. In this league, that is 10-15 points too many if you want to be in a winning position down the stretch.
Heading into the final frame, United had 44 paint points compared to Brisbane’s 32. United had 20 second chance points. Brisbane, 13.
The visitors were also superior in transition where they ran in 13 fast break points, nine more than their rivals.
Brisbane couldn’t get it going from deep either, the home side landing just three treys in as many quarters before trying to return from 14 points down with 10 minutes to play.
The comeback attempt was quelled with formidable force by United.
Indeed Brisbane’s wounds were, for the most part, self inflicted. It didn’t help that United were able to knock down key threes in crucial moments when the Bullets’ lapsed on defence.
Melbourne United 111 (R. Loe 30pts, J.White 17pts, C. Goulding 19pts) def Brisbane Bullets (C.Prather 21pts, K.Cook 19pts, J.Bannan 17pts).
Originally published as NBL round 8 news and results: Sydney Kings pull off comeback victory over South East Melbourne
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