Kevin Lisch stays cool to lift Sydney Kings past Cairns Taipans

Kevin Lisch nailed two clutch three-point shots in overtime to help lift Sydney Kings to a nailbiting win over Cairns Taipans.

Sydney Kings’ Kevin Lisch shoots against Cairns Taipans as Kings coach Andrew Gaze looks on. Picture: AAP

Two-time MVP Kevin Lisch nailed two clutch three-point shots in overtime to help lift Sydney Kings to a nail­biting 98-90 home win over Cairns Taipans.

Scores were 84-all at the end of regulation before Lisch (24 points) answered in crunch time, as the Kings claimed their second win to move off the bottom of the ladder.

US guard Jerome Randle tallied 22 points and former NBA star Andrew Bogut added several crucial rebounds in the extra period to finish with eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Daniel Kickert scored 19 points for Sydney.

Cairns import Melo Trimble was the best player on the floor, notching 30 points, eight assists and three steals. Teammate DJ Newbill had 18 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.

After starting the season with back-to-back losses to the Adelaide 36ers, Sydney boosted their record to 2-2 with a second successive win. The Taipans are now alone at the bottom of the ladder with one win from four games.

On a day the club celebrated its 30th anniversary season, the Kings had to fight to the very end to mark the occasion with a win.

Seventeen former players and original Kings coach Bob Turner were on hand for a halftime ceremony that included a five-minute video highlights package.

There were 10 lead changes and three times scores were level in the first half alone.

Lisch said: “I like how we fought through. Things didn’t always go our way but we kept with it and fortunately got the win.”

Yesterday’s other fixture was a 114-94 win for the Breakers over the crumbling Adelaide 36ers, whose dreadful travel schedule required them to land in Auckland in the early hours of game day.

Finn Delany was a surprise game winner off the bench for the four-time champions, sinking a career-high 27 points as they reeled in the 36ers’ early 14-point lead.

Meanwhile, Melbourne United star scorer Chris Goulding has been cleared of serious injury, bringing relief to the NBL defending champions after a heartbreaking result in Perth.

Boomers guard Goulding jarred his knee late in the double-overtime loss to the competition-leading Wildcats and there were fears he would face a significant spell on the sidelines.

However, the club confirmed scans revealed deep bone bruising but no structural damage to his left knee.

He’s an outside chance to play in the final game of round three, hosting Illawarra today.

Goulding’s presence was missed at the business end after he had scored 29 points before limping off in Perth on Saturday.

The Wildcats capitalised in a gutsy 101-96 win that was hailed by coach Trevor Gleeson, coming two days after they’d suffered their first defeat of the campaign, against the Bullets in Brisbane.

“We were pretty tired from Thursday night and had no time to prepare,” Gleeson said.

“It was a tough, character-building win and I can’t praise our guys enough.”

AAP