NBL 2024 Week 14 news: Bullets def Kings, 36ers back in winners’ books, Illawarra Hawks 116-78 South East Melbourne, Melbourne United win 101-85 over Sydney Kings
Coming into Sunday night’s game, the Brisbane Bullets had lost 10 times in a row to the Sydney Kings, but the monkey is off their backs after a hoodoo-breaking win.
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Brisbane has ended a 10-game losing streak against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena after it rose to a mighty 101-93 win on Sunday afternoon.
After losing four of their past five games, the Bullets were led by Nathan Sobey (27 points) and Josh Bannan (13 points, nine rebounds) to record a consecutive win for the fourth time this season.
Their record improves to 9-11 following the win while the Queensland side will rise from ninth to sixth.
Meanwhile the Kings suffer their fourth loss in five games and continue their inconsistent form where they are 3-7 after beginning the campaign with a 7-3 record.
Jaylen Adams and Jaylin Galloway linked up for a thrilling alley-oop to make it a 20-10 Kings lead with 3:34 to go in the first quarter, hinting at an ugly blowout to come.
However, it was all the visiting Bullets from then on with the side going on a 42-19 run to lead by 13 points at halftime.
Bullets guard Shannon Scott knocked down a three-ball to force Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah into calling an early timeout in the second quarter as the Bullets gained a two-point lead.
But even after the pep talk, the Queensland side continued their fine form as Nathan Sobey piled on 14 points in the run including two three-pointers.
Sobey credited the stunning turnaround to his side’s defensive pressure where they picked up seven turnovers to three with the Bullets also leading steals (5-1) and blocks (4-2) to halftime.
“The start of that first quarter wasn’t great for us but that second unit that came in really turned it on for us and got us going on the defensive end which picked our offence up as well,” Sobey said at halftime.
It was the Kings’ second game in three days, while the Bullets were suiting up for the first time in a week.
PRATHER RETURNS
Commentators were saying it “looked like he never left” after three-time NBL champion Casey Prather landed a three-pointer for the Bullets with his first shooting attempt of the game.
Prather made his NBL return coming on midway through the first quarter marking a significant comeback after missing the last three years due to knee issues.
The 32-year-old ended up playing 9just under 11 minutes finishing with eight points and two rebounds in a successful first game back for the star player. With import Chris Smith missing, Prather could build towards more minutes to play a key role for the Bullets.
THE EXCELLENT SOBEY
Nathan Sobey continued his purple patch of form, scoring more than 27 points for the fourth time this season and the third time in his last four games.
Following scores of 36, 16 and 35 (last game) heading into the encounter, Sobey stepped up again with 27 points including three triples. Sobey is the only Bullets player to have started every game this season.
KINGS’ POOR DEFENCE
A key difference to the Kings in their championship seasons compared to now is the points they are give up.
The Kings rank the worst in the league for opponent points per game this season (93.6) while in their last two seasons, they ranked fourth (86.1) and third (82.8) respectively.
It was more alarming given the fact they allowed the Bullets 101 points who entered the game with the second worst offensive rating at 107.5.
A DIFFERENT KINGS
A comeback from 13 points down at halftime was barely looking good for the Kings with the NSW outfit losing the second half in seven of its last nine games.
But what was giving them every hope was the fact they were at home where they have a better second half record, winning the last half in 13 of their last 14 home games after trailing at half-time.
Much of these comebacks however were before this season and in their championship seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
More positively, the Kings bucked their trend of giving away the most points in the league in final quarters this season as they won it by five points, giving away 21 points.
The Kings were giving away 24.9 points on average in final quarters prior to the game. Sydney 93 (Adams 21, Hunter 17, Noi 13) Brisbane 101 (Sobey 27, White 12, Bannan 13) At Qudos Bank Arena
‘NEW YEAR, NEW TEAM’: 36ers START 2024 OFF RIGHT IN MASSIVE UPSET
- Max Hatzoglou
Adelaide 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic says he will “have a beer and wine” following his equal season-best 30 points to help produce the upset of the NBL season.
The 36ers shocked fans as the bottom-placed side handed the ladder-leading Melbourne United a four-point defeat on Saturday night.
It came after a whirlwind end to 2023 where the club swung the axe on coach CJ Bruton after a 4-9 start to the campaign before a further four losses and a solidary win to finish the year.
But what motivated the 36ers for the shock 100-96 win just one month after the sacking was their 1998-99 championship predecessors who were at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre celebrating their 25-year anniversary in front of a record crowd of 9564 fans.
“Obviously it’s the 25-year anniversary for the championship so we just had to come in full of energy,” Vasiljevic said on ESPN post-game.
“And I came to hoop man, I love my boys and that’s what we had to do.
“New year, new team, we got 10 games left, nine now, but we had to come in full of energy.
Vasiljevic had three rebounds and two assists to go with his 30 points which included 15 in the first quarter.
The 26-year-old was also on fire from deep, shooting five threes at 50 per cent.
Vasiljevic also revealed he had been “dealing with some stuff personally” in the last two months post-game.
Asked what he saw that got him going tonight post-game, he replied “I don’t even know, I had a good nap, good chat to my parents and my cousins.”
“I’m just trying to enjoy this year stress-free, no issues.
“I have been dealing with some stuff personally in the last two months.”
36ers interim coach Scott Ninnis said Vasiljevic’s first quarter set up the game for his side.
“We have obviously needed this win and it’s a reward for the way the boys have stuck at it and how they have trained,” Ninnis said.
“It’s easy to get down when you’re in these situations when you’re losing more than not.
“Incredibly proud of the effort we put in tonight.”
Trey Kell (24 points, 10 rebounds, five assists), Isaac Humphries (16 points, seven rebounds) and Jacob Wiley (12 points, six rebounds) were other considerable contributors for the 36ers in their sixth win of the season.
JACKJUMPERS SMOTHER TAIPANS TO GET SEASON BACK ON TRACK
- Ryan Rosendale
The Tasmania JackJumpers have got their NBL24 season back on track after defeating the Cairns Taipans by 17 points at MyState Bank Arena on Saturday night.
After losing their last three matches at home, a hot start and a dominating third quarter ensured it wouldn’t be a fourth in the 103-86 win.
Star import Milton Doyle was back to his best in the win, finishing with 31 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Marcus Lee (16 points) put together another strong performance after his best game in JackJumpers colours in the loss to New Zealand.
For the Taipans, it was import Tahjere McCall (20 points) and Tasmanian-born Taran Armstrong (18 points, seven rebounds and four assists) at the top of the score sheet.
Tasmania came out with a clear intent to get the game on their terms early, and despite a 4-0 start by the Taipans, they did just that.
Three consecutive long range jumpers saw them take the lead and when Armstrong entered the game for the Taipans, he was met with a far from ideal homecoming.
An immediate turnover and a 1-3 start had both he and his side on the back foot, with what appeared to be a dislocated finger to Patrick Miller, and consecutive threes to finish the term for Tasmania, also compounding the visitors’ woes.
A much closer affair in the second term was highlighted by Doyle’s 10-point quarter, with the JackJumpers continuing to have all the answers every time it appeared Cairns were ready to launch a fightback.
Taking a 51-41 lead into the third, the JackJumpers dominated on both ends of the floor with Cairns failing to stop their run.
They won the term 28-18, to extend their lead to 20 at the final break, with Cairns coach Adam Forde likely to look back on that 10 minutes as the difference in the result.
That’s partly due to the strong fightback in the last, highlighted by a stellar 13-point quarter from Armstrong with the kid from Tassie almost willing the Taipans to victory.
The JackJumpers will now face Brisbane at Nissan Arena on Wednesday before returning home to host Illawarra on Friday with Cairns only round 15 game coming against Adelaide on Saturday.
MERCILESS HAWKS HAND PHOENIX CLUB-RECORD LOSS
- Lance Jenkinson
Merciless Hawks hand Phoenix club-record loss
Forced to battle with a severely depleted squad, South East Melbourne Phoenix was no match for an on-the-rise Illawarra Hawks, going down 116-78 in a club record losing deficit at WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday night.
The bulk of the Phoenix’s starting unit was out with point guard Gary Browne (groin) a late out, joining star centre Alan Williams (knee) and newly acquired import Abdel Nader (hand) on the injured list.
It saw the Phoenix slump to its heaviest defeat in club history with the 38-point loss eclipsing two 31-point defeats earlier in the club’s existence.
Not even star forward Mitch Creek’s 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists could put a dent in the Hawks machine, which is rolling with six wins from their past eight matches since interim coach Justin Tatum took over.
If the Phoenix’s inexperienced and naive defence was not the final nail in their challenge, their horrendous shooting from three-point range was.
The Phoenix missed their first 12 consecutive three-pointers on the night and only landed their first through Luke Rosendale late in the second period after the Hawks had already amassed a 21-point lead.
With five losses from their past six games, the Phoenix have slumped to 9-11 and their position in the top six is under severe threat.
The Hawks completed the sweep over the Phoenix this season, improving to 8-9 and into the play-in contention.
They produced a season high 116 points and had their biggest win of the season.
With youngster Anzac Rissetto anchoring the centre position in his first start for the Phoenix, Hawks big man Sam Froling immediately put him to the test.
Froling, who finished with 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and three blocks, was dominant from the get-go, forcing Phoenix coach Mike Kelly to, at times, look elsewhere for solutions.
No matter who the Phoenix opposed Froling, the Hawks star had his own way, leading the Hawks to a nine-point quarter time lead.
The Phoenix locked down better on Froling in the second period, only for another problem to emerge.
Speedy Hawks point guard Justin Robinson broke off the leash to take the game away from the Phoenix with 19 points.
Robinson sliced his way through some flimsy Phoenix defence to finish with 16 points for the first half as his side led by as much as 21 late in the second.
Hawks forward Gary Clark soared to the hoop for a highlight reel as part of his 16-point, 13-rebound game.
LITTLE VICTORIES
When you are so depleted and the deficit is getting out of hand, it was all about the little wins for the Phoenix.
Youngster Kody Stattmann produced an impressive drive for a layup as part of his 11 points and Owen Foxwell showed nifty ball handling skills and some competitive fire.
It was invaluable experience for a number of Phoenix players low down on the depth chart, including Rosendale, who drained two threes.
BALL TALKS FOR HAWKS
Creek tried to ignite the Phoenix with a three-pointer at the start of the third, but the Hawks were not taking the foot off the accelerator.
The Hawks ball movement was slick all night with Froling pivoting the ball left and right from the top of the key.
The Phoenix just could not get enough second chance opportunities with primary rebounder Williams out of the lineup.
When Hyunjung Lee scored back to back triples to make it a 30-point lead for the Hawks, it was officially garbage time.
NBL SCOREBOARD
Illawarra Hawks 116 (Froling 20 Robinson 19 Clark 16) d South East Melbourne Phoenix 78 (Creek 24 Stattmann 11 Ayre 10)
DELLY PUTS HAND UP FOR PARIS AS UNITED STUNS KINGS
Sean Teuma
Matthew Dellavedova showed why he belongs in the Boomers picture for Paris 2024 with a vintage performance to help Melbourne United bounce back in style.
In front of a bumper crowd of 12,898 at Qudos Bank Arena, an explosive third term helped United down the Sydney Kings 101-85.
Trailing at halftime and on the back of a 17-point hiding from Cairns, a clinical 35-19 third term gave the visitors a 14-point lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Dellavedova chipped in with six points and three assists during that key stretch, as underrated bench forward Tanner Krebs nailed three triples in a three-minute period to silence the home crowd.
It was all about Dellavedova though, with the NBA champion tallying 16 points, nine assists and six rebounds to make Australian coach Brian Goorjian take notice.
His contribution was matched by Shea Ili, who topscored with 19 points as Melbourne finished with six players in double digits.
Shaun Bruce’s season-high 16 points was all in vain as the Kings slipped to 10-9 for the season, while United moved further clear at the top of the table.
KEY OUTS FOR BOTH TEAMS
Import DJ Hogg was a pre-game omission for the Kings with shoulder soreness in a big blow for the team in the lead-up to the game.
An unexpected game-time out came in the form of Melbourne forward Luke Travers.
The key man had a noticeable limp in the warm-ups and remained suited up, starting from the bench with Kyle Bowen starting.
He failed to see any court time however with Kyle Bowen taking his place in the starting five, with his status for Saturday’s match against Adelaide in doubt.
BENCH DUO IGNITES KINGS EARLY
A sluggish start saw Sydney fall behind 13-6 inside the opening five minutes, before the injection of Denzel Valentine off the bench turned the tide in a big way.
He helped his side close out the quarter with a 17-5 run, with three assists, a steal and a triple capping a huge momentum swing.
That was continued on through the defensive impact of Jonah Bolden who made life difficult for Melbourne’s bigs with his physicality in the paint.
IN VIC CHRIS TRUSTS
Chris Goulding was staring down the barrel of three fouls midway through the second quarter after being called for reaching in.
The Boomers guard pleaded with Dean Vickerman to challenge and the coach obliged.
It proved a masterstroke with the call overturned and Goudling playing on with the two fouls to his name.
Goulding went on to score 16 points in a typically solid game from the veteran.
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Originally published as NBL 2024 Week 14 news: Bullets def Kings, 36ers back in winners’ books, Illawarra Hawks 116-78 South East Melbourne, Melbourne United win 101-85 over Sydney Kings
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