Kings dethrone NBL’s reigning champion leaving the JackJumpers to find answer for scoring slump

Banished by the Kings — the Tasmania JackJumpers are looking for answers to their misfiring offense ahead of a date with the Adelaide 36ers. What went wrong.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Jordon Crawford of the Jackjumpers drives to the basket during the round five NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Sydney Kings at Silverdome, on October 18, 2024, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The Sydney Kings moved to the top of the NBL ladder in Launceston on Friday night with their dramatic come-from-behind win against Tasmania to continue the JackJumpers’ spluttering title defence.

The Kings hatched a plan to neutralise Tasmania’s centerpiece play-maker Will Magnay and Sydney coach Brian Goorjian handed that job to Keli Leaupepe.

The 6ft6 forward did enough to ensure the JJ’s bigman did not have a match-winning impact on the game in a dramatic second half when the Kings lived up to their name.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Scott Roth, Head Coach of the Jackjumpers reacts during the round five NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Sydney Kings at Silverdome, on October 18, 2024, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Sydney was as much as 16 points down several times in the exhilarating grand final rematch and its second-half aggression was enough to eke the Kings’ to a powerfully nine point win _ 80-71.

The Kings had 49 rebounds to 36, and despite a horror night in terms of turnovers, their well-rounded performance put the Tasmanians on the back foot and brought up the Kings’ second win in a now after a loss on the road to the 36ers and win over the Taipans at home.

It continued the JackJumpers’ poor winning record at the Silverdome and cemented their spot as the NBL’s lowest-scoring team so far this season.

Smashed by the Hawks to the tune of 33 points last time out, question marks over the reigning champions were dispelled early when Tasmania opened strongly both defensively and offensively.

Play-maker Jordon Crawford drained his best score of the season with his game-high 25, bettering his top performances so far this season of 19 against Melbourne United and the Hawks.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Will Magnay of the Jackjumpers blocks the pass of Xavier Cooks of the Kings during the round five NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Sydney Kings at Silverdome, on October 18, 2024, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Crawford hit 18 points in the first half and then the Kings cut off supply when then they upped the ante on the defensive hoops in the second hald, and Xavier Cooks (15 points), Kouat Noi (14 points) and Alex Toohey (12 points) made their impact at the other end.

Battling to re-establish themselves in the game they had dominated, the JackJumpers reduced the deficit from 11 points to five points entering the final minute but the Kings held on for their best win of the season.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth threw out the playbook early and put captain Clint Steindl in the starting five as the JJs looked for a way to hit the boards.

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LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Clint Steindl of the Jackjumpers drives to the basket during the round five NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Sydney Kings at Silverdome, on October 18, 2024, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

t worked for a while but the skipper had only limited impact with six points for the game.

Tasmania’s outstanding first half had it ahead 45-33 at the long break, which could have been more had it not been for Cooks’ buzzer-beating tip-in on the half-time siren.

A scoring drought in the third quarter of eight points was only the seventh time in JackJumpers history they had scored single figures in a quarter.

The miserly Kings earned a week off ahead of a date with Perth Wildcats in WA next Friday while the JackJumpers must regroup ahead of their clash with the 36ers in Adelaide on Sunday.