Brazilian Leads Kings Over Breakers

Tim Soares has big shoes to fill at the Sydney Kings but the Brazilian big man showed he could be up to the task as he led the charge for the reigning champs as they closed the NBL Blitz beating the New Zealand Breakers 101-93.

The last evening at the Blitz in Darwin got underway with the Kings up against the Breakers, and Sydney would go on to record the highest score of the pre-season tournament with their depth again on show.

The Kings once again had eight players scoring at least eight points for the game while going at 57 per cent from the field despite coughing up 18 turnovers.

After losing first up to the Tasmania JackJumpers, Sydney now leaves Darwin on the back of two wins with Soares top-scoring on Friday night as he looks to play that big man role as successfully as Jarell Martin did in last season's championship.

He top-scored with 19 points, five rebounds and two blocks on shooting 7/10 from the field but it was again the Kings sharing the load that was key to their win.

DJ Vasiljevic added 14 points, Xavier Cooks 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists, Kouat Noi 11 points and four boards, Iggy Mitchell nine points and three rebounds, Jordan Hunter eight points and three boards, Justin Simon eight points, six rebounds and three assists, and Jackson Makoi eight points and four assists.

The Breakers might leave Darwin winless but there were encouraging signs with new import Barry Brown finishing with 19 points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds.

Exciting Next Star Rayan Rupert delivered another 16 points and five rebounds on 4/5 shooting from downtown with Rob Loe contributing 14 points and three rebounds, Jarrell Brantley 12 points, four boards and four steals, Tom Vodanovich nine points and four rebounds, and Izayah Le'afa nine points and four assists.

Dererk Pardon and DJ Vasiljevic scored the first four points for their respective teams before Jarrell Brantley helped New Zealand to the 11-6 lead with a three ball.

Sydney responded with the next 14 points in a stunning run that included five quick points from Tim Soares and a three-pointer from Iggy Mitchell.

A triple from Vasiljevic just before quarter-time helped Sydney lead 33-24 after one before Biwali Bayles landed from deep to stretch their advantage to 10. 

Another 6-0 run capped off with a couple of Justin Simon baskets saw the Kings pull away further but New Zealand responded with three-pointers from Tom Vodanovich, Rayan Rupert and Brantley to stay in touch. However, Sydney again pulled away heading into half-time to lead 59-44 after three free-throws from Soares.

Soares had 10 points at the half, Vasiljevic and Mitchell nine, and Kouat Noi eight as they shot 64 per cent as a team to 42 from New Zealand to lead by 15.

Cooks and Soares gave the Kings the perfect start to the second half too as the lead got out to 18 before Barry Brown caught fire with consecutive three balls to bring New Zealand back within nine.

The Kings then still led by nine heading into the fourth quarter and it turned out to be a last term full of highlight players with New Zealand closing within six points a couple of times.

The Breakers couldn’t quite get closer with the Kings going on to win by eight with the quarter starting with a massive dunk from Cooks. Simon then produced a couple of throwdowns as did Soares to close out the contest.

There were highlights for the Breakers too to close the game with a couple of triples on back-to-back possessions for Rupert while Vodanovich and Loe also connected from beyond the arc.

The Kings will now open their championship defence on NBL23 opening night away to the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong next Saturday night.

The Breakers start their season on the road to Melbourne United next Sunday before their long-awaited return to Spark Arena against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Friday October 7.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ – DAY 8

SYDNEY KINGS 101 (Soares 19, Cooks 14, Vasiljevic 14)

NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 93 (Brown 19, Rupert 16, Loe 13) 

BOX SCORE