Kings Make it 10 Straight with Big Win in Tasmania

The Sydney Kings further closed in on top spot in the NBL by producing yet another master class performance to hammer the previously in-form Tasmania JackJumpers 103-83 at MyState Bank Arena on Sunday.

With the Kings heading to the Apple Isle on a nine-game winning streak but needing a win to reclaim second spot and the JackJumpers having won six of the last seven but needing to keep winning to stay in a playoff race, this had big game written all over it.

It didn’t take long, though, for the Kings to ram home their advantage determined to make up for their last loss this season which came against the JackJumpers when they only went 3/23 from beyond the arc.

The tide was turned in this one and it was Tasmania missing 16 of their first 18 three-point attempts in the game on their home floor, and the Kings were simply on fire and put them to the sword.

Sydney ran out to a 30-14 lead at quarter-time at a mind-blowing 80 per cent shooting clip. The Kings’ Makur Maker (seven points, five rebounds) was lively during this stretch and gave the Kings some versatility in the paint that threatens to add a new dimension to their game. 

Sydney coach Chase Buford was delighted especially with the first half showing.

"I think in the first half our defence was really what set the tone for us. We were aggressive right from the opening couple of possessions," Buford said. 

"They made a couple of tough shots, but every time it was over an extended hand or was a long two. I was really proud of the way we guarded and we were able to rebound a tonne of those shots, and we just played fast in transition. 

"We got our heads up and got easy baskets and layups in transition which set the tone for the entire game."

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth could only watch on in bemusement. Tasmania has been staunch of defence all season, but no matter how deep he reached into his bag of tricks and traps, there wasn’t a defensive strategy that could have stopped these Kings. 

Jaylen Adams was superb from the get-go, responsible for 15 points at half-time en route to team-high 20 points for the match as he continued his charge into MVP calculations.

At half-time, Adams was 4/4 from three-point range and the Kings led 57-29. It was the biggest half-time deficit (28 points) in JackJumpers history, more than doubling the 11-point hole they found themselves in against the Perth Wildcats on December 19. 

It was the first time in the 40-point era that the Kings had scored 57 points at half-time. 

Fellow import Ian Clark also flexed his talent and experience in this match. He remains yet to taste defeat in his NBL career and had seven points, five rebounds and three assists in three quarters. 

He didn’t participate in the fourth quarter, sidelined with groin soreness which he should recover from in six days' time. 

The plaudits didn’t stop there for the Kings with big man Jarell Martin continuing to impressive and stand tall with another 13 points. He was 5/7 from the field, including 2/3 from three-point range. 

In his second game back from an ankle injury, Xavier Cooks was equally industrious, knocking on the door of a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists. 

Despite the odds stacked against them, the JackJumpers fought hard in the third quarter and even reeled off a 14-1 run that brought the margin briefly within 20 points. 

The JackJumpers’ Josh Adams, coming off a franchise record 31 points against the Adelaide 36ers on Friday night, again led his team with 18. 

For what it was worth, the JackJumpers won the third quarter with 27 points to the Kings’ 21. Yet, with seven minutes to play, the JackJumpers trailed by 30 points (87-57). They also won the fourth quarter 27-25. 

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth knows his team got outplayed on the day, but won't let it define their season.

"Congratulations to them, they've obviously got a dynamite team and are super talented across the board," Roth said. 

"They played obviously very well, we just were never really in the game and statistically, they smashed us in just about every category. They did a hell of a job and as I told these guys after the game, this doesn’t define our season by any means. 

"It's just one of the games that we'll end up playing and we've got four more to go. We just move on and continue to build."

The final margin was a breathe-easy 20 points, as the Kings ran at the clock with a 103-83 win. 

This win gave the Kings their 15th of the season (with seven losses), rocketing to be only percentage behind the also 15-7 Melbourne United.

The JackJumpers now remain at home to host the Cairns Taipans on Friday night while the Kings remain on the road to take on the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 83 (Adams 18, McIntosh 17, Steindl 12)

SYDNEY KINGS 103 (Adams 20, Cooks 14, Martin 13) 

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