FOR THE second consecutive match, an incredible final term from the Sydney Kings saw them run over the top of an NBL opponent, this time the Brisbane Bullets at Brisbane Entertainment Centre last night. The Kings trailed by three points at half-time and two at the final break in a game that was on edge the whole way through, before piling on 22 points to 15 in the last term to skip away to a 91-86 victory.

After the Kings slipped back to the mid-table Play-In Tournament spots after a recent run of bad form, they are back on track following the win. A victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on January 2 saw the Kings pile on 37-16 in the last term to come away with a nine-point victory. Though no trailing by 12 at the final change to have to make such a drastic comeback, the Kings still stood up in the fourth quarter to get the job done.

Brisbane dominated off the boards all night with 54 rebounds to 37, highlighted by the work of big men Casey Prather, Josh Bannan and Tyrell Harrison who picked up 39 rebounds between them to go with 43 points, and seven assists. However the Kings stood up defensively, denying nine shots with blocks, and getting to the paint to score with 56 of their 91 points coming from that source.

They shot at a far higher rate (60 per cent) compared to the Bullets’ (35 per cent), while Brisbane had to rely on its three-point shooting (12 of 36) while the King hardly let off a shot (five of 11) from that range. All in all, the Kings were just more consistent when it came to shooting and took the higher percentage looks, enabling them to head to the line more too, even though they only shot at 58 per cent.

It was an even spread from the Kings, with star guard Jaylen Adams scoring a few less points than of late, but still managing 21, as well as six rebounds and eight assists. He was well supported on the scoring front by Xavier Cooks (19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and five assists), as Cameron Oliver (14 points, nine rebounds) did his best to protect the rim.

Others who chipped in with cameos included Kouat Noi (15 points, two rebounds) in 20 minutes, and Izayah Le’afa grabbing six defensive rebounds and dishing off two dimes in just over 16 minutes on court.

They restricted Brisbane’s key shooters in Prather (18 points) and Keandre Cook (10) down, with the latter being the the Bullets’ top scorer. He also had four assists and four steals with 12 rebounds, while Harrison managed eight offensive rebounds among 14 total with 12 points. Bannan came off the bench for an even 13 points and 13 rebounds – six offensive – as well as three assists and a block, while Josh Adams made his Bullets debut and played 17 minutes for 11 points, three of six were from long-range.

Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian was just pleased to get the victory, admitting it was more a case of pushing right to the final buzzer.

“We hung in,” he said post-match. “We just got this belief in the fourth quarter. “We got the right guys the ball …and we defended. “We went to where we needed to go to win the game.”

Brisbane Bullets coach Justin Schueller said it was frustrating to dominate the boards but finish with such a poor shooting efficiency, particularly late.

“To get 29 offensive rebounds, to have so many more shot attempts than them (88-59), we were just unfortunate in that last quarter, with great looks, the ball doesn’t drop,” he said post-match. “That’s where the frustration is.”

The Bullets will need to lick their wounds and be ready for Wednesday when they have another home game, a must-win clash against New Zealand Breakers on January 8. The Kings will tip-off Round 16 with a return to Qudos Bank Arena and home match against rivals and top two side, Melbourne United. It is the first of a two-game home stretch next round where they also face last placed Cairns Taipans.