NBL Rd 19 - New Zealand v Sydney
Sport by Michael Randall 22nd May 2021 8:07 PM | Updated: 8:22 PM
A remarkable last quarter turnaround, coupled with a big man tour de force from import Jarell Martin has kept the Sydney Kings’ sputtering season alive.
Neck and neck with the Illawarra Hawks and Brisbane Bullets for the fourth and last NBL finals spot, the Kings did not come out like a team playing for their season.
But the intensity finally lifted late in the last as Martin and fellow tower Jordan Hunter took it on themselves to lead their side to an 81-76 revenge win over the New Zealand Breakers.
Season alive! Kings come from clouds in thriller
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NBL Sydney Kings claim crucial win over New Zealand Breakers
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The New Zealand Breakers won their first game at home for the season.
Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
The Kings showed plenty of fight, reeling in a 21-point third-term deficit to trail by five with more than three minutes left but the Breakers were not to be denied, capping a dream homecoming at Auckland s The Trusts Arena.
It seemed only something special would spoil the Breakers party on Thursday after the hosts appeared revitalised in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 3000 fans in their first home game in 461 days due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Indeed, a Breakers outfit out of finals contention looked like a different team after returning from a five-month stint in Australia and finally playing a game in New Zealand for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak struck in February, 2020.