The Sydney Kings extended their lead in the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) with a hard-fought 93-83 win over the New Zealand Breakers at the North Shore Events Centre in Auckland last night.
Trailing for most of the game, the Mike Chappell-inspired Breakers came back from being 18-points down at
three-quarter time to trail by just six with eight minutes remaining.
The capacity crowd - a $5 Christmas ticket price bringing in a full house of near 4500 people - roared on the late charge, but the Kings finished with the sort of composure that has them top of the ANBL with 16 wins from 19 games.
The Breakers, whose record drops to six wins from 19, could take some lessons in intensity from their opponents but also some positives.
They won the final quarter 26-18, their offence flowing on the back of Chappell, who scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in that period.
Two consecutive Chappell three-pointers brought the score to 73-79 but the hosts couldn't close the gap.
Kings captain Matt Nielsen was in foul trouble throughout the game but still emerged as the night's best player with 25 points, and his fine all-round performance overshadowed Australian team-mate Ben Melmeth in their duel under the basket.
Lively Kings forward Ebi Ere contributed 24 points while teammates David Stiff and CJ Bruton provided good support throughout.
The Kings led 31-27 after the first quarter and a 15-4 run early in the second quarter helped lift them to a 53-40 halftime advantage.
- NZPA and STAFF REPORTER
