Basketball: Kings beat Breakers to claim shield

11.50pm

KINGS 109 BREAKERS 99

The New Zealand Breakers surrendered the two-day old Bondi Shield and saw their chances of making the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) finals erode further despite a brave performance against the defending champion Sydney Kings in Sydney tonight.

Sydney triumphed 109-99 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre to return to the top of the league but the Breakers' fought all the way in a gripping contest before a crowd of 4901.

Second last in the competition, the Breakers had the home side on edge until the final quarter when the Kings, led by captain Matthew Nielsen and Ebi Ere skipped clear.

Until the Kings unleashed a strong finishing burst Phill Jones had kept the underdogs in touch with a spate of three pointers.

Jones' haul of 23 points was a beacon in the Breakers stats, but Kings prevailed thanks to superb efforts from Nielsen and fellow forward Ere.

Australian international Nielsen scored a career-best 41 points while Ere was a constant danger, contributing 37.

The Breakers were also undone by a crippling foul count which saw the Kings make 26 of 32 attempts. In contrast the Breakers made only 14 visits to the foul line.

The Kings win gave them first possession of the Bondi Shield - as winners of their three-game series - following their 93-83 victory in Auckland on December 27.

They also returned to the top of the league although Brisbane have a chance to regain No 1 spot if they beat Adelaide tomorrow.

Nielsen's counterpart Pero Cameron underscored the Breakers fine first quarter but was well contained for the remainder of the contest, managing just three more points.

The influence of American import Mike Chappell was also curbed by a suffocating Kings' defensive screen.

Chappell averaged 21.7 points a game - and 25 the last time the teams met - but was frozen out in the early stages and did not break his duck until the second quarter.

He eventually recorded 19 while Australian Ben Melmeth added 14.

The match was held up for five minutes with 4min 58secs to play after the scoreboard malfunctioned.

There is no let up for the Breakers who have little time to regroup before facing the West Sydney Razorbacks at Homebush tomorrow.

Should the Breakers upset the fourth placed Razorbacks it will be the first time the Breakers have taken a three-match "series" against a title challenger.

West Sydney won their first meeting in November 103-95 before the Breakers redressed the balance with an 82-80 away win last month in Penrith.

Sydney Kings 109 (Matthew Nielsen 41, Ebi Ere 37)

New Zealand Breakers 99 (Phill Jones 23, Mike Chappell 19, Ben Melmeth 14).

Halftime: 51-49

Crowd: 4901.

- NZPA