Clash postponed due to cyclone; NZ cops biggest defeat of season as Kings reign — NBL wrap

This weekend’s all-Queensland NBL clash has postponed “due to the potential impact of a cyclone in the Cairns region”, according to the league.

The NBL on Friday confirmed the match between the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets, which was scheduled to take place at Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday, would need to be rescheduled.

“With Cairns now classified within the Warning Zone, the venue has enacted its Emergency Response Plan, resulting in closure of the venue,” the NBL said in a statement. “Following consultation with local authorities and venue operators, and with the safety of all participants and the wider community paramount, the decision was made to postpone the fixture.

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“The NBL is reviewing scheduling options for the game and will provide further updates in due course.”

Meanwhile, the Sydney Kings have smashed their two-game losing streak out of the park with their second-biggest win of the season on Friday.

The New Zealand Breakers had no answers in a horrific outing on their home court where their top-six aspirations would’ve benefited hugely with a win.

That goal took a massive hit however, and viewers could have said the game was over before halftime at Spark Arena as the dominant Kings jumped out to a 40-19 lead midway through the second quarter after going on a 22-0 run.

By halftime, the Kings led 51-21, then 75-40 at three-quarter time before the final 103-62 scoreline.

The 41-point victory for the Kings was their 14th win of the season as they solidify their position in fourth on the table and push closer towards the top three with a 14-9 record.

For the Breakers, it was their biggest defeat of the season and have now lost five of their past six games.

Kings star forward Kouat Noi led with a team-high 18 points including seven points and three boards in a brilliant second quarter from the 28-year-old. It was the fifth time this season Noi has registered more than 15 points.

Forward Jaylin Galloway was also influential with 16 points and seven boards, while starter Makuach Maluach shined bright with 15 points and seven boards.

Making the win extra special for the Kings was the fact they were without defensive star Bul Kuol and star power forward Xavier Cooks.

But Brian Goorjian’s side was still able to keep the Breakers to the lowest score the Kings have kept a side to this season with 62 beating their previous best of 70 against the Brisbane. It also came a game after the Kings had conceded the most points they have in a game this season (127) against South East Melbourne Phoenix on Monday.

The Breakers had Next Star Karim Lopez top score for points with 11. The NBA draft prospect also had five boards, two assists and three blocks.

But the Breakers had minimal contributors elsewhere in a match which makes it hard to believe that the Breakers had beaten the Kings 95-90 last meeting on December 3.

The Breakers, who fall to an 8-14 record following the loss, had a second quarter they will want to forget.

The New Zealand outfit lost the term 27-4 in a horror showing where they began with conceding a 17-0 run in the first six minutes.

It was seven turnovers in the stanza which hurt the Breakers while good defence and slick offence sparked the Kings.

The Kings were able to fire without Kendric Davis really having a big influence on the offence end.

The star guard didn’t put up his first shot of the game until a quarter and 68 seconds into the second quarter, and his first bucket didn’t arrive until four minutes into the same term with a lay up.

But Brazilian-American big man Tim Soares had plenty of influential moments in the match but also was on the wrong side of a few.

His 15 points were the fourth time he has registered 15 points or more in a game this campaign. Soares also had seven rebounds and two steals to his name.

But the 211cm centre was also on the wrong of two dunks and a block in the opening half as he kept finding himself in the tough situations. He got one back however when he dunked over Next Star Karim Lopez and got to the free throw line.

— NCA NewsWire