Celebratory Kings Overpower Bullets

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Xavier Cooks wasn’t going to let the Sydney Kings lose on the night they celebrated last season's championship with the reigning champs overcoming the Brisbane Bullets 100-90 on Friday.

Cooks was Grand Final MVP in that championship triumph for the Kings and he came up huge once again in the home opener in front of a massive crowd of 11,478 at Qudos Bank Arena.

It was the biggest standalone season-opening crowd in franchise history for the Kings. The night began with the raising of the championship banner in a ceremony that saw rings presented to players and staff, and while the Bullets had their moments, Sydney were on top most of the way.

Despite shooting a paltry 11/25 from the free-throw line, the Kings were impressive in all other areas but they still had to dig deep after the Bullets drew level by three quarter-time.

However, Cooks, Derrick Walton Jr and Justin Simon all had periods of fourth quarter dominance as they went on a 16-0 run late to end up winning by 10.

Cooks was superb for the Kings with 23 points and 11 rebounds on 11/17 shooting with Walton brilliant in his first home game with 21 points, eight assists, four boards and two steals.

Simon added 14 points and three assists, Kouat Noi 13 points, and Jordan Hunter 11 points and four rebounds.

Kings coach Chase Buford was especially happy with the efforts of Cooks, Walton and Simon to not let them lose.

"I'm happy with the result. The guys figured out a way to get it done down the stretch," Buford said.

"Derrick and Xave made some huge plays all throughout the night, and I thought Justin's second half was really really good to help dig us out of some bad moments throughout the game.

"Credit to Brisbane, they fought really hard that whole second half and gave us all we could handle, and it was pretty much Derrick, X and Justin making some big plays down the stretch along with Jordie."

It was a second straight loss to open the season for Brisbane despite the 16 points and nine rebounds from Aron Baynes, and 15 points and two steals from Nathan Sobey.

Jason Cadee had a big second half for 16 points while Tyler Johnson contributed 13 points and DJ Mitchell 11 to go with six rebounds and three assists.

Bullets coach James Duncan lamented that his team weren’t able to keep their momentum going having got themselves back within a point with five minutes to go.

"We were right there with five minutes to go and then it comes down to the details. We got a good stop and an offensive rebound, and then got another good stop and an offensive rebounds," Duncan said.

"Then we had a couple of turnovers going up the other end and you can't do that against the Kings at home, and they took advantage of that. I can't fault the effort but our execution in terms of just the details and those things was about a D for that last five minutes of the game."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just Kings' fast break things.<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> are running and gunning against the Bullets ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports <a href="https://t.co/qhDn8KLGvd">pic.twitter.com/qhDn8KLGvd</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1578315941100027909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The signs were good early for Brisbane with their big three of Aron Baynes, Nathan Sobey and Tyler Johnson all starting well. Sobey hit a pair of triples with Baynes also hitting from deep and then Johnson scored on three consecutive possessions to put the Bullets up 20-14.

The Kings responded well to score 10 of the last 13 points of the opening period capped off with triples from Kouat Noi and DJ Vasiljevic to lead 24-23 after one.

Brisbane then opened up the second period well including a 6-0 run including a big DJ Mitchell putback slam.

However, Sydney then went on its own 10-0 run and that set them up to lead 46-39 at half-time on the back of shooting 52 per cent from the floor opposed to the 39 per cent from the Bullets.

Sydney threatened to blow the game wide open with a couple of steals and breakaway slams from Justin Simon to open the second half combined with a pair of triples from Noi to see their lead out to 12.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Simon says dunk the basketball.<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a>' <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_Says_so?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@simon_Says_so</a> showing off the springs ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports <a href="https://t.co/NTWigbtbRc">pic.twitter.com/NTWigbtbRc</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1578323310240485376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, the Kings missed eight free-throws alone in the third period to keep the Bullets in the contest and it was Jason Cadee who sparked the fightback.

He scored nine straight Bullets points and then three balls from Baynes and Sobey to close the quarter saw scores all square at 67-67 by three quarter-time.

It was a statement start to the fourth quarter by Xavier Cooks with a block on Baynes and a couple of buckets. Add in a Jordan Hunter triple and they scored the opening seven points to work on top again.

Brisbane wasn’t going away and it was Mitchell in his second NBL who kept them in touch. He scored the Bullets' next eight points before Devondrick Walker drained the open three ball to make it a one-point ball game.

It was then time for Derrick Walton to take over. He hit five quick points to keep the Kings on top before Justin Simon hit a three and converted a three-point play as part of a 16-0 run that saw Sydney go from leading by one to 17, and winning by 10.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When the DJ drops a banger ?<a href="https://twitter.com/DonovanJM0?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DonovanJM0</a>'s got Gak's back with the putback<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live on ESPN via Kayo Sports <a href="https://t.co/7AG7p9UKKx">pic.twitter.com/7AG7p9UKKx</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1578313588783337472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Both teams now have short turnarounds to play on Sunday afternoon with the Bullets first up away to the also winless Tasmania JackJumpers. The Kings then take on Melbourne United at John Cain Arena.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 2

SYDNEY KINGS 100 (Cooks 23, Walton 21, Simon 14)

BRISBANE BULLETS 90 (Baynes 16, Cadee 16, Sobey 15)

BOX SCORE