Kings will themselves back to top spot

There is just something about Launceston for the Tasmania JackJumpers and despite being in a winning position late against a tired opponent, the Sydney Kings dug deep to finish with a 12-2 run to secure the 71-68 win to go back to NBL top spot.

The JackJumpers had completed three games in six days last week, winning two of them, but had time to freshen up since last Wednesday while the Kings arrived having played in Melbourne on Sunday and Perth on Wednesday.

It was the first game this season at the Silverdome for the JackJumpers too where they have only won twice over the past five years, and it was a familiarly tough battle.

Sydney opened a six-point lead by half-time but the longer the game went, the hard work and hustle of the JackJumpers put them in a winning position leading 66-59 with three minutes to go.

But that's when the Kings will themselves to the win with massive offensive rebounds to Xavier Cooks and Torrey Craig, along with the hustle of Tyler Robertson, and then huge threes from Makuach Maluach inside the last two minutes.

That saw Sydney secure the gutsy three-point win to improve to 7-3 in top spot with Kendric Davis finishing with 20 points and nine assists on 7/26 shooting with 0/7 from the outside with the whole team going 5/26.

Cooks produced 15 points and six rebounds, with five of those offensive, Robertson 10 points and three rebounds, Craig eight points and seven rebounds, and then Maluach eight points and six boards, but six of those points were match-winning threes late.

The JackJumpers are now 2-9 overall in Launceston and 6-3 this season and lost David Johnson to a leg injury before half-time too.

Dakota Mathias top-scored for Tasmania with 20 points and three assists on 4/9 three-point shooting, with Taran Armstrong adding 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, Josh Bannan 11 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and Will Magnay nine points, 14 boards, three assists and at least one block.

The Kings were playing a third road game in six days while the JackJumpers were playing for the first time in eight days, but by the end of the first quarter they couldn't be separated at 19-19.

Tasmania started well for an early eight-point lead but Sydney responded by forcing the JackJumpers into four turnovers to win the possession battle and get scores back level.

Tasmania then went cold in the second quarter, adding just 12 points on 2/14 shooting from the field and 1/6 from the outside, along with 7/14 from the foul line.

Up the other end, the Kings did add 18 points on 8/18 shooting despite missing all four three-point attempts and getting to the foul line just twice.

That saw Sydney leading 37-31 by half-time with Xavier Cooks up to 12 points and Kendric Davis having 12 with five assists despite 5/15 shooting.

The Kings started to look understandably exhausted in the third quarter with Brian Goorjian risking keeping Andrew Carr in the game even with having four fouls and Harry Wessels yet to check into the game.

Sydney managed just 13 points in the quarter on 4/16 shooting with Davis adding six points but doing it on 2/5 shooting.

The JackJumpers had lost David Johnson to injury, but worked on top with late threes from Nick Marshall and Dakota Mathias before three quarter-time to be leading 55-50.

It was hard work, but gradually the JackJumpers pulled further away and the offensive rebounding was becoming the biggest part of the game as they went up seven once more midway through the final period.

But Sydney refused to lie down and went on an 8-0 run inside the last two minutes capped off by two huge threes from Makuach Maluach to hit the lead once more.

The JackJumpers did get back within one with 5.2 seconds left but the Kings got it done for a gutsy three-point win to wrap up their road trip.

The run of four road games in eight days is now over for the Kings, who don't play again until next Sunday at home to the South East Melbourne Phoenix, while the JackJumpers have the quick turnaround to face the Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 68 – SYDNEY KINGS 71

Tasmania JackJumpers
Dakota Mathias – 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Taran Armstrong – 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Josh Bannan – 11 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists
Nick Marshall – 9 points, 6 rebounds
Will Magnay – 9 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists

Sydney Kings
Kendric Davis – 20 points, 9 assists, 3 steals
Xavier Cooks – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 6/8 FG
Tyler Robertson – 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3/4 FG
Torrey Craig – 8 points, 7 rebounds
Makuach Maluach – 8 points, 6 rebounds