The Sydney Kings have moved one step closer to an NBL championship. Overcoming a spirited JackJumpers team 90-86 in Hobart on Sunday.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith MVP Jaylen Adams missing the game due to injury, the other Kings players needed to fill the void of the team leader in scoring and assists. Thankfully for the Kings, they have one of the deepest rosters in the league who were willing to fill Adam’s shoes. Jarell Martin (20 points 10 rebounds) Xavier Cooks (20 points 11 rebounds) and Dejan Vasiljevic (20 points 5 rebounds) all played key roles in the win.
For Tasmania Josh Adams bounced back from a poor game one, to almost single handedly win the game for the JackJumpers with 36 points. Jack McVeigh (10 points 8 rebounds) and Josh Magette (10 points 5 assists) played solid back up roles to Adams.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter a forgetting game one, where they fell short by 18 points. Tasmania burst out of the blocks to hold a 27-17 lead, with contributions from all over the roster. They also showed early intent on attacking the rim, which had been lacking in game one.
The Kings hit back in the best possible way in the second quarter, going on a 12-0 run to snatch the lead and silence the raucous MyState Bank Arena crowd. The JackJumpers needed a spark, and it came from one of the more unlikely source, Jarred Weeks. The veteran, Agent 97, showed his experience by steadied the ship with a number of threes for a quick-fire 11 points. This included a late three on halftime to give the home team a 4 point lead into the half.
Once a King, now bringing the sting! 🐜 @weeksy_11 providing some serious bite off the @JackJumpers bench.#NBL22 Grand Final Game 2 LIVE & FREE on ESPN via Kayo Freebies + 10 Peach 👀 pic.twitter.com/IEk0XfeFUO
— NBL (@NBL) May 8, 2022
The second half saw the teams trade baskets with no team able to gain a sizeable edge. The stars were stepping up, Adams was a target for Tasmania, scoring 11 of the JJ’s 22 points for the third quarter. While Cooks and Martin were getting easy looks inside the paint.
Cooks efforts inside the paint took continued in the 4th. Where after 11 of his 20 points for the game through a five-minute patch in the final term to put Sydney up 83-78 with two minutes on the clock.
Tasmania’s offence was falling at the finish line as they were unsuccessful on a number of ambitious three point attempts. However, Adams once again kept Tasmania in the game with his two remarkable three-point baskets to reduce the lead to one with 30 seconds to play.
JOSHUA. ADAMS.#NBL22 Grand Final Game 2 LIVE & FREE on ESPN via Kayo Freebies + 10 Peach 👀 pic.twitter.com/yxBQEr50As
— NBL (@NBL) May 8, 2022
But there was no fairytale this time, as Vasiljevic knocked down a 3 with 8 seconds to play to send the Hobart crowd firstly into stunned silence.
Post game JackJumpers coach praised a great game of basketball and was happy with his teams efforts.
“They made the shots and we didn’t. I think our guys did fantastic, they missed some assignments, we missed some assignments, back and forth, it is what it is. You just move on and enjoy the moment,” Roth said.
Josh Adams was simply ready to talk about the next game
“We got another game in Sydney on Wednesday. That’s what I’m thinking about,” Adams said.
“We’ve been in that mode for the past two months. We go into every game expecting to win.
“If we end up on the short end of the stick, we move on to the next one.
“It’s another must win game. We’ve been playing in must win games for quite some time now.”
