In a defining moment of the ANBL Championship Series, the New Zealand Breakers have overcome the Sydney Kings 80-70 at home to force a fifth-game decider on Wednesday at Qudos Bank Arena.
BELIEVE!!! #UNBREAKABLE pic.twitter.com/9mVHjA96mH
— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) March 12, 2023
In front of a record crowd at Spark Arena, the Breakers turned the tide on their second and third-game slumps to produce a thrilling win to tie the series at 2-2.
The current title-holder Kings had little opportunity to clean up the series on Sunday night, with the Breakers shooting out of the blocks to maintain their lead at each quarter break to keep their season alive.
Toppling their rivals in field goals (56 per cent versus 51.9 per cent), three-pointers (39.1 per cent versus 33.3 per cent) and free throws (57.7 per cent versus 57.1 per cent) the Mody Maor-led Breakers looked a far cry from the Game 3 performance that saw them thumped 91-68 on Friday night.
Their attack was led by star imports Jarrell Brantley and Barry Brown Jr., with the former completing the game with a game-high 23 points and five rebounds.
Brantley's heating up 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/u6WYrWf9V9
— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) March 12, 2023
Brown added further damage to the Kings’ hopes with 20 points of his own with four rebounds and three assists, while star point guard Will McDowell-White added 19 points to the scoreboard.
BARRY BROWN TO THE RACK!!! pic.twitter.com/O9As6AVDdn
— Sky Sport New Zealand Breakers (@NZBreakers) March 12, 2023
Skipper Tom Abercrombie completed the game with six steals, just one shy of the ANBL finals record and received a huge ovation from the crowd in what could yet be his final game on home soil.
While the Breakers were too clinical for the title-hunting Kings, Derrick Walton Jr impressed for the visitors with 18 points, three boards and four assists while Angus Glover and league MVP Xavier Cooks added 12 and 10 points respectively.
With the series now locked in a tie, everything is on the line for both teams as they head to Sydney for the series decider on Wednesday night, where one team will prevail as the 2023 Championship Series victors.
The game will begin at 7:30pm (AEDT) at Qudos Bank Arena.