Fourth quarter Kings do it again, sink Bullets

• Kings win second straight, move to 13-9 (third)
• Kings' Jaylen Adams has 21-6-8 in 5-point win
• Casey Prather has 18 and 12 double-double

Fourth-quarter Kings have done it again. Sydney was down seven with 3:23 to go to beat the Brisbane Bullets 91-86 (Game Centre) at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday, January 4, 2025 in round 15 of NBL25.

It's the second time in the span of three days the Kings have come from behind to win. Sydney stormed back against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on January 2 after being down 18 points in the third quarter.

"We hung in," Sydney coach Brian Goorjian said in the post game press conference.

"We just got this belief in the fourth quarter. We got the right guys the ball ...and we defended.

"We went to where we needed to go to win the game."

On the flipside, Bullets coach Justin Schueller said was disappointed with Brisbane's ability to finish.

"To get 29 offensive rebounds, to have so many more shot attempts than them (88-59), we were just unfortunate in that last quarter, with great looks, the ball doesn't drop," he said.

"That's where the frustration is."

The game began as a tightly contested affair, with neither team able to establish a significant advantage in the first half. Brisbane held a slim 48-45 lead at the break, buoyed by the energetic play of Tyrell Harrison, who dominated the boards with 14 rebounds. However, the Kings' superior shooting efficiency would prove to be the difference.

Sydney's offensive prowess shone through in the second half, with the team shooting an impressive 57% from the field. The Kings' ability to convert in the paint was particularly notable, as they racked up 56 points in close range compared to Brisbane's 32. This inside dominance allowed Sydney to gradually chip away at the Bullets' lead before finally overtaking them in the fourth quarter.

The Kings' victory was underpinned by several key statistical advantages. Their field goal percentage of 57% far outstripped Brisbane's 35%, while they also managed to secure more assists (18 to 15) despite committing more turnovers. Sydney's ability to protect the rim was also crucial, with the team recording nine blocks to Brisbane's two.

Jaylen Adams was the standout performer for Sydney, finishing with a game-high 21 points and eight assists. His leadership in the clutch moments of the fourth quarter was instrumental in securing the win. Adams' ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates proved too much for the Bullets to handle.

For Brisbane, despite the loss, there were positive signs in the performances of Tyrell Harrison and Josh Bannan. Harrison's double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds showcased his importance as the Bullets fight to get into the playoffs, while Bannan's 13 points and 13 rebounds off the bench provided a much-needed spark.