Kings make it 20 wins in NBL season - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Kings make it 20 wins in NBL season

By Ted Simmons 30/12/2005 10:49:07 PM Comments (0)

Sydney Kings playmaker CJ Bruton had to step up and deliver as the team surged to an unusual record in their 109-92 win over West Sydney at the Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

Bruton scored a match high 24 points and 10 assists as the Kings became the first team in the NBL to win 20 games in four successive seasons.

But it wasn't easy as last placed West Sydney fought back after a slow start to twice get within one point in the first half.

"I thought it was going to be a tough, difficult game and it was good to end up scoring 109 points in which we didn't shoot the ball well," Kings coach Brian Goorjian said.

"The game could have got more than ugly and our big issue now is getting the right import to replace injured Rolan Roberts."

West Sydney coach Mark Watkins said his team's performance was typical of the way it had been playing this season but he now thought that the Kings could be beaten because of the loss of Roberts.

Sydney shot away to an 8-0 lead and held West Sydney scoreless for six minutes before Cameron Rigby put them on the scoreboard from a free throw.

Twice in the second quarter West Sydney clawed its way back to trail by one point before the Kings - with seven points from Bruton and six each from Jason Smith and Ben Knight - moved to a 51-37 advantage at half time.

Defending champion Sydney closed out the game in the third quarter with a scoring flurry which put it 24 points in front.

Deadly shooting from long range by the Kings - especially Bruton and Smith - and constant second half pressure took its toll on West Sydney which was unable to match the physical aggression of the home team.

Import James Taylor had a team high 23 points for the Razorbacks with support from Scott McGregor and Pero Vasiljevic who each had 14 points but the team suffered with 28 turn overs and generally poor shooting.

The visitors notched only seven from 21 efforts at three point range compared with 15 by the Kings and were successful with 35 from 68 from the floor compared with 40 from 89 by the Kings.

With the Kings well in front coach Goorjian introduced Luke Martin with 2m33s remaining who scored from almost his first touch.

Martin had been sidelined all season with a foot injury suffered in China when playing for the Boomers.

"The import situation is a worry and I thought our big players Luke Clendell and Ian Crosswhite were only average tonight but we still had great leadership from Bruton and Smith," Goorjian said.

"I must sort out the import situation by no later than Monday or Tuesday and have three names now to consider."

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