NBL Championship series decider on ESPN – The 2023 NBL Championship Series is heading to a Game Five decider between the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE on ESPN this Wednesday at 7.30pm AEDT.
The Breakers delivered an unbelievable display in the do-or-die Game Four to win 80-70 on Sunday, taking the Championship Series into a fifth and final game.
Jarrell Brantley led the Breakers in scoring with 23 points, while William McDowell-White was everywhere with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and Barry Brown Jr added 20 points off the bench.
The 70 points was the Kings’ lowest score in a Championship Series game, while their 14 free throw attempts was their fewest in a game this season. Derrick Walton Jr had 18 points.
After a record NBL crowd witnessed Game Three on Friday, Kings’ fans are again expected to fill Qudos Bank Arena to the brim with the NBL crown on the line.
Sydney is looking to win back-to-back NBL titles for the first time since their 2003-2005 championship three-peat, while New Zealand are aiming to win their fifth title since 2015.
Sunday’s Game Four was a physical and fiery affair and tensions will remain high for the decider as a result.
Sydney stars Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr will be expected to be the offensive spark for the Kings in Game Five.
The pair have been hampered by injury at times throughout the NBL Championship Series – although Walton Jr was the Kings best in New Zealand on Sunday.
Wednesday night’s decider will be the final time that Kings fans will see NBL MVP Xavier Cooks in action, as the star will depart at the end of the NBL season to join the Washington Wizards in the NBA.
Cooks will hope to cap his time in the league with a second successive championship.
NBL Championship Series on ESPN –
Wednesday March 15
7.30pm AEDT, Game Five: Sydney Kings vs New Zealand Breakers, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ
Link to ESPN HERE
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