Next Stars Wrap - Round 10, NBL24

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

A career night for AJ Johnson that featured one of the dunks of the season, set the bar for a strong weekend.

Illawarra’s AJ Johnson threw down one of the dunks of the season as he helped the Hawks claim an unlikely win over the high-flying Perth Wildcats.

Johnson has struggled for opportunity so far this season, but looks to be becoming an integral part of the Hawks’ rotation under interim coach Justin Tatum, and claimed season highs in each of points, assists and rebounds in the victory.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fast and strong finish from AJ Johnson ?<br><br>That is what AJ can do ?<br><br>Catch all the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/GXr4W9jdeC">pic.twitter.com/GXr4W9jdeC</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1733048394996986289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Although the Wildcats lost to Johnson’s Hawks, Alexandre Sarr acquitted himself well to end the game with the second most points of anyone on his side.

The Overtime Elite graduate played almost 26 minutes from the bench and ended the game with 13 points and five boards.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alex Sarr flashed his two-way potential in Round 10:<br><br>?? 13 points<br>?? 5 rebounds<br>?? 2 blocks<br>?? 1 steal<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> Next Star continues to grow in NBL24 ?? <a href="https://t.co/FvsE2bPkMb">pic.twitter.com/FvsE2bPkMb</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1733758303736627537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bobi Klintman ensured the Cairns Taipans got off to a hot start against Adelaide in a primetime Saturday night clash and, at one point, had scored 20 points in just 11 minutes of action.

The young Swede slowed down as the game progressed, but he showed glimpses into his burgeoning ability as a knockdown shooter.

He also added 13 points in Cairns’ Thursday night defeat to the Sydney Kings.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bobi Klintman was on fire in the first quarter of last night's win in Adelaide ??<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/CairnsTaipans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CairnsTaipans</a> Next Star scored 14 points in the opening term and finished with a career-high 22 points ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextStar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextStar</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Klintman14?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Klintman14</a> <a href="https://t.co/ilWUfGKhJl">pic.twitter.com/ilWUfGKhJl</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1733654803186917761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mantas Rubstavicius continued to establish his role in New Zealand’s rotation after experiencing injury issues at the start of the NBL24 season.

The Lithuanian played a season-high 21 minutes from the bench, as he continues to ramp up his match fitness and added 10 points in a defeat to Tasmania.

Ariel Hukporti and Rocco Zikarsky locked horns when Melbourne took on Brisbane, and it was Hukporti’s United who closed out the round of action in style with a monster 35-point win.

Hukporti started the second half in place of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, and played his most complete game since suffering a minor knee injury over a month ago with seven points and eight boards.

Zikarsky only played four minutes for Brisbane in the loss.

Alex Toohey took on a double-header for the Kings an started both games as Sydney split the weekend 1-1.

He thrived against Cairns under bizarre conditions and scored 12 points in the win over the Taipans, but foul trouble prevented him from having the same impact in the loss to South East Melbourne.

Trentyn Flowers came into Adelaide’s starting lineup for the 36ers’ clash with Cairns, and looked to share ball-handling duties with Trey Kell and Dejan Vasiljevic in Scott Ninnis’ first game as interim head coach.

Flowers played 17 minutes, but struggled to impose his presence on proceedings and ended the game with just two rebounds.