Noi, Oliver help Kings escape Taipans

The Cairns Taipans threw everything at a second huge upset in NSW in the space of nine days but ultimately 11 late points from former Snake Kouat Noi pulled it out for the Sydney Kings to prevail 91-87.

The Snakes arrived at Qudos Bank Arena with their last game being when they snapped a 15-game losing streak in remarkable fashion by beating the league-leading Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong.

They were back in Sydney to take on a Kings team who lost at the buzzer to Melbourne on Thursday.

It was a rollercoaster ride throughout on Sunday afternoon too with Cairns starting 9-2 but only leading by two at quarter-time before the Kings opened up an eight-point lead in the second term but that was back to one at half-time.

The Snakes were then up six early in the second half before the Kings went on a 14-1 run but it remained a tight contest and it was all set up for someone to turn match winner.

Taran Armstrong put Cairns up three with three minutes to play, but it was Noi time and he made two huge threes, made a free-throw and then grabbed a massive offensive rebounds for two free-throws.

He then got a dunk as the Kings won an important one to stay clear in fourth at 14-10 with Noi showing his clutch qualities and finishing with 27 points and five rebounds with 4/8 shooting from deep.

Sydney coach Brian Goorjian, who was coaching the Kings for a 250th time, praised Noi's efforts.

"It's just really fortunate to have that weapon there," Goorjian said.

"I credit JA for getting the ball into his hands, because everyone is confident in him under pressure making big shots.

"They went after X, they went after JA and he was elite as that third weapon. He's having a career year."

Cam Oliver came up huge too playing almost 30 minutes for 15 points and 17 rebounds with Xavier Cooks producing 19 points and eight boards, and fellow former MVP Jaylen Adams 18 points, five assists and three blocks.

Cairns might have lost but produced an impressive showing once more with Rob Edwards finishing with 25 points and seven rebounds, Armstrong 22 points and two assists, Kyrin Galloway 12 points and four rebounds, and Pedro Bradshaw 10 points and six boards.

"We wanted to slow it down and make it a little bit ugly," Taipans coach Adam Forde said. 

"We did it for portions. We just couldn't get over the hurdle, and Sydney did."  

The Snakes hadn’t played since the stunning upset of Illawarra last Friday and after missing that win, Sam Waardenburg made a hot start with six quick points with an and-one on a finish inside and then a make from outside.

Taran Armstrong also hit a three as the Taipans started 9-2 before Jaylen Adams scored eight straight points for the Kings to bring the home team back into the contest.

The Snakes again answered to be narrowly leading 19-17 by the end of one before the Kings started the second term the better with a 12-2 run that included three-point makes from Alex Toohey and Adams.

The Taipans responded once more to close the half strongly outscoring Sydney 17 points to 10 including Kyrin Galloway hitting a mid-range jumper on the buzzer to go to 12 for the half.

The Kings were clinging to the 39-38 lead at the break with Kouat Noi and Adams combining for 22 points before it was the Taipans with the hot start to the second half.

Rob Edwards was feeling good and 'The Microwave' put up seven quick points as part of an 11-2 run that saw the visitors turn a three-point deficit into a six-point lead.

The Kings hit back after a timeout from Brian Goorjian starting with Toohey scoring inside before Bul Kuol and Cam Oliver made threes against their old teams, and then an Oliver dunk was part of a 9-0 run.

That saw Sydney having turned a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead, but again Cairns kept on coming and had cut the Kings lead back to two at three quarter-time.

Sydney started well in the final period as well and a three-point play from Cooks put their lead back to seven, but once more the Snakes answered with threes to Armstrong and Edwards, and then a technical converted by Edwards on Goorjian.

Akoldah Gak gave Cairns the lead once more to complete an 8-0 run with five minutes to play before Armstrong put the Snakes up three with a tough three-point play up against Cooks inside.

Noi delivered for Sydney with two three balls to return the home team to the lead in the last two minutes and when he grabbed an offensive rebound with 26 seconds to go, he made both at the stripe which was the pivotal play in the win.

Coming into Sunday's game and the Taipans had played the fewest games in the league so they have some making up to do beginning on Tuesday night when they host the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

The Kings are not in action until next Sunday when they are at home again to the defending champion Tasmania JackJumpers.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2024/25

SYDNEY KINGS 91 (Noi 27, Cooks 19, Adams 18)

CAIRNS TAIPANS 87 (Edwards 25, Armstrong 22, Galloway 12)

BOX SCORE