Basketball On The Internet.

IT WAS always bound to be a memorable match for some reason but yesterday's Sydney-New Zealand grand final rematch of their epic 2023 Championship Series ended in calamity with three minutes of crazy drama highlighted by Shaun Bruce's game-winning three and D.

Bruce hit the 3-pointer which created the final scoreline but there was wild theatre on either side of that shot before the Kings clinched victory 87-85.

Earlier, South East Melbourne staved off a desperate Cairns, enjoying the return of under-done Tahjere McCall but unable to sustain the level of pressure required to sneak the road win.

The Taipans received solid service from McCall, a tiring Bul Kuol - those shoulders can only carry so much - and intermittent minutes of quality from Lat Mayen, Sam Waardenburg, Bobi Klintman and Taran Armstrong.

But the Phoenix had Alan Williams (18 and 15) controlling the paint, Mitch Creek equally efficient with 21 and 11, cameo moments from Gary Browne, Matt Kenyon, Reuben Te Rangi, Craig Moeller and Ben Ayre enough to ensure victory.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 91 (Creek 21, Williams 18, Browne 14, Kenyon 12, Ayre, Te Rangi 10; Williams 15 rebs; Browne 8 assts) d CAIRNS TAIPANS 78 (Mayen, Armstrong, Waardenburg 12, Kuol 11, Klintman 10; McCall 10 rebs; Kuol 4 assts) at John Cain Arena. Crowd: 7,511

THE Kings looked to have the Breakers in deep waters when ahead by 14 and cruising, DJ Hogg hitting a couple of big threes and New Zealand starting to splutter.

But after giving up 55 first-half points to trail by 11 at the break, the Breakers' greater efficiency in their zone defensive alignment, which seemed to fluctuate from a 1-3-1 to a 3-2, surrendered just 17 third quarter points and they were right back in it.

With 2:42 left, Parker Jackson-Cartwright knocked down a 3-pointer and NZ had squeaked ahead 85-82, before Anthony Lamb fouled Jaylen Adams at 2:16.

That led to an unsuccessful coach's challenge, Adams making both freebies for 84-85.

Tom Abercrombie missed a corner three for NZ, Adams clunked a jumper at the other end before Jordan Hunter fouled on the rebound attempt at 1:44 left.

Jackson-Cartwright then over-dribbled - not for the first, or last time - Lamb missing a long shot, which Hogg then followed with a miss of his own for Sydney.

His richocet led to a long rebound and set Jackson-Cartwright loose on the break, pressured into missing the layup by Bruce. 

Hogg missed a drive but Hunter slapped the rebound high out to Angus Glover, who found Bruce open. Bruce let the 3-bomb fly, it caught the front of the rim, bouncing up and in.

Mody Maor took time-out, New Zealand now down 85-87 with 43.9 seconds left.

Lamb was the man, but he missed inside, secured his own offensive board, then was rejected by Hogg on his shot attempt.

The ball back with Hogg as he endeavoured to bring it forward from the backcourt, Lamb grabbed his singlet - unseen unsportsmanlike foul - and managed to free the ball. Driving to the hoop, he was fouled by Hogg, prompting a Kings' coach's challenge before the free throws, 19 seconds on the clock.

The challenge unsuccessful, Lamb's first free throw hit the back of the rim and bounced aimlessly away. He timed his second perfectly, throwing it against the ring to come back to him, a deliberate miss from which he soared for the rebound, secured it, only to miss his shot for the tie.

Sydney's ball from behind the defensive baseline, 13.6 on the clock, adjusted to 14.5 and Bruce slips trying to catch the inbounds pass. His foot out of court, it is now New Zealand ball with 12.7 seconds left.

On the pass receipt, Jackson-Cartwright chose to run the clock almost completely down before attempting a 3-pointer which Bruce played to perfection, forcing a terrible, if not embarrassing shot attempt that never looked like dropping.

No question the Breakers copped the raw end of the officiating stick. But no question either their imports went for the hero plays, with the result another digit in the L column. 

SYDNEY KINGS 87 (Hogg 18, Adams 12, Bruce, Valentine 11; Hogg 7 rebs; Adams 9 assts) d NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS 85 (Lamb 29, Jackson-Cartwright 18, McDowell-White 11, Delany 10; McDowell-White 8 rebs; Jackson-Cartwright 5 assts) at Qudos Bank Arena. Crowd: 12,143