The Sydney Kings managed to keep their season alive with a tough away victory over the Townsville Crocodiles on Friday night, winning 89 to 81, with Kings stars Josh Childress and Ben Madgen the difference between the teams as the Kings broke their five-game losing streak.
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A strong full-court press on defence followed Kings coach Damian Cotter's comments about the team's lack of concentration last week, Sydney constantly forcing turnovers from the game's start.
The Kings built a 12-7 lead within the first three minutes and held on to lead by one at the first change. Townsville found themselves in trouble with the referees early as they tried to combat the Kings' improved presence in the paint, picking up eight personal fouls in the first quarter alone.
The Crocodiles looked a vastly different team from last week, when they beat the Kings at their home court by nine.
The Kings extended their lead in the second, all the side's starters finding themselves on the scoreboard on 57 per cent shooting from the field. A beautiful full-court outlet pass from guard Kendrick Perry to Childress for an easy layup typified the Kings' style of play, looking a more energetic team on both ends of the court.
The visitors reached half-time leading 40-57 courtesy of a Madgen buzzer-beater from behind the three-point line, Madgen finishing the game with 22 points, four assists and five rebounds.
Townsville came out swinging in the third, cutting the lead to eight before Sydney pushed it back to 15 by the final break. From there, the Crocodiles managed to cut the margin back to three points with two minutes to go in the fourth, but the Kings held on for the win.
The Crocodiles had 18 turnovers to the Kings' 10, and shot a woeful 38.7 per cent from the field for the whole game.
Injured Kings centre Angus Brandt was replaced by Josh Duinker, who stepped up with a commanding performance, seven rebounds and a block preventing Townsville's Mickell Gladness and Brian Conklin from controlling the game under the hoop.
Crocs guard Clint Steindl had an uncommonly poor night, missing all six shots from the field in 26 minutes on the floor, his only points coming from three free throws.
Childress received a lot of attention from the Crocodiles' defensive unit, the focus clearly on blocking his path to the hoop, but still finished the game with 23 points, three assists and three rebounds. Recent Kings signing Nick Horvath picked up two rebounds to go with two points and a block in his first outing for his new team, but five fouls saw him sit early in the fourth after only seven and a half minutes of game time.
