A pair of clutch plays from veteran guard Shaun Bruce have sealed the Sydney Kings' 87-85 win in a tense NBL grand final rematch with the New Zealand Breakers.
With the Kings down by a point in the final minute of Sunday's home game, the ball passed through hands at the top of the arc before finding second-unit guard Bruce.
The 32-year-old let the ball fly from long range and it bounced up before falling into the rim, forcing an NZ timeout.
Breakers import Anthony Lamb (29 points, seven rebounds) had the chance to tie the scores when he stole the ball from DJ Hogg (18 points, seven rebounds) with 30 seconds remaining.
But he could not get his shot off as he was fouled and missed the ensuing two shots from the charity stripe.
Guarded expertly by Bruce, Parker Jackson-Cartwright made a final attempt at a game-winner from long range but the ball bounced off the rim and the Kings held on.
"In that moment, you at least want to get a shot, a clean shot," Jackson-Cartwright said.
"But that's the way it went. You learn from it."
Kings coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah lauded Bruce's effort down the stretch.
"He stepped up," he said.
"We believe in him and the work that he puts in. He's always there in the mornings, he's a leader of the group, they all trust in him, they believe in him. We don't get a win without him."
Hogg celebrated his first home game as a King by leading the scorers for the home side.
He hit four threes from eight attempts, including one that gave Sydney a five-point lead on the bell for three-quarter time.
"He's the most easygoing guy we've got. He obviously does a lot of great stuff on the floor," Bruce said of his new teammate.
"He makes life easy for everyone."
The Breakers sit at 2-5 but coach Mody Maor took encouragement from the side's latest performance.
"We see the progress, we know we're going better," he said.
"We held Sydney to four fast-break points, nine offensive rebounds, 32 points in the second half. Great job.
"If the ball bounces differently, we come out with a huge win. I'm very proud of them.
Ex-NBA forward Lamb had 17 first-half points but the Kings maintained the lead for most of the opening two quarters.
But Tom Abercrombie hit two threes in an 11-1 run to begin the third quarter that put New Zealand back in the fight.
Jackson-Cartwright (18 points, five assists) hit a three that gave the Breakers their first lead since the first quarter with just less than seven minutes to play.
But that was before Bruce came up clutch late.
