
Unsung Nick Marshall has hit the biggest shot of his NBL career, his buzzer-beating matchwinner helping the Tasmania JackJumpers overturn a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Sydney Kings 90-89.
Dominated across the middle two quarters and in deep arrears in the fourth at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, the JackJumpers scored the last 12 points of the game and 22 of the last 27.
Tasmania guard Ben Ayre was smartly fouled by Matthew Dellavedova with seven seconds left, with the JackJumpers needing a three to tie.
Ayre knocked down both free throws to reduce Sydney's lead to 89-88, before Kouat Noi was immediately fouled and uncharacteristically missed two from the stripe at the other end.
JackJumpers big men Will Magnay and Josh Bannan fumbled the rebound out of bounds, giving the Kings another look.
But Xavier Cooks' casual baseline inbound was picked off by Magnay, the play finished by Marshall, who hit a tough drive over Cooks and Noi.
That's my first (last-second game-winner)," Marshall smiled.
"Lots of ups and downs, but we just stuck in there.
"We kept getting stops and were able to make a play at the end."
Bryce Hamilton and Bannan scored 18 points apiece for Tasmania (5-3), while captain Magnay added 15 and last-gasp hero Marshall 14.
Kendric Davis (22 points) and Jaylin Galloway (18) were best for shell-shocked Sydney (3-5).
The JackJumpers attacked the paint early, nailing 13 of their first 16 attempts to lead 29-25 at quarter-time, before the Kings - paced by Davis - dominated the middle two terms 30-21 and 24-14.
Tasmania's cause was hurt in the third period when Hamilton received his fourth foul - a technical for using a Spanish profanity in front of referee Nico Fernandes.
Marshall led the JackJumpers' fourth-quarter surge from 84-68 down, which was momentarily stalled when Hamilton fouled out, after Sydney successfully challenged a blocking foul on Davis, which was amended to a charge on the Tassie import.
After Galloway threw down successive dunks, the JackJumpers looked in trouble before coming from nowhere to storm home.
"Real hard one to swallow, but I liked the way we played," Kings coach Brian Goorjian said.
"I think (for) the whole team, and myself, it cuts real deep."