Davis Masterclass Puts Kings on Brink of NBL Title

Alexander Bebendorf

The Sydney Kings are one win away from another NBL championship, riding a fourth-quarter surge and a stunning Kendric Davis performance to defeat the Adelaide 36ers 106-93 in Game 3 at a packed Qudos Bank Arena.

With the series level at 1-1 and tension high throughout, it took until the final period for the contest to truly break open. When it did, it was Davis who seized control.

Sydney opened the fourth quarter with the first seven points, turning a tight contest into a double-digit lead in a matter of minutes. From there, the Kings never looked back, outscoring Adelaide 54-40 across the second half to take a 2-1 series advantage.

For Davis, it was a statement response. After a difficult Game 2 - where he shot 6-of-25 and cut a frustrated figure late - the Kings guard delivered one of the great Championship Series performances. He finished with 34 points and a record 15 assists, shooting 11-of-19 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line without committing a single turnover.

He wasn’t alone. Jaylin Galloway continued his strong series with 17 points, hitting five three-pointers, while Xavier Cooks provided an all-round presence with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Tim Soares added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, stretching Adelaide’s defence with three triples.

Defensively, Matthew Dellavedova again set the tone on Bryce Cotton, shadowing the Adelaide star throughout his 22 minutes on court. Cotton still managed to facilitate with 12 assists, but was held to 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting, with five turnovers and limited opportunities at the free-throw line.

Adelaide had its moments, particularly early. John Jenkins was electric in the opening quarter, knocking down all four of his three-point attempts to pour in 14 points and give the 36ers a 31-24 lead at the first break. He would finish with 22 for the game, while Zylan Cheatham (17 points, 10 rebounds), Isaac Humphries (12 points) and Nick Rakocevic (12 points) all contributed.

The visitors carried that momentum into a narrow 53-52 half-time lead, with Cotton playing more of a playmaking role early, tallying nine first-half assists despite limited scoring.

Sydney, however, never let the game slip away. Davis kept the Kings within striking distance through the middle quarters, and by three-quarter time the margin was just three points. That set the stage for the decisive final term, where Sydney’s shot-making and defensive pressure finally created separation.

Back-to-back triples from Soares and Galloway to open the fourth quarter proved the turning point, and this time Adelaide had no answer.

Now leading the series 2-1, the Kings head to Adelaide with a chance to close it out and secure a third championship in six years. The 36ers, meanwhile, return home needing a response to keep their season alive and force a decisive Game 5.