Kings Crowned Champions After Overtime Classic Caps Epic Series

Alexander Bebendorf

The Sydney Kings are NBL champions once again, surviving a gripping Game 5 and a relentless Adelaide 36ers outfit to claim a 113-101 overtime victory in front of a record crowd at Qudos Bank Arena.

In a series that had already delivered everything, the decider somehow found another level. Kendric Davis was the undeniable architect of Sydney’s triumph, producing a masterclass when it mattered most. The Kings guard finished with 35 points and 14 assists to be named Championship Series MVP, outduelling Bryce Cotton in a rivalry that defined the five-game battle.

Cotton was immense in defeat, matching Davis with 35 points of his own, but in the end Adelaide fell just short of a fairytale finish.

They carried a seven-point lead into the final quarter and still held the advantage deep into the final minute of regulation, inching closer to what would have been their first title since 2002. But Sydney refused to break.

Davis sparked the late push, scoring under the basket to cut the margin to two inside the final 30 seconds before Tim Soares came up with a crucial tip-in to tie the game at 95-95 with just six seconds remaining.

That left Adelaide one final chance. Cotton drove hard at the rim on the last possession of regulation, but couldn’t find the winning finish, sending the contest into overtime.

From there, the momentum shifted decisively. Davis made the first statement of the extra period, picking Cotton’s pocket in the opening exchange before Adelaide suffered a major blow with Nick Rakocevic fouling out moments later. With their structure disrupted, the 36ers struggled to respond as Sydney took control.

Davis added seven points in overtime, continuing to torment Adelaide, while Makuach Maluach delivered the defining play: stealing from Cotton and racing away for a one-handed dunk that stretched the lead to a game-high 13 points and effectively sealed the title.

It was a fitting finish for a Kings side that had set the tone early in the series with a record-breaking Game 1 win, only to be pushed all the way by a resilient Adelaide team that twice fought back to level the contest.

For coach Brian Goorjian, the victory carries added significance. Tasked with restoring the Kings to their former stature, he has now delivered a sixth championship for the club, adding to his legacy after his dominant run in the early 2000s.

And in front of 18,589 fans - an all-time NBL record - it also served as a reminder of how far the league has come.

For Adelaide, the heartbreak will linger. They came within seconds of forcing a different ending, but ultimately leave empty-handed after one of the most fiercely contested Championship Series in recent memory.