Star imports Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell have steered the Adelaide 36ers into the NBL Play-In Game with a 95-88 upset of the Sydney Kings.
The Sixers blew out to a 16-point lead before halftime and withstood a huge Kings fightback in Thursday night’s Play-In Qualifier at Qudos Bank Arena.
They will take on South East Melbourne in another knockout contest at John Cain Arena on Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Play-Offs.
Davis, runner-up to Bryce Cotton in the league’s MVP award, had 24 points and six assists as Adelaide posted their fourth successive win over Sydney this season.
Harrell had 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and ended his personal battle with the Kings’ home fans by sarcastically waving goodbye after the final buzzer.
DJ Vasiljevic was also important, finishing with 23 points off 7-of-11 shooting from long range.
Sydney star Jaylen Adams had 30 points and 10 assists, but also committed a season-high nine turnovers – one short of the record in the 40-minute era.
Cam Oliver (19 points, 12 rebounds) also fought hard for the Kings in the absence of Xavier Cooks, who was suspended this week after returning an adverse finding from a drug test.
Adelaide started well in their first post-season game since the 2018 grand final series, leading 23-22 at quarter-time through Davis pull-up triple.
The visitors’ lead ballooned to as much as 16 points in the second period after an 11-0 run sparked by threes from Sunday Dech, Jason Cadee and Davis.
A frustrated Adams was subbed out by Kings coach Brian Goorjian just before halftime with 16 points and six assists – but also seven turnovers.
Sydney surged after the main break and Adelaide’s offensive rhythm vanished, as a 30-18 third period gave the home side a slender 71-69 advantage with one quarter to play.
The lead changed hands several times in the second half and it was the Sixers who held their nerve down the stretch.
Adams was briefly subbed out with a nasty dislocated finger with 2:10 left as Adelaide’s Jarrell Martin – back in action after a calf injury – helped settle the contest off the bench.
The result means Cadee’s career will continue for at least one more game after the 15-year veteran announced this week he would retire when the Sixers’ season ends.
© AAP
