Kings Head to Game 5 Decider

The NBL 2026 Championship Series is heading to Qudos Bank Arena on Easter Sunday for a game five decider following Sydney Kings' heartbreaking one-point loss in Adelaide on Wednesday night.

The Kings led for three of the four quarters before import Torrey Craig missed a free throw with two seconds left to give the Adelaide 36ers a 92-91 victory at home to level the series at 2-all.

Sydney had 13 turnovers to Adelaide’s five with the 36ers coming out on top in the assists and rebounds departments.

In front of a hostile 36ers crowd, the Kings started strongly with Jaylin Galloway sinking back-to-back threes. It was a taste of what was to come.

The Kings got out to an eight-point lead with Galloway showing the way with eight points as Sydney took a 24-22 lead after the first quarter.

An early surge from Adelaide saw them take the lead before Sydney drew level in a quarter that saw the lead change 12 times with the Kings leading 53-46 at half-time.

Galloway led the way with 14 points ahead of Xavier Cooks and Kendric Davis with 11 each. The Kings kept Adelaide's MVP Bryce Cotton to just eight points for the half.

The Kings extended their lead early in the third before the 36ers clawed their way back in with 26 points for the quarter with Sydney leading 74-72 heading into the final term.

Galloway added a further six points to take his tally to 20 with Davis adding three more points to his seven assists.

The final quarter saw marquee players Davis and Cotton going at it hard, with the scores levelled at 90-all with a minute to go.

After Cotton sank two free throws for a 92-90 lead, Davis missed a three pointer followed by a missed tip in from Cooks.

It saw Cotton go downtown before a three point shot from Adelaide's Dejan Vasilijevic missed with seven seconds left.

Craig was then fouled with two seconds left. He sank the first free throw before the second shot came up short to see Sydney fall by one.

Davis recorded a double double through 22 points and 10 assists. Galloway finished with 20 points. Cotton finished with 19 points behind game leader Zylan Cheatham on 23 points.

Game three on Sunday tips off at 2.30pm. Sydney will be hoping for another crowd of over 18,000 to help lift the Kings to victory.