Kings send message in Game One, but stay locked in

Sydney Kings Coach Brian Goorjian is too experienced and wise not to get carried away with the record-breaking game one Championship Series win.

The Kings showed no mercy in their 44-point record win over the Adelaide 36ers on Saturday night to take a handy one-nil lead in the best of five series.

In arguably their best performance of the season, the Kings demolished the 36ers 112-68 in front of a parochial home crowd of over 13,000 at Qudos Bank Arena.

Whilst the Kings are just two wins away from claiming the NBL26 trophy, for Goorjian, the focus is already about game two in Adelaide next Friday night.

“It’s game one. We’re not celebrating or dancing in the aisles. It doesn’t matter if you win by 40 or 2, there’s another game coming,’’ Goorjian said post-match.

“We have to go there (Adelaide). We’ve only got one (win).”

Centre Tim Soares, who finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists, said the hype of the game one win was not lost either on experienced co-captains Matthew Dellavedova and Xavier Cooks.

“(Delly) and ‘X’ reminded us. We’re back to it (on Monday) because the job’s not done. We’d be very upset if we didn’t take advantage of this moment,’’ Soares added.



Goorjian said he was delighted to see the team playing to its strengths, with every player contributing not only to the win, but in shutting down Adelaide superstar Bryce Cotton, who was heavily pressured and kept to just 10 points with Dellavedova the key man.

“They executed extremely well. We got contribution right through the roster which is important in this Championship Series,’’ Goorjian said.

“Bryce is an incredible basketball player and for us to win the series, we’ve got to deal with him.

“Tonight, we had a game plan and they executed it well. It’s early days but I was really pleased with how they went about it.

“A big aspect in this is to guard him (Cotton) without fouling him and keeping him off the foul line.

“Length, quickness, and body strength. We tried to change it up.”

Soares also paid tribute to Dellavedova, Makuach Maluach and Torrey Craig for their outstanding work on Cotton.

“It’s really hard to stay in front of a quick guy like that,’’ Soares said.

“You see how Kendric moves, how quick he is. Bryce is right there too. Just their ability to keep their hands out and to make it tough.

“Our game plan is made towards us and our strengths, like having high hands and athletic guys.

“It’s easier for me but it’s easier said than done.”

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