Sixers hand Kings second straight home defeat

The Sydney Kings have lost their second straight game at Qudos Bank Arena, going down 92-88 to the Adelaide 36ers on Friday night. 

The heavyweight clash lived up to the billing, especially in the second half but 24 points from Craig Randall II proved too much to overcome for the hosts. 

Match summary 

The Sixers silenced the Qudos Bank Arena crowd early with an 15-6 start, behind a barrage of triples.  

The Hoops Capital fought back in the contest, despite the lopsided foul count (5-1), thanks to inspired play by Derrick Walton Jr and Xavier Cooks - to trail 25-20 after one. 

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Both teams traded barbs early in the second period before Randall II started to pull the strings and helped the visitors’ lead extend to 10 points – following a huge jam by Antonius Cleveland. 

Despite crafty play by Walton late in the term, CJ Bruton’s troops held an eight-point (50-42) lead at the main break. 

Sparked by DJ Vasiljevic, the Kings burst out of the blocks and quickly drew level thanks to a 10-2 start to the term.  

It then became Walton time, with the Michigan product scoring or assisting on nine straight Kings’ points – to give the hosts the 71-68 advantage at three-quarter-time. 

Neither team took its foot off the gas in the fourth, creating plenty of highlights and chances to gain the ascendancy, which saw the lead change numerous times. 

At the death with the Sixers in the lead, the Kings had numerous chances to level the scores but failed on all their attempts (including three from downtown), as the visitors’ Mitch McCarron iced the game from the free-throw line - sealing the four-point win. 

Where the match was decided 

Despite outscoring Adelaide 58-28 in the paint and off the bench (23-8 – including 12 from Kouat Noi), the Sixers prevailed thanks to superior shooting from downtown (40 per cent to 21) and the charity stripe (76 per cent to 53). 

Key moment 

Trailing by eight at the main break, whatever Kings coach Chase Buford said to his troops worked, as a more committed and energised outfit returned to the court in the second – emphasised by a 10-2 run to open the period.  

Sydney carried this momentum forward for the rest of the game, which turned the round four fixture into an absolute battle of the titans. 

But unfortunately for the hosts, the purple and gold couldn’t keep it going and hold their nerves late, as the Sixers, behind big plays from Randall and McCarron, secured their second consecutive win. 

Player of the game 

The shining light in the tight defeat for the Kings was point guard Walton, who produced 23 points, six assists, one rebound and one steal. 

What’s next 

Chase Buford’s side, who are now 4-2 on the season, for the third week in a row play a home-away double-header in one weekend, which will see the Kings return to Melbourne to face United on Sunday. The fixture, which Sydney easily won 91-71 two weeks ago, tips off at 4pm AEDT at John Cain Arena and will give the harbour city side a chance to extend its NBL away win record to 16 games.