Awesome foursome star as 36ers take down Kings

An outstanding opening half shooting display has lifted Adelaide 36ers to a 111-96 win against Sydney Kings at Qudos Bank Arena on Monday night.

The 36ers swished 12 three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes as Adelaide snapped a five-game losing streak on the road with a resilient 15-point win.

Kendric Davis again led from the front, scoring a team-high 30 points to go with nine assists and five rebounds, while Montrezl Harrell scored 25 points and added 10 rebounds.

Big man Isaac Humphries was huge inside for 17 points and six rebounds and captain DJ Vasiljevic caught fire in streaks for 19 points.

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Harrell and Vasiljevic were back in the opening quintet, Humphries opened Adelaide’s scoring underneath, before a Davis three-pointer, then Harrell scored inside for an early 7-2 lead.

Davis then swished another three-pointer, then scored on a tough drive as the 36ers’ lead grew to 15-4 midway through the opening quarter.

Jarell Martin came off the bench and had an instant impact, scoring seven straight points, then Harrell scored again for a 26-6 lead.

Harrell swished a three-pointer, then Davis connected on three from the free throw line as the 36ers equaled their highest opening quarter of the season to take a 32-12 lead into the first change.

Sydney started the second quarter with an 8-2 run led by Jalen Adams (41 points), but another three-pointer from Davis took the 36ers’ lead to 37-20.

The home side then went on another 10-0 run to cut the margin to six points before a three-pointer from Lat Mayen gave Adelaide a 42-33 advantage.

Vasiljevic then came to life, scoring on a tough floater before swishing back-to-back three-pointers for an 8-0 run to give the 36ers a 50-35 lead.

Adelaide then swished three more three-pointers through Vasiljevic, Harrell and Davis and when Davis swished another on the buzzer the 36ers took a 62-43 lead into the main break.

The 36ers started the third quarter by attacking the basket, Vasiljevic got the free throw line, Davis then Humphries scored inside for a 68-45 advantage.

Harrell then got to the free throw line, scoring eight straight points, and when Humphries scored of a tough offensive rebound, the Adelaide lead was 81-52.

The Kings swished back-to-back three-pointers, but the 36ers responded straight away, baskets to Martin, Harrell then a steal and layup from Davis saw Adelaide take a 90-68 advantage into the final 10 minutes.

Vasiljevic started the final quarter with another three-pointer, then Humphries found the basket again inside to get the margin out to 95-74.

Scoring dried up at both ends of the floor, then Davis found Humphries inside before the Kings cut the margin to 97-83.

Harrell, then Davis steadied the 36ers from the free throw line down the stretch, then a Harrell triple sealed Adelaide’s eighth win of the season.

Adelaide will be back in action on Saturday night when the 36ers host Melbourne United at the Entertainment Centre from 5pm ACDT.

ADELAIDE 36ERS 111 (Davis 30, Harrell 25, Vasiljevic 19, Humphries 17) def SYDNEY KINGS 96 (Adams 41, Cooks 16, Noi 12) at Qudos Bank Arena.
BOX SCORE