Gleeson hoping "outstanding" defensive showing against Kings no "flash in the pan"

Adelaide 36ers Head Coach Trevor Gleeson has credited his side’s win over the Sydney Kings on Sunday to “outstanding” defensive effort and the work of players off the bench after his side handed the reigning champions their first defeat for the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 season.

The 84-78 result ends a run of three straight defeats for Adelaide and importantly gives the side a solid start to its four-game road trip.

The win was built on the back of improved three-point shooting and the most shots the side has ever put up from that range with 50. Having gone at around 25 per-cent from beyond the arc in the last three games, the Sixers went 17/50 to be 34 per-cent, while the Kings were 8/28.

Grand Final MVP Kendrick Davis was kept to 16 points on the back of a solid defensive effort – most by Matt Kenyon – the first time Davis had failed to score 20 points in 21 outings.

“The defence was outstanding to from the second half last week,” Gleeson said of his side’s efforts on the defensive end.

“I think we kept Melbourne to 20 points a quarter and then to keep these guys under 20 points a quarter for three of the quarters, it is pretty good and consistent, something that we can build on.

“And then we're getting shots where we want to get (those) shots, so yeah, it’s pleasing.

“Hopefully it’s not a flash in the pan. Hopefully we can build on it.”

Nick Rakocevic started strongly to continue his rich run of form with five first quarter points in a low-scoring opening.

The Sixers went at 3/14 from three-point range and the Kings didn’t punish them with 2/9 from the same distance.

After talking a big game in the lead up about how much he doesn’t like his former club, Davis was kept scoreless and without a rebound or assist in the first quarter, but despite a controversial off-season ban, Xavier Cooks was productive with 11 points and a rebound as the sides went in at 18-all at quarter time.

With John Jenkins and Cotton finding their range from beyond the arc, the Sixers opened up a nine point advantage, only to be pulled back by the Kings after some missed free throws, Makuach Maluach hitting a couple of important triples and some sloppy offensive possessions.

A three point deficit at half time became a five point advantage by the final break with Jenkins, Matt Kenyon and Jacob Rigoni hitting big threes, and Kenyon doing a solid job at keeping Davis quiet, keeping him to eight points as the sides broke for the final time.

It was the Kings’ lowest scoring quarter of the season, kept to just 12 points for the period.

Jenkins all but ended the contest with back to back triples, while Kenyon’s contribution extended to 11 points, eight rebounds, a steal and three assists for the game on top of his defensive showing.

Then the flash point with less than 30 seconds to go when Davis deliberately ran up and bumped Cotton after the six-time MVP disposed of the ball, sparking a melee that saw players needing to be separated.

Davis pointed to his golden NBL badge in reference to last season’s championship win while Cotton showed Davis six fingers in reference to the star’s MVP record.

It partially soured what was an inspiring victory by an undermanned and written off Adelaide outfit.

“I thought the game was over,” Gleeson said afterwards.

“It had nothing to do with the play and then to have the physicality out there, I was happy with Bryce to stand up for himself.

“You don't want to see that. If it's in the play of the game, okay, but it's off the ball.

“You can make your comment, you're a commentator, you can call it whatever you want to call it, but there's no reason for that.”

The Sixers will have their longest break in some time, heading home for a few days before continuing their four game road trip with a stop in Hobart to face Tasmania next Friday night.

‍