Match Wrap: Kings too good in Championship Series opener

The Adelaide 36ers had no answer for the blistering pace and stifling defence of the Sydney Kings who produced a record Championship Series win with the 112-68 triumph at Qudos Bank Arena.

In front of 13,181 home fans at Qudos Bank Arena, the Kings raced to a 15-7 start and then scored the first nine points of the second quarter on the way to a 20-point half-time lead.

It was then the first eight points of the second half and a 14-1 run overall that killed off any signs of a 36ers fightback. The Kings showed no let up on the way to the 44-point record Championship Series win to take the one-nil series lead.

Sydney shot 66 per cent from the field and 13/24 from downtown to the 35 per cent and 9/37 from the 36ers.

The foul differential was significant too with the Kings going 15/18 at the free-throw line to 5/6 from Adelaide including Bryce Cotton only getting there once while Kendric Davis had seven attempts for Sydney.

Davis ended up with 25 points and seven assists as well while Tim Soares was the most effective big man in the game with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 8/10 shooting.

Jaylin Galloway also knocked down 3/5 from deep for 15 points, four rebounds and three assists with Makuach Maluach adding 12 points and Torrey Craig 11 with six points and two assists.

Matthew Dellavedova led the defensive charge on Cotton who finished with 10 points and seven assists on 4/12 shooting with four turnovers for Adelaide.

Isaac White top-scored with 11 points with 3/6 three-point shooting with Isaac Humphries contributing 10 points and four rebounds, and Nick Rakocevic 10 points and five boards.

The Kings came into the Championship Series on a 13-game winning streak and made the perfect start with the first four points firstly through former Sixer Kendric Davis who then also threw the alley-oop for Jaylin Galloway.

That soon turned into a 10-4 beginning for Sydney and then 15-7 before Torrey Craig knocked down a three ball leading to a Mike Wells timeout.

Isaac White and Nick Rakocevic sparked the 36ers, and John Jenkins made a triple before quarter-time and Bryce Cotton completed a three-point play. But it was all the Kings who were leading 31-23 after one.

Sydney then kept Adelaide scoreless for more than two and-a-half minutes to start the second quarter and scored nine points in that time themselves to open up a 17-point lead.

The 36ers went small but the Kings took full advantage with Tim Soares scoring all 17 of his points in the second quarter with the home team dominating by half-time leading 59-39.

Any chance of a fightback from the 36ers was dashed with the early minutes of the second half where the Kings blew the game further open with a couple of three balls to Soares and Galloway, and a bucket to Cooks for an 8-0 run.

Triples not long after to Makuach Maluach and Galloway and Sydney started the half on a 14-1 tear to open up a 33-point lead, which was 34 by three quarter-time with Davis landing another blow.

It was then party time in the fourth quarter at home for the Kings with Shaun Bruce celebrating the birth of his second child with a three ball before Jason Spurgin made up for lost time hitting the court with five quick points to the delight of his teammates, and crowd.

Game 2 will head to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Friday night before a short turnaround to Game 3 back at Qudos Bank Arena next Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL26 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES – GAME 1

SYDNEY KINGS 112 (Davis 25, Soares 22, Galloway 15)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 68 (White 11, Rakocevic 10, Cotton 10, Humphries 10)

BOX SCORE