Match wrap: Sixers downed by Kings

The Adelaide 36ers have lost their first game of the Hungry Jack’s NBL26, going down at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre to the Sydney Kings, in one of the most anticipated games of the season.

The Kings led from start to finish to win 103-79 for their first win over Adelaide since September last year.

Kendric Davis played a starring role in the Sixers returning to the finals last season where he was MVP runner-up to Bryce Cotton and named to the All-First Team.

He was a target for the crowd after unfounded and repeated complaints in the lead-up about how he was treated on his exit.

The 36ers had started the season impressively winning their first three matches with five-time MVP Cotton leading the charge while the Kings had lost two of their first three games, and arrived looking to bounce back from Wednesday's home loss to Melbourne United.

The Kings made a flying start and the defensive efforts they produced to just deny Cotton the ball for Adelaide was working a treat, and they went on top 29-19 by the end of the first quarter.

Sydney were still leading 54-41 by half-time before extending that advantage to 15 points by three quarter-time. Having gone on to lead by as much as 27, the Kings scored a statement 24-point victory on the road.

While Sydney's other win this was by 22 points against New Zealand, this win was all the more impressive considering the form the 36ers were in and the hostile environment they walked into with Davis' return to Adelaide.

The Kings finished up shooting 51 per cent from the field with 8/23 from three-point territory with Davis handling the occasion with 22 points on 9/16 shooting from the field.

Kouat Noi also was aggressive with 8/13 field goal shooting and going 9/10 from the foul line for 29 points and six rebounds with Tim Soares adding 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Xavier Cooks 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Cooks also nailed both his free-throw attempts despite going 1/14 on the season so far coming into the game.

The defensive job that the Kings did on Cotton was outstanding in denying him the chance to deliver an MVP level performance.

With Jaylin Galloway, Matthew Delladedova and Bul Kuol all spending time defending him, Cotton had just seven points on 3/10 shooting despite averaging 32.0 points and 7.3 assists coming into the match up.

Flynn Cameron finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the 36ers with DJ Vasiljevic adding 14 points, four boards and four assists, and Isaac Humphries 13 points.

The 36ers remain at home to host the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night while the Kings stay on the road to take on the Tasmania JackJumpers on Wednesday as part of the Ignite Cup.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL SEASON 2025/26

ADELAIDE 36ERS 79 (Cameron 17, Vasiljevic 14, Humphries 13)

SYDNEY KINGS 103 (Noi 29, Davis 22, Soares 14)

BOX SCORE