Sixers go down to Kings in Sydney

The Adelaide 36ers managed to work their way on top against the Sydney Kings in the second quarter and early in the third at Qudos Bank Arena, but couldn’t quite sustain it as the home team ending up prevailing 85-75.

It was the third game in a week in NSW for the Sixers on the back of an impressive overtime victory at the same venue over the Kings last Sunday before a loss to the Illawarra Hawks on Tuesday evening.

It wasn’t an ideal start on Sunday back at Qudos Bank Arena from the 36ers with the Kings opening up an 11-point lead before five points to close the first term went the way of the visitors.

Adelaide then continued on with that momentum throughout the second period to lead by as much as six points on the back of an 8-0, and then thanks to Daniel Johnson still led by five at half-time.

That turned into an eight-point edge to start the second half thanks to Brandon Paul as well but the Sixers would then manage just seven points in the last nine minutes of the third quarter.

Despite getting back to within two points midway through the last when Johnson drained a triple, the Kings had all the answers down the stretch to end up winning by 10 to strengthen their own playoff hopes and seriously dent those of the Sixers.

Daniel Johnson finished the evening with 23 points and seven rebounds for Adelaide on 8/16 shooting while Brandon Paul had 21 points to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals on 7/14 from the floor.

Jack McVeigh was a spark again for the Sixers in 18 minutes for 12 points and five rebounds while Tony Crocker still had six points, three rebounds and two steals despite battling a sore hand.

Josh Giddey had four points, seven rebounds and five assists, Keanu Pinder four points and seven rebounds, Sunday Dech three points and three boards, and Daniel Dillon two points and two assists.

Adelaide coach Conner Henry pointed to the lack of commitment to execute on the offensive end as the biggest factor in them finding themselves where they are right now.

"We started slow and probably had 10 good looks early but couldn’t knock them down, but the second group came in and righted the ship like they did the other night and played harder, and played with more discipline and moved the ball and got us back into the game," Henry said.

"So we felt pretty good going back into that second half and I thought we did a pretty good of containing Ware in the transition for the most part which was a big key to this. And you look at the numbers defensively, for the most part we did a decent job on the defensive numbers.

"We are right there in the rebounding game, we take care of the ball and then our assists are very low so it continues to come back to our offence. A lot of the time we don’t quite execute the whole offensive movement or set.

"We might run it once and execute it at a high level, run a counter to that and execute it at a high level but then come back to that and shortchange it. I think the discipline side of our offence all year has been a huge factor for us and it continues to haunt us.

"We are pretty much out of this thing now, we are going to need a miracle now, I hate to say that. But the game was there for us and I thought we prepared well for it. There were numerous time where fatigue might have played a factor in it.

"We are really disappointed as an organisation to be in this place right now and I don’t feel as though I've done a very good job overall the whole year in certain areas. We have to ride this season out now and there will be some shorter rotations going ahead."

Adelaide opened the game with a three ball from Sunday Dech but Sydney soon got going and scored the next nine points before a basket each from Daniel Johnson and Brandon Paul.

The Kings went on another run of nine straight points to be up 18-7 before the Sixers hit the last five points through Jack McVeigh and Tony Crocker to cut Sydney's lead to 18-12 with the 36ers shooting 5/23 from the field and 2/15 from deep.

Adelaide continued to work back into the game to start the second quarter and then they went on a run nine consecutive points midway through to end up leading 30-24.

After Sydney got back within a point, Johnson closed the half with Adelaide's final six points and that saw them take a 42-37 lead into half-time.

Brandon Paul converted a three-point play to open the second half too and Adelaide were out by eight, and in control of the game. But the Kings took control from there and would go on a 10-2 streak.

Sydney then closed the third quarter on another 12-2 run and then continued on to start the fourth term with a handful of three-pointers. 

Adelaide gave it one last charge and were back within two after big threes from Johnson and Paul, but the Kings responded for the next seven points and to go on to win by 10.

The 36ers now return home for the final two matches at Adelaide Entertainment Centre this Friday and Sunday against the Illawarra Hawks and Perth Wildcats.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL ROUND 18

ADELAIDE 36ERS 75 (Johnson 23, Paul 21, McVeigh 12) 

SYDNEY KINGS 85 (Martin 20, Hunter 15, Ware 13)

BOX SCORE